Custom Made Panels -vs- Ready Made Panels...What's the difference?

Customers often say, why should I purchase custom when I can but panels in the stores for cheaper?

It has been my experience, as a professional drapery installer, that custom made products are far superior to anything you can find in a local store.  The most important fact about custom made products is that you can get exactly what you want to achieve the look you are going for.  If you are contemporary or traditional or somewhere in between, you can not easily find drapery to fit every style.  Also, especially in Texas, the window sizes are not standard, so ready made panels come in 3 sizes...84", 96" and 108" if you are lucky .
Everything is bigger in Texas and that includes the 20 ft ceilings and the large widths of windows.  With custom drapery, your designer can order the exact fit to cover your window.  With ready made panels, you have to purchase enough panels to cover the window.  Who wants to buy 6 widths of panels to cover a 108" wide window and then have to pull each panel separately to open and close. I also notice that folks never purchase enough panels to properly fit the window.  The other difficulty with ready made panels is that they do not have good linings on them, if they even have any linings! In this picture you can see the window panes through the panels.  This see through panel is not protected and will fade very quickly.  You should get 12 to 20 years out of custom made drapery!                                                                   

 With the sun here in Texas, ready made panels fade very quickly or discolor. They sometimes even dry rot which looks like shredded fabric...or like someone shot a BB gun into the fabric! Here is a great example of fabric that has dry rot.                                                                                          

 A good custom made drapery panel has all the widths sewn together with the proper linings installed to the back side.  Standard lining will protect most fabrics from quickly fading, while a thermal lining will protect the room from too much heat or cold air.  Blackout lining will darken the room for good sleeping and will also have insulation properties. One other issue I come across often is that when more than 1 panel is needed in the room, often times each panel is a different length even though the packages are identical.  I have actually had a customer purchase 12 packages of the same panels at 96" long and the panels actually ranged from 94" to 112".  I had to rip out all the hems and re-sew them to identical lengths.  Ready made panels usually have a rod pocket top and the hems tend to bow like a frowny face!  Rod pocket top panels are very difficult to open and close on a pole.  When they are opened, they tend to travel back towards the closed position.  Also, there is no stiffener in the top of ready made panels which makes in impossible to use drapery hooks to hook onto rings. So the only option is to use ring clips and then you get the sloppy look at the top between the rings.  I find that many clients HATE the ring clips!                      
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Custom drapery is affordable!  If you think about how long you can keep your drapery and divide the total cost per year, custom drapery is affordable! Yes custom window coverings cost more, but they are an investment that will give you a great return on your money!  With ready made panels, you need more of them to get  close to the look of custom made drapery.  You also should expect  to replace store bought panels much sooner than you will with custom made. You can  take great pride in your window coverings when you can achieve the perfect look for your home. The look that no one else has!  And your friends and family will feel very comfortable in your space when the design is balanced proportionally to the size of the window and to the size of the room.

Exciting Windows by Stacey Hudson can help make your decorating dreams come true!  We listen to what you want and what your needs are!  We work within your family's budget, never pushing our agenda but making sure your vision is realized!  We love what we do and we do it very well!  Our customers are always satisfied and we want to make you a happy customer too!  Call Stacey Hudson from Exciting Windows  today at 512-299-4052! We're waiting to get excited with you about the new look for your home!

Different drapery designs for your home! Part 2!

Let's face it, today's magazines are not really inspiring creativity in the window covering world!  Panels are panels and they look great hanging from rings on a rod.  But, maybe you want something different...something that reflects your personality!  Here are a few more ideas from my Drapery Design Inspiration e-book!

This first design is for arched windows or wide windows. Many times when you have a wide window,

you have a vast empty space between the panels.  I like the idea of adding a pelmet in the center to break up the look of a long empty rod.

This design is a takeoff of a balloon valance with multiple ties and varying angles.  You really need a thin flowing material to pull this look off. 

Here are two asymmetrical cornices.  This design is great when you don't have enough space next to the window because of the placement of an over sized piece of  furniture or a fireplace.  The diamond in the middle is an accent piece and the medallions act like jewelry to add visual interest and beauty to the cornice.

These cornices have rings attached at the bottom where the panels are attached.  This adds a bit of airiness to the overall look of the french doors.  This is a stationary, decorative design.

Another favorite of mine is this beautiful cornice with contrasting fabric and medallion accents.  The jabots on the sides and down the middle add balance and a framing affect which lends to a more sophisticated design.

This style is fabulous for long windows!  The top pieces have an opening for the rod and are flat.  Rings are attached to the top pieces while the pleated panels hook onto the rings.

This unique valance uses three complimentary fabrics and is layered.  The "ties" are attached to the top of the valance mounting board and have drapery rings on the ends to weight them down.

Exciting Windows by Stacey Hudson has many more original ideas to share with you if you desire something unique and different!   Give me a call today at 512-299-4052!

