Finish up your Hunter Douglas Shades with valances or Draperies!

You got your Hunter Douglas shades for privacy and light control, but the room still feels not very homey and lacks warmth and comfort!

What adds warmth, comfort and the feel of down- home, are the textures, patterns and colors. By adding valances or draperies your room becomes more cozy and provide that extra comfort!

Take a look and enjoy the videos below and get some ideas:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=endscreen&v=t64iBehXyNw&NR=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aO6beAlM_t0

Call for free estimate or free consultation (630)420-0800

Also visit : http://www.GailaniDesigns.com

Recently I had the chance to stay at freshly remodeled Hampton motel in Seattle, Washington. The new design was very well put together and that really effected how I felt during my stay. There was an effort to create that feel of home, relaxing, restful environment.

The most comfortable bed dressed in all white soft linen, made me want to dive right into it!!! The duvet was so downy and soft, bunch of feathery, slouchy pillows, which made me want to stay in bed for that unsurpassed pampering!

Of course I paid close attention to the window treatment. The first layer was a screen shade which totally loved because it defused the bright light and gave the room  some privacy and one still could see out. The second layer was draperies with black out lining for total room darkening. Stationary panels in a large print framed the window on each side and a tailored cornice finished the window.

Although there was nothing out of the ordinary about the room but how it was put together, the colors, patterns, and the effort to create comfort, restful feeling, and serenity what made me feel down at home, and I couldn’t help feeling impressed!!!

For free estimate call (630)420-0800

For More Ideas Visit www.GailaniDesigns.com

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

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When thinking about blinds, I think: neat, simple, orderly, compact, functional. They’re easy to clean, and they will give me full exposure of the window when I want a non-obstructed view.

Here are some general tips when selecting blinds:

• Verticals or any vertical sheers will enhance the height of the room.
• For vertical blinds, make sure to allow 3/4” clearance from the floor for easy traversing.
• For Wood or Venetian blinds, consider the use of decorative tapes to add color, pattern, and that customized look to the room.
• If vibrant colors are preferred, consider metal blinds. They are available in a wide array of colors, come cordless, and you can add tape to 2” slats for a rich, customized look. Make sure that the color of the metal blind is white to the street side, especially the front of the house, otherwise the facade of will not look unified.
• Generally the smaller the slats, the less light comes in when they are open.
• The top down feature is great for allowing some light in while maintaining privacy at the same time. This feature is ideal for cutting the sun glare when working on a computer. Now the cellular shades with the top down feature come with the cords hidden to the sides for a neater look that does not disturb the view.
• Select cordless for child and pet safety.

Call (630)420-0800 for free estimates.

For more ideas visit: www.GailaniDesigns.com

Watch below:

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Texture is often secondary to color and pattern when it comes to the over all design of a space or the window treatment itself in any given room. Colors and patterns usually have and immediate impact, textures though adds richness to the colors. Take for example the richness of deep colored velvet is due to it’s pile, the shine and iridescent qualities of silk reflects it’s smoothness, the firm weave of cottons helps the printed patterns and colors to come out crisper and stronger.

Texture usually describes the way the light play on the surface of the fabric, that in turns will give a message of how the material feels, its softness, smoothness, warmth, coolness and so on.

Textures have their own feel and they evoke special association. Like chenille might be associated with warmth, cotton with comfort,or silk being exotic.

Varying textures is important and will add interest, sophistication, and style to any space. Imagine velvet pillows with satin trim, tweed drapery panels with a contrast in cotton, or organdy table runner with lace.

Textures might not be the first thing to think about when planing a decorating project or a design for a window treatment, but indeed is a very important design element that need not to be neglected!

Call us for a free estimate or consultation.

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

Need blinds shades or shutters? We carry all Hunter Douglas products, we offer free design consultation, and free phone consultation. Call(630)420-0800.

Watch the video below

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Also visit the site below for more design ideas

www.GailaniDesigns.com

Now a days, not to line custom draperies is unheard of! The only time I would not line is when providing cubical curtains for a medical building. The question is what type of lining to use? The selections are several, it vary from very inexpensive to top of the line blends of cotton and poly, 100% cotton, several choices of colors and of course room darkening or black out linings.

