Susan's Drapery Designs

Merry Christmas

2009-12-08T07:21:00.001-08:00

Merry
Christmas

Not so formal as a swag.

2009-10-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a style that has elegance without the formality of a swag.

swags in a bay window.

2009-10-06T20:33:00.000-07:00

Empire Swags.

Swags and jabots that frame the view beautifully.

Swags in a bay window.

2009-10-06T20:27:00.001-07:00

Swags and jabots with tassel trim.

Swags gathered on a rod with bishop sleeve side panels.

Swags and jabots hung at the ceiling.

Empire swags with bishoped side panels.

Swags in a bay window.

2009-10-06T20:20:00.000-07:00

Here the fabric is pleated and held with ties.

Gorgeous swags with rosettes with the sides puddled on the floor.

An example of how you do not loose your stripes with a swag.

Swags over a cornice.

A Sheffield valance that has the same lines as a swag.

Swags over a rod.

2009-09-29T18:41:00.000-07:00

Sometimes just a little
fabric swagged over
a pole is all a
window needs.

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Kitchen swags.

2009-09-29T18:28:00.000-07:00

Three different fabrics as well as trim were used in Gayen's kitchen. Notice the small check on the boards as well as on the buttons and tie. The striped fabric is used not only on the roman shade but as a contrast on the jabots also. A colorful tassel fringe adds to the detail.

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Cafe curtains.

2009-09-27T19:22:00.001-07:00

The cafe curtains give Laurie all the privacy she needs in her dinette. Notice the banding along the top and bottom edge match the inset of the pleats on the valance. A wide custom fringe adds to the detail.

It's all in the details.

2009-09-27T19:08:00.000-07:00

Notice the detail in this box pleated bell valance.
There is self binding along the bottom edge
and
self piping along the top edge.

Gysela's kitchen is complete.
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A contemporary kitchen.

2009-09-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

These roman valances are the perfect design for Adrienne's contemporary kitchen. Made from a crinkle silk fabric with a deep blue band to tie into the tile work, they are hung above the windows at the cupboard height to give the illusion of longer/taller windows.

What a cheerful bedroom.

2009-09-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Jane went from plain blue walls and flooring to this beautiful array of colors and design. The paisley print on the duvet is found on the bolsters and toss pillow. The floral pattern is on the valance and the shams. The stripe can be found on the bed skirt, toss pillow, window seat and valance with the dark rose of the upholstered headboard anchoring the entire look.

Drop dead gorgious!

2009-09-27T17:52:00.001-07:00

Go from bare

To beautiful

Nicole's dining room has balloons made from rich velvet embossed silk with gold silk inlays. There is plenty of fullness to give depth and beauty.

2009-09-21T07:04:00.000-07:00

With this strong bold wall color, a print is a perfect contrast. Kimberly chose the stripe on her doorwall with plain white hardware to elongate her window, then used the stripe as a contrast with the floral swags on her window.

Life happens

2009-09-21T06:56:00.000-07:00

Wow, the month of August went by without a single post. I've got lots to share, sorry for the delay, life happens.

Do check out my updated profile picture. Karl Rouwhorst from Luminaire Foto did the shoot. Be sure to check out his website.

This is not your kid's bathroom!

2009-07-31T13:39:00.000-07:00

Elise's bathroom says style and elegance with these balloon valances. On the small window the balloon is shaped to follow the curve of the ceiling giving the window an arched look.

What a difference trim makes!

2009-07-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

This Sheffield valance in Karen's living room is enhanced by a tassle trim.

Smocking is not just for dresses!

2009-07-31T12:47:00.000-07:00

These smocked panels are hung close to the ceiling and have a whimsical trim added.

Karen's dining room is ready for company.

A balloon valance in a bay window.

2009-07-20T20:52:00.000-07:00

We used a gorgeous striped silk fabric to make this full balloon. It is hung at the ceiling for a clean look.

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A nook with a view.

2009-07-20T20:34:00.000-07:00

Karen can enjoy the critters both indoors and out with this delightful valance. Here we did a simple box pleat but put a curve to the bottom of the treatment. Adding side panels helps anchor it to the room.

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A dining room with style!

2009-07-20T20:14:00.000-07:00

With two large windows in her dining room,
Jane chose an asymmetrical design.

A family room with style!

2009-07-18T19:21:00.000-07:00

Even though this is a formal style

the rich textured fabrics and the

tassel trim help to keep Margaret's family room warm and cozy.

I want to keep as much light as possible.

2009-07-18T18:54:00.000-07:00

Liz has a lot of windows but still wants to keep as much light as possible coming in. We hung these swags above her doorwall, just covering a small portion of the window and added a coordinated balloon valance above her sink.

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Upholstered headboard.