Contemporary Design

Contemporary design in window coverings means clean lines and simple design.  It doesn't have to be boring though! Check out this reading nook.

We picked a contemporary palette of gray, yellow and cream.  The roman shades and the cushion are clean lined and the circle pillows add a bit of whimsy and interest.

Here is another contemporary home with similar colors and a fabulous wide striped wall treatment.

This next picture is a contemporary kitchen with beautifully striped roman shades.

A fabulous way to add color and height to any tall room is with the use of color blocking.  YES you can have pattern but you can keep it simple by using just a touch of pattern and keeping the room calm with coordinating solid fabrics.

If you need assistance in bringing your contemporary home together and making it feel cozy and welcoming, give Exciting Windows by Stacey Hudson a call today!  512-299-4052.

Different Window Treatment Design Ideas

Window Treatments add so much of your personality to your home.  Are you wanting to show others that you are different...unique?  I like to be different too...I like unique, one of a kind items that show off my personality and individuality!  Exciting Windows by Stacey Hudson (Formerly Window Magic) offers you an ebook filled with unique window coverings!

This window treatment, above, shows how putting the valance under the panels allows for the panels to continue uninterrupted and adds height to your room.  When the valance is over the top of the panels, the height of the room looks lower. Notice that the we have omitted the drapery rings from the panels and attached them to the top of the rod using an overlapping layer-style, flat top to simplify the overall look. The valances are mounted behind the rod but at the same level as the rod.

This roman shade above is no ordinary roman shade!  We have added a pleated bottom with contrasting bell pleats.  Each pleat is accented with a jeweled button.  Roman shades are perfect for showing off any fabric with a beautiful pattern...this allows the fabric to become a piece of art!  Exciting Windows used this particular design for a formal dining room.  With the addition of  crystal buttons at the tops of each pleat we were able to compliment the bling of the clients' existing chandelier. 

Here, this roman shade, with a contrasting silk ruffle in cinnamon, is paired with a loosely gathered gauze

ruffle and a band of beautiful beaded trim.  The gauze allows the light to shine through the beads to make them sparkle but also serves to protect the beading from premature fading from the strong Texas sun. Notice how special attention was taken to ensure that the folds do not cover or interfere with the pretty ruffles.

This pretty drapery has heavily gathered silk banding at the top.  Still considered a flat top panel,this gathered banding adds elegance to a formal living area.  The beaded trim between the gold band and the patterned fabric sparkles in the evening light.

This fabulous treatment, below, beautifully accents your tallest windows!  The patterned fabric shown in the rendering could be a soft draping fabric or even a sheer overlay to the gray panels.  To give your eye a place to rest, the solid gray fabric is repeated centrally over the swags.  This window treatment could easily be board mounted omitting the need for any drapery hardware.

These are just a few of the hundreds of ideas Exciting Windows! by Stacey Hudson has in her portfolio! 

We have so many ideas just waiting for your windows, so if you want  unique window treatment ideas to capture your personality and to complete your space, so you feel at home in your space, Call us today at 512-299-4052 and visit our websites at either 

http://www.excitingwindows.com/staceyhudson

or

http://www.windowmagicdesign.com

We offer our drapery design ebook, "Drapery Design Inspiration" by Window Magic on our Window Magic website for just $14.99...downloadable to your computer, ipad or kindle!

Check out our awards and testimonials on http://www.houzz.com/pro/excitingwindowsbystaceyhudson/exciting-windows-by-stacey-hudson.

The New Normal for Window Coverings

Remember back when you had to stand up and walk to the TV to change the channels?  And then you had to twist the "knob thing" to set the antenna in motion?  Thank goodness for the remote!  Well, the time has arrived and most window coverings are now capable of being motorized!  You can even program you window coverings throughout the whole house to be controlled by your phone or ipad and they can be programmed to open and close when you are not home!  Who knew?

At Exciting Windows by Stacey Hudson, we provide motorized blinds, shades, shutters and drapery! Just like the calculator, after being out on the market for a while, the prices have started to come down for this fabulous upgrade!   We offer a brand of honeycomb shades and roller shades that, with the motor included, is less than the price of most other companies motors alone!  And the really neat thing...they always run at the same speed.  Many of you probably don't realize, but when a battery powered shade starts to wear out, it moves slowly, while the rest of the shades will run more quickly.  It is normal for most company's shades to always run at different speeds.

