Don't use that tone with me!

If you have children (or a spouse), I'll bet you have said it.  Hopefully you've never heard it from one of your clients! 

Choosing color is a huge part of your job.  Believe me when I say I can't do it and I certainly won't be lecturing you on how to do it.  But I do like to follow the latest color trends.

A few months ago, Naomi Harel of Invision Design Partners had an article in her newsletter about Pantone's 2013 Spring color forecast.  She included the picture below with the 10 color predictions.  Naomi suggested we had seen some, if not all, of these colors on the red carpet at the Emmys the night before.  I went looking for the dresses (she was right!) and then got the idea to see if these colors would make an appearance on "my runway" (my workroom table) in the upcoming months.  Look what I've seen so far. 

 

Kelly Osbourne and a window seat cushion in a young girl's room share the color African Violet.  According to Pantone, exotic African Violet is a statement color that brings a touch of intrigue to the palette.  Do you think that's true of Kelly's hair, too?  

 

  

Pantone says Nectarine is a bright, effervescent citrus orange with coral undertones providing a tangy burst of flavor and cheerful Lemon Zest brings out a piquant taste with its refreshing, spritely greenish cast.  While Padma Lakshmi and Julianne Moore looked beautiful in their gowns, I think both of these colors are perfect as trims at the bottom of relaxed roman shades.

    

Signifying the time of day when everything starts to wind down, Pantone says Dusk Blue offers a calming sense of serenity.  That is the perfect choice for Zooey Deschanel and this bedding ensemble.  Sweet dreams! 

   

Exuberant Poppy Red is a seductive, sensual and celebratory shade according to Pantone.  These dining room panels are perfect for the next holiday celebration or family party.  Wouldn't Kat Dennings be a nice addition to the guest list?

   

   

The prevalence of green in the spring forecast is undeniable.  As with the many shades of green in nature, Pantone says this season's greens offer a stunning foreground or the perfect backdrop for all other hues.  Like the first signs of spring, Tender Shoots, a vibrant yellow-green, is invigorating, active and cheerful.  Julie Bowen and this pillow would brighten up any room!   

    

  

Sophisticated Emerald is a lively, radiant green inspiring insight and clarity while enhancing our sense of well-being.  Emerald was chosen as the Pantone 2013 color of the year.  Sofia Vergara looks divine in it.  I haven't seen it on my table yet, but if you are looking for a workroom that can transform your Emerald fabric, contact me at peggy@parkwaywindowworks.com and I'll insert the picture of your project here!

The "Other Repeat"

The vertical pattern repeat is used to calculate how much fabric is needed for a project.  If you have used an on-line yardage calculator, when you are asked to enter the pattern repeat, they mean the vertical pattern repeat.  Some fabric companies only give one repeat in their specifications.  It is always the vertical pattern repeat.  That is because you can't sell a project without knowing how much fabric is required!  

I like fabric companies that also specify the "other repeat" -- the horizontal repeat.  Although the horizontal repeat is rarely used in yardage calculations, it is an important consideration during fabrication.  It comes into play when determining placement of the motif in the window treatment.  When making inverted box pleat valances, I use the horizontal repeat two ways:  1) to determine the width of the flat spaces, and 2) to determine how much fabric to put in each pleat.  This allows for the pattern motif to continue across the entire valance.   

Here is the finished valance.  Working with the horizontal repeat adds subtle detail to the finished valance that is truly custom.   

    

Notice how the Ikat diamond pattern continues through the pleat on this valance:

   

And on the return of this Quatrefoil pleated valance:

 

You can't accommodate the horizontal repeat on every valance design.  Sometimes the window dimensions and pattern repeats just don't work together.  And sometimes the horizontal repeat is too small or too busy.  But there is always a way to make it custom.  Here the pattern was cut on the bias to highlight the inverted pleat. 

