Window Treatments.....a team effort

As an interior designer I find that designing custom window treatments is both one of the most rewarding and challenging aspects of my business. Design school does not teach much about the details of designing window treatment. I found seminars and conferences that focused on window treatment were invaluable as well as a good work room and installer. Creating a successful custom window treatment is a careful collaboration. Communication is key.

How do I begin? I use a combination of sketches and photos to help the client visualize how the treatment will look in her home on her windows. We select the fabrics that will compliment her room. Sometimes the type of fabric and price of the fabric can help decide what treatment to choose. For instance, heavier fabrics are better used for certain things like cornices. If price is a consideration, then I find ways to use smaller amounts of it in a creative way.

The next step is careful, very careful measuring. After that I work with closely with my workroom to figure yardage and pricing. Once the proposal is approved then I order the fabrics and trims, write the work orders. I make sure the fabrics are the same as the sample by getting cuttings for approval and attach them to the work order.
What could go wrong? Sometimes the fabric is discontinued, or out of stock. Sometimes it can take weeks. Sometimes it is the fringe that we must wait for and it can tie up production for a long time. Sometimes the fabrics arrive with flaws or get damaged. There can be errors in measuring or estimating the number of yards we need.

So, follow the saying, measure twice and cut once. Check and double check everything and make sure you, your client, your workroom and your installer are all on the same page. Then pray! I always get what I call stage fright before each installation, no matter how simple or how grande.

Window Treatments ...an elegant focal point

A window treatment can enhance a focal point or it can be the focal point. In this room it is both. Window treatments can be formal or informal, tailored and simple or multi-layered and complex. They can help create a certain style or look for your room. They can add color, pattern, elegance and drama. Simply by the design, fabrics and trims you choose you can tie all the elements of your room together. It's magic.
This living room has so many things going for it. It has a high ceiling with a coffered tray that is faux finished to further accent the design. The view to the incredible pool area is the true focal point of the room. The furnishings are beautiful. The old world sofa with ornately carved frame and tapestry of fabrics and trims takes center stage. But without window treatment even all these elements seem to be detached. When we added the swags and jabots with side panels, not only did the room come alive but the view became even more important. The fullness of the fabric in drapery treatment, the attention to detail with the banding and row of double fringe and the puddling of the panels on the floor all work together to make this treatment lucious and elegant.

Completing this installation now sets the stage to add all the important finishing touches like accessories, plants, lighting and art.

Appetites and Spaces: Stage-ology#comment-form

Appetites and Spaces: Stage-ology#comment-form

Ikea Kitchen Installation Begins

So the kitchen installation did not begin as scheduled last week because of contractor delays but it got off to a great start yesterday. By today I think almost all 174 boxes of cabinet parts have been assembled and installed. The installation company that is affiliated with Ikea has been great. Now there are the little details like hardware and filler strips and toekicks left to do.

Don't you love the blue accents? Not to worry that is just a protective paper used to cover the high gloss white cabinets. And what about the pendant lighting? Ha! Those are just the high hat housings that the electrician has to leave open for inspection.

You would think that would just about complete the kitchen but anyone who has ever tackled this project will tell you there is ever so much more. The appliances are a biggie. We have a wall oven going under a cook top and the wall oven is in place but not hooked up. So all the other appliances will be installed by our contractor including the beautiful stainless steel hood.

The day after tomorrow the fabricators will make a template for our quartz countertop....also purchased through Ikea. Once the countertop is installed then our fabulous white fractured glass back splash will go in behind the hood all the way to the ceiling. It will be spectacular!

Tomorrow the electrician will finish the lighting and then the electrical work must pass inspection. Yes there is still a long way to go!

Ikea Kitchen Project.....Delivery Day

Bottom line the delivery did get done on Monday but not as scheduled. Our project is located in a high rise so we had to reserve the elevator, which we did for 10 - 1. We had it written all over the delivery form but when they called to confirm, they said 10-2. I corrected them but on Monday the delivery actually did not occur until almost 3 pm. I have made friends with the condo office staff, who are very accommodating. We got the elevator reservation extended so in the end we were just fine....all 174 boxes plus all the appliances! We are ready for the big day.

Oh, and did I mention, the cell phone reception in the building is spotty which added a bit of drama to the situation. Everytime we would try to check on the delivery the service would cut out. Luckily the view from the condo is absolutely spectacular so we had that to take our mind off the delivery delay.

Wednesday the installation, or should I say the assembling begins. We are having some other issues to deal with like permits. So far it has just caused some indigestion and architect and permit fees but we are going with the flow. The contractor is wonderful and he is doing his best to get the kitchen ready for the installation.

Today I ordered some incredible fractured glass tile for the backsplash. It is going to be very elegant.

Stay tuned.

Ikea Kitchen .....Step Two

My client, who is my Co - PM, Co-project manager, and I spent a few hours with an Ikea kitchen consultant at their local store. You can actually go to their website and design your kitchen yourself, if you dare. Luckily we had already spent time laying out a design plan so our time with the Ikea designer went well. Still it took several hours. But when we were done we had a plan and a print out of what the kitchen would look like from various angles as well as a list and a price!

Of course the price is for the unassembled cabinets only. Add to that installation and countertops and the inserts for the cabinets and drawers and hardware, and appliances.

div>

Ikea has an installation company that also offers great services, like measuring, picking and more. Our next step was to meet with their consultant on site to measure. She was wonderful and so knowledgeable. We tweaked our design to fit with the measurements of what Ikea carries. Next, I returned to the store one more time to make the changes in the kitchen design on the computer with the in-store consultant.

We opted for the installation company's "picking" and valet service. Picking means they will meet you at the store and go through your list to make sure everything you need is "picked" from the warehouse and ready to deliver. Valet service means they will guide you through selecting the inserts for the drawers and cabinets. But it is really so much more. We had 2 people working with us to help the whole process go smoothly, and it did! The only snag was that our cooktop was out of stock, but since it is due in on Wednesday, we will pick it up and bring it with us.

We proceeded to checkout, paid for everything and went to set up delievery and that was that. Delivery is set for Monday morning! Installation will start on Wednesday and finish on Friday.

I will keep you posted.....pun intended!

Ikea Kitchen Project

Who would think that after my last 8 hour experience at Ikea that I would undertake doing a kitchen through Ikea. But let me tell you so far, so good. They really do have a system to help you.

Here are three kitchens I saw recently at our local Ikea store. Surprisingly, they really did impress me. I love the red kitchen. It really makes a WOW statement. The white kitchen makes it's own wow statement too, crisp, clean, and elegant.

I am embarking on a new project using an Ikea kitchen and will update you on how it is going.

This could be the fastest kitchen I have ever done!