SEVEN GOLDEN RULES WHEN DECORATING YOUR HOME

Curtains and Soft Furnishings Design Upholstery Window Solutions


Let’s be honest, putting coherent schemes together can be a daunting business. A living space should draw you in and be a pleasure to spend time in, your home should reflect who you are and what you love.  

  1. Be brave and have confidence! This is the biggest obstacle to overcome. Trust your instincts, if you like something don’t be afraid to have it in your home, decorate with your heart and choose things you truly love. Even if you don’t imagine it’s your exact style, it will blend in and make your home an extension of you. Avoid following fads or choosing a style because you think your friends would like it, be true to yourself and your own style will follow. 
  • Invest in classic pieces: A few key pieces really do make the rest of your room look beautiful. If it’s expensive, but you love it, save up to avoid compromise. Its ok to take your time and let the look evolve. Discover what a space needs, live with it and review it. 
  • Once you know what these inspirational pieces are, work from there to create a setting that will show them off. Carefully choose your palette, co-ordinating colour and pattern in a home is so important. Having a colour palette for each room can really change the mood of each space. A good system to help balance your colour scheme is to proportion 60% of the scheme for your dominant colour 30% for your secondary 10% for your accent colour. 
  • Three is definitely a magic number as are odd numbers in general. Not only for your colour choice but grouping odd numbers of items such as cushions, vases, blocks of accent colour forces the eye to move around the display to create a level of visual interest that symmetrical even numbered arrangements simply can’t compete with, in addition, repeating shapes through a scheme is a subtle way to help the human brain read a space as a harmonious whole. 
  • Include a good mix of overhead lighting, mood lighting and accent lighting to help your room look and perform its best. Many under estimate the value of lighting. Yes of course the light fitting should be in keeping with the over-all aesthetic of the room but most important is that the light produced will create the evening mood that you desire. 
  • The seating in a living room is generally dominant and can be a great way of making a statement. A good quality, well-designed sofa is a valuable investment. It is well worth buying a quality made sofa, whether new or restored, as the reasonably priced sofas from the high street are rarely a bargain and need to be replaced after just a few years. There are many chairs and sofas available online at a reasonable cost that have solid frames and were built to last, to have these pieces restored and reupholstered is comparable in cost to purchasing a great quality new piece but are the perfect choice when designing a living space as the design and fabric choice can be tailored to the desired look.  
  • Soft furnishings are the finishing touches to a décor. Curtains can make a room, hang them high to create a grand impression and to make the room feel taller. A well-made curtain will look tailored and compliment a pleasing view. If there is an undesirable view from a window then voiles are perfect to disguise with softness and provide privacy without compromising on light. Coupled with plain walls, curtains can become a stunning statement in a luxurious pattern, with complimenting scatter cushions you’ll create a look which is effortlessly harmonious.

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Heads Up on Curtain Headings

Curtains and Soft Furnishings Design Uncategorised Window Solutions

Beautiful curtains can transform a room from drab to fab! The heading style you choose will dictate how your curtains will fall which has a massive effect on the over-all look and feel. Some are suitable for all rooms while others work best in certain areas.

There are a number of headings to create a look to compliment your home, three headings we generally use are listed below though there are many more to choose from.  

Wave 

This style is of tailored, neat, perfectly spaced pleats which form uniform, elegant curves when closed and stack neatly to accommodate even the most limited of wall space either side of the window when open. They ride on a specifically designed, discreet track to eliminate the use of a pole. The track can even be fitted to the ceiling, creating the illusion of height and grandeur which the window may not naturally display. The wave curtain is the perfect style to show off a statement print. A large pattern repeat is most visible on this style of curtain as the recessed pleat is as visible as the forefront.  (Read our blog dedicated to the wave heading).

Pinch Pleats

Elegant pinch pleats are an excellent way to showcase your chosen fabric. Folded pleats are hand sewn along the curtain header resulting in a stylish, uniform, ultimately classic look which adds class to any décor. Not only decorative but pinch pleats are versatile and can be hung on poles or tracks.

Double pleat comprises two folds sewn into the header in a neat row of V’s creating a fuller more sumptuous curtain with plenty of body.


