When you love what you do, it shows in your work!  Thank you once again to all of our clients.  We look forward to another great year of bringing you top quality custom curtains, roman shades, and designer accents pillows with superior customer service!

Want to make you living room more formal for the holidays?  With family and friends visiting, one way to make a great impression and change your space at the same time is to update your window treatments.  If you are looking for a formal update, you should consider adding balloon curtains in your living room.

Photo by Interior Enhancement Group, Inc. - Look for Victorian living room design inspiration

Balloon curtains have been around for many years and for a very good reason.  The style is timeless.  They can normally be found in Victorian homes and work well for picture or bay windows.  However, you do not need either of the mentioned above to utilize this beautiful window treatment.  We have a very formal version of the balloon curtain in either a silk dupioni or a faux silk taffeta.  Both of these options make a very formal window treatment, and would be the perfect option to make your living room more formal for the holidays.

Beautiful blues are trending right now.  Here are a few trendy designer accent pillows representing blue and white forever!

 People love our designer funky zebra accent pillow.  Made from designer Diane Von Furstenberg 100% linen fabric in indigo.  Mix this perfectly with our luxe velvet lumbar pillow.  Both pillows are lined with premium thick flannel interlining and finished with an invisible zipper closure and come with a feather down insert.  High quality designer craftsmanship.

Another favorite in our premium line of designer accent pillows is our greek key linen lumbar pillow.  Made from 100% linen with greek key trim in indigo.  Fully lined with premium thick flannel interlining with an invisible zipper closure.  This pillow also comes with a feather down insert.  All designer pillows are made from designer fabric available to the trade, and are hand crafted in the USA.  Visit us today to see these and more of our premium line of designer accent pillows!

If you are looking for custom window treatments in the New Orleans area, Drea' Custom Designs can help.  We offer free in home consultations and can provide you with all of your home decor needs.  We carry many designer brand fabrics such as Kravet, Fabricut, Greenhouse Fabrics, Trends, RM Coco just to name a few.  We carry the complete custom drapery hardware line from Paris Texas Hardware and the Finial Company.  We are also a Graber dealer and offer there entire line of custom Plantation Shutters, Wood Blinds, Cellular Shades and more.  We specialize in custom pillows, custom drapes, top treatments, balloon shades, Austrian shades, and custom roman shades.

If you are located in the New Orleans area, contact us today for a free in home consultation.

First popularized in the eighteenth towards the nineteenth century, plantation shutters began with wood as the primary material for the structure. The surrounding hardwood and softwood materials in plantations spurred the creation of this type of window treatment, hence the given name.

This type of window treatment persisted throughout the century not only because of the heavy-duty quality associated with plantation shutters but also the numerous variations in terms of the interior shutter materials that can be used for the structure. 

Plantation Shutter Advantages: Material versus Material

The choice of the specific material to use primarily depends on a combination of factors. These factors may include, among other things, the price allocated for the structure, the dimensions of the enclosure in mind, and even the presence of environmental elements in the surroundings.

·         Wood. Wood plantation shutters are among the sturdiest variations of interior treatments. Basswood and Poplar are considered hardwood materials but are favored for their lightweight property. However, grain patterns and the natural color of Basswood and Poplar tend to be inconsistent so the wood material is often painted or stained. On the other hand, Maple, Mahogany, and Oak lie on the pricier spectrum of interior shutter materials. Though relatively more expensive, these hardwoods boast of the longevity and the unique grain patterns on the surface. These denser materials also resist denting and chipping and can be used for wider openings as they are not prone to sagging even when the width of the enclosure is beyond the standard measurements.

·         Faux Wood. Considered as wood look-alike materials, faux wood panels lessen the cost of the whole structure by combining natural wood components with that of man-made synthetics such as vinyl or other plastic resins. To achieve the overall natural wood-look, grain patterns are created in the faux wood surface through artificial stamping. Plantation shutter advantages associated with faux wood materials include: high resistance to moisture, less tendency of warping and built-in UV protection features for some variations. However, overtime, faux woods may discolor, flake, crack or even sag as a result of deterioration.

