Most of us would love to have a place outdoors, in the backyard, provided it’s comfortable and beautiful, and above all offers privacy. That leads us to start thinking on the lines of constructing a sunroom or even a screened-in porch. But, on second thoughts we realize all the hassles of dealing with the contractors and getting building permits and face noisy music of running machines and finally drop the idea of going in for any outdoor additions. Very often one tends to overlook the idea of creatively using curtains for the purpose. Yes, curtains offer an affordable, quick and reasonable option for getting the desired results. And, if you already have a covered patio or deck, it further helps. Outdoor curtains provide a very simple and practical solution to the problem.
At times we tend to overlook the convenience offered by curtains in providing privacy at affordable cost and in short time. It’s no fun to enjoy your outdoor sessions in the company of friends or a book under the eyes of neighbors and passers by. Homes with a common boundary wall or those with their backyards adjacent to commercial properties can enjoy the privacy that exterior curtains and drapes may offer.
Apart from providing the primary facility of privacy, curtains help change the total outdoor ambience by sort of softening the affects of otherwise tough outdoor furniture comprising of wooden deck, pergola and stone patio. The simple inclusion of outdoor curtains makes the outdoor area lively, as the charming drapes of fabric tend to create a feel of being indoors. You have the freedom to hang the curtains fully or use fancy tussles to tie them back and thus afford changing their looks conveniently and more often.
The quality of material selected for outdoor curtains is a crucial factor, for outdoor curtains are different than their counterparts that remain indoors. Outdoor curtains should have the capacity to bear the harsh sun and continuously changing outdoors weather. Fabrics meant for indoors won’t work outdoors. Outdoor curtains are especially treated to make them resist water and absorb harmful sunrays without getting faded in the process. Better quality of materials made by the likes of Sunbrella, are designed to block 98% of injurious UV rays coming from the sun. The material is breathable and capable of resisting mildew and stains. The only similarity perhaps between the two kinds of curtains is that both come in a very large range of colors, and styles, thus giving you as many options.
Rather than spending a lot of money and time to construct an additional area in the exterior of you home for enjoying outdoors, you could consider using good looking outdoor curtains or drapes in you present covered patio or deck to fashion a distinct and peaceful room in the backyard. An increasing number of homeowners are realizing the advantages of developing their backyards to better uses by including outdoor curtains in that area.
This is just ONE of the way outdoor drapes are made:
Tuesday
Sheer Curtains And Drapes
Most of us provide curtains for windows to control sunlight, but mainly to have privacy within the house. Everybody, irrespective of the social status he/she might be enjoying, needs to have curtains to carry out certain activities within the privacy of home, without any intrusion of any kind from the outside world. A regular curtain best maintains the privacy, preventing the outsiders from watching anything going behind the curtains.
Yet, there is category of people who are continually seeking attention of others by whatever means. They take pleasure in being watched by others in whatever be their activity, and wouldn’t mind being watched by others even when performing very personal tasks in the inner rooms of their homes. Perhaps that explains why we see houses with sheer curtains even in the windows of their bedrooms.
Sheer curtains can in no way offer any sense of privacy; they are not meant for the purpose. At the most they slightly distort the view of inhabitants as well the onlookers.
Generally, sheer curtains are too translucent to keep anything away from the passersby. Probably that is what the users of such curtains look forward to- being watched by the passing crowd all the time. They seem to enjoy the idea of sharing their very intimate actions by anyone who might be interested. The choice is of the onlooker- watch our actions or just pass by without bothering or getting bothered.
Well, the world is full of people having different preferences that suit their lifestyles and personal tastes. There may be some kind of pleasure associated with voyeurism, but that’s not for everybody. And, people using sheer curtains should understand that and must practice some restrain under certain circumstances. Suppose you have some growing children around. Certainly it won’t be healthy to create unhealthy images on their young minds by encouraging them to peep into your private affairs, if they may be called so, behind sheer curtains.
There may be some strangeness of character, which prompts people to use sheer curtains without any consideration for the world around them. Certainly, privacy is not the purpose there. It’s understandable, though, for a homeowner on the higher floors of a multi storied residential building to patronize sheer curtains, as nobody is there at such heights to peep into your house to see what’s going on.
Whatever be the motive, both, the curtains and the patrons of sheer curtains, are unusual. There is none denying that the curtains do reflect the personality of the householder.
Yet, there is category of people who are continually seeking attention of others by whatever means. They take pleasure in being watched by others in whatever be their activity, and wouldn’t mind being watched by others even when performing very personal tasks in the inner rooms of their homes. Perhaps that explains why we see houses with sheer curtains even in the windows of their bedrooms.
Sheer curtains can in no way offer any sense of privacy; they are not meant for the purpose. At the most they slightly distort the view of inhabitants as well the onlookers.
Generally, sheer curtains are too translucent to keep anything away from the passersby. Probably that is what the users of such curtains look forward to- being watched by the passing crowd all the time. They seem to enjoy the idea of sharing their very intimate actions by anyone who might be interested. The choice is of the onlooker- watch our actions or just pass by without bothering or getting bothered.
Well, the world is full of people having different preferences that suit their lifestyles and personal tastes. There may be some kind of pleasure associated with voyeurism, but that’s not for everybody. And, people using sheer curtains should understand that and must practice some restrain under certain circumstances. Suppose you have some growing children around. Certainly it won’t be healthy to create unhealthy images on their young minds by encouraging them to peep into your private affairs, if they may be called so, behind sheer curtains.
