Window coverings can wow any room

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Talk about being a kid in a candy store: I recently had the privilege of decorating a gorgeous Georgian townhouse to be featured on a public tour. I could feel my pulse accelerate as I wove through each room in this three-story beauty, reminiscent of the historic homes in Charleston, S.C., I so adore.At the top of my decorating "to do" list was designing drapes that would give the townhouse's long, tall windows loads of "wow factor." I didn't want coverings that arrested the eye. Instead, I was shooting for window treatments that were so seamlessly integrated into the rest of the decor that visitors would fall in love with the rooms as a whole, not their individual decorative elements. We decided on luxurious silk panels that puddled in sumptuous folds on the floor because they provided such a dramatic backdrop for the rooms' formal furnishings.I realize that not everyone is as wild about creating window treatments as I am. In fact, some of my customers swear that picking window coverings causes ulcers and gray hair. They have a point. Drapes can be a sizable investment, and if you get the wrong ones, they can ruin the look of your room.To help you select perfect window treatments without all the stress, I asked Mary, the Grande Dame of Drapes at Nell Hill's, to share the steps she follows when helping customers design drapes they're crazy about: CREATE HARMONY: For window coverings to work well, they must harmonize with everything in the room. Be sure to bring photos of your room and the windows, plus paint chips and fabric samples, when you go shopping for drapes.FIT THE BILL: Define what you want your treatments to do. Will they need to work hard providing privacy shutting out light or insulating your home against the elements? Or do you want them simply as window dressing: panels that never move but give the space style? SELECT A STYLE: Thumb through decorating magazines and books to pinpoint what window coverings capture your heart. My all-time favorite look is panel drapes affixed to drapery rings then hung from understated curtain rods.CUSTOM CREATIONS: Call me a curtain snob, but custom-designed drapes will always hold first place in my heart. With tailor-made originals, you can fit even the oddest-sized windows and bring in a unique bouquet of colors, patterns, textures and trims that finish your room in style. But if starting from scratch isn't for you, you can purchase pre-made panels, then embellish them with unique trims, like a pleated flange or mini ruffle.FABULOUS FABRIC: To pick the perfect fabric for your drapes, ask yourself a few key questions. Will the drapes be in direct sunlight most of the day? If so, don't pick a fussy textile like silk that will deteriorate quickly in the hot sun. What is your budget? If you like the luxurious look of silk but hate its price tag, check out the faux silks made of polyester. How much pattern is perfect for your room? If you have a lot going on in your upholstered furniture, floor coverings and wall coverings, opt for subtle drapes that blend in. But if your room is soft and subdued, consider bringing in some pizzazz through your drapery fabric.TEMPTING TRIM: Trims are the crowning touch for beautiful drapes. In addition to traditional embellishments like fringe, gimp, tassels and cording, check out the new decorative tapes that are so hot today. These 2-inch to 3-inch fabric tapes come in every design imaginable, from a contemporary stripe to a timeless Greek key pattern. Or make your own by banding a complementary fabric to the sides and bottom of your panels.Mary Carol Garrity is the proprietor of three successful home-furnishings stores. She is the author of several best-selling books on home decorating. E-mail her at nellhills(at)mail.lvnworth.com. For more stories visit scrippsnews.com