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Say ‘No’ to Store-Bought Draperies and Curtains

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There are so many things you can do to improve your home without professional help to save money. You can paint the interior of your home on your own, you can sew your own throw pillow covers, create art for the walls, and more. But draperies? That’s a different story. We’re going to break it down here why you should never buy the store-bought kind, and why you should hire a professional to install them.

1. Drapery Quality

When shopping in a chain store for a ready-made set of draperies, you will find that the quality is just not there, when compared to that of a window treatment company’s materials. They are sometimes sewed wrong, have pulls in the fabric, are puckered and hang funny–you name it! Even the touch and feel of the materials isn’t always up to par.

Jabot Window Coverings and Interiors Vancouver

2. Custom Sizing

Height

Not all windows, doors, and ceiling heights are created equal.

Most curtain manufacturers that sell at big box stores–and even fancy boutiques–only sell two sizes: 84-inch panels, which are too short for a room with 8-foot ceilings, or 96-inch panels, which are far too long. Buying ready-made, store-bought draperies means you most likely have to hem them to the correct height. Or add on material, which we do not recommend!

custom draperies length

Width

Most store-bought curtain panels are between 45-54 inches wide. If you have a large window in the middle of your living room (that’s larger than say 36 inches wide), two panels will not cut it. You’re looking at three or four panels, depending on the size of your window, but who’s to be sure?

The width of your draperies should actually be about 2.5 to 3 times the width of your window to create the proper look of fullness when hung. On top of that, do you know how wide you should be hanging your hardware? If you want that room to pop, you’re going to want to hang your draperies wide, but only an Interior Designer or drapery expert will know what’s best.

3. Drapery lining

Drapery lining is the key to making your window treatment look and feel high quality. If you are buying some off-the-rack curtains, they will not come with lining, and you may be highly disappointed when you hang them.

If you’re hanging curtains in a bedroom, you likely want them to be blackout curtains, and most curtains without lining will not block out the light in order for you to get that restful sleep you are hoping for. If you’ve taken a close look at the ready-made curtains in stores that actually have drapery lining, you’ll notice that it is cheap, thin cotton lining. Custom lined drapery has the liner sewn directly into the panel and definitely has a quality weight to it.

Do we have you convinced?

Of course, here at Jabot Interiors, we are drapery snobs, and want to save you from all of the mass-produced low-quality curtains out there! We want you to have the best of the best when it comes to custom drapery, and have people be impressed when they walk into your home.

We hope you think of us when you’re planning custom draperies for your home. You can view our work, and contact us when you’re ready to start on your next home improvement project.

custom draperies

Custom Draperies for a Custom Home

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One of our clients recently had a home custom done by Sophie Burke Design.

They called on us to assist with making their client’s custom draperies to complement their custom home.

white linen custom draperies

This client requested clean, simple lines and mentioned that they loved natural linens.

That’s why we did beautiful soft white linen drapes with ripple fold pleats, lending itself to a modern look with neat lines.

white linen custom draperies

white linen custom draperies

If you’re interested in creating a custom look for your home, feel free to take a look at some of our work and contact us to let us know what you’re looking for. We’d be happy to talk to you about custom window treatments.

Window Treatment of the Week: Vignettes

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This week, we’re featuring Vignette Roman Shades as our window Treatment of the Week. We hope you caught our first instalment from Charlene on Pirouettes last week!

Vignettes: Modern Roman Shades

Vignette Modern Roman Shades feature consistent folds and no exposed rear cords, keeping windows uncluttered. You can choose from different fold styles and sizes, and a horizontal or vertical orientation.

vignette window treatment

Here are some of the benefits of the Hunter Douglas Vignette Roman Shades:

  • They reduce outside noise

Improve your room’s acoustics while reducing the intensity of outside sound. It starts at the windows. Simple. The degree of sound control will depend on the fabric you choose, so if this is an important feature to you, be sure to discuss it with your sales expert.

  • Keep cool in the summer, warm in the winter

The most energy-efficient version of the classic Vignette design is the Architella – these shades trap air, creating an extra layer of insulation to keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter.

  • Privacy with a view

The Top-Down/Bottom-Up feature offers a more versatile approach to light control. Open from the top, from the bottom, or find somewhere in-between–for the perfect balance of privacy and light.

You can choose from 3 Different Operating Systems:

  • The PowerView wireless operating system gives you the power to control and schedule your Hunter Douglas window treatments from your smartphone, tablet, or a remote control.
  • The LiteRise operating system makes raising and lowering blinds and shades easier than ever. Simply push up to raise and pull down to lower. Your blinds and shades stay right where you put them.
  • The UltraGlide system features a unique retractable cord mechanism to raise and lower the window shade or shading. A constant cord length means there are never any long, dangling cords to detract from the appearance of the shade. Ideal for child and pet safety.

 

All photos from hunterdouglas.ca.

Jabot Window Coverings and Interiors Vancouver

A Guide to Choosing the Perfect Window Treatments for your Home

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There are so many decisions to make when choosing window treatments… where do you begin?

All of the choices can be overwhelming (like are you wanting functional window treatments or decorative ones?), which is why we’re here to help.

Colour

Whatever window treatments you choose, they need to match the room, but you have two options to consider: do you want your curtains to blend in with the room, or do you want them to be the main focal point? If you’re blending to match the room, you can just choose a colour a few shades darker than the walls. You also have to consider where the sun shines in, and if you are using unlined curtains, it will change the look of the room. Sun will also eventually fade the fabric, too. If your room gets a lot of light, a bright colour might not be the best idea.

Jabot Window Coverings and Interiors Vancouver

Fabric

Your fabric should match the theme, or mood of the room. For a casual space, you can choose billowy linen curtains, or a for a more formal space, you can opt for velvet, or heavy silk. More practical options are rayon, cotton, or a wool blend, that can all work with most types of decor. But Linen, silk, faux silk, and velvet tend to hang the best.

Length

Floor-length, and even touching the floor, is usually the way to go, or hovering half an inch above the floor will look clean and tailored. Don’t go too short; it will look awkward. You can also opt for a longer curtain, that breaks at the floor–this is a more traditional look. They can be anywhere from one to six inches extra in length to drape on the floor.

Jabot Window Coverings and Interiors Vancouver

Width

Width is just as important as length! There are a few exceptions, like if you don’t plan to close the curtains, but generally they should have a combined width that is 2 to 2½ times the width of the window. If you want the curtains to block out the sun, a few extra inches on either side of the window frame will help block out the light.

Lining

If you’re looking to block out the light and create some privacy, lined curtains are what you’re after. They’ll also shield your curtains from fading from the sun, and protect against drafts. There is also something called interlining, too, which is an extra layer of fabric sewn in between the lining and fabric that faces the room. This is an option if you want the light completely blocked out, and the maximum amount of insulation as possible. If you’re doing custom curtains, interlining is an option, but if you’re opting for ready-made curtain panels, it may not be an available option.

Jabot Window Coverings and Interiors Vancouver

Tiebacks

Do you want to pull the curtains aside for more light, for a beautiful view, or for a more formal look? Then yes, opt for tiebacks. A simple option is tying the curtain in the centre of the window with matching fabric or a ribbon, or pulling them aside with a fabric tieback that matches the curtain. Ropes and tassels can offer a fancier look.

There are so many things to consider, which is why you should trust a professional. Contact us to book an appointment, or drop into our shop in West Vancouver.