Before and After: Window Treatments Transform Rooms
BY CAROL BEATTY, DECORATOR AND WINDOW TREATMENT SPECIALIST, QUIGLEY DRAPERIES
Your home is clean and maintained. Repairs are made, bills are paid, the grass is cut. But it is still kind of -- boring. No spark. What to do? Add soft window treatments, designed and made just for you and your house!
We recently redecorated our master bedroom. The furniture, wall color and flooring were great. The comforter worked and could be washed when the grand-dogs with dirty paws got too excited. However, the shades were boring and there was too many pictures, books and stuff in the room.
So I coordinated some cute shaped cornices in a small woven pattern to break up the wall color and add interest. The window in back of the bed was widened by making the cornice 12 inches wider on each side. Floor length side panels in a solid color were added to cover the exposed wall. This made the window appear to be the width of the bed.
The side window only got a cornice, as it didn't need to be reproportioned. The original shades stayed.
All was installed three inches from the ceiling, which made the ceiling appear taller and the room larger. Then, decorative bed pillows were added, just enough for color and interest. A solid color, tailored bedskirt that actually fit the bed was added. And we made a lot of editing of unneeded stuff!
The result is calming, elegant and relaxing. It's amazing how some well chosen and fabricated window treatments can completely transform a space, especially when they are made and installed with so much craft and care.
Many homes have a potential for greatness. Take a look at the before and after pictures of this living room. The room is updated and comfortable, with ship lathe walls and tufted chairs and neutral colors. It's OK.
Above, before.
Now look at the same room, with the same furnishings, only window treatments were added. Note the modern drapery in woven pattern misty gray. The windows appear wider and taller. The trick is the drapery was extended 20 inches wider on each side. The height was added four inches above the trim. The wide, decorative hardware connected the two windows. And adding the exquisite touch of the Pirouette shadings underneath finished the look.
Above, after. Colette draperies in misty gray with decorative hardware in stainless satin metallic. Undertreatments in Pirouette four inch shadings.
Now at night the drapery can close. In the day the shadings could pull up to completely clear the view. And a sense of softness and comfort can be maintained. Wow!
Above, Duette Elan shadings in pesto add color and functionality to side panels of garden stripe in blue/green.
Or maybe the living room just wants a fresh lift of color. The neutral furnishings can have an extra zing of color with the PowerView Duette shades in pesto. The drapery is in garden stripe, green/blue. The wide width is broken up by the center panels in a luxurious fullness that balances the window size. The high mount adds drama to the room. Decorative hardware in gilded bronze unifies the windows and adds the finishing touch. Softness and color is further added by the decorative pillow coordinated to the drapery fabrics. Now all that's needed is to relax in that fresh, comfortable setting.
So, this season, let us help you celebrate your home more with gorgeous window treatments. Here's to your new look!
Quigley Draperies, at 860 W. Broadway Ave. in downtown Roosevelt Park, features their own custom work room and installation, as well as experienced, trusted design assistance. Quigley's is celebrating 90 years of helping homeowners decorate their windows and are looking forward to 90 more. Call (231) 755-3248 or visit QuigleyDraperies.com.
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