OCR Text |
Show F6 The Salt Lake Tribune, Sunday, April 27, 1997 by the} Advertising Window treatments deserve careful deliberation By Denise Cowie KNIGHT-RUDDER NEWSPAPERS Window treatmentsarea bitlike hair styles. You see a picture in a magazine of a style that looksgreat, so you tear outthe page and say, wantthat!” Wrongapproach, says PamSinger, janet ofthe Calico Corners homedecoratingstore in Strafford, Pa., outide Philadelphia. What looks wonderful in a glamorously styled magazine ~reom maynotbe right for your homeat all. “Thereare certain styles that are suited to an oldstone house in .”Philadelphia,” she says, “but a new ““housewith large, overscale furniture and Palladian windows will suggest a different treatment.” Likewise a rowhouseora ranch. Before you rushinto anything, she advises, you need to consider the kind of house you have, your other furniture, what you wanttoachieve with the window treatments, and thelifestyle of the people living there. Butwith the cornucopia ofoptions available —- from bargain basement to namedesigners — it’s all too easy to start picking styles and fabrics before you've done your homework. “Windowtreatments are regaining popularity,” high-end fabric designer MarkPollack told a gatheringofinterior designers at Philadelphia's Design Center this month when heintroduced five translucent fabrics for windows. Besides adding beauty to a room, he said, “they're being used to conceal sadiators or pipes, or even an unsightly EView. 2 “It’s not just about pinch pleats and metraverse rods anymore. Se That's certainly true. There’s a stag™vering variety ofcurtains and drapery styles to choose from,in fabrics that range from new gossamers enhanced with metallic threads through traditional prints and damasks,elegantsilks and luxuriouslace,to trendy quilted looks, animalprints and casual denims. Goneare the days when almost everyone on the block hadfrilly priscilla, or cafe, curtains at the windows. Now you almostneed a decorator’s encyclopedia to find your way around swags and jabots, festoons and cascades, valances and comices, and enoughdifferent pleats to make yourhead spin. Thenthere’s the hardware of window dressing - rods, tiebacks, swag holders andthelike. It seems to have become an art formthat requires as much attention as the fabric andstyle. “Hardwareis so decorative now,” says Jan Jessup at Calico Corners headquarters in Kennett Square, wheresheis vice president of marketing services for 97 stores across the country. sort of like adding earrings to an outfit — it drawsattention.” Soft or fabric shades — those window coverings that look like drapery when they are down,butgatherupvertically like shadesto reveal the window — are also hugely popular in both casual and somewhatformal rooms. They, too, range from the lushness of Austrian and balloonstyles to tailored Roman and Londonshadesor the simpleroll-up stagecoach version. Andall these choices don’t even touch on the world of hard shades, shutters, and vertical blinds. ‘Windowtreatments generally are the last step in decorating an empty room,” says Betsy Moore, design director for This End Up Furniture Co., whichsells made-to-order curtains througha catalog and 175 stores nationwide. “People seemtowait until after placing the fur- @) Sage Financial Services 4516 South 700 East, Suite 185 Salt Lake City, Utah 84107 niture and accessories to address the windows.It’s like adding the punctuation at the end of a sentence. “When the windowtreatments finally of the room If you have no sense of what you want, or what a roomrequires, you mightthink abouthiring an interior designer to guide you through the maze ofoptions. If your wallet doesn’t run to that, there are numerous books — Sunset’s Ideasfor Great Window Treatments is one; The Complete Book of Window Treatments & Curtains from Sterling/Lark is another — andplenty ofhelp available fromtrained staff at homedecorating stores. Before you begin, take a tip from Calico Corners’ Singer and ask yourself these questions: s controlling light levels an issue? For maximumlight, choosea treatment that leavesthe glass uncovered.Todiffuse light or cutglare, try translucent fabrics: or, if harsh sunlight is a problem, choose opaqueshades or draperies that can easily be drawn open or closed. + A newersolutionis the Silhouette shade from Hunter Douglas, a manufacturer of custom window coverings based in Saddle River, N.J. The shade has adjustable fabric slats suspended between two sheer facings and combinesthe airy look of a sheer with