Designing Successful Custom Draperies and Shades for Oversized Windows or Door Openings.
When you set out to buy or build a unique home, chances are part of the design you love involves oversized or odd-shaped windows. Tall, dramatic window openings or wide, open vistas create unforgettable spaces.
They also create memorable headaches for homeowners.
Whether the issue is height, width, or an unusual shape, specialty windows create problems most retail window covering companies are unprepared to solve. The complexity of getting an oversized curtain to hang properly surprises most homeowners. The weight of the fabric, the weave, the cut, the craftsmanship, and the hardware all must be carefully considered in the design. Otherwise, a lot of stress and expensive delays are the result.
There are three keys to getting ahead of these problems and, just as importantly, having a joyful experience in transforming your home.
Visualization – How will you get an accurate preview of what the new window treatments will look in your space? Oversized windows mean big, custom fabric orders, and you want to know you’ve made the right choice before the order is placed.
Preparation – There will be some twists and turns in the process of installing odd or oversized window treatments. The key is to be prepared with Plan A, B, and C.
Professional Guidance – An experienced designer takes on the stress of #1 and 2 above so you can enjoy the creative process.
How to Visualize Sixteen and a Half Feet of Fabric
Cari contacted us after moving into a new, contemporary Northwest home with spectacular views to the East of Mt. Hood and the Willamette Valley.
On the other side of the home, however, was a towering dining room window and an extra-wide office window. They were stunning architectural details which also happened to face west. Besides the opportunity to create a lovely design, the hot afternoon sun was pouring in through these portals and needed to be controlled.
Intense sunlight is obviously an issue of comfort, but it’s also an issue of protecting your investment in the interior of your home. The damage to furniture and other interior elements can be swift and irreversible.
Cari envisioned floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall draperies for her windows. It was a feat she knew she’d need a professional’s help with, but not everyone wanted to tackle it. She also had reservations. She’d had a bad experience with another drapery company who lacked expertise in custom installations.
On the phone, Cari wanted to know how working with Adrette would be any different than her previous experience. I assured her we’d take all the stress off of her shoulders, and that our motto is, “Only good surprises for our clients on installation day!”
We set up a consultation and met Cari at her home. She had a photo of what she wanted her windows to look like, and she also showed me a small, 4” x 4” square fabric sample she’d found at a national retail store.
Although tiny fabric samples like this are common in retail stores, they aren’t sufficient to really visualize what your window coverings will look like on a large window - or even a standard size for that matter.
We use large samples, and we went through the options we brought and landed on one with two slightly different color options of off-white.
And yet, it was clear we needed to see an even larger sample to assess the fit for this immense frame.
We ordered one full yard of fabric in Cari’s first color choice. (We often take an extra step in the selection process.)
Then, for our own piece of mind, we asked our workroom to make a Ripplefold drapery sample using a special Ripplefold tape designed to handle extra weight in the final installation.
With this sample, we could evaluate whether we’d found a textile which would fabricate well, have a good hand, and hang beautifully.
So now, we had an actual mockup drape with features designed for her future, 200” long custom drapes. This was important not only for visualization, but because the next step would be to order the more than 100 yards of fabric needed to cover her window from side to side with a proper Ripplefold look.
Once the drapery sample was completed, we looked at it in Cari’s home. We could see that the fabric was appropriate, but the color was a bit too creamy. Fortunately, our second color option was the perfect off-white.
And yet, we needed to see it for real, so we did it again!
Another yard of fabric was ordered just to make sure, and once we saw it in her home, we both knew it was the perfect tone. Looking at the sample our workroom made, Cari could see the fullness, hemline, and hardware and visualize how this fabric was going to hang.
Now, she was excited, and we knew the project was ready to move forward to the next stage.
Backup Plans are Essential for Oversized Window Treatments
In the early stages of the project, Cari’s husband thought it would be a good idea to have sheers under the drapery panels, but the option turned out to be beyond their budget.
Instead, we found an opaque fabric that allowed just enough light into the room while still protecting the furnishings from the afternoon sun.
Then, as the project neared its end, Cari needed her draperies installed in time for their family’s Thanksgiving celebration. We set up installation for early November to leave time in case any issues came up.
She asked for the draperies to be installed right below her crown molding and to grace the floor - not too short and not too long.
We know from experience it can be a challenge to get this right. Draperies, especially at this length, can stretch from their own weight. It’s important to choose a very stable fabric if you desire this precise look.
On installation day, we started with the dining room and had challenges with the hardware. It’s a high-quality brand, but with the weight of the draperies, it wasn’t working right. So, I stopped the installation.
Enter Plan B. Every project needs a Plan B – and C! Sometimes a backup plan is already in the works. Other times, it comes from experience and industry knowledge. We knew of another brand that would work well, and we were able to get it delivered quickly.
Two weeks later, we were back at the home with our installer. We installed the new rods, achieved the perfect balance and look. We could see the excitement in Cari’s eyes as she worked the drapery panels – just in time for Thanksgiving!
Ditch the Stress of Oversized Windows and Focus on the Fun Parts of Design
If there’s one thing which surprises first time clients, it’s how much careful planning and adaptation goes into a custom window treatment project. With oversized windows, common issues like achieving the perfect hang and finding suitable hardware are amplified by the sheer bulk of the project and the need to develop new, custom solutions.
When you set out to transform your home into a place of inspiration and joy, the journey needs to match the destination. You deserve expert guidance which helps you ditch the stress and avoid costly mistakes.
So, we make sure you can visualize what the final product will look like. We navigate the twists and turns with Plan B and C while you enjoy the fun parts of the process.
Here’s how the process works.
1. DESIGN - Together, we select the perfect fabrics, hardware, and overall style for your home. Many of our clients add other fun, luxury features to their windows like motorization!
2. CREATION - We have your draperies custom-made in the USA and then install them for you.
3. INSPIRATION – Because we think ahead, you get the dream design you want so you can be inspired by your surroundings every day!
Schedule a consultation here to learn more about the custom window treatment design process or simply call us at (503) 703-4692. We love helping people like you enjoy their homes to the fullest!