Modern Country Style

Leonie's lovely country style home in Conondale near Maleny is the perfect setting for our latest installation of curtains and pelmets. After many years of renovating Leonie and Rod were ready for the finishing touches in their home. Having used Custom Curtains and Shade around 13 years ago in their previous home at Witta Leonie asked us once again to fit out her home using fabrics to complement her colour scheme. Curtains were chosen as the best option for all the rooms in the house. To add a touch of intimacy and a little formality pelmets were used in the main living room in fabric from the Wilson Marlene range.


Elsewhere in the home we chose blockout and sheer curtains for the main bedroom, sheer curtains in the kitchen/dining room, sheers with lining for the guest room and study and blockout striped curtains in the formal dining room. Use of tie-backs throughout lends a finishing touch and enhances the individual themes in each room.

Wilson Marlene Blossom 'Olive' is used for the pelmets and Marlene Stripe 'Olive' for the curtains

Pelmets add the finishing touch in the main living room.

Leonie's pretty vignettes are seen throughout her home. 

A lovely scroll design in Musk and Ivory was used for the main bedroom bay window curtains. A sheer on the second track gives daytime privacy and reduces glare in the room.

The guest rooms touch of blue is brought out with a corded tie back in 'Petrol'

In the dining a sheer curtain gives coverage to the door without being too heavy or dark.

Double pinch pleat curtains with returns give the bay windows a quality custom made finish.

A subtle stripe in the sheer is brought out with a gold tie back in the study

Thank you Leonie and Rod for allowing us to showcase your lovely home.
All photos by Custom Curtains and Shade

Mr Wilson's Legacy

I love to see companies that have been around a long time. One's that have stood the test of time and have built a great reputation over the years. Especially ones that have stayed true to their roots and remained Australian owned. Wilson fabrics is one of those companies, started in 1926 by Arthur Wilson and still going strong today even still manufacturing some of their fabrics in Australia. Wilson have recently expanded their range by including Wilson Studio a range of affordable designer fabrics. I have put together what I consider the best of their range below.

Window treatments add style

Take a look at this post by American designer Julie Thigpen of Belle Maison. I think her words are spot on. I totally agree with what she says about mounting the rods up high. It's something we try and do where we can.

Stylish and Secure

Photo from Australian H&G by Maree Homer

I was so inspired by this photo when I saw it in Australian H&G June 2011 issue. It is so difficult to be secure and stylish especially if you have an older style home or don't like standard security doors. The photo stuck in my mind and I had a bit of a search to find it but here it is. It is great inspiration for an idea on how to secure your home without sacrificing style. It lead me on a search to find some suitably stylish options from our suppliers for attractive looking security screens. Here are a few....

Keeping the style with a federation security door

the modern simplicity of Alugard

and the 'not there' look of Invisi-gard

Curtains are back!

So nice to see curtains back in favour after many years of the minimal look. There are so many benefits gained from having curtains it's hard to know where to start. I was speaking to a customer just this morning and she was praising the benefits of blockout curtains from when her children were small. 'Just close the curtains and tell them it's time for bed' she said. Even Mel from the Sunrise program says blockout curtains are her saviour making it possible for her to sleep before the sun goes down. Shiftworkers also love blockout curtains for the same reason. Curtains have the added benefit of absorbing sound helping you to sleep more easily and soundly. There are many other advantages but that's a good start for now. Some lovely photos to follow to help with inspiration.

House and Garden

I have just picked up the latest copy of House and Garden today and it's lovely to see some beautiful window coverings being featured. Magazines like these are a great source of inspiration and advice and can really help when making decisions about important purchases for your home. It's a fantastic idea to start an 'inspiration' folder which you can add to as you see photos that inspire you. Sometimes it can be years later when they come in handy.

Australian House and Garden November 2011

I love the way the curtains are so simple and elegant in a room brought to life with a great geometric patterned rug. Keeping the main elements neutral allows you to change the look more easily.

Once again the shutters in these rooms are a lovely neutral background. They create such a soft look in the rooms.

There is a great article in H&G Advice about Shade Solutions and external blinds that I recommend you read if you are thinking about awnings. It's so important to 'get it right' as you want your investment to do the job you intended it for.

Happy reading - November Issue on Sale Now