Triple pleat comprises a trio of folds sewn at regular intervals to create a neat row of fans. The appearance is elegant and formal and requires the most fabric to achieve, resulting in an incredibly luxurious full drape. The triple pleat will require a larger area to stack so is recommended to run the poles and tracks well past the boundaries of the window in order for them to stack without obscuring view or eliminating light. 

Eyelet

The eyelet heading displays a similar, contemporary look to the wave heading but runs on poles and not tracks. The header incorporates a metal eyelet of varying sizes available in a myriad of colours and finishes. This header suits most fabric as it hangs in even folds which stack neatly and requires less fabric so is also good value for money.

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The Importance of Pattern

Uncategorised

Introducing pattern can give some serious personality to your home, the colours, type and application say something about you. We are big believers that your home should represent who you are so find a print that speaks to you and have fun with it!

Whether you prefer quiet patterns or bold patterns every room should include a few. Use plain colour with a complimenting pattern from the same palette for a cohesive look or liven up the room with Punchy bold colours and fun fabrics which really make a statement.

All too often small rooms are kept neutral and simple in the hope that it will make them feel larger. This often backfires resulting in a space both small and dull, it’s better to inject some personality and what better way than with a pattern. A certain amount of restraint should be used when introducing pattern to a small room, function, shape, colour, texture and proportion should all be taken into account. Geometric patterns come in all shapes and sizes and the lines are clean so will create interest without dominating the space, a controlled use of pattern will not make your room appear smaller. 

Pattern is an important decorating tool to provide a focal point to a room in addition to introducing multiple colours and creating visual interest. If a pattern on upholstery or curtains is out of the comfort zone, scatter cushions and throws are a great alternative and are so versatile it’s possible to alter the mood of the room with the seasons. Accessorise using vibrant, uplifting colours in the summer then refashion the room during the winter months by using fabrics such as wool in a plaid to inject warmth.

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Making A Statement!

Curtains and Soft Furnishings Design Upholstery

What makes a piece of furniture a statement in your home? Unique in material? Exaggerated in design? Bold in fabric choice? Oversized for the space? – The answer? Yes, all of the above.

Look-at-me pieces can push the envelope from wonderful to wow! Leaving your guests questioning their own design ethos. This design decision is not for those who wish to play it safe but for people willing to take a risk, for people who want to be different.

So where to start? 

A key point is that when using colour and pattern for your statement piece the room remains largely neutral to maximise the impact of the statement. Combining tactile textures such as silk, satin and velvet, verses canvas, leather and tweed will create an interesting contrast of rough and smooth allowing you to be experimental and creative even with neutrals, too many statement fabrics in one room can look chaotic and confusing. Another consideration is that colour can affect emotions, brights such as red/yellow/orange can energise so may not be the best to use in a bedroom, a deep indigo has a calming effect and can be just as impactful without shouting from the walls and furniture before the light goes out. Colour, texture and balance can take your living space to the next level. Your overall design aesthetic to show individuality should be achieved through cognition.

Statement pieces become conversation pieces, everyone loves a well-designed statement. Using an unanticipated fabric is a fun way to make a feature from upholstery to put a twist on an originally average chair, it makes the piece as brave and individual as you are.

The power of pattern is a fairly obvious path to create a statement, there is a myriad of choice at all levels of bravery but in the furniture world, size matters. An oversized footstool can be a fantastic central point of your room, a flared wing back chair such as the iconic vintage G-Plan ‘The Sixty Two’ (Originally known as The World’s Most Comfortable Chair) will stand out for being different in its design alone, the more ostentatious amongst us may well combine the two and a well-chosen pattern on a well-designed exaggerated style will shock the eye of the viewer and incite awe!

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    Shutters

    Window Solutions

    If you’re into sleek, elegant design shutters are a stylish alternative window-dressing to curtains or blinds and can be measured and fitted to any size, any shape of window. Shutters offer many benefits as well

    As well as offering style and practicality, shutters are the ideal choice for the budget conscious as their longevity means excellent value for money. If you have a penchant for the 1950’s, are in love with all things modern or prefer a traditional Edwardian style, shutters can fit in seamlessly and survive the transition from style to style.

