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Choosing Custom Window Treatments – Let’s Get Started!

Choosing Custom Window Treatments – Let’s Get Started! wjfigw4q3

Choosing custom draperies for your home is an exciting project and as any decorator will tell you, your window treatments really make a room. Often times, this is the last design element added to a room, but the one with the most impact. Custom draperies mean that a homeowner’s choices are limitless when it comes to styles, fabrics, colors and embellishments. This is where a professional decorator is needed, and we here at Metropolitan Window Fashions offer our design service with experienced decorating professionals than will make this process not only educational, but fun and enjoyable! If you are looking for custom draperies, here is some advice to help you understand the process and give you some insight on design options that you need to ponder when choosing custom draperies.

Tips for Custom Window Treatments

  • Style of a Room – This is probably one the first questions one of our design professionals will ask, what is your style? Traditional rooms, may require more ornate styles and fabrics as well as plenty of embellishments. Types of styles for your window treatments could also include top treatment options such as swags with trims. Traditional patterns and fabrics would also be considered including damasks, silks and jacquards. A more transitional or modern style would keep the styles of fabrics and styles simpler and cleaner, and less pattern . Linens and textures work well in spaces that have a minimalistic style.
  • Colors and Patterns – Color and pattern can be a challenge when choosing custom draperies, but this is where a professional can definitely help! A room tends to look more interesting when there are 3 patterns in a room. Usually, the largest patterns are on the larger pieces, which can include the rugs and a sofa. Your window treatments, if you are looking to include a pattern, maybe a medium sized pattern or even a smaller pattern that coordinates. When you are mixing patterns, it’s always best to stay in the same color scheme. Colors are fun to incorporate in a room, but choosing a particular color will have different effects. You can contrast your colors by choosing something that is dramatically different than your wall, or you can keep a monochromatic color scheme, but keeping within the tones of the wall, which makes for a softer transition.
  • Types of Fabrics – We discussed particular fabrics that would work well with traditional, transitional or modern rooms, but let’s delve a little further. Fabrics are made up of many different types of fiber that affects the way it drapes and durability. Cottons and Cotton blends are great for drapes, they are soft and provide a great “hand” . Silks can also drape well, but faux silks drape better and are more durable. Homeowner’s need to be aware that a silk cannot be steamed, and that wrinkles and slubs are the natural and part of the beauty of the fabrics. If a more pressed look is for you, we would recommend a faux silk which is a poly blend, it drapes beautifully, does not have a wrinkle and is more durable than silk. Linens do not drape well and cannot be steamed. They are a stiffer fabric and will wrinkle easily. Think of a linen jacket. However, there are faux linens, that are a blend of linen and cotton, or polyesters that drape beautifully and give you that linen look. These faux linens come in a variety of colors and styles, including embroidered styles. Our decorators are using more of these types of fabrics and they are definitely on trend.

Looking for Experts of Custom Window Treatments?

Custom window treatments are an investment and it’s best to use a professional in this decision making process. Metropolitan Window Fashions is a third generation family business that has been serving customers of the Metropolitan area for 83 years.  We live and work in this community and support other small local businesses. Although our children are in school, they have all worked part-time with us, making them the fourth generation to join the company. We’ve served customers from areas such as Manhattan, Green Brook, Scotch Plains, Watchung, Glen Rock, Westwood, Woodcliff Lake, Edison, Chatham, Mahwah, Bridgewater, & many more. Call our NYC & New Jersey custom window treatments experts today and ask about our Roman shades and the other great services we offer!

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4 Really Cool Custom Storage Solutions

4 Really Cool Custom Storage Solutions wjfigw4q3

On May 6, 2015 we visited the beautiful Manhattan showroom of transFORM. They are located in the NY Design Center, and we were blown away at the custom storage solutions they offered! Here at Metropolitan Window Fashions we would like to share four of the latest custom storage solutions that are available. If you are looking for a custom alternative to a pre-fab, one-size fits-all world, transFORM has the custom solution for you.