2009-07-18T18:26:00.000-07:00

Upholster a headboard with a beautiful print,
add luxurious bedding and have a good nights sleep!

Is your tween ready for a new room?

2009-06-29T20:08:00.000-07:00

What tween wouldn't like this green leopard and check print to call their very own.

The smocked panels with beaded trim,

the window seats in a leopard print with the check banding.

The reversible duvet and shams and the upholstered bench at the foot of the bed. To finish off the look, a small round pillow one side check, the other side the leopard print with the beaded trim around the edge.

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A cornice can be economical.

2009-06-29T19:16:00.000-07:00

A cornice board is a great style for you windows especially if your fabric is costly. Since there are no gathers or pleats with this treatment a minimum amount of fabric is needed.

Notice the detail in Judy's cornice - a single vertical cord down the middle.

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A motor home with style!

2009-06-13T18:30:00.000-07:00

Recently retired and planning on traveling the country, Pam wants her motor home to have style. From the living room and dining room to the bedroom she has chosen fabrics, colors, window treatments and bedding for a warm and inviting home away from home.

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Sleep tight!

2009-06-12T15:00:00.000-07:00

Linda's bedroom ensemble,
duvet,
shams,
pillow,
bed skirt
all in matching fabric is perfect for these blue walls.

Don't forget the window, it doesn't need much, just a hint of fabric to tie the room together.

Help, I can't hang these!

2009-06-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

Barbara had yards and yards and yards of sheer fabric swagged on her windows but needed to hire someone to hang them every time they were cleaned.

I cut up the fabric for her and made swags and side panels with rod pockets.

Easy to take down, easy to launder and easy to put back up again.

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I want maximum light to come in.

2009-06-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

By hanging this tailored balloon valance up at the ceiling in Karen's laundry room, we allowed for maximum light to come in and gave the illusion of taller windows.

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Slip Covers?

2009-06-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

Don't buy new!

these ottomans
were slip covered
to match the decor.

There is no room to hang hardware above my window.

2009-06-12T14:15:00.000-07:00

In these pictures we used a 2.5" rod and mounted the hardware on either side of the windows. The rod pocket was disguised with twisted cording and the valance with inverted pleats hung from there.

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Does your living room get any use?

2009-06-10T11:52:00.000-07:00

Like many people, Cheryl said her living room rarely got used. Once she added some window treatments the room was a lot cozier. The side panels were hung beyond the windows to add width, almost two feet on each side and at the ceiling to add height. Roman shades made from a crinkled sheer fabric gives privacy when needed and adds softness.

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Wide corner windows.

2009-06-10T11:13:00.000-07:00

Lorraine has two very w i d e windows that meet in the corner. We treated them as one making a flat valance with strategic placements of the jabots at each window pane. The results are stunning!

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A cornice with a twist!

2009-06-04T19:11:00.000-07:00

Karen has come up with a unique design for her kitchen.

With two layers of fabric,
the top one is folded back
showing off the contrast lining.
Tassels hang from the decorative tacks.

Would you like an inspiring home office?

2009-06-03T19:38:00.000-07:00

Jane chose bold colors and rich fabrics for this window treatment.

The printed panels are gathered on the rod with a coordinating overlay, trimmed with cording and finished with a tassel.

Vintage style

2009-06-02T19:39:00.000-07:00

I've always loved "Priscilla" drapes and they look beautiful with Archo's antique lace panels.

Frame your window.

2009-05-20T10:20:00.000-07:00

Susan chose a monochromatic theme for her dining room. A flat valance with jabots frame this window.

Why not a cornice in a kitchen!

2009-05-12T19:18:00.000-07:00

Have some fun, put up a polka dot cornice to cover the blinds above the door and another at the sink with a roman shade to help block the sun. This striped roman has pin-tucks sewn into it to break-up the stripes.

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What is a tailored balloon?

2009-05-11T19:10:00.000-07:00

A tailored balloon is one where the front of the treatment is flat with all the fullness in the pleats. This horizontal stripe gives a modern look to this traditional design.

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How can I dress up a roman shade?

2009-05-11T18:51:00.000-07:00

To avoid having your roman shade look too plain, add a contrasting stripe like Linda did.

Two storey family room.

2009-05-11T18:26:00.000-07:00

Hang
your
panels
all
the
way
to
the
ceiling
to
accentuate
the
tall
room.

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I need head room!

2009-05-06T18:11:00.000-07:00

This double pleated valance has soft curves and is hung at the ceiling to allow for maximum head room to get out of the sliding door.

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Give me some ideas for a corner window.

2009-05-06T17:53:00.000-07:00

Faced with two corner windows in her family room Tracey wanted a streamlined look, something that wouldn't overpower her room. Cornice boards were just the answer, hung right under the beams for maximum height. A tri-color braided cord finished off the cornices.

