Drapes
Drapes, curtains, shades, and blinds are all what the interior decorating business likes to call ‘window treatments’ but just to confuse everybody you’ll often hear people talking about shades and blinds as if they were the same thing and likewise drapes and curtains. You can certainly be forgiven for thinking that curtains and drapes are exactly the same because both are fabric panels hung from a rail above the window and typically in pairs that meet in the middle when you draw them together. The key difference however is that strictly speaking curtains don’t have to be lined and can be purely for decoration whereas drapes are lined and normally lined with heavy enough material to block out all light. It might not sound like a lot of difference but trust us it is if the window getting the treatment happens to be a bedroom window. We’re always happy to talk about drapes, curtains, and the infinite range of styles for each depending on your tastes, your needs, and of course your budget.
Full Length Drapes Because drapes are so often chosen for bedrooms and these may have full length or picture windows the drapes themselves are often designed to reach pretty much from the ceiling to the floor. That can give you a fantastic elegant feeling - your bedroom can instantly feel like something Marie Antoinette would have chosen to sleep in. Of course when you have such a large panel of fabric there are practical elements including the weight of full length drapes and their closing mechanism as well as washing and care. We’re happy to bring full length drapes to your home and happy to explain all the considerations. Valances Because drapes hang from a pole, typically either with rings, or hooks there has historically been a style in which the pole itself was hidden, either with what is essentially a box around it, or with material that hides the pole and with it the top of the drape material. That’s called a valance and probably hit its height in England in Victorial times. Perhaps because of that association a valance can create a historical and grand effect without in any way affecting the type of drapes you choose. Motorized Drapes While traditionally drapes were drawn by hand, or with pull strings, there is a lot to be said for the luxury of motorized drapes. There is nothing quite like being able to hit a button from the comfort of your bed and have those drapes smoothly swish back all by themselves to usher in the new day. Drapery Materials and Accessories As well as the obvious choice of the material (and lining) for your drapes we can also help you choose from a huge range of drapery hardware including the rings, hooks, and other components that go to make up the perfect window treatment. Whatever kind of look you are going for we have everything you need to ensure that your drapes look great and do a great job of ensuring you get a perfect night’s sleep. |
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