Draperies: To Line or Not To Line?

A question often asked by our clients is, "Do I really need to line my draperies?"
The answer is is a resounding: maybe. It really depends upon what you expect of them!

Draperies: To Line or Not To Line?

Let's take a look at the differences between sheer draperies and lined draperies, and then the advantages of each style, including adding interlining. At Bernard Interiors, we use high quality linings, ensuring that your draperies look, feel and perform at their finest. Our standard lining is Roc-Lon Sonata Sateen, which is a blend of polyester and cotton. Our interlining is 100% cotton.

Sheer draperies are exactly that... sheer and unlined. Many times fabric with a loose weave is chosen, or fabric that is thin and translucent. This gives the windows the opportunity to look "dressed", while still allowing sunlight to filter through the room. With certain sheer fabric choices, a more billowy look is achieved, complimenting a light, airy design style. Additionally, sheers are often paired with lined draperies, to increase options for operation and light control.

Some drawbacks to using sheers are:

• Sun damage: Sunlight will discolor and degrade the fibers in the fabric. 
• Replacement Value: These draperies may need to be replaced more often than others.
• Light control: minimal.
• Privacy coverage: minimal.

Lined draperies are the most common style of draperies. A single layer of lining is sewn onto the reverse side of the drapery panel and serves to provide light blockage, sun protection, privacy, and fullness, (body). Standard drapery linings are white or ivory in color, but at times a designer will choose a contrasting fabric to handle same job. Usually, though, the white and ivory are preferred for their aesthetic value, based upon an outdoor, street-side view of the residence. Lined draperies are going to last longer than sheer draperies, simply due to the strength of the lining against the savages of the sun.

Adding interlining to lined draperies can be compared to selecting an upgrade. Interlining is sewn in-between the main fabric and the lining. Interlining fabric is thick, rather like soft felt. It has a dense weave, giving it superb light blockage. The extra layer not only allows more privacy to the room, it also adds to the rich appearance of the draperies, providing fullness and stability, and aiding the pleats to retain their crispness and form. In terms of investment value, lined and interlined draperies have our highest recommendation, due to their fine quality and longevity.

Did you know, lined, (and interlined), draperies protect your furniture and carpet, too? They also help to block drafts and maintain room temperature!

Sheers absolutely have their place in decorating and design, but today's blog seeks to enlighten you on the merits of adding lining(s) to increase the value and performance of your window treatments.

To give you a visual, I asked our seamstress to prepare samples for the following drapery photo, which was taken in our workroom, using remnants. While this particular fabric is not specified as a "sheer", it is lightweight and you can clearly see the differences in the three panels. Notice the changes in light coverage and body, and the definition of the pleats, as you look from the sheer panel on the left, to the lined and interlined panel on the right.

What style of draperies are you in need of today?

We'd love to hear your comments on Draperies: To Line or Not To Line? Please leave your comment below, or contact us for more information.
Telephone: (847) 446-5730
Email: BernardInt@att.net

Lower Energy Costs with Window Coverings

 In today's economy, folks worldwide are now looking for ways to reduce expenses and go "green" in many aspects of their life. Residences, especially, are being thoroughly inspected and often upgraded to include innovative ideas for lighting, walls, roofs, and appliances. Did you know that you can also lower energy costs with window coverings?

Draperies, blinds and shades are an investment. Not only do window coverings offer aesthetic value to your living space, with the right application, they can minimize energy costs by filtering sunlight, blocking drafts and assisting to retain room temperature.

Today's blog post will share with you just one of the solutions offered by Bernard Interiors, through leading manufacturer, Hunter Douglas. A favorite with clients, the Duette Architella is a honeycomb style shade, which boasts several attractive features.

(This photo is courtesy of Hunter Douglas.)

Ranked among the most energy-efficient window coverings on the market, Duette Architella shades filter sunlight during the heat of the day, blocking furniture and floors from sun damage and stabilizing room temperature, in addition to providing an insulating barrier from the cold during the winter months. Owner testimonials say that you can feel the difference in the room after these shades are installed.

Architella fabrics reduce energy consumption and are Greenguard certified. Hunter Douglas estimates that this shade reduces energy loss at up to 50% at the window.