·         Vinyl. Vinyl plantation shutters are also one of the less expensive alternatives for real wood shutters. Primarily made of a type of plastic resin called polyvinylchloride (PVC), hence the name vinyl, shutters of this type are also favored for their ability to withstand different weather swings from high moisture to humid. Vinyl interior shutters are also washable, not prone to warping, and oftentimes added with fire retardant properties. However, these structures seldom lend themselves to be repainted and are not advised for use in wide enclosures since they tend to sag. The rule of thumb in choosing vinyl plantation shutters is to opt for the solid, filled ones and not the hollow vinyl structures since the latter are susceptible to dis figuration and may fail to serve their intended purpose.

Interior shutter materials are not only limited to wood, faux wood, and vinyl. As the market for plantation shutters become more and more popular, combinations of different materials are also becoming more predominant. Hybrid shutters are a new trend as they not only combine different materials but also incorporate multiple structural designs and features. Though the deciding process on which material to choose for the interior shutter may pose certain difficulties, homeowners are at least not limited and not stuck to just a few options to choose from.

Simple, plain yet chic are words that connote the general appearance of roman shades. Roman shades are versatile window treatments which leverage on its uncluttered and minimalist style. Primarily made of solar shade fabrics, this type of window treatment joins the ranks of interior furnishing products which boast of the endless designs and variations possible.

Minimalist as they may seem, these fabric shades are not at all boring, since different roman shade design ideas are constantly being developed and re-created to offer interested homemakers with a multitude of choices. The following section lists down the basic information about and some unique styles for this category of patterned window shades.

Basics of Designing Roman Shades: Best Styles to Use

Flat roman shades are the most commonly used style for patterned roman shades. Compared to classic roman shades or the hobbled ones, the surface of flat roman shades do not have horizontal back bars or pleats running from top to bottom of the fabric panel. For some, classic and hobbled roman shades are also adorned with prints and images; however, in terms of the continuity of the area on which the design is laid out, flat shades are considered the most practical option. The wide, clear space in flat shades lends themselves to be designed with large images or prints which can run smoothly and without breaks along the textile’s surface.

Aside from the flat style, roman shades with a relaxed look can likewise be used as patterned window treatments. The mild curvature of the bottom of relaxed roman shades creates a cozy look which can be flexibly paired with any designs or prints.

Trail of Roman Shade Design Ideas

Because of the relative popularity and common usage of roman shades, the list of designs for this type of window dressing can be hardly exhausted. The 21^st century living is truly marked by homeowners who more discerning and playful in mixing and matching the traditional designs to create new and fresher ones. The following is a list of the commonly used design ideas for roman shades, especially the custom-made ones.

1.       Clean, border lines – thick borders which follow the rectangular shade of roman shades accentuate the well-defined lines associated with these kinds of covering. The use of these border prints creates an uncluttered, classic and somewhat formal effect in the room.

2.       Checkered – brightly colored, checkered prints almost always lighten and cheer up the atmosphere in every room. The casual and fun look of this design likewise makes them an ideal style for children’s bedroom.

3.       Vertical, contrasting columns – the use of vertical lines effectively gives off an illusion of height for low-ceiling homes. The sleek columns in fabric can likewise be designed with alternating colors which complements the existing wall and furniture paint.

4.       Floral prints, nature-inspired designs - the feminine atmosphere created by using floral prints softens the whole shading structure. Elaborate floral details are also commonly used for antique or traditional-styled homes. Nature-inspired designs are also refreshing to the eyes as they embody a rustic feel.

5.       Embroideries, caricatures and other unique roman shade designs – embroidery of custom-designed insignia and sketches of random pictures are a few out-of-the-box styles for roman shades.

The continuous contribution and flow of varying roman shade design ideas heightened the popularity of this indoor window treatment type. Naturally plain as they are intended to be, roman shades can be adorned and styled similar to the fancy, custom-made curtains or draperies. The rule of thumb for the design process is to always plan a design that will aesthetically go with the existing upholstery and furnishings in the home so as not to resort to a disconnected or disjoint cluster of themes and styles.