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How would a valance look with shutters?

2009-05-05T19:11:00.000-07:00

This room was softened-up considerably when a valance was added above the shutters. Notice the contrast piping on the top and bottom as well as the pin tucks.

What do I do with two windows in the same room?

2009-05-05T18:10:00.000-07:00

You can have two distinct window treatments
in the same room as long as your fabric is the same or coordinating. Take Kim's kitchen for example, she has a roman shade over her sink and grommet panels over her door wall both using the same stripe with a contrast solid on the roman shade.

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Not your ordinary valance!

2009-05-04T13:00:00.000-07:00

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Linda from Lyke interiors wanted this valance for Sharon's kitchen.
It's a series of flaps using two coordinating fabrics with piping along the top edge and covered buttons.

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My Girlfriend's Closet

2009-04-30T09:23:00.000-07:00

Make sure you say hello to Monique at
My Girlfriend's Closet Consignment Boutique
located at 8184 Cooley Lake Rd, White Lake, MI.

While you're there check-out the sweet drapes and accessories all done in a zebra print with hot pink accents.

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Simplicity!

2009-04-27T07:45:00.000-07:00

The beauty in these drapes is it's simplicity. Kim chose a fresh bold print and paired it up with a rich contrast color to make these reversible drapes.

In the pink!

2009-04-20T18:49:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been so cold, gray and wet here in MI, but to my delight the bright has been put back in Brighton as I glanced at my back yard and found this bouquet of pink balloons that the wind had carried into a tree.

Does trim add much to window treatments?

2009-04-17T15:01:00.000-07:00

Make a
statement
like Sally did with this
bullion fringe
added to her swags.

What can I do in a bay window?

2009-04-17T14:57:00.000-07:00

.
Take this beautiful, bold, modern print like Marge did and turn it into a sheffield valance. Hang it right at the ceiling to maximize the windows.

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Kitchen with a view.

2009-04-17T14:52:00.000-07:00

K E wanted a short simple valance to cover up the unsightly blinds. This plain flat valance with just a few pinch pleats and some gorgeous beaded trim does the trick.

I don't want to cover up my windows but I'd like drapes.

2009-04-17T14:48:00.000-07:00

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This dining room window needed to be left uncovered.

By putting drapery panels on either side the room is suddenly dressed and the beautiful view still intact.

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Why shouldn't bath time be elegant?

2009-04-17T14:43:00.000-07:00

Jane can just close off these curtains and enjoy her luxurious bath.

Brighton-up your windows with a fresh bold print.

2009-04-14T15:53:00.000-07:00

Take a fresh bold print, add some ribbon trim and this roman shade and box pleated valance look fantastic in this kitchen.

Coordinate your accessories.

2009-04-09T15:43:00.000-07:00

We didn't forget the rest of Sharon's room. We recovered the plain chairs in a coordinating stripe and added a few toss pillows.

I don't want to block my view.

2009-04-09T15:22:00.000-07:00

Sharon has gorgeous windows with a great view. Privacy is not an issue so don't cover-up the windows, just frame the view.

Simple yet elegant.

2009-04-08T12:06:00.000-07:00

These panels are just shirred on a rod then banded with a contrast fabric. Simple yet elegant.

Do you eat in your dining room?

2009-04-01T19:50:00.000-07:00

Julia's dining room is transformed with silk panels hung at the ceiling and extending beyond her window. A roman shade offers privacy when needed.

How to make an old chair new again!

2009-03-30T20:36:00.000-07:00

Take an old chair and recover it with a fresh new fabric like the one Linda chose,

add double welting and a large button and voila

a new chair.

Now add a fun little pillow
with some beaded trim
and the look is complete.

A room fit for a princess!

2009-03-30T20:08:00.000-07:00

There is a lot to see in Tara's room from the custom headboard, bed skirt, pillows, bed rail, sheffield valances, roman shades and the pom pom trim.

What can I do with a circle top window?

2009-03-30T14:57:00.000-07:00

These
swags
say it all!

What can I do in my kitchen?

2009-03-26T17:54:00.001-07:00

The
perfect
fabric
and
style
was
chosen
for
Mary's
kitchen.

French pick-up.

2009-03-26T17:35:00.000-07:00

This French Pick-up style that Karen has chosen is cut out at the top.
The black accents such as the background, the buttons and the piping really give this swag some pizazz.

What do you do with so many windows in one room?

2009-03-26T17:16:00.000-07:00

When you have a bank of windows, keep the treatment simple. These valances are hung inside the moulding and have a small pleat in each corner.

Sometimes the fabric speaks for itself!

2009-03-25T18:42:00.000-07:00

Linda's fabric had such a beautiful design on it that a simple
London Shade
was all it needed.

The details are important.