the easy operation of a shade andthelight control of a blind. ¢ Is noise a problem? Lined fabrics help muffle sound. + Are you looking for energy efficiency? Sinceglass readily transmits heat and cold, the right window treatments can help lowerheating and air-condi- tioningbills. For warmth. says Singer, “pick a heavier fabric se a flannelinnerlining TM i DO: YOUR cei areC4 Don't get hooked into paying BIG Tom Winand 484-4445 and an insulated draperylining... yhich traps air and helps warm the root (And,she adds,the three layers make the drapery hang beautifully.) Shades thatare fitted or have thermal linings also help. To coolthings off: Forcooling, draperies thatclose out afternoon sunwill help. * Doyou need to considerthe safety of young children? Keepall cords and wands outof their reach (short versions are available). Some window treatments have cords that automatically release if a child gets caught, says Singer.If there’s a chance that children or pets might becomeentangled in draperies while playing, use brackets that can be secured to prevent the curtain rod from flipping off andstriking them. * Are your house and furnishings a particular style? Windowcoverings should coordinate with the rest of the room. A formalroom cries outfor elegant windowcoverings. Likewise, elaborate drapery would be outof place in roomsof modest, nondescript furniture. * Whatis yourlifestyle — formal, informal, hectic? You don’t wantvelvets puddling on thefloor if you have a houseful ofchildren and pets. . What’s the focus — the drapery, an ally ding window, a beautiful view beyond?ifit’s the view, youneed only frameit (leaving the glassclear, of course). If a windowor dooris poorly proportioned or oddly positioned, you can alter the perspective with little drapery trickery —r joning a valance above the frame,for instance, to make a window seem longer. But a handsome window may need only the merest suggestion. ‘Sometimes, on a larger window, we’ il just drape and loop a sheer fabric over part of the windowto givethe illusion of a treatment without detracting fromthe architectural features,” Singer says. Your budgetand the length of time you expect the windowtreatments to last will dictate how much you spend, whether you plan to make them yourself, buy them ready-made or made-toorder froma home-furnishingsstore, or have them custom-made. “Ingeneral,” write the editors of Ideas BRM eia em HOME LOAN NEEDS! ConsouipaTion Loans ® @ © © Ve Believe In: Lem ee merl Ci Loire sae Someane who wilk listen @ Prompt, ‘Confidential Perea eg *Alternative Credit «Lowest Ratesin State Low Interest Rates No IncomeVerification Self Employed Difficult Credit Agency Corp rus and Caribbean hues are popular, along with prints over damask or matelasse (pronounced MAT-la-say) base “Matelasse fabric hasa quilted ” When enhanced with a beautiful printed design, the result is reminiscent of Chanel. One more trend that couldadd little flair to any home: changeable draperies Clip rings (they clip onto a rod andonto fabric without any sewing) makeit easy to switch from tucks to gathers or to straight panels, or to change over-treat- ments completely. Asfabric designer Mark Pollack says, “As weslipcoverour furniture from season to season, we canalso ‘slipcover’ our windows.” Making home safe for baby requires study By Don OLDENBURG (C) 1997, THE WASHINGTON Post We’re Your Friends and Neighbors 263-7380 paper for Great WindowTreatments, “readymade treatments are less expensive that custom ones. But don’t automatically assume that ready-made treatments are the best buy. Custom work maynot cot much more,andthe difference in quality can be significant.” Check aroundtc see whatdifferent stores offer and at what prices. This End Up,for instance,sells made to-order — you can pick from aselection of fabrics, styles and components that are modular andfit a wide range of windows. Calico Corners stores, on the other hand, offer an a la carte menu — you can buyjustthe fabric (it sells both first- and second-quality) and make your own; have them do the measuring; do custom-made draperies; or do the full operation — measuring,fabrication andinstallation. (They'll even let you borrow a bolt of fabric overnight to see whetherit suits.) Whereveryou shop, you'llfind prices vary greatly, depending on fabric choice andstyle. But an inexpensive custommade pinch-pleat drapery for a 40-inch windowcould costas little as $100, Singersays, for fabric, sewing and simple hardware.A better fabric and decorative hardware, plus labor, for