Curtain Colour Collection

We should now have in our measurement book the following: the length of the finished curtains, the amount of the material required for each curtain and also for the pair; the exact measurement of the lining when applied and finished, and also the amount required. For the edging we have the finished length and width, allowing 6 inches for the corner and turn ins, and twice that for the pair. If there are several windows of the same measurements we have only to multiply the amounts required by the windows. Materials come in two widths, 81 inches and 50 inches, perhaps varying an inch or so. We can use the full 31 inches or we may split...

Curtains Colour Suggestions and Refurbishing, Part 2

A yellow room takes well to green hangings or certain shades of violet. In a yellow room nothing is more effective than the use of a chintz covered with clear transparent colors of Spring. In the yellow room a light green-blue may be used but with great care and discretion. A breakfast room or porch carries this scheme well. A pink room is best done with white or delicate blue and lavender. Blue rooms, deep in tone, should keep to blue of varying degrees, relieved by dull yellow or green. If the room is a bedroom, white or green and blue look well at* the windows. The vogue of black and white is so popular, partly because it permits such...

Curtains Colour Suggestions and Refurbishing, Part 1

A few general color schemes may be suggested. If the upholstery and wall are of plain color, good effect is had by using vari-colored hangings such as chintz ; if, on the other hand, a room needs quieting down or if it has an overabundance of furniture, and many colors, one toned draperies will do much to counteract this effect. If the curtains are vari-colored, keep the portieres one toned, selecting a tone found in the curtains. Do not select a curtain to match a paper without first seeing the light through the fabric, as this may very distinctly alter the color. Good old historical designs generally give the best satisfaction. In a...

How to Design Valances and Curtain Edgings, Part 2

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There are many attractive ways to edge curtains. Straight 1-inch to 2-inch bindings of a plain material give a finished look and are rather in vogue. Silk ribbon bindings similar to that used on dress seams may be stitched on flat. This is easy, inexpensive, and washes well. If the pattern of the cretonne has some black, the binding may be of black with a very chic effect. Thin cream curtains bound with color sunfast are very pretty. A little ruffle of taffeta ribbon gathered on to thin mercerized material is dainty. A sunfast, shading pink and silver, with a tiny taffeta ribbon ruffle, is a sweet idea for a child's room. The combination...

How to Design Valances and Curtain Edgings, Part 1

Valances which extend across the entire width of the window tend, by their horizontal lines, to make a room look lower. Long straight curtains without valances tend to make a room look higher. Both these methods of window treatments may be used to attain the desired effect in a room. Fitted valances may be lined with a heavy cotton material similar to canvas : buckram is apt to crack and damp weather loosens the gum and the valance loses its shape. Heavy compo board is also used, but this requires a workshop and an experienced upholsterer. If we are very ambitious and want to make a fitted valance we should go at it carefully. First...

Different Kinds of Curtains for Different Kinds of Windows

There are several kinds of windows, JL and each must, of necessity, be differently treated. Always see to it that the curtains do not prevent the window being readily and easily opened. Curtains that have to be pushed, hauled and shoved aside every time we want a breath of air are an unforgivable nuisance. They should be hung far enough back on the trim, not to allow a shaft of light to show between the curtain and the casing. They should protect from prying eyes, mitigate cold draughts, and last of all be an adornment. Curtains properly made and hung should fulfill all these requirements. There are French windows, casement windows, sash...

How to Select Curtains Color and Design

It is well to choose a vary-colored pattern, as we may select one color from it and form our color scheme for the room around that. The next season, select another. For instance, with a chintz having rose and green, blue and mauve, we may make our room rose to blend with the curtains, repeating in the upholstery and small accessories the rose tones. Another year we may have tired of the rose room, or the plain rose may not have worn well; we still have our perfectly good chintz draperies and from them can select the green shades and repeat in our furniture the green tones, thus transforming the entire room. Even the curtains themselves will...