SPRING AND SPRING CLEANING!

Spring weather has come quite early to our Michigan area and has raised many issues about planting annuals, future of fruit trees’ early blooms, tulips blossoming before Holland’s Tulip Festival in May and, of course, spring cleaning….. already???

For me, Spring is not synonymous with spring cleaning! (I tend to habitually do this year around.)  However, for those just waking after this rather short winter’s nap, your window treatments might be in need of some tender loving care.

If they are manufactured by Hunter Douglas, you are in luck as they will clean beautifully and well.  Durability and longevity are part of their design and any questions about care, cleaning, or repair are only a phone call away or feel free to contact me with questions as well.

HAPPY SPRING!!

 

EVERLASTING STYLE, REFRESHED!!!!

A sunny, summery picture to fit our delightful

and unexpected warm Michigan weather lately

and also showcasing one of many new product

enhancements and features by Hunter Douglas!

The Everwood Collection of alternative wood

blinds is anything but ordinary!!  This collection of

colors include a classic palette of ten whites from

true white to elegant ecru….just in time to

brighten your windows for spring and summer!

 

Stop in and let us show you the excellent features

in this collection and the many other product

collections by Hunter Douglas!!

BAMBUS, BAMBOE, BAMBOU, BAMBOO!

Bamboo is beautiful, natural, versatile, sustainable!

It is a perennial, ornamental grass that has been part of the Asian culture for centuries and has grown in popularity around the world for a variety of uses……

…one being my favorite, of course, the woven wood blind or bamboo blind.  Their resurgence in our eco-friendly society has delighted many a designer due to their adaptability into just about any design style…..

…..urban contemporary

….classic

….to cottage chic and beyond!

Since the first of the year, we have seen many of our clients invite this natural, well-liked, product into their homes in a wide range of its native colors and textures. 

…perhaps because they recognize the rich resource, perhaps because they love the “touch of nature”, perhaps because it diffuses so beautifully the grey Michigan daylight and creates a friendly buffer and backdrop against the snowy outside!!!

Myself, I love everything about the look, the feel, the source of bamboo.  I love its innovative uses in our society today and I love its folklore deeply ingrained in Asian traditions. 

So when considering window coverings next time, open your design mind to this warm and personable possibility of bamboo and let me know what you discover!

(please feel free to e-mail or post questions in comments regarding woven woods by Hunter Douglas or any window design dilemma)

FRIDAY DREAMING….

On this VERY snowy day in Michigan, I might

as well dream about something white….

Hurry Spring!!

Happy Friday!!

DUTCH TREAT!!!

Intrigued as I am by windows, I ran across this wonderful Art Deco interior and could not resist remarking on the exceptional rich color used in the drapery treatments.  They compliment this superb window without complicating the view. 

Lush chocolate!

This, of course, is the famous Café Americain, the oldest Grand Café  in the Netherlands.  It was originally constructed in 1902 and is located inside the famous Amsterdam American Hotel.  Isn’t is fantastic!!!

Café Americain is famous for its Art Deco interior, with the large arches, original Tiffany lamps and glass stained details in high windows. The wall paintings show the story of Shakespeare's Midsummer Night's Dream.

Don’t you just love it?

STYLE MODERNE

Art Deco has always reminded me of  “old” Hollywood (or “early” Hollywood, depending on your vantage point).  Glamorous satin dresses, lavish cocktail parties, chrome, glass, wrought iron stairways, black and white tiled floors, Charlie Chaplin Rudolph Valentino, Cole Porter, Wall Street crash….oops, too much reality!

In my latest picture safari through the land of internet, I encountered some splendid examples of this classic influence which originated from the 1925 World’s Fair in Paris, France. 

This custom designed rod by Blue Desert Interiors captures the atmosphere this Modernist response to the more elaborate Art Nouveau style.  In the first photo, note how the wrought iron design cleverly mimics the two flanking half-round consoles on both sides of this lovely window.

Infamous, for its exotic and opulent Art Deco décor is Harrods, London which I had the exciting privilege of strolling through and the distinct disadvantage of not being able to afford anything!

The photo of this superbly styled chair I could not resist in snagging to add to my collection.  The style, the color, the cording……..ahhhhhh! 

Il est  magnifique!

What design influences are your favorite????

ALWAYS AN ELEGANT PUZZLE!

The arched window provides such an attractive focal point in any room yet remains the most puzzling and difficult window to treat for light and privacy control. 

Personally, I usually take the simplest path and let the window speak for itself rather than detract from its charm by trying “too hard” to adorn it.

Simple traversing draperies…….

Accenting with wood shutters….

( by Hunter Douglas, of course!)

An airy Roman Shade…..

What are your favorite solutions???