There may be some strangeness of character, which prompts people to use sheer curtains without any consideration for the world around them. Certainly, privacy is not the purpose there. It’s understandable, though, for a homeowner on the higher floors of a multi storied residential building to patronize sheer curtains, as nobody is there at such heights to peep into your house to see what’s going on.
Whatever be the motive, both, the curtains and the patrons of sheer curtains, are unusual. There is none denying that the curtains do reflect the personality of the householder.
Sunday
French Door Curtains - Buying Tips
Like any other style of curtains, French curtains also help control-incoming light, but more than that they are known for their aesthetic appeal and beauty that they add to the room. In case you have French doors and looking to buying curtains for these doors or windows, here are some helpful tips that you would do well to keep in mind while shopping for French curtains. It’s better to appraise oneself on the subject before hand rather than regretting later.
The most important feature of these curtains is the size. You should know exactly the size of your French door. Take measurements along the height and the width to get right sized curtain. It’s very embarrassing to learn that the curtains you bought are of insufficient length and there is hardly anything you can do to correct their lengths. Unduly long lengths again serve no purpose and you just wasted money in buying longer lengths. Moreover, knowing the right dimension helps you to decide the pattern.
You may be aware most of the time the French curtains are white, which means they do not absorb much of the incoming light and reflect the same. See that these curtains blend well with the present décor of your room, and that includes the furniture and upholstery that you may have in the room. They should add to the overall look and feel of the room.
Next, choose the fabric. Here, you need to have a very practical approach in the sense: is it washable or rather machine washable and how expensive it is? You may be aware that thicker fabrics are more expensive than the thinner ones. Remember, thin fabrics are easier to wash and more convenient for being removed or fixed back to position. Obviously, thinner variety will be easier and economical to maintain, as you’ll be paying more to the cleaners for thick fabrics.
I can’t help making a very important suggestion for buying French door curtains. You should do the shopping of these curtains in person and not online. Are you surprised? Of course online shopping saves a lot of valuable time, physical strain and even money, but one big drawback of online shopping is that you can only see what you are buying, but you can’t feel what you are going to have around you for along time. You may buy gadgets and books and what not online- but fabrics?
You may end up buying a fabric or design that’s very inappropriate for the intended place you had in mind. Spare some time and energy and be sure of what you are buying.
Even if your trip were unsuccessful, you would have learnt a few things of what are the latest varieties available.
Yet, if you insist on buying online, ask the stores to send you a few samples of the designs and fabrics that you may find suitable. Whether buying online or physically from a store, don’t forget to enquire about the guarantees.
The most important feature of these curtains is the size. You should know exactly the size of your French door. Take measurements along the height and the width to get right sized curtain. It’s very embarrassing to learn that the curtains you bought are of insufficient length and there is hardly anything you can do to correct their lengths. Unduly long lengths again serve no purpose and you just wasted money in buying longer lengths. Moreover, knowing the right dimension helps you to decide the pattern.
You may be aware most of the time the French curtains are white, which means they do not absorb much of the incoming light and reflect the same. See that these curtains blend well with the present décor of your room, and that includes the furniture and upholstery that you may have in the room. They should add to the overall look and feel of the room.
Next, choose the fabric. Here, you need to have a very practical approach in the sense: is it washable or rather machine washable and how expensive it is? You may be aware that thicker fabrics are more expensive than the thinner ones. Remember, thin fabrics are easier to wash and more convenient for being removed or fixed back to position. Obviously, thinner variety will be easier and economical to maintain, as you’ll be paying more to the cleaners for thick fabrics.
I can’t help making a very important suggestion for buying French door curtains. You should do the shopping of these curtains in person and not online. Are you surprised? Of course online shopping saves a lot of valuable time, physical strain and even money, but one big drawback of online shopping is that you can only see what you are buying, but you can’t feel what you are going to have around you for along time. You may buy gadgets and books and what not online- but fabrics?
You may end up buying a fabric or design that’s very inappropriate for the intended place you had in mind. Spare some time and energy and be sure of what you are buying.
Even if your trip were unsuccessful, you would have learnt a few things of what are the latest varieties available.
Yet, if you insist on buying online, ask the stores to send you a few samples of the designs and fabrics that you may find suitable. Whether buying online or physically from a store, don’t forget to enquire about the guarantees.
Wednesday
Cafe Style Curtains For Your Windows
Sometimes it really gets very perplexing to decide on the design, style or color of your next set of curtains. So many different options available today give you a hard time arriving at a decision. Ever considered having café curtains!
The Cafe Ambience
Bring home that café ambiance with these wonderfully looking curtains that go well with almost any setting. Despite being simple and quite basic, café curtains bring grace to any window and look great on kitchen windows especially. These can simply be made from a pillowcase and clothespin to the professionally made kind.
Just spend a while online to discover their simple designs and affordable prices. It’s not difficult or time-consuming to search for them online, for the simple reason that their making is so easy and straight that almost everybody dealing with window coverings is there online. And, you will be spoilt for their colors and styles. Try imagining white linen dipped in a cup of tea to get an antiquated look. Such smart ideas give the curtains an old-fashioned look while helping you to hide dust in the process.
Decide On The Rings
One more option that you have while thinking of café curtains is the kind of rings you may like to have. Of course, you get simple brass rings but you may provide them with something as simple as ribbons that are tied to create loops to let the rod pass thru them.
Or for getting a more authentic look, you may have a raw hem or a blanket stitch hem.