How about interlining? The term interlining is for the material that is inserted between the face fabric and the lining. It is widely used in Europe and I made it as a standard to use in my drapery designs.

Interlining gives an opulent rich feel to the drapery, it adds volume, and it helps dress up the draperies.

Interlining adds life to the draperies and protects against the weather elements such as the damaging rays of the sun and the heat that the it generates. It reduces the patterns in the fabrics from bleeding through especially when using a contrast fabric in cascades and jabots, it also helps to make the true color of the fabric show and not get faded out from the sun light outside during the day hours. Interlining is great for providing extra insulation, especially when the draperies are drawn a cross the window for total coverage.

Using interlining will create an ambiance of elegance, beauty, and the royal feel that you will not see in the average home.

Call us at (630)420-0800. We provide in home free consultation and free phone consultation as well!

Please visit our GailaniDesigns site for more ideas www.GailaniDesigns.com

Below are some examples of interlined draperies

An  Installation took place last week in Burr Ridge IL. The room was medium sized and well lit, however the furniture was a little over sized and too many pieces were used. That made the room seem even smaller.  Here is how the windows were dressed to help the room appear bigger, and more spacious: the walls were painted in a warm, light taupe, and the treatment was kept simple. We raised the panels as far as possible, keeping the proportions in mind, and the color of the drapery fabric was the same color as the walls, lowering the contrast. Both of these things delude the eyes into thinking the room is larger than it is.

Take a look:

The client expressed interest in ripple fold draperies in place of sheers and blinds for privacy, and she wanted to create the feel of a five star hotel. I believe, she got it!

Call (630) 420-0800

Also visit: www.GailaniDesigns.com

Commercial spaces can look stunning too! unfortunately windows in commercial areas like offices are neglected. The common use is adding blinds, solar screens, and old fashioned vertical blinds. Draperies can add beauty and create very special feel to any room, commercials or residential.

Below is a proposed design for a club house in Naperville, Dupage county, IL

Please let me know what you think?

Call (630) 420-0800

Also visitwww.GailaniDesigns.com

Often clients ask what the latest trends for window fashions are. I would like to share with you the latest in terms of style, colors, fabrics and embellishments.

Style:  Full drapery panels are in. The past few years we saw more use of drapery panels on windows, with most unusual pleats and headings.

Roman shades in all known styles (flat, folded, ballooned, and all other types) are very much in fashion. Roman shades are very popular because they are classic: when they are pulled up they create a valance to dress the window, they insolate when drawn down, especially when interlined, and provide privacy as well.

Colors:  With the down turn in the economy the past few years, we saw new trends for colors in general, and the window fashion industry is no exception. Bold, strong colors are back! They are used as a pop of color with a more neutral background. Bold Tangerines, Mangos, Teals, Turquoise, and Reds with grayed browns are being used; these splashes of bold colors are a reminder to the world that there is hope and to look forward to a better future!

Fabrics:  Textural, embroidered and fabrics with natural fibers are in fashion.  Fabrics like linen, cotton, Chenille, printed silks as well as natural silks are preferred over polyesters and manmade fibers. Although natural fabrics are in demand now days, synthetic fabrics are still finding their use in the design world. Clients also are asking for natural fibers, recycled, and (Green) products.

Embellishments:  Embellishing with bold, unique trims is very much in fashion. Using fringes along the vertical edges of a panel or having a plain panel with a one-of-a-kind oversized tie back tassel have become very popular. Having a breaded trim with a striking color in the perfect spot will accentuate an architectural feature that needs to be the focal point of a room. We are seeing more trims with wooden beads, mirrors, metal chains, feathers, and materials that are not usually used as a decorative trim. Pleating, buttons, grommets, and contrast cording is another way to embellish, and now more than ever, designers are using their creative juices to come up with ways to give their clientele head turning, knockout draperies that are totally their style.

For ideas and information make sure to call us and utilize our free phone consultation (630) 420-0800.

Also visit www.GailaniDesigns.com