     

Like the "other white meat" and the "other woman", the horizontal repeat will always play second string.  But if you want a workroom that will focus on custom details like the "other repeat", contact me at peggy@parkwaywindowworks.com

The Rest of the Story

This is a follow-up to the story told in my Olympics-themed August blog post.  The message of that post was to offer silver and bronze options to your price sensitive customers rather than discounting the price of your gold medal option and cutting into your profit margin.  If you missed it or want to read it again, you can find it here.   This is the conclusion to the real life example discussed in August.

The designer, Bev Dyminski, scaled back on some aspects of the project in response to her customer's budget.  Bev stayed with her original concept of swags, jabots, and panels rather than eliminating elements of the window treatment design (GOLD option).  She switched from a lining/interlining combination to a napped sateen lining (SILVER option).  And she found a similar, but less expensive face fabric made of 100% poly (BRONZE option).

The finished project is shown below.  Now that's what I call a winning combination!  If you are looking for a workroom that can help you sweep the podium, contact me at peggy@parkwaywindowworks.com

Click on the triangle to play the video for the conclusion.

Scaldino

The weather has changed and there is a definite nip in the air.  We are settling in for a long Rochester winter.  Don't let the cold get you down!  Offer your customers a scaldino to brighten up their bedrooms and warm their feet.    

What is a scaldino?  Scaldino (pronounced skawl dee' no) is an Italian word that means warmer for the hands, feet, or bed.   The original scaldino was a metal or ceramic pot that was filled with hot ash or coal, then slipped under the covers at night, providing warmth to bedrooms that were most often unheated.  

Today we know the scaldino as the mini comforter at the end of the bed that warms the feet and protects the spread from a suitcase or other object placed at the foot of the bed.  Adding a scaldino is an easy way to update a bedroom.  A neutral colored bedspread, coverlet or duvet gets a completely new look with a scaldino and matching pillows.  Scaldinos are less expensive than a folded comforter as they take less fabric and labor.  Change them with the seasons to freshen and spice up the look of the bedding.   

When it comes to design, scaldinos can be as simple or as ornate as you want.  Here is an example of a scaldino that matches the decorative pillow and corona panels.   

Janis Reed, Interior Design Source

This scaldino is reversible and banded on all four sides. 

Elizabeth Butler, Elizabeth Butler Interiors

Here is a scaldino that has ruched ends and bullion fringe. 

Anne Marie Weissend, Vitoch Interiors

Is it just a throw blanket?  Perhaps....but doesn't it sound better by its Italian name?  If you are looking for a workroom that can help you transform your customers' bedroom, contact me at peggy@parkwaywindowworks.com.

Decorare felice! (happy decorating).

Dressmaking + Engineering

This week I am teaching a class called "Dressmaking + Engineering = A Formula for Success" at a national conference with my friend and colleague Debbie Williamson.  Debbie will be covering dressmaking skills and I will be sharing several of my engineering techniques as they apply to the fabrication of window treatments.  One of the techniques I am covering is how to make a perfect circle valance.  Circle valances have fullness at the bottom while the top remains smooth with no gathers or pleats.  They are cut in the shape of a donut.

The key to a perfect circle valance is the right fullness.  I won't bore you with the details of pi, diameter, and circumference but like Goldilocks, you don't want too much or too little fullness.  A circle valance with too much fullness looks busy at the bottom and can obscure the motif of the fabric.  One with too little fullness looks just plain skimpy. 

 

Circle valances are a great option when a customer tells you they want a "simple valance".  It is the custom alternative to the rod pocket valance available at Country Curtains or Bed Bath and Beyond.  Another reason to consider a circle valance is when the fabric selection is heavy or upholstery weight.  Thick fabric does not shirr up well on a rod.  The white valance above was a perfect candidate for a circle valance because it is made of matelasse.   

 

There are three caveats when choosing fabric and trim for a circle valance.

1) Don't choose a motif that must be upright.  The motif will turn sideways and upside down as it moves across the treatment.  This is part of the charm of a circle valance.  Notice the dragonflies in the skirt of this slipcover made by Mary Ann Quinn of MAQ Designs.  They are flying every which way, just like real dragonflies!

2) Trims must be able to curve.  Even though the hem ends up looking straight, you must apply the trim to the circle shape.  This tape has a fringed edge on the top and the bottom which allowed me to ease the flat tape into the circle shape.

