The Urban Eclectic collection is just as colorful and unexpected.  For 2012, think out of the box when it comes to decorating.  For example, a blue and white pattern pillow on a tan couch is far more interesting than a tan and cream pillow on a tan couch.  Make a statement!!

Sultana Lattice	Zebra Oasis Cypress	Alhambra Amour

Four Panel Curtains for Bay Windows

This is our favorite and if you have the space, it is our recommendation.  In a bay window there are three windows.  The larger center window and the twin side windows.  If you have the space above the window molding, then use a decorative wood or metal curtain rod and brackets.  In the angle corners where the windows meet, there are special curtain rod swivel sockets that allow you to connect the rods at any angle.

You would then you attach two curtain panels to the rod on the two ends.  The other two panels would attach to the rod at the angled corners.  If you are concerned about blocking the view, then rod pocket curtains are recommended for your bay window.  They can be “scrunched” very tightly to minimize window block.  Using this configuration, you can get complete privacy and light control.

Two Panel Curtains for Bay Windows

Not every bay window has space at the two angled windows.  If this is your window, then you should consider using just two curtain panels on the outside edges.  This is a decorative solution only.  You won’t be able to use your curtains for privacy and light control.

2. Glass Clearing Privacy & Light Control (New Hardware)

If you want your drapes to more or less clear the glass when open, you will need to move your brackets out farther from your casing. This will give you the extra space necessary for your drapes to gather (stack) on the wall beyond the glass. Instead of casing-to-casing measuring, you want to
measure the glass width on the window or slider. The chart below will give you the approximate amount of “extra” inches you need add to your glass width for the rod length (the rod length is also where your brackets will be positioned). If you are ordering two panels, then split the extra inches on each side of the window. If you are ordering one panel, then the extra inches will all be on the stacking side. Note: this is a general guide. There will be slight variances in the way a drape stacks based on fabric thickness, lining selected and the hardware you will install.

To get your final drape width to order you need to add 12″ for your overlap and returns. Overlaps and returns do not change your rod length. This is just additional fabric required to fabricate your drapes correctly. Pleated drapes are made with a 4″ overlap where the drapes meet in the center. The returns (fabric from the rod to the wall) are 4″ on each side. For your finished width, you will need to add the bracket extension, overlap and returns. Your drapes will be finished to a luxurious 2 to 1 fullness so when they are closed for privacy, they will have a nice full appearance.

3. Decorative Panels (Installing New Hardware)

A Decorative Drape or Panel is for “decorative” purposes and not intended to provide complete privacy and light control. Decorative panels are made in 1.0, 1.5 & 2.0 widths of fabric for each panel. In Full Custom drapes are ordered in inches. Please consult the chart below for the inch measurements you will need to order for different panel widths. If you order a center-split (pair) at 48″, we will make two panels and each panel will be 1.0 width of fabric. The chart also provides our recommendations the number of widths you should consider based on the size of your window. Your decorative drapes will be made with 4″ returns on each side. Tip: The goal for decorative panels is to use the right amount of fabric so the finished drape doesn’t look too skimpy or too heavy for the scale of the window. The chart below will help you make the right decision.

Existing hardware makes your job very simple. You don’t have any brackets or hardware to install. You just have to get your measurements from your existing hardware. You can also simply measure an existing drape, if you like how it hangs.

Decorative Rod and Rings

Your width measurement is your existing bracket-to-bracket width.

Standard Curtain Rod or Traverse Rod

If you have an existing curtain rod or traverse rod, your width measurement is your existing bracket-to-bracket width.

5. New Hardware Installation Tips

New Hardware:

Hanging drapes is actually a fairly easy project. There are a few tips that will help your installation go smoothly. You should allow for about an hour for the first one. It can go much quicker, but this is one of those projects where most people double and tripe check themselves. If you have multiple windows, the subsequent installations will go much faster.

The first 100 customers who make a purchase (not including free swatches) during the sale will qualify for the giveaway.  On Wednesday July 6th, we will randomly select one winner from the first 100 orders.  GOOD LUCK!

The media has a knack for presenting the information to us that can be considered sensational. We all agree that the economic situation could be better, but ready for some good news? In the last 12 months an average of 4 million homes were sold each month in the United States according to the National Association of Realtors. Sure the numbers are down from the blistering pace of the last few years, but 4 million is huge, isn’t it?

But what about the glut of for sales signs we all see driving around town? The data reveals that inventory numbers holding steady. Inventory is realtor speak for homes that are for sale. The average monthly inventory figures for last year are running around 3 million. So what does this mean? It’s easy. About 7 million homes are on the market for sale in a month. A little more than half of them sell while a little less that half don’t.

So what does this mean to you? If you are buying, it’s a great time to score a deal. What if you are selling? Here is the way I like to look at home selling. People like to use the word competition when they are talking about their business or sports. How often do you hear that word when selling a home? Rarely. The whole concept of selling a home is on a completely different business tangent. You “list” a property. You “show” a property. All very lofty stuff. When I speak to a neighbor who is selling a home about another neighbor who just “listed” they say, “it’s a good thing – it will bring more buyers”. Baloney! You just opened a hamburger stand and learned that McDonalds is opening in three months across the street. Your neighbor is your competitor or at least his house is. If you get one buyer on your street, you want him to buy your house. Correct?