Cafe curtains may have a checked pattern or a design at the front side. It will present a nice look to sew a photograph contained in a plastic cover on to the curtain. You may decide to have a photo of your home or family or pet, anything you love. If stripes are your favorites, you can have them in red, green, blue or yellow with white stripes in between. You’ll realize primary colors or soft ones look better.
Measuring
Curtains are available in many different sizes and you have to know the one that should best suit your requirements. That makes it very important to know the size of your windows. Take measurements before you go to procure the curtains. Measure the size with a tape from one outer edge of the frame to the other edge on the outer side. You should also measure the top for the valance as well the middle of the window where the other part will hang. Further, you have to decide by what length the curtain should be hanging. Some people prefer to have a longer fall, while others like to have a neat short length that fits within the frame.
Choose a welcoming style and color that has some warmth and looks charming to visitors. After all, curtains do reflect on the personality of the homeowner.
The Cafe Ambience
Bring home that café ambiance with these wonderfully looking curtains that go well with almost any setting. Despite being simple and quite basic, café curtains bring grace to any window and look great on kitchen windows especially. These can simply be made from a pillowcase and clothespin to the professionally made kind.
Just spend a while online to discover their simple designs and affordable prices. It’s not difficult or time-consuming to search for them online, for the simple reason that their making is so easy and straight that almost everybody dealing with window coverings is there online. And, you will be spoilt for their colors and styles. Try imagining white linen dipped in a cup of tea to get an antiquated look. Such smart ideas give the curtains an old-fashioned look while helping you to hide dust in the process.
Decide On The Rings
One more option that you have while thinking of café curtains is the kind of rings you may like to have. Of course, you get simple brass rings but you may provide them with something as simple as ribbons that are tied to create loops to let the rod pass thru them.
Or for getting a more authentic look, you may have a raw hem or a blanket stitch hem.
Cafe curtains may have a checked pattern or a design at the front side. It will present a nice look to sew a photograph contained in a plastic cover on to the curtain. You may decide to have a photo of your home or family or pet, anything you love. If stripes are your favorites, you can have them in red, green, blue or yellow with white stripes in between. You’ll realize primary colors or soft ones look better.
Measuring
Curtains are available in many different sizes and you have to know the one that should best suit your requirements. That makes it very important to know the size of your windows. Take measurements before you go to procure the curtains. Measure the size with a tape from one outer edge of the frame to the other edge on the outer side. You should also measure the top for the valance as well the middle of the window where the other part will hang. Further, you have to decide by what length the curtain should be hanging. Some people prefer to have a longer fall, while others like to have a neat short length that fits within the frame.
Choose a welcoming style and color that has some warmth and looks charming to visitors. After all, curtains do reflect on the personality of the homeowner.
Thursday
Best Shower Curtains - How To Buy Them
Apart from the material and the design used for curtains, it’s the hanging arrangement that decides the ultimate effect and utility of a shower curtain. There is no dearth of designs for hanging arrangements. Many types of differently styled rods are available. But, you choice of rod would depend upon the design and space of the showering area. Each and every design may not be suitable for your kind of shower. There are special designed or bent rods in the shape of a “D” or an “L”. Here’s a list that covers most of the designs and tells you which suits best to a given design of a shower.
The most common accessory to hang shower curtain is simply a straight or bar rod. They are designed for straightaway hanging and come with the needed hardware for being attached to the walls. You get many standardized shower curtains for being used with such an arrangement. If the design of your shower needs just a rod going from one wall to another, this will work fine.
Curved shower rods can also be used the same way as straight shower rods but they are designed to have a curve in the middle, thus offering more shower space. Curtains for showers can securely be tucked in the tub to prevent spillage of water on the floor. Curved shower rods facilitate additional elbow room in a standard shower.
Then there are L shaped curtain rods that facilitate the bather to adjust the curtain in many different patterns. L shaped curtain rods are made from inch tubing that may be cut to different lengths. Bent sections of tubing are available to create shapes.
Oval shaped rings for shower curtain are shaped for being mounted on a pipe, wall or ceiling. These are helpful in giving you an oval shaped enclosure with your shower curtains.
You may get even a rectangular shape. Generally these are better suited for being used in a freestanding tub like a claw foot tub. Specifically designed curtains are available for such applications; otherwise you’ll need more of standard curtains for such an arrangement.
You may go for Neo angle shower curtain rods which may be cut to a desired size to fit your corner shower
Track shower rods that work like a train track are provided with tracking that is mounted on the ceiling. These have especially designed clips that are attached to the curtain and as you move the curtain these clips move along the provided tracks.
D shaped shower curtain rods comprise of a U shaped tubular section and a straight bar. The two are suitably assembled to get an enclosure in the shape of a D with the aid of your shower curtains. Such an arrangement may need a ceiling support and additional curtains for going around the curved part.
And don't forget, you can get REALLY low prices with open eyelet shower curtains:
The most common accessory to hang shower curtain is simply a straight or bar rod. They are designed for straightaway hanging and come with the needed hardware for being attached to the walls. You get many standardized shower curtains for being used with such an arrangement. If the design of your shower needs just a rod going from one wall to another, this will work fine.
Curved shower rods can also be used the same way as straight shower rods but they are designed to have a curve in the middle, thus offering more shower space. Curtains for showers can securely be tucked in the tub to prevent spillage of water on the floor. Curved shower rods facilitate additional elbow room in a standard shower.
Then there are L shaped curtain rods that facilitate the bather to adjust the curtain in many different patterns. L shaped curtain rods are made from inch tubing that may be cut to different lengths. Bent sections of tubing are available to create shapes.