3) Use a contrast lining because the lining will show in the soft folds of the hem.  White cotton sateen was used here to blend with the white matelasse. 

Circle construction is not limited to valances.  Any time something is gathered or ruffled, the circle cut is an option.  You often see this technique used on the runway in flounced skirts, jackets with peplums, and ruffled collars.  Likewise in our world of home dec, dust ruffles, skirted drapery panels, and leading edge ruffle trim are all possible candidates for circle construction.   

Be it chairs or porridge or window treatments, if you want them just right, contact me at peggy@parkwaywindowworks.com

Gold - Silver - Bronze

Every two years, we gather around our TVs to watch athletes compete in the Olympics. I'm always awed by the dedication and effort it takes to be the best in the world. 

I know you are dedicated and work hard to give your customers the best, too.   Like an athlete, you prepare for the "race" by understanding your client's needs and budget.  What do you do when a customer loves your gold medal design but the price tag is too high?  Do you immediately lower your mark-up or reduce the number of design hours hoping the customer goes for the lower price? 

Rather than cutting your profit, consider offering a silver or bronze option.  Fabric and trim are often the first place to start.  Look for fabrics with a different fiber content.  Here are three similar looking fabrics with very different prices.   

Drapery hardware is also available in a wide range of price points.  I carry hardware lines that offer hand carved finials with custom finishes and lines that are very reasonable with limited finial and finish options.  Switching from a lining/interlining combination to a napped sateen lining is another way to go from gold to silver.  And of course scaling back the complexity of the design will reduce the labor cost.  Below is an example of gold, silver, and bronze designs.

 

Most athletes want to compete in the Olympics even if they don't win.  Likewise, it is better to offer your customer a silver or bronze option than to have them quit the team (and shop at JC Penney).  Sometimes after seeing all three options, the customer will choose the gold medal option at the gold medal price. 

If you offer your customer a gold medal design at a bronze medal price, you may make the sale but it will be at the expense of your own profit AND set a precedent for future projects.   Today's athletes are tweeting even before getting out of the pool.  You can be sure your customers are talking about you, too.  You don't want your customer (and all her friends) to expect the same discount on the next project.

If you're looking for a workroom that can help you with your gold, silver, and bronze designs, contact me at peggy@parkwaywindowworks.com and let's stand on that podium together!

Just Panels

More is better.  That idea is shared by many window treatment specialists.  More layers, more fullness, more embellishments.  Vignette displays at industry events and discussions in on-line forums often focus on the details, the extras, and the add-ons.  Some of the most popular classes at educational conferences cover how to include these in your designs.  I confess to attending and thoroughly enjoying Gillian Wendel's Inspired Drapery Headings class this year.  Here are some pictures from Gillian's class.  The extras in just these four examples include banding, buttons, tassels, Chinese knots, jewels, smocking, beading, scallops, and color blocking.  Whew!   

   

Although these drapery headings are truly special and would be a focal point in any design, I'd like to make the case for just panels.  Here is an example where the designer replaced ready made sheers with stationary pleated panels in a colorful and lively Duralee print.  The fabric is a linen/rayon blend and is lined with a napped sateen.  These panels are perfect in the family room of a young, active family.   

Before

After

Here is another example where the designer added Hunter Douglas Nantucket shades for privacy and light control.  She chose a 100% dupioni silk for the lined and interlined stationary panels.  I love the elegance of the tone on tone design scheme in this dining room. 

Here the designer chose a gorgeous, large scale Stroheim and Romann print.  The simplicity of the inverted pleat panels really allows the fabric to shine in this living room.     

Of course it's never wrong to add just a little something extra, like the leading edge trim on these Euro pleat panels.  These blue panels frame a stunning lake view from this sitting room. 

 

While I love embellishments as much as anyone, to paraphrase Joe Friday sometimes the best solution is to have "just the panels, ma'am".  If you are looking for a workroom that makes beautiful panels, elaborate valances, and anything in between, contact me at peggy@parkwaywindowworks.com