They're attractive, too! Duette shades are made with elegant woven fabric and may be purchased in 3/4" or 1 1/4" cell sizes, and offer both semi-opaque and opaque styles. Currently there are 6 color choices offered. The Royale Textured selection offers stylish Duotone Technology, which allows you to choose the beauty of a woven, colored shade for the inside of your home, (for design purposes), with a white street-side color, (to showcase uniformity from the outdoor view).

Hunter Douglas also offers several choices in how to raise and lower the Duette Architella shades. These systems are equally famous for their ease of use, and are recommended based upon the consumer's personal style and needs. They are:

• Standard cord lock
• Ultra-Glide - a retractable cord
• Easy-Rise - a continuous loop cord, set on a clutch system
• Lite-Rise - cordless and operated with a touch of your hand
• Power-Rise - battery-operated remote control

Lastly, Hunter Douglas believes that the most popular colors for window coverings are white, cream and beige. Along those lines of thought, they created Counterparts The Whole House Solution, which allows you to select coordinating Hunter Douglas products in 5 different product lines, making it simple to find the perfect solution for every window in your home, matching colors, but having the luxury of adding different textures or styles, all with Hunter Douglas' standard quality craftsmanship and energy efficiency.

When you're ready to lower your energy costs with window coverings, remember that Bernard Interiors is an authorized Hunter Douglas dealer.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Reach us via telephone, at (847) 446-5730.

Robert Allen Fabric for Draperies

Just last week I was tweeting about this fabulous blue and white print fabric that was being sewn into draperies in our workroom. The job is now complete!

This downtown Chicago apartment shows off operational sheers for sun protection, and highlights that beautiful Robert Allen fabric for draperies, tied-back neatly at each end of these expansive windows.

Robert Allen is a company that many designers defer to when searching for fine quality fabrics. With 70 years of experience, you can count on a wide variety of colors and fresh, original patterns. Their bolts arrive often in our workroom, and our staff loves the ease of use... from draperies to bedding, pillows to table skirts.

Have you ever seen a fabric sample book? I'll bet you didn't know that the Robert Allen company was a pioneer in the distribution of those wonderful sample books! Stop by your nearest showroom and browse the latest designs today.

In or near Chicago? You will find them at the Chicago Merchandise Mart.

Then, once you've been inspired, let Bernard Interiors help you bring those ideas into your home!

Welcome to Bernard Interiors!

Welcome to Bernard Interiors! We are a drapery workroom, located in Northfield, Illinois, (a suburb just north of Chicago). Our specialties include custom fabric decor, like draperies and window coverings, bedding, table skirts, pillows, shower curtains, and upholstery services, all created in-house, by our very talented staff. Additionally, we offer a wide selection of shades and blinds from today's most popular manufacturers, as well as decorative drapery hardware and fabrics from top-quality suppliers all across the USA.

To introduce our company, we pulled a lovely photo out of the archives! This striking design was installed several years ago, and serves as a downtown commercial reception area in a high-rise office building. This particular design includes operating sheer panels against the windows, with tied-back draperies in the yellow print, free hanging stationary draperies in a solid blue, and a coordinating flat-panel and cone valance in the yellow fabric, completing the look. It is one of our favorites!

Bernard Interiors was established in 1981, by Mr. Henry Bernard, who was a pillar in the window fashions community. In December of 1996, in ailing health, Mr. Bernard sold the business to it's current owner. Henry graciously provided advice and counsel on business operations until his passing.

During the past 15 years, Bernard Interiors, guided by owner Michael Seul, has worked with interior designers and clients all over Chicago's North Shore neighborhoods, throughout the finest city locales and nationwide, assisting clients to decorate residences in out-of-state locations, such as Colorado, Florida, Maryland, New York, and Idaho.

Our inspiration for this blog revolves not only about sharing with you who we are and what we do, but also to offer tips, discuss new products in the window coverings industry, comment on new ideas, like green innovations for the home, and foster relationships with peers and other individuals. We hope you'll be back to read often and we will look forward to your comments!

For personalized quotes on our work, please contact us at:
BernardInt@att.net or call 1-847-446-5730.