Oval shaped rings for shower curtain are shaped for being mounted on a pipe, wall or ceiling. These are helpful in giving you an oval shaped enclosure with your shower curtains.
You may get even a rectangular shape. Generally these are better suited for being used in a freestanding tub like a claw foot tub. Specifically designed curtains are available for such applications; otherwise you’ll need more of standard curtains for such an arrangement.
You may go for Neo angle shower curtain rods which may be cut to a desired size to fit your corner shower
Track shower rods that work like a train track are provided with tracking that is mounted on the ceiling. These have especially designed clips that are attached to the curtain and as you move the curtain these clips move along the provided tracks.
D shaped shower curtain rods comprise of a U shaped tubular section and a straight bar. The two are suitably assembled to get an enclosure in the shape of a D with the aid of your shower curtains. Such an arrangement may need a ceiling support and additional curtains for going around the curved part.
And don't forget, you can get REALLY low prices with open eyelet shower curtains:
Saturday
Linen Drapes - A Classy Choice
The interior of a house convey a lot about its occupier. Apart from reflecting on the style and status of the householder, the décor helps to rejuvenate the owner at the end of a long and tiring day. Those are some of the reasons that prompt people to devote time and spend money to decorate the interiors of the house.
Linen drapes offer a convenient and well accepted norm of decorating the interiors to get that grace and ambience. Apart from being stylish they are functional too. The smooth and classic fabric of these curtains, while reflecting on the taste and style of the householder, bring in a charm of their own. The fabric itself lends an air of graciousness to the windows and surroundings. Generally the interior designers use these stylish drapes and curtains without any other embellishment.
You could always lend them a personal touch by blending with the striped or checked combinations. Perhaps you would like to improve further on their appearance. There are decorative accessories like wooden or metallic rods and a variety of patterned clip rings or hooks to heighten the final effect.
The linen graces all types of windows, be it that of a cottage in the countryside or a tropical villa. It doesn’t fail to impart its charm and grace to the window of an ultra-modern flat in a highly urbanized metropolis.
You get these linen drapes in a large variety of texture, shades and styles. Some of them are helpful in reducing the noise level. Another variety is crease and moisture resistant. Well, you have a choice of going in for a drape with a blackout lining as often noticed in the stylish boutique hotels. Many varieties of linen drapes are convenient to use and maintain and come with drapery hooks pre-installed on them. Those with an eye for detailing may opt for a drape with blind stitches and buckram headings. Back tab drapes that are very much in vogue these days, do look irresistible.
We also get drapes with cotton lining. Some manufacturers offer beautifully fashioned panels with a natural variation. This really gives the linen a unique look. Linen drapes with classic borders continue to be as well patronized as ever. With Such drapes the primary fabric runs to 75% of its length while the rest is formed of a border in silk or a complementary shade of linen. Depending on the interiors of your home you may create a combination to bring that touch of class to your room.
That’s an easy and affordable way of adding grace around your place. Their splendid textures and unrivaled durability makes linen drapes a sure way of getting a traditionally unique look to any room of your home, be it a bedroom or a living room.
Linen drapes offer a convenient and well accepted norm of decorating the interiors to get that grace and ambience. Apart from being stylish they are functional too. The smooth and classic fabric of these curtains, while reflecting on the taste and style of the householder, bring in a charm of their own. The fabric itself lends an air of graciousness to the windows and surroundings. Generally the interior designers use these stylish drapes and curtains without any other embellishment.
You could always lend them a personal touch by blending with the striped or checked combinations. Perhaps you would like to improve further on their appearance. There are decorative accessories like wooden or metallic rods and a variety of patterned clip rings or hooks to heighten the final effect.
The linen graces all types of windows, be it that of a cottage in the countryside or a tropical villa. It doesn’t fail to impart its charm and grace to the window of an ultra-modern flat in a highly urbanized metropolis.
You get these linen drapes in a large variety of texture, shades and styles. Some of them are helpful in reducing the noise level. Another variety is crease and moisture resistant. Well, you have a choice of going in for a drape with a blackout lining as often noticed in the stylish boutique hotels. Many varieties of linen drapes are convenient to use and maintain and come with drapery hooks pre-installed on them. Those with an eye for detailing may opt for a drape with blind stitches and buckram headings. Back tab drapes that are very much in vogue these days, do look irresistible.
We also get drapes with cotton lining. Some manufacturers offer beautifully fashioned panels with a natural variation. This really gives the linen a unique look. Linen drapes with classic borders continue to be as well patronized as ever. With Such drapes the primary fabric runs to 75% of its length while the rest is formed of a border in silk or a complementary shade of linen. Depending on the interiors of your home you may create a combination to bring that touch of class to your room.
That’s an easy and affordable way of adding grace around your place. Their splendid textures and unrivaled durability makes linen drapes a sure way of getting a traditionally unique look to any room of your home, be it a bedroom or a living room.
Wednesday
Kitchen Curtains - How To Choose Them?
Kitchen curtains have more of decorative value than a functional utility. For giving your kitchen that right look it’s important to choose the curtains carefully so as not to spoil the décor of the rest of the place. It will be a good decision to go online to view the available options and to narrow down your choice. You need to consider a lot of factors while deciding on these curtains. You will certainly be minimizing your chances of making a wrong decision by spending sometime on going through the check list provided here.
1. Fabric
There is a large variety of fabrics available for curtains. You may have thick cottons or a fine net, lace or voile. Don’t overlook the fact that thinner materials may not offer as much privacy. Another deciding factor for fabric would be washing and up keeping. Be prepared to hand wash the finer fabrics.