  • Home offices – Everyone has a home office these days and it has definitely evolved from just having a computer desk. transFORM offers many brilliant, custom storage solutions for you to choose from including tons of different finishes, contoured countertops, glass shelves, glass door inserts, and crown molding. The drawers are soft-closing and there are full extension glides for easy access to files and supplies. They are even clever enough to handle your wires by discreetly concealing them.
  • Dressing Rooms – Here is a luxury we all would love to have! On display is the most beautiful Dressing Room, with creamy white wood and brass fixtures – just one of several different finishes that you can choose from. An island, centered in the room features a gorgeous vanity, both with stone tops. Customizable shoe cabinets offer adjustable shelves and cubbies for all your Louboutins. I loved the attention to detail of the velvet lined drawers, which are an excellent way to store your jewelry. And the ingenuity of a concealed hamper to help maintain organization with a polished look was one more great addition to the display.
  • Sliding Doors – We found this feature very interesting because we are often asked about dividing large spaces so that they look clean and finished, and I would definitely recommend them. These doors could be custom built to separate space, as well as doors for your reach-in closets. The sliding doors have aluminum frames and are tiered. This construction allows all of the panels to move, providing easy access. You can choose from a variety of finishes for the glass on the doors. Some of the finishes are frosted, milky and even mirrored. They can be customized to work with your décor. In the showroom, the sliding doors were used to conceal the TV as well as closet and storage space. Nicely done!!
  • Wall Beds –  Space is a premium in NYC, and with the trend towards micro spaces, the wall bed is sure to be a hit! When the bed is closed, it increases your living space. The bed is simply lowered down when you are ready to use it – a great option for guests. The design is clean and finished, maximizing your total living space. These beds and wall units can be combined to provide a finished and smart solution for your home. As with all the other custom storage solutions, you have a choice of beautiful finishes and hardware to choose from.
A beautiful vanity, part of a customized dressing room.

A beautiful vanity, part of a customized dressing room.

We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to the transFORM showroom. It’s nice to be educated on what our partners in IDS are doing. If you are looking for custom storage solutions that not only look fabulous but are superbly engineered, you can contact us at Metropolitan Window Fashions so we can set up an appointment for a visit.

4 Reasons to Consider Roman Shades for Your Home

4 Reasons to Consider Roman Shades for Your Home wjfigw4q3

Styles change, and it’s important to keep up with What’s Hot and What’s Not. Here at Metropolitan Window Fashions, we pride ourselves on listening to what our clients are looking for and responding with the most up-to-date solutions. We find that more of them are looking for cleaner lines and simpler window treatments. Homeowners are looking for a soft and finished look without too much fuss. Roman Shades are the perfect treatment to achieve that look. If you are considering Roman Shades, here are 4 reasons why they would be perfect for your space.

  • Determining Your Style –  What are Roman Shades and what makes them different from others?  Roman shades stack up evenly into folds on the bottom of the shade when raised. This stacking gives a soft look and dimension to the window treatment. It differs from a roller shade, which stays flat when raised. Roman shades come in 4 different styles: Flat, Hobbled, Batten Front and Batten Back. They each provide a different look, so let’s discuss the differences. Flat Romans are fantastic for large-scaled or graphic patterns because whether the shade is lowered or raised, there is no interruption of the pattern. A large scale pattern provides a dramatic look to your window. Hobbled shades provide graceful soft folds and lots of dimension. This style usually works best with a solid or small-scale print. It also looks beautiful when a decorative tape is added. Batten Fronts look best with sheers or stripes – the effect of the stripe rolling over the front batten gives a wonderfully fluid look. Sheers work well because the battens give the shade structure and also assist in the lowering and raising of the shade. Back battens work well with textured fabrics. They can give a simple fabric more interest, dimension and structure.
  • Customizing Your Shade – Romans shades are a custom product, which means the selection of fabrics and material are endless. Cottons and linens provide a casual and transitional style.  Silks and damasks take a more formal approach to the space. Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Woods offer a wide selection of natural, organic materials. You can further customize your shades with the use of trims and tapes. Trims are usually placed at the bottom or top of a shade, while a tape can be used vertically and horizontally as a border. Valances can be added to your roman shades to upgrade your look. The customization options make these shades a perfect fit for any room and can fit any décor.
  • Choosing the Shade Opacity – You can choose different opacity options depending on the needs of your space. Sheer fabrics allow a soft diffusion of light and may also still provide a view outside of your window. You may want to use these in combination with another treatment, such as drapes if you are looking for a more formal look. Heavier fabrics, like cottons and linens, will require a light filtering lining or a blackout lining. If you choose a flat roman with a pattern, we like to suggest a blackout lining so that you can see the pattern, and it also makes the shade look more finished. A light filtering lining can cause a patterned fabric to have a washed out look.
  • Attention To Safety- We here at Metropolitan Window Fashions keep abreast of the latest lift systems and mechanisms to ensure that your custom window treatments meet the safety standards for your family. Our decorating consultants will discuss all the options, including cordless and motorized lift systems.
Flat Roman Shades in Master Bathroom add the finishing touch.

Flat Roman Shades in a Master Bathroom  add the finishing touch.

Our design consultants at Metropolitan Window Fashions are experienced, knowledgeable and here to make your window treatment buying experience fun, easy and enjoyable. They will come out to your home with fabric samples to help you find the perfect roman shade style and fabric for your project! Please contact us for your complimentary Shop At Home consultation.