2009-03-25T18:28:00.000-07:00

The beauty of this simple valance is in the details.

Lisa has chosen basic pinch pleats but has added a contrast covered button at the base of each one.

Notice also the soft curves at the bottom edge with the 1/8" self welting cut on the bias to give it some body.

How to make your windows look wider.

2009-03-23T15:21:00.000-07:00

We were able to add 24" to Connie's windows just by extending the rod 12" on either side and hanging the panels on the wall next to the windows.

This gives the illusion of much
w i d e r
windows.

Are you more of an eclectic person?

2009-03-23T14:52:00.000-07:00

Liz chose a very
unique style
for her window treatments.
There is a lot of detail going on here. Notice the tassels, the soft gathers as well as the pleats along the top edge and the contrast fabric lining the jabots. Side panels can easily be added.

Bay Windows

2009-03-22T13:02:00.000-07:00

Notice how Jennifer chose a striped fabric and how beautiful it looks in a swag.

Swags and Jabots are my favorite treatment for a bay window.

Let the window speak for itself.

2009-03-21T10:50:00.000-07:00

When you have a beautiful window
like the one Margaret has

don't cover it up,

accentuate it like we did with these panels.

Sweet Dreams.

2009-03-18T08:15:00.000-07:00

The ruffles in the euro shams as well as the bed skirt are gathered up very full to make this bed look elegant and inviting.

The duvet, simply a twin size folded lenghtwise, balances the color on the bed.

Notice the banding at the bottom of the bed skirt.

Can't find fabric to match the bedroom!

2009-03-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

After hanging some beautiful ready made drapes in the bedroom, Denise couldn't find any fabric to match for her bath.

So she bought another panel of ready-mades and
we turned it into this gorgeous swag.

Is you laundry room boring?

2009-03-17T14:09:00.000-07:00

Just because doing the laundry is BORING, it doesn't mean the room has to be.
Have some fun in your laundry room like Chris did with an awning on her window.

Do you need an inexpensive ottoman?

2009-03-16T13:57:00.000-07:00

You can have an ottoman that matches your decor by simply turning an inexpensive table into one, like Anne did.

Why hide beautiful hankies?

2009-03-16T13:19:00.000-07:00

Betty had some beautiful antique handkerchiefs of all shapes and sizes but they were not giving her any pleasure being stuffed into a box. This unique valance makes a wonderful display.

Going from piles of foam to beautiful furniture.

2009-03-12T14:14:00.000-07:00

Maggie and her family have gotten a lot of use out of their furniture, but after 12 years it was time to recover it.

See the before pictures of all that goes into the cushions and then the beautiful results.

What can I do with a round wall?

2009-03-12T14:05:00.000-07:00

Don't let the shape of a wall scare you, use it to your advantage. This large cornice was made out of Styrofoam to keep the weight down and to contour it to the wall. Small panels were added for warmth.

Details make the difference!

2009-03-11T03:19:00.000-07:00

Look at all the detail in this valance.

The double pleats, the covered buttons, the contrast banding, the spacing of the stripes.

Barbara chose the perfect fabric and color for her kitchen.

Is your front door important?

2009-03-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

Your front door should not be forgotten. Mary chose to decorate her side lights with these fun swags and beautiful tassel trim.

What can you do with a French Door?

2009-03-11T01:41:00.000-07:00

French Doors are difficult to decorate since there needs to be room for the door to swing open.

Margaret had plenty of room above her doors to do a unique valance.

How does color change the look of a room?

2009-03-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

Cindy and Karen both have the same floor plan and loved the drapes in the model home. They asked me if I could duplicate the style for them. One chose a soft, neutral color, the other a rich bold color. Isn't it amazing how different they both look.

When looking at pictures for window treatment ideas try not to let the fabric color get in your way, instead, look at the style.

Have fun with accessories.

2009-03-08T16:22:00.000-07:00

Nancy added on a beautiful sun-room to her home. She chose some very soothing colors and I was able to warm-up the room with these pleated valances. Notice the detail of the contrast color in the pleats as well as the buttons. The striped table cloth has a 4" border of the valance fabric and the chair pads have some lovely detail. I was able to use the scraps of fabric to come up with some unique pillows for her. In no time at all, the room went from cold to cozy.

2009-03-05T18:08:00.000-08:00

How it all began!

2009-03-05T17:51:00.000-08:00

It all began in the early 90's.

My family and I had moved to Novi Michigan and Mary Kay, my next door neighbor, invited me over to her place for a cup of coffee so we could get to know each other. The next thing I knew, I was designing and making her living room and dining room swags. Well, a few months later one of her friends called me and asked me if I would be interested in making some draperies for her. A few more months went by and it happened again. And so on, and so on....

It has been my pleasure for many years now to serve so many wonderful people.