Festoon blinds – Window dressing in a new way – Tips for the interior designing and decoration – Do it yourself

 FESTOON BLINDS 

Cut our the fabric for the blind, joining widths if necessary, to make a panel allowing at least 1 times fullness both across the blind and down its length. Turn under and press 2 cm double hems around the sides and lower edge of the blind and make up and attach a top stitched frill for all three sides. Make a cased heading at the top of the blind to fit a pole placed across the window. 

Decide on a suitable spacing for the channels and make a row of buttonholes in the blind, just below the cased heading, one for each channel. Cut strips of fabric for the casings 4 cm wide, and turn under and press 6 mm down each side edge and across the ends. Pin and tack the casings to the back of the blind and top stitch in place.

Estimate and cut the lengths of the cord or ribbons and thread them through the channel, bringing each one our through the buttonhole at the top. Stitch across the lower edge of the casing to hold the cords firmly in place. Draw up the blind to the required length. Stitch a short length of matching cord or ribbon to the front of the blind, just below the button hole, and tie the ends together to form a decorative bow. 

Stitch rings to the back of each channel, every 20 cm or so, down the length of the blind. Tie the ends of the cords to the lowest rings and thread up the blind in the usual way. Slot the heading onto a rod or pole and fit screw eyes to a batten behind the rod or pole to carry the cords across the top of the window.

MAKING THE WINDOW DRESSING INDIVIDUAL TREATMENTS

 Special situations call for a particular kind of window dressing. Where an unattractive view needs to be screened or privacy is required, cafe curtains reminiscent of French brasseries come into their own – a decorative alternative to muslin and voile. Made in the same way as standard curtains, and hung from metal or wooden poles or rods placed halfway up the window frame, they can have a variety of decorative headings. Arched windows are a beautiful architectural feature and care should be taken to show them off.

Cased headings can be used in such situations: curtain fabric is threaded on to wire which is then fixed into place, accentuating the shape. Locations other than windows can benefit from a curtain treatment. A full-length curtain hung from a decorative pole above a doorway will provide an extra element of warmth in the Victorian tradition; or do away with internal doors altogether and use curtains reefed up to one side instead. Cupboard doors can be given an elegant finish by infilling the glazed area with fabric gathered onto curtain wires.

Shower curtains need special treatments too: they can be hung from ceiling-mounted curtain track, or fixed by hooks and rings from a pole or rod. Use shower curtains or light cotton lined with waterproof fabric.

This tiny bathroom window can be given a voluptuous window treatment because oj its wide sill. The small frilled curtains fit the space perfectly without interfering with the inevitable bathroom accessories.

RIGHT The cupboard doors have been cleverly utilized in this dressing room by lining the once glazed panes with fine fabric gathered at the top and bottom onto curtain wires and hung inside the frames. The folds of the fabric offer a textural dimension while hiding the clothes and accessories from view.