2. Color
Though there is an endless choice of colors, you wouldn’t like to create a mismatch of colors. The basic choice is fixed before hand by the shade and color of tiles already installed in the kitchen. In case the tiles have a neutral color, you might have a wider choice! Warm neutral colors include terracotta, beige or cream whereas cool neutral tile colors imply black, cool grey or white and silver.
3. Design
There is a very vast variety of designs here. You may have floral, striped, plaid or an abstract design. Keep in mind the overall style and effect that you might like to impart. Do you want to get a modern-day look or be happier with a retro? Should it project a country cottage look or that of a city apartment? Need it be colorful or monochromatic?
4. Type of Curtain
Curtains for the kitchen may be full length, window length or even café type. They may have different types of headings and various valances as well as tie backs. Follow the thumb rule: The more contemporary the look, the simpler the curtains should be with plain headings or tab tops. Visualize a country look. That would go well with frills and valances. On the other hand a simpler look facilitates an easy washing and re-hanging. You may indulge in some browsing to view the type of curtains to choose from. Use your imagination and visualize how your kitchen, with its present color-scheme, would look in different types of drapes.
5. Price
Do check the pricing to confirm if it suits your budget and the worthiness of its quality.
6. Maintenance
You may already be aware that the atmosphere in the kitchen is far different than the rest of your home. It causes kitchen curtains to get dirty fast and that calls for frequent washing. Wouldn’t it be more convenient to have draperies that can be machine washed? The finer materials may necessarily demand hand washing. Depending on the fabric, some curtains may shrink on washing. Check before hand if the fabric has already been pre-shrunk; else keep a slight margin for shrinkage while taking measurements.
7. Decorative or Functional
Do you want the curtains just to get an added decorative look by framing the window or you would like open and close them very often. That would primarily decide the type and size of curtains you should have. If you economize on the fabric you could have better fabric or some extraordinary designs within the same budget.
8. Right Size
Make sure to have right sized curtains. Short window length curtains are desirable for cooking or food preparation area. This goes well with the informal looks of the kitchens.
To have more of light in your work-area, while still framing your windows, you could extend the curtain rods, rails or poles slightly beyond the edge of the window. That lets in more light when the curtains are drawn back.
9. Safety
You just can’t afford to neglect safety in kitchen for the sake of aesthetics. Choose the right fabric and ensure to keep the curtains away from flame or cooker. Make use of simple or roman blinds to create a partition for windows near a cooker.
10. Ready-made or Custom
If the size of your window permits using readymade curtains you’ll save some money as the ready made ones are cut to standard window sizes. Else, you have to get them made to suit your specifications. There are quite a few online stores, which offer the services of making the curtains as per your measurements.
1. Fabric
There is a large variety of fabrics available for curtains. You may have thick cottons or a fine net, lace or voile. Don’t overlook the fact that thinner materials may not offer as much privacy. Another deciding factor for fabric would be washing and up keeping. Be prepared to hand wash the finer fabrics.
2. Color
Though there is an endless choice of colors, you wouldn’t like to create a mismatch of colors. The basic choice is fixed before hand by the shade and color of tiles already installed in the kitchen. In case the tiles have a neutral color, you might have a wider choice! Warm neutral colors include terracotta, beige or cream whereas cool neutral tile colors imply black, cool grey or white and silver.
3. Design
There is a very vast variety of designs here. You may have floral, striped, plaid or an abstract design. Keep in mind the overall style and effect that you might like to impart. Do you want to get a modern-day look or be happier with a retro? Should it project a country cottage look or that of a city apartment? Need it be colorful or monochromatic?
4. Type of Curtain
Curtains for the kitchen may be full length, window length or even café type. They may have different types of headings and various valances as well as tie backs. Follow the thumb rule: The more contemporary the look, the simpler the curtains should be with plain headings or tab tops. Visualize a country look. That would go well with frills and valances. On the other hand a simpler look facilitates an easy washing and re-hanging. You may indulge in some browsing to view the type of curtains to choose from. Use your imagination and visualize how your kitchen, with its present color-scheme, would look in different types of drapes.
5. Price
Do check the pricing to confirm if it suits your budget and the worthiness of its quality.
6. Maintenance
You may already be aware that the atmosphere in the kitchen is far different than the rest of your home. It causes kitchen curtains to get dirty fast and that calls for frequent washing. Wouldn’t it be more convenient to have draperies that can be machine washed? The finer materials may necessarily demand hand washing. Depending on the fabric, some curtains may shrink on washing. Check before hand if the fabric has already been pre-shrunk; else keep a slight margin for shrinkage while taking measurements.
7. Decorative or Functional
Do you want the curtains just to get an added decorative look by framing the window or you would like open and close them very often. That would primarily decide the type and size of curtains you should have. If you economize on the fabric you could have better fabric or some extraordinary designs within the same budget.
8. Right Size
Make sure to have right sized curtains. Short window length curtains are desirable for cooking or food preparation area. This goes well with the informal looks of the kitchens.
To have more of light in your work-area, while still framing your windows, you could extend the curtain rods, rails or poles slightly beyond the edge of the window. That lets in more light when the curtains are drawn back.
9. Safety
You just can’t afford to neglect safety in kitchen for the sake of aesthetics. Choose the right fabric and ensure to keep the curtains away from flame or cooker. Make use of simple or roman blinds to create a partition for windows near a cooker.
10. Ready-made or Custom
If the size of your window permits using readymade curtains you’ll save some money as the ready made ones are cut to standard window sizes. Else, you have to get them made to suit your specifications. There are quite a few online stores, which offer the services of making the curtains as per your measurements.
