Posts

Get to know Jabot: 5 Questions with Ricci-Lee Ingram

/in /by

As part of our “Get to know Jabot” series, we are speaking with the ladies behind Jabot Interiors to learn a little bit more about them, and how they got to where they are now. A few weeks ago, we sat down with Charlene Ingram, owner of Jabot Interiors, and asked her a few questions about why she got into this business–this week, we we’re chatting with her daughter and Design Consultant, Ricci-Lee Ingram.

ricci-lee-ingram-2

Q: How did you get into design?

I grew up with it. My mom managed a window covering business when I was young and I spent many nights with her in the office labeling boxes, “helping” her put ideas together and playing in the showroom.

Q: Did you always know you would work with your Mom? Why did you go into business with her?

I didn’t have a plan to work with her; I had spent a year in college and wasn’t enjoying it so when my mom asked if I wanted to be her assistant, I decided to give it a try.

Q: What have you learned working with your Mom?

Everything I know I learned from her, but the biggest thing is her positive attitude and great work ethic, I would like to think that a little of that rubbed off on me.

Q: What are your favourite and least favourite parts about working with family?

I like that we can be really honest with each other without worrying about hurt feelings, and having that great support system in place. I would say my least favourite is how it limits the quality of our “down time” together; the business portion always seems to invade our personal time.

Q: How are you inspired in your work?

I get inspired by a challenge, throw a difficult window or a tight budget at me and let me run with it.

Thank you Ricci! It seems like these ladies have a wonderful personal, and working, relationship with one another!

Get to know Jabot: 5 Questions with Charlene Ingram

/in /by

Charlene Ingram

We wanted you to really get to know the people behind the scenes at Jabot Interiors, so we did a Q & A session with Design Consultant and Owner of Jabot Interiors, Charlene Ingram.

Q: What made you get into interior design, and make the jump to opening your own business?

I always loved decorating from the time I was a young girl, I naturally just followed my passion. I worked for a large window covering chain for 3 years and ended up managing the North Vancouver location. I learned the the ins and outs of business there, but eventually, I knew I would be running something of my own. When I turned 30, I made the leap.

Q: How has your business changed over the years?

We started out with just window coverings which is the main part of our business, however, we have evolved into doing interior design as well. There are so many options of window coverings and ways that people do business, find business etc., that it’s not as simple anymore.

Q: What is the biggest thing you have learned in your 26 years of running Jabot Interiors?

That by trusting and believing in yourself you can make it happen, always!

Q: Where do you receive your inspiration?

Everywhere I look–and pictures of interiors. When I do a clients home, I do it from what I feel in the home, from them, and the space they have. I know it sounds funny to some, but when I am in the space, I intuitively get a connection to what it needs, and what I know the client will love. This is what is inspirational to me and when the client lets me run with it, it is very satisfying. I just feel sure; I don’t think, I know.

Q: What is your favourite part about owning your own business?

The freedom of making choices and decisions of your own.

Thank you for taking the time, Charlene!

Drapery Do’s and Don’t’s

/in /by

Custom draperies are one of the best options for decorating your rooms. But there are a lot of things to consider before you invest a considerable amount of money on custom draperies. It is a good idea to really communicate with your decorator/designer so they know what you want and you know what to expect. Here, we discuss some thumb rules for choosing your custom drapery.

Do’s:

Measure
Custom drapes should fit perfectly to your window and for that, you need to make the drapes of correct length. Otherwise, it might look out of place and completely destroy the look of the room.

Choose your lining
It is important to choose a lining based on the type of fabric you have chosen. Some fabrics don’t look as nice with light filtering through so make sure you look at that before you make the drape. Silks and linens can break down in harsh sunlight so make sure you use the right protective lining so you get the longevity out of them. If you are doing a side panel that is half on the wall and half over the window then consider lining it in a room darkening fabric so that when you look at it the fabric looks consistent, half of it isn’t dark and the other half light where the light filters through.

custom drapes Vancouver

Custom drapes installed in a Vancouver home

Don’t’s:

Hanging the drapery rod too low
This is a very common mistake and will cause your room look smaller. If you hang the drapes to their recommended height, you will draw the eye up and make the room look as tall as possible.

Not enough ease
Your drapes should hang freely and not look like they are stretched to their limit. Drapes are supposed to hang relaxed. If you are just doing a side panel and not a fully closing drape then add in some extra width so you can stack it back a little and make it look like it does close.

Other things to keep in mind

How a fabric hangs
Some fabrics “billow” when you use them for draperies and some fabrics wrinkle so make the one you choose is the right one for your room. Linens usually wrinkle, so avoid them if you want wrinkle free drapes.

At Jabot Interiors, we can help you choose the right, and cost effective drapes, for your home in Greater Vancouver. Call us for any interior design related queries today.

Jabot Window Coverings and Interiors Vancouver

How to do blackout drapes the right way

/in /by

Blackout drapes are a nice way to block out light in your room. These drapes are especially useful if you need to catch some sleep during the daytime, or in northern regions where the sun remains up for more than 20 hours a day. Blackout curtains are also more efficient than regular blinds for home theatre systems.

If you can prepare blackout drapes in the right way, they can block up to 99% of the incident light. Blackout drapes are an energy efficient way to control light in your bedroom, and also can keep light and heat away from your living room during the summer. Thus, investing in a good pair of blackout drapes has several benefits.

When choosing a blackout drape, you have the freedom of choosing any fabric on the front as what really matters is the lining and the mounting of the drape. The most easy and efficient way to create a blackout drape is adding a blackout lining behind the drape. Another thing to keep in mind when choosing a blackout drape is that decorative hardware is a strict no-no. Decorative hardware cancels out the effect of blackout linings by letting in light through the gap between the wall and the rod. For blackout drapes, a rod or a track that is mounted directly on the ceiling is the best option, as the light gaps are reduced. You can also make a valance and mount your drape underneath that.

When closing the drapes, you must overlap them so that minimal light comes through the juncture where they meet in the middle. Also, you should tuck in your drapes back to the wall or stretch them from wall to wall so that there is no gap on the sides from where light can enter. You should take care to tuck in your drapes on the downside near the floor, to reduce light gaps there too.

At Jabot Interiors, we can help you create the perfect custom blackout drapery for your bedroom. We have a range of blackout linings that match with different fabrics and home décor. Why not drop by our showroom in West Vancouver and check out our awesome collection of blackout drapes.

Get to know Jabot

/in /by

The doors to Jabot Window Coverings & Interiors opened April Fools Day 1990. My friends and family thought I was crazy starting a business during a recession, but 25 1/2 years later, here we are, and the home decor industry is bigger than ever!

Read more →