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Curtain calls...
November 13, 2019
You may have figured out that October is curtain month here at Darkie Designs. So in the spirit of sharing, even though sometimes we want to drink the whole bottle of gin ourselves, we're going to give you some great "how to" tips on what works best with the looks you have. And by that we don't mean your looks, but your home/lodge/work space look. You know what we mean. Which is probably more than we do.
So - let's look at eyelet curtains...
These give you a uniform look when they're open or closed. They're easy to put up and are a no-fuss option. We offer black powder-coated metal eyelets on all of our curtains, so you'll need to mount them on a matching rod. Rods are important, just ask any man. So if you think a large black rod is not going to work in your space (and you can take that any way you want to) then perhaps choose an alternative option...
Next up: wave curtains...
They give a similar feel to eyelets but are fitted to a track. They're easy to draw and close and give a sophisticated feel to large windows. You can use them on a double track with sheers behind them for a "net curtain" feel, if you want more privacy during the daylight hours. This means you can dance naked round your room without being spied on. But we don't guarantee that, of course.
And so to: pinch pleats...
Neat, thin pleats arranged immaculately on tape with fasteners to keep the pleats in place. They look great and can be hung on a track or on rings on a rod of any description (ie: not necessarily a large black one). Elegant, chic and bang on trend.
If you've got dark walls, steer clear of dark curtains. Go for lighter hues and shades in lighter fabrics. If your walls are light or neutral in colour, you can opt for a contrasting colour or even stick to the neutral feel to create the feeling of more space. Heavy colours and fabrics make windows look smaller. The idea is to get a seamless blend and lots of light. Unless you're a troglodyte and want to live in a murky, low-light environment, of course. Each to their own.
So. We can make whatever you want. All you have to do is either pick up the phone, type an email or physically pop into our shop. You choose. We help. And sometimes choose for you.
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Back in March of 2020, Bianca and Jana were dusting off their Fez’s and grabbing the pashminas out of storage in preparation to Rock the Casbah! However, as we all know and vividly remember - with March, came the eventual Covid shutdown, and instead of frolicking down the Moroccan streets, we all shut ourselves inside and watched the days tick by… 3 Years later, and now we can finally say - with conviction - that they’re going to Morocco at the start of September! This blog, filled with excitement and curiosity about all the weird and wonderful curios they might find, and endless sourcing they’ll do, stays as a reminder that sometimes plans change, things go awry and there’s not much you can do about it other than persevere - and that we did! So, here’s Bianca and Jana’s innermost thoughts about the trip, 3 years before it came to fruition, enjoy :) We've got our passports out and Jana has already picked out what she's going to wear each day… Come March [September] we'll be heading north with Air France to the Kingdom of Morocco, bright eyed and bushy tailed as we make our base in the ancient city of Marrakesh (also known as Marrakech to the French, but we're not French, so we'll go with the English version until all that fuss about Brexit is sorted out) - This turned into a year long negotiations trade, and now us outsiders would pay nearly double what we used to if we visit the UK - thankfully our flight is direct!! We'll be looking for inspiration and will be investigating what's there that we could possibly bring back to The Hoed. We can't wait to experience the atmosphere and afro-arabic influences of this amazing place as we visit the celebrated souks and off-the-