Saturday
Your Curtains Deserve Professional Look
Most of the householders love taking care of the house. There are many ways and materials available for improving upon the looks of any room to give it a warm personalized look to welcome visitors. Inclusion of certain accessories not only imparts good looks to the room, but also reflects on the style and taste of the occupant.
One of the most basic and common accessory that goes a long way to give an impressive look to your room would be the addition of curtains. Though essentially needed for maintaining privacy, they serve other purposes too. There is an almost endless variety of colors for curtains and a very vast variety of materials used for making them. Venetian blinds can also be classified as curtains and offer a variety of colors and styles.
Variety Of Hangings Are Available:
Curtains definitely add an altogether different grace to the surroundings. They may be styled and used as track curtains or layered ones. Track curtains impart a more formal look to the room and can be drawn by a draw cord. Track curtains also offer a Bay option that keeps them flowing between adjacent windows. However, removing and fixing back of such curtains is a bit tedious and requires you to make a note of the position of their hooks.
Curtains are usefully employed to control the amount of incoming sunlight, and thus avoid glares while sleeping during the day or when you are watching an interesting program of your choice on the tube.
Curtains are also used for improving the aesthetics of a room. An elegant curtain gives a sense of dimension and richness to the room. Conversely, a disheveled dirty or ill matched curtain imparts a very gloomy look to the room. You have to be extra careful if the window of you room overlooks a street, for in such cases the curtains would be observed by the passers by. The underside of such curtains needs a better consideration.
Rooms which get insufficient sunlight can be made to look brighter by suitably choosing the fabric of the curtains. On the other hand, if you get too much of sunlight thru your windows, you should have a fabric that can retain its colors and doesn’t get faded too soon. It is important to block excessive sunlight as prolonged exposure to sunlight may damage your interiors that include the carpets and the furniture.
Color is a very dominating factor in deciding the choice and application any curtain. As they swing the mood of the surroundings, one has to choose of the color of a curtain according to the location of a window or a door in a room to be adorned with a curtain. As you may perhaps visualize that a children’s room or any other place associated with fun would look a lot lively if colorful bright curtains are used therein. On the other hand a study room or a place earmarked for relaxation should be provided with curtains in a color scheme that enhances the relaxation or sets the mood for study. You couldn’t have colorful or bright curtains here. The fabric should also be decided, keeping in mind the activity associated with the room. There is a mind-blowing variety of colors, fabrics and designs to suit different moods like fun, serious or serene.
Curtains made with panels that are shirred on rods or poles at both the ends offer another choice. As this style of curtains restricts their frequent opening or closing, they are more suited for places that need privacy. Curtain styles would include the tiers, embroidery, swags or scalloped edges. You may opt for French country toile, gingham or lace. Then, we have curtain panels that facilitate changing over of curtains as per the season.
Before making a final choice, you should be able to visualize the ultimate effect, keeping in mind the feel you would like to give to any room.
One of the most basic and common accessory that goes a long way to give an impressive look to your room would be the addition of curtains. Though essentially needed for maintaining privacy, they serve other purposes too. There is an almost endless variety of colors for curtains and a very vast variety of materials used for making them. Venetian blinds can also be classified as curtains and offer a variety of colors and styles.
Variety Of Hangings Are Available:
Curtains definitely add an altogether different grace to the surroundings. They may be styled and used as track curtains or layered ones. Track curtains impart a more formal look to the room and can be drawn by a draw cord. Track curtains also offer a Bay option that keeps them flowing between adjacent windows. However, removing and fixing back of such curtains is a bit tedious and requires you to make a note of the position of their hooks.
Curtains are usefully employed to control the amount of incoming sunlight, and thus avoid glares while sleeping during the day or when you are watching an interesting program of your choice on the tube.
Curtains are also used for improving the aesthetics of a room. An elegant curtain gives a sense of dimension and richness to the room. Conversely, a disheveled dirty or ill matched curtain imparts a very gloomy look to the room. You have to be extra careful if the window of you room overlooks a street, for in such cases the curtains would be observed by the passers by. The underside of such curtains needs a better consideration.
Rooms which get insufficient sunlight can be made to look brighter by suitably choosing the fabric of the curtains. On the other hand, if you get too much of sunlight thru your windows, you should have a fabric that can retain its colors and doesn’t get faded too soon. It is important to block excessive sunlight as prolonged exposure to sunlight may damage your interiors that include the carpets and the furniture.
Color is a very dominating factor in deciding the choice and application any curtain. As they swing the mood of the surroundings, one has to choose of the color of a curtain according to the location of a window or a door in a room to be adorned with a curtain. As you may perhaps visualize that a children’s room or any other place associated with fun would look a lot lively if colorful bright curtains are used therein. On the other hand a study room or a place earmarked for relaxation should be provided with curtains in a color scheme that enhances the relaxation or sets the mood for study. You couldn’t have colorful or bright curtains here. The fabric should also be decided, keeping in mind the activity associated with the room. There is a mind-blowing variety of colors, fabrics and designs to suit different moods like fun, serious or serene.
Curtains made with panels that are shirred on rods or poles at both the ends offer another choice. As this style of curtains restricts their frequent opening or closing, they are more suited for places that need privacy. Curtain styles would include the tiers, embroidery, swags or scalloped edges. You may opt for French country toile, gingham or lace. Then, we have curtain panels that facilitate changing over of curtains as per the season.