the same window might be $200. Bewareof anything too trendy. You havetolive with your choices for a long time — something to keep in mind if youfall in love with the currently hot animalandjunglefloral prints. Home-fashion trends generally are evolutionary, not revolutionary, Jessup points out. This year, romantic prints are big. And — maybe as a reaction to the subtle colors of recent years — brightcit- WASHINGTON — Which highchairs are prone to “submarining,” when a child slips underthe tray from the seat and falls? What brandsofcar seats have had problemswith defective buckles that can release on impact and what brands are proving to be the best? Wha potential health hazards should parents HOMES FOR SALE know aboutbefore applying ordinary baby powdertotheir infant's bottom? SVOARHOUSE COTTAGE $404 E CRANDALL AVENUE Jus 142K up-da In 94.3 bx on Highlond Bay Park! 3 bra, 4 bin, Roppapon277 Rappaport27 -7 78 718.0 or Nonete New products constantly pose new hazards; old myths and dangerous misinformationsurvive the best scientific findings and warnings on how to care for your baby. Accidents — not diseases — are the leading cause of death and disability in children ages 1 to 4. hordwa tirs, rg fot. $439,900. Dorthy Ancroulicckis 434-0487, 9272 SOUTH 2090 west ot 44 8, vw sononae | oit, e hae Ste Cope cod aie eenenees foun ae ‘Bath. Get unit, excel cond. 2 mst suites, study, prvt kout| $255,000. JoAnne Andanion 54 oe Duberow 484- AMBLER READY FOR $ odkm plus extra rooms in brick home,Grea! nghbrd & area! ineaaibvee yest ae nage ©OotyAnoaonsaO07 41687 E NICHOLE Sars. /2boms over ios daa Roppopon 277 yord Busmescesetanarast ste, : PMEomray tam mTenced yard, views HBssc0 "cla Paterson 27% Ander $8409 OPEN SUNDAY OPEN 100-300 912 SOUTH 1900EAST Sugomouse cofloge, ruWoot Charming $1 2 bing 4138000, Joanneyord,Anderton 88 ba i ‘ain$357,000. Wie Terrie Gownstolrs, Sue Chilorgn364816 ortodo Romsey wouapay 2 sTOMY $399, Yocation fo 1/3 acre, 6 bdim, elegant, asa # seerwoon 69 9 im, updaled, decks, gazebo. MARYS - eee uae ba, Norine Foote 485-1482 of Marcia Petonon 2724721. spacious & Ne Neen Still0 Offering TheLowestRates InUtah! ete arg Leer Quote sta foo lees es ro Bt ag OPE 2:00-4:00 992 SOUTH 1300 EAST cowie 9 sony LDDONN SG nupemra pright access woke theo spain 8 000. tnoge Ligh ought? barme te ining, Naplace (ocationlt ust Lovely executive unit 2 bed, 2 be on views. Yop ft, quiet. 000 soxSte Racer 4879 SOUTH 1900 LAST at its best! 47 Reto Door Abe Downtownliving Jastetully returblahed unit w/a ws view. $445,000 Halen R ‘ 3 gor AL BLUFF OF WOOO VALLEY! YE 01sontemporory mult Cul-de-sac tot landscaped ‘00k cabinets aban, ehutiers UI.F7T8 or taba ‘oorla 139. OPEN 3:30:50 {1839 souny, GOVERNORS PLALA polgy Feotnil charming tus.penthouse,Aidogo bit ambier, big teams, orgs 104! lower level, rurale Ste Torkdenfa SEsemHi00 ass Jee baorlon2784464 Quote ae ia ne a BALLOON LI ' ree pre-approval sConventional & VA ns *Lesn than Perfect credit loans *Construction loans (up to 9 month lock) *100% home equity Bank turn downs welcome Ask about our no Nay Aired $14; “ International RELO. Relocation *NO COST HOME | EQUITY LOANS Nad hea closing cost program Layton Bountiful —— 444-9200 298-9400 Salt Lake 294-9900 263-9300 St. George 674-9100 Cedar City 586-2600 Baby-proofing the home requires never-ending vigilance that few new parents today havethe time or energy to do thoroughly. New products constantly pose new hazards; old myths and dangerous mis: information survive the best scientific findings and warnings on how tocare for your baby. Accidents — notdiseases — are the leading cause of death and disability in children ages | to 4. Every year,for instance, about 9,000 highchair-related accidents alone send babies to hospital emergency rooms. One bookthat has helped parents eliminate many hazards around the house over the past two decades is Guideto Baby Products (Consumer Reports Books, $14.95). Now available in its updated fifth edition, the guide cautions parents aboutthe threats and dangers ofspecific brand baby prod- ucts, from toys to baby furniture to everyday baby products such as formulas, diapers and pacifiers. It wams about products previously recalled but possibly still in use, gives money-sav: ing tips, andlists the addresses and phone numbers of major baby-product manufacturers. Baby expert Sandy Jones, who wrote the guide withthe quality- andsafety conscious folks at Consumers Union, also rates brand-namebaby products an their safety, convenience and durability. |