Introducing the Serena Shades from Lutron!  We guarantee that the shades will always run in unison!  Lutron, who is best known for it's electronic gadgets and the dimmer switch, has figured out a way for all the shades to run in unison to the slowest shade speed.  It is quite a show, when entertaining, when all the shades lower at the same time...giving the appearance of luxury! Serena also runs whisper quiet which is great for children's rooms!  Two great benefits of motorized shades are that they are great for hard to reach places and they are cordless which makes them safe for children and pets!  Lutron has gone the extra step and has reduced their battery consumption to just 4-8  D batteries, depending on size, versus 12 AA batteries!  The battery compartment is right in the headrail to the front, and is as easy to open as a glove box!  There are 2 tabs that you press on and the battery compartment  opens just like a glove box.  Pluck out the old batteries and pop in the new ones and close the compartment.  It's really that easy!  Also, with daily use, the batteries can last anywhere between 3-5 years!  One other great benefit is that they offer an 8 year warranty that is transferable to the new home owners, should you need to move!

If you would like more information about Lutron shades give  Exciting Windows by Stacey Hudson a call today!  512-299-4052.

Transitioning Spaces

Often  I am asked if it is necessary to use the same fabric in adjacent spaces.  My answer is always "no!"
When transitioning colors from one room to next there are several ways to accomplish this!  First, you can use the same fabric, but I don't like all the rooms to feel exactly the same.  Fabrics often are designed in coordinating styles...I call these "sister fabrics."  They go together but are definitely different.  Secondly, you can choose a secondary, less dominant color from an adjacent room and make it the primary color in another room.  Thirdly, you can transition the fabrics from one room to another.  I'll demonstrate this here for you.

 This client purchased a gray sofa and chair along with 2 club hairs with a circular modern floral pattern.  In the kitchen, which is easily seen from the living room, we choose to play up the circles in the roman shades The fabric is a contemporary circle print, upholstery fabric, that had all the colors that were in the living room furniture and rug but the small scale didn't compete with the circles on the club chairs.

We decided to use a tone on tone dark charcoal gray fabric for the living room panels to bring out the dark colors in the club chairs. Notice the tiebacks are made from the same fabric as the kitchen roman shades.  This allowed us to bring in just a little touch of the kitchen fabric into the living room.

Next we married the kitchen and living room fabrics into a roman shade for the door that is located between the two rooms. This is a great way to transition and blend 2 different fabrics, from 2 rooms, and use them in one window treatment.

The clients were very pleased with how all the fabrics worked together in this space and it looked quite lovely and very cozy.

If you need help blending two adjacent rooms so that they are complimentary and cozy, call Exciting Windows by Stacey Hudson today at 512-299-4052 for a complimentary in home consultation!

We'll be happy to listen to your ideas and needs and we'll come up with wonderful design ideas to meet your budget so that you can have the home you always wanted!  Call today! You can also visit our website at www.excitingwindows.com/staceyhudson

Why Doesn't My Room Every Seem Finished?

Most often, I am asked to come into a client's home to help put the finishing touches in a room.  There seems to be a common problem that many of us face... I like to call it the bottom heavy room.  Let's face it, we all buy the furniture that fits our family's needs, the rug to put our feet onto, a TV

 
stand and a coffee table.  Maybe, if we are brave, we buy a decorative pillow or two. If you notice, all these items fill the bottom half of the room.  Recently I had a customer call who was trying to bring some life to her room.  She had a tan sofa, a hard tile floor with a beige carpet remnant and what looked like unpainted shelving unit along both sides of the fireplace.  In the corner opposite the fireplace she had a 1960's green stain glass, flower shaped hanging light that I remember having as a child.  She admitted that her husband hated it but it had sentimental value to her.  Under the light she had a tall 4 drawer dresser probably also an heirloom piece in white, Over the fireplace was this beautiful surprise!  A very colorful painting.  I'm talking blues, greens, oranges, reds, and turquoise!  Lovely!  She said it was her favorite piece in the room but she was decorating like she was scared of color!




 She asked if we could turn the coffee table into an ottoman and we talked about bringing color up to the upper one half of the room.  We added beautiful green drapery with a fabric the client loved which nicely accented the childhood light fixture.  The fabric we picked for the ottoman was daring but perfect since it helped disperse the colors from the painting around the room. It took them 2 weeks do get the courage to use these colorful fabrics!  We continued to spread the color around the room in pillows. The last time I was there, the client followed                                                               instructions I gave to her about color for the shelves and she added blue                                                 pottery!  This room was completed on a small budget.  The client shopped for decorative items while putting the bulk of her budget into fabrics that pulled the beauty of the picture into the rest of the room. Her kids love the ottoman!  The lay on it to play their x-box!  She loves this room and says it is everything she had hoped it would be and they entertain often in this fabulous space! Now we are working on the kitchen which is open to this room.  Yep!  Drapery panels with all the colors of that fabulous artwork!  Just the perfect touch to bring the two rooms together!


Do you have a decorating problem or just don't know where to start or how much it might cost?  Give Exciting Windows! by Stacey Hudson a call for a free phone consultation! We can work within most budgets!  Put the "oooh" into your room!  Call today! 512-299-4052
Check out our website and Sign up for your chance to win a window covering makeover at  http://www.excitingwindows.com/staceyhudson