We talked about how important it is to redesign children’s bedrooms to help them get motivated and do well for the new school year.

Now we will talk about how to plan the project:

• As we said before, get the child involved. Have him or her pick a theme. Once the theme is selected, research the colors, designs, fabrics, and textures that you need to create the theme.
• Once you choose the fabrics, decide on the colors to use. Again have the child pick his or her preferred colors. You need about three colors: one major color that will cover 60% of the room, like the walls, a secondary color that will cover 30% of the room, and could be used on furniture, bedding, and draperies, and finally an accent color that will pop up here and there, like pillows, lamps, and decorative accents. The accent color should cover 10% of the room.
• Be creative with the window covering, bedding and your furniture selection. A custom headboard that coordinates with a valance, beautiful decorative pillows, and useful accessories are areas to show talent and creativity.
• Research what is available as far as shades, bedding, and furniture. For example Comfortex has what it is called the Persona shade. The Persona shade is really cool, because it can be customized by using your theme logo, your child’s name, or any design you pick.
• Research what is good for energy saving, room darkening and acoustics to help reduce the noise of the outside world.
• Child safety must be the number one priority when designing a child’s bed room; shades should be cordless to avoid the possibility of chocking or strangling.
• Use materials that are natural fibers and if possible anti allergenic.
• Make sure all furniture fit properly, and the proportions are correct. The room should not be overstuffed.
• Ask about the manufacturer’s guarantee to make sure that what you’re purchasing will last for a long time.

Good luck with your decorating! And please do not hesitate to schedule a free phone consultation! Call (630) 420-0800.

watch?v=TCI9_0dqiXA

Call 630 420-0800 or visit www.GailaniDesigns.com for more ideas and information

Guest Rooms

Making a room welcoming and hospitable is the goal when designing guest rooms. Whether designing a guest room in a large suburban space, or in a compact city dwelling, each has its own challenges. With careful planning and creativity, guest rooms will be an expression of the host’s style, hospitality and thoughtfulness.

Here are some tips and ideas when designing a guest room:

• A comfortable bed is a must; consider an extra layer of down to cover the bed for extra comfort.
•  Vary the pillows from soft to extra firm and let the guests decide what is more comfortable for them.
• The bed sheets must be soft. Egyptian cotton with a high thread count is recommended. How about adding fresh cotton fragrance when storing the linens? But be sure to ask if your guest has any allergies.
• Upholstered head boards, pillow shams, Euro shams, decorative pillows, bed skirts, and canopies are all items that tell so much about the host.
• Fresh flowers are another way to tell the guest they are important, and they are very much cared about! Again, be sure your guests don’t have allergies. If they do, silk flowers of high quality can be used and will fool anyone into thinking they’re fresh.
• Displaying family pictures, trips, or special events will evoke conversation and discussion of happy times with guests. Another good idea is to have a wall display with words of wisdom. Special quotes framed or stenciled on walls is something to consider.
• Try putting a coffee maker or electric kettle in the room with a selection of high quality teas. Add a silver tray with fine china, various sugars, honey, and a pitcher with glasses for cold water. Guests could enjoy a fresh cup of coffee or tea early in the morning in their own bed room without disturbing the hosting family.
• Incorporate a reading corner with a comfortable chaise or chair, a soft comfy shawl, and a stack of well read books.
• Pay attention to details and add those extra ordinary trims, buttons, tassels, and fringes. Those details say something special about the host.

All the careful planning will bring a smile to guests’ faces, and will give them a wonderful experience they will never forget.

Call us for a free estimate and consultation (630) 420-0800

Also visit our Gailani Designs website for more ideas: www.GailaniDesigns.com

watch?v=wv4OqZuH2Og&feature=channel&list=UL

Fabric shades has been always popular window treatments. We have seen more interest in the use of shades the past few years. Our clients prefer fabric shades( Flat Roman, Water fall Roman, Hobbled Roman, Balloon shades, Austrian shades, …. etc.) because they look neat, they provide a valance look when they are lifted up, they insulate, especially when interlined, they provide full privacy when pulled down, they can have the top down feature, and now they can be ordered cordless for child and pet safety.

Our client from Burr Ridge, Dupage county, Illinois, loved the look of Balloon valances and Roman shades. Well, she got them both in this fabulous window covering

Call us for more ideas (630) 420-0800. Also visit www.GailaniDesigns.com

Here are some Photos of the shades:

• Some times blinds were selected for a functional reason( privacy, and light control) and the hardware of those blinds are unsightly, a valance will be ideal in this case to cover up what needs to be covered.
• When rooms are too small, and full draperies can be overpowering. Valances can provide the warmth, add texture and color to the room as much as a pair of drapes can provide with out overwhelming the room.
• If the view can not be compromised, and full draperies can be obstructive. A well designed valance will give maximum exposure, without taking away the beautiful view.
• The need for natural light in rooms where a special function require natural light to shine in, such as craft or sewing rooms, sun rooms and kitchens.
• The window is by an area where draperies can be easily soiled like over a sink window in the kitchen, or in a bath room by the jacuzzi, having a valance to dress those windows up is much more practical than draperies that drop down.
• When having two windows on one wall with different sizes, designing valances to help unify the look, is a smart idea.

For a free design consultation call (630) 420-0800

View the video below

watch?v=v5ULLN23uNs