    If your house is situated near a busy road or facing right into the street shutters can certainly reduce external noise and prevent onlookers from intruding on your privacy. They create a barrier between your room and the outside with the option of partial closing, to let light in but keeping prying eyes out! 

    South facing rooms can benefit from shutters as light can be filtered or angled to reduce glare and overheating in the summer, curtains would need to be drawn during the day which is, quite frankly, pretty grim at any time of year!

    For allergy sufferers, shutters are the healthy choice, they do not harbour dust as curtains and blinds do and are easier to clean than venetian blinds as there are no strings, a simple hoover with the brush attachment and your shutters are dust free.

    Available in a range of colours to suit your décor and a high-quality finish, shutters offer an immediate point of interest, we can guide you through every step of the design and will be measured and fitted by our dedicated fitter #qualityineverythingwedo

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    Wave Curtains

    Curtains and Soft Furnishings Window Solutions

    Wave curtains are the latest style of curtain to become popular amongst a variety of clientele and it’s clear to see why. The style is cool, contemporary and ideal if you want a look that is simple modern and elegant. Wave curtains have no gathering, bunching or pleats across the top, just a sinuous curve, falling in fluid folds directly below the track. The curtains stack neatly in a look that works well in both contemporary and traditional interiors.

    The style is of tailored, neat, perfectly spaced pleats which form uniform, elegant curves when closed and stack neatly to accommodate even the most limited of wall space either side of the window when open. They ride on a specifically designed, discreet track to eliminate the use of a pole. The track can even be fitted to the ceiling, creating the illusion of height and grandeur which the window may not naturally display. The wave curtain is the perfect style to show off a statement print. A large pattern repeat is most visible on this style of curtain as the recessed pleat is as visible as the forefront. 

    This style of curtain can only be truly honoured: professionally measured, hand-made, fitted, hung and dressed by a curtain artisan #qualityineverythingwedo

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    Outdoor Living

    Curtains and Soft Furnishings

    Why should your living area stop at the back door? 

    An outdoor living space extends your home into your garden and adds value to your life. In today’s demanding work place we are frequently being asked to work longer hours, having a relaxing place outside your home can create a holiday feel to the end of your day and your weekends.

    It doesn’t matter if you have a small patio, a large terrace or roof deck, when an outdoor space is designed and decorated well, they are the ideal spot to hang out and entertain so why let the British weather dictate how much you use it?

    When designing your covered outdoor space have you thought about adding curtains? Curtains not only enhance the aesthetic, though they do look stunning, they provide a privacy screen without being obtrusive. They are cost-effective by way of extending the life of your seating areas by protecting them from the elements and maximising the use of your outdoor space. Soft furnishings can remain outside in all weather and your curtains can co-ordinate with your seat cushions creating a seamless style and flow. 

    In addition to being aesthetically pleasing, outdoor curtains play a practical role in your design. They make a crucial difference to temperature control by creating shade on a hot summers day or deflecting the wind during colder months and if you have an outdoor heating system they will also retain the heat. Curtains will reduce the quantity of flying pests that enter your outdoor space, though don’t throw out the mosi spray just yet unfortunately they won’t eliminate them completely!

    Even if your space isn’t covered, curtains can still be a welcome addition to your design. They can be used to create shade, provide as a stylish backdrop to a seating area, to hide an unsightly fence, create a separate area for cooking or dining or maybe just to add a softness to the overall look – the possibilities are endless.

    The outdoor curtains produced by Simon Houlding are of the highest standard using only the most suitable fabric for the purpose. Available in a range of colours, the fabrics are weather and UV resistant, low maintenance and easy to clean. Seating areas can be made to look as stunning as they are comfortable with cushions to compliment the overall look with the curtains and dining chairs which co-ordinate to soften the most rustic of design. Simons outdoor curtains are proven to look amazing several years after installation. For weather resistant curtains, cushions and seating you need look no further. #Qualityineverythingwedo

    Bespoke upholstery Essex, made to measure curtains Essex, made to measure blinds Essex, bespoke shutters Essex, fabric Essex, design Essex.

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