Before making a final choice, you should be able to visualize the ultimate effect, keeping in mind the feel you would like to give to any room.
Friday
Blackout Curtains - That's What You Need
It is common that most of the people like to have a dark room even during the day, but not pitch dark to the extent that you can’t see a hand in front of your face.
What they really wish to have is a very dark room, yet be able to look for their way to the bathroom without hitting or stumbling upon anything on the way.
So how do you create a dark room with such a character?
No.1
Make use of blackout linings with your curtains, that was too obvious a point to be mentioned? Why not make a DIY project out of that. You may do it yourself, if you like doing sewing. Else, hire the services of a skilled worker and get it done while making new curtains for you. In fact a skilled worker would be able to do just that on your existing curtains too.
No.2
Have a valance or pelmet on top of your curtains. For hanging of curtains use a wooden top board. Now, what’s a top board, you may ask. It’s just a simple piece of wood, generally fifteen centimeters wide with a thickness of 1-8 cm and length equal to the length of your window. It is fixed on the wall above the window thru a simple L shaped shelf bracket. Keep it about 15-20 cm above your window. The valance sits on the narrow edge of the board with a Velcro tape whereas the curtain rail is fixed below the board.
There are two benefits to that: Curtains hang better, giving a more organized look and the other benefit is that the board blocks the light coming in from the top of the curtains.
No. 3
Once again coming back to the outside edges of your blackout curtain back on the wall. What does that mean; usually your curtains hang on a curtain rail, with the outside edges sitting against the wall on either side of your window. The problem is that light can still filter through the small gap. To eliminate that, fix a pelmet board as described above. Before you hang out your top treatment, sort out the outer edges of the curtain. You have to fix a metal screw eye into the underside of the top board. The metal screw eye should be so fixed that it remains as close to the wall as possible and at the same time be a few cm inside of each end of the board.
Then, fasten the last curtain hook on the outermost edge of your curtain to the metal screw eye. This small trick pushes and fixes the outer edges of your curtains back against the wall; as a consequence there is no scope for light to filter thru the edges of the curtain.
No. 4
Next, your curtain rails need slight modification so that they overlap in the middle. This calls for two curtain rods, each half the width of your window plus 15cm. So, if you have a top board is 200cm long then you need 2 rails at 115cm long. Now you begin to wonder why two rods of shorter lengths? Simply, because we want the curtains to overlap in the middle! Yes, you are right. It is to block that small beam of light that comes thru the point where two curtains meet. Here’s, how to achieve that. Fix one rail towards the back of your top board and the other a few cm's further forward. That way your hanging curtains will overlap each other when drawn together, thereby blocking all the light.
Hopefully, this article proves helpful in having your own blackout curtains. Well, as always, you need to spare time and have the inclination of doing such small projects.
What they really wish to have is a very dark room, yet be able to look for their way to the bathroom without hitting or stumbling upon anything on the way.
So how do you create a dark room with such a character?
No.1
Make use of blackout linings with your curtains, that was too obvious a point to be mentioned? Why not make a DIY project out of that. You may do it yourself, if you like doing sewing. Else, hire the services of a skilled worker and get it done while making new curtains for you. In fact a skilled worker would be able to do just that on your existing curtains too.
No.2
Have a valance or pelmet on top of your curtains. For hanging of curtains use a wooden top board. Now, what’s a top board, you may ask. It’s just a simple piece of wood, generally fifteen centimeters wide with a thickness of 1-8 cm and length equal to the length of your window. It is fixed on the wall above the window thru a simple L shaped shelf bracket. Keep it about 15-20 cm above your window. The valance sits on the narrow edge of the board with a Velcro tape whereas the curtain rail is fixed below the board.
There are two benefits to that: Curtains hang better, giving a more organized look and the other benefit is that the board blocks the light coming in from the top of the curtains.
No. 3
Once again coming back to the outside edges of your blackout curtain back on the wall. What does that mean; usually your curtains hang on a curtain rail, with the outside edges sitting against the wall on either side of your window. The problem is that light can still filter through the small gap. To eliminate that, fix a pelmet board as described above. Before you hang out your top treatment, sort out the outer edges of the curtain. You have to fix a metal screw eye into the underside of the top board. The metal screw eye should be so fixed that it remains as close to the wall as possible and at the same time be a few cm inside of each end of the board.
Then, fasten the last curtain hook on the outermost edge of your curtain to the metal screw eye. This small trick pushes and fixes the outer edges of your curtains back against the wall; as a consequence there is no scope for light to filter thru the edges of the curtain.
No. 4
Next, your curtain rails need slight modification so that they overlap in the middle. This calls for two curtain rods, each half the width of your window plus 15cm. So, if you have a top board is 200cm long then you need 2 rails at 115cm long. Now you begin to wonder why two rods of shorter lengths? Simply, because we want the curtains to overlap in the middle! Yes, you are right. It is to block that small beam of light that comes thru the point where two curtains meet. Here’s, how to achieve that. Fix one rail towards the back of your top board and the other a few cm's further forward. That way your hanging curtains will overlap each other when drawn together, thereby blocking all the light.
Hopefully, this article proves helpful in having your own blackout curtains. Well, as always, you need to spare time and have the inclination of doing such small projects.
Tuesday
How to Pick Out the Perfect Set of Drapes
On entering a room the first thing you are likely to notice is the window and the kind of treatment it has been given. You just can't miss if the windows have the drapes that really fit the room or not. At times you might have wondered how tough it could have been for the householder to narrow down the choice to such beautiful set of drapes. If you are thinking about getting some blinds, curtains or drapes for yourself, read on, I can help you make your choice.
Deciding on the kind of drapes that you need is not such a big deal. You just need to bear in mind the overall style of room and the amount you are willing to spend. The amount would depend upon the size of the windows and the type of fabric you decide to have. The fabric should give the desired look to your room and then you have to look at several different styles till you hit upon that perfect style for each window.
Here are some of the different styles you could get:
Embroidered or Laced Drapes: These always look pleasant in old-fashioned kind of living rooms, as well in bedrooms. They bring around a romantic, old-fashioned sense to their surroundings. They are available in very many colors but whites or shades of white appear to be the most popular.
Sheer drapes simply give a classic look. These could be used in isolation or be paired up with other thicker drapes.
Pinch and pleated drapes are available in a range of different types of fabrics including chenille velvet and even mixed blends of cotton and polyester.
Silk drapes are frequently made from silk. Yet, you may have silk drapes that aren't made from pure silk. Some have simple cuts and are free flowing. There are silk drapes decorated with ruffles that give them a more loving look.
Over and above all those mentioned above, insulated drapes are also available. A lining makes them insulated. This lining acts as an insulator and provides warmth in winter while during summers it helps to keep away the hot sunrays from heating the house.
Lined and insulated curtains not only help us to economize on heating and cooling costs but also help to block out more sun than traditional drapes do. They have the added advantage of blocking out sound and provide you with a better sense of security. With your drapes closed you can sit next to a window without anybody knowing it, provided those are lined. That gives you a better sense of privacy and thus security.
Another feature of these lined drapes that you can't afford to ignore is that they would generally last 10 to 15 times more than those, which are not lined. So, even if the initial investment is more than an average pair of drapes, you are sure to save money in the long run.
With such an array of drapes, one has to consider a lot of factors before rushing out to the store for buying those. You have to have a clear idea of what you are looking for; keeping in mind the space you are going to cover. Once you are armed with that kind of information the going gets easier and all you are left to decide is the kind of curtain accessories you would like to have.
Deciding on the kind of drapes that you need is not such a big deal. You just need to bear in mind the overall style of room and the amount you are willing to spend. The amount would depend upon the size of the windows and the type of fabric you decide to have. The fabric should give the desired look to your room and then you have to look at several different styles till you hit upon that perfect style for each window.
Here are some of the different styles you could get:
Embroidered or Laced Drapes: These always look pleasant in old-fashioned kind of living rooms, as well in bedrooms. They bring around a romantic, old-fashioned sense to their surroundings. They are available in very many colors but whites or shades of white appear to be the most popular.
Sheer drapes simply give a classic look. These could be used in isolation or be paired up with other thicker drapes.
Pinch and pleated drapes are available in a range of different types of fabrics including chenille velvet and even mixed blends of cotton and polyester.
Silk drapes are frequently made from silk. Yet, you may have silk drapes that aren't made from pure silk. Some have simple cuts and are free flowing. There are silk drapes decorated with ruffles that give them a more loving look.
Over and above all those mentioned above, insulated drapes are also available. A lining makes them insulated. This lining acts as an insulator and provides warmth in winter while during summers it helps to keep away the hot sunrays from heating the house.
Lined and insulated curtains not only help us to economize on heating and cooling costs but also help to block out more sun than traditional drapes do. They have the added advantage of blocking out sound and provide you with a better sense of security. With your drapes closed you can sit next to a window without anybody knowing it, provided those are lined. That gives you a better sense of privacy and thus security.
Another feature of these lined drapes that you can't afford to ignore is that they would generally last 10 to 15 times more than those, which are not lined. So, even if the initial investment is more than an average pair of drapes, you are sure to save money in the long run.
With such an array of drapes, one has to consider a lot of factors before rushing out to the store for buying those. You have to have a clear idea of what you are looking for; keeping in mind the space you are going to cover. Once you are armed with that kind of information the going gets easier and all you are left to decide is the kind of curtain accessories you would like to have.
Labels:
blinds,
curtains,
decoration,
draperies,
drapes,
shutters,
window treatments
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Google uses the Doubleclick DART cookie to serve ads across it's Adsense network and you can get further information regarding the DART cookie at oubleclick as well as opt out options at Google's Privacy Center.
Privacy
I respect your privacy and I am committed to safeguarding your privacy while online at this site http://drapesandcurtains.blogspot.com/ The following discloses how I gather and disseminate information for this Blog.
RSS Feeds and Email Updates
If a user wishes to subscribe to my RSS Feeds or Email Updates (powered by Feedburner), I ask for contact information such as name and email address. Users may opt-out of these communications at any time. Your personal information will never be sold or given to a third party. (You will never be spammed by me - ever)
Log Files and Stats
Like most blogging platforms I use log files, in this case Statcounter. This stores information such as internet protocol (IP) addresses, browser type, internet service provider (ISP), referring, exit and visited pages, platform used, date/time stamp, track user’s movement in the whole, and gather broad demographic information for aggregate use. IP addresses etc. are not linked to personally identifiable information.
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This Blog contains links to other sites. Please be aware that I am not responsible for the privacy practices of these other sites. I suggest my users to be aware of this when they leave this blog and to read the privacy statements of each and every site that collects personally identifiable information. This privacy statement applies solely to information collected by this Blog.
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About
Drapes And Curtains was established in 2009 to help you to learn about draperies and interior decoration in general. A good choice of window treatments can mean a lot to your home atmosphere and the quality of your life. I hope I can provide you with some useful information about anything related to curtains, drapes and blinds.
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