So like business and sport, how to you become a ruthless competitor and win? Analyze the competition. Do you ever check out your competitor’s store or website? Then you had better take a look in his house. Get your realtor to take you on a tour, they have the access. Analyze all the information available on the Internet. Know how the other properties compare to your property. Are they perfect, are they tired or on a busy street. You are in a battle and you have big money at stake.

Once you have all this information, what’s next? Simple, you need a perfect house. With a lot of inventory out there, buyers have a lot of choice. Do you think buyers are shopping for fixer uppers right now? Not on your life! In this market, buyers can take their time and pick the best move in condition home. More good news, you don’t need to spend a fortune getting your house in top condition. Your focus is to make it cosmetically attractive. Start with the outside. Keep the grass cut. Trim the bushes. Fix pealing paint.  If you are in the north east right now, dig a tunnel to the front door. It’s all very basic stuff, but during your competitive analysis, you’ll see how many of your competitors completely miss these simple strategies. Now let’s move to the inside.

The first thing a buyer notices is the smell. Do you have a dog or a dozen cats? You may not be bothered by the litter box odor in your kitchen, but your buyer is already in the car. Eliminate or mask strong odors. Next thing they look for is abuse. Scuff marks, dents and dings on the walls are signs of neglect and a ton of work for the buyer. Fix this stuff. Paint the walls – neutral please! Paint is just a few hundred dollars and a couple of weekends of work. Remember, we are talking about thousands of dollars here. When I do a project around the house, I keep telling myself how much resale value I am creating. I’ve remodeled my master bathroom recently. I probably spent 50 hours on the project.  I estimate that when I go to sell, it will add $25,000 to the price.  So while I was working on the bathroom, I was making $500 per hour!  Sorry, back to the simple stuff.  Clean up the clutter in closets, basements and garages. It’s time to get the dumpster. Whatever you can’t part with, fill a moving container and store it off-site. It’s not expensive. People want to imagine themselves in your home. They are not the least bit interested in your hunting trophies. Depersonalize.

Now let’s talk home décor. Kitchens and bathrooms must look good. We are not suggesting that you go nuts remodeling to sell, but do whatever it takes to be competitive. Buyers can accept imperfections here and can rationalize a remodel down the road, so get it looking clean and neat so they can live with it for a while. Furniture placement and condition is important. We all do things in our homes to fit our life style. Did you ever hear your spouse say, “I know it’s weird, but I don’t care what other people think”. Selling is when you better care. We often put our couches in odd locations, but we get an awesome view of our giant flat screen. I went into an open house once where the owner loved house plants. He loved them so much that he had hundreds of them covering nearly every square inch of floor space. Do you think he had trouble selling? Remember the competition and trade your unique habits for a sale.

I think about the first time I was thrust into the home decorating world. My wife wanted to do custom window treatments, bedding, pillows, etc. I thought it was expensive, but I understood that I had to move beyond my “dorm room chic” style. What I didn’t appreciate at the time was the investment angle. As we decorated each room of our first home, we always did something interesting with paint, furniture and window treatments without spending a fortune. We were creating a personalized lifestyle while secretly creating a ton of investment value. When we decided to sell, we were at contract in seven days setting a record in our neighborhood for price per square foot. As a condition of the sale, all the window treatments had to stay. Do you think we had competition at the time? Of course we did, but our buyers had seen all the competition and put our house first on their list. We did everything a seller must do in a good or bad market. You see we just don’t preach this stuff, we live it! Right now, you need to be doing everything in your power to be in the half of the market that is selling (at top prices) so perfect your house and crush the competition.

We get so many calls from hotels, restaurants and other commercial spaces wanting to have their custom made window treatments made with fabric that is fire retardant.  While all commercial spaces need to meet strict fire codes, homeowners don’t have such restrictions.  However, we do get the occasional call from a homeowner who wants fire retardant fabrics.

Until recently, fire rated fabrics were “commercial” looking.  Frankly speaking they were just plain ugly.  You’ve seen the fabrics probably a million times when you stayed at any of the many roadside motels.  You’d never put that stuff in your home or commercial space if you had a choice.  In the past, if you wanted a nice fabric and pattern, you would have to pay to have the fabric sent out for a fire retardant treating.  It can be expensive and time consuming.

At Fabricworkroom.com, we now offer a great selection of fire rated fabrics that are beautiful.  You would hesitate to put these fabrics in your home or commercial space.  No extra cost, no extra time and most of all – not ugly!

While many of our customers are looking for fire retardant fabrics for churches, schools, restaurants, bed and breakfasts and hotels, you just may want to consider them for your home.  With the holidays around the corner, your fireplaces will start getting some use and many parents feel safer having their draperies, bedding, pillows and table covers in safe fire retardant fabrics.

You can easily browse our fire retardant fabrics in our Full Custom Free Swatches department.  On the right pull down, you will find the Fire Retardant option to see all the fabric choices.  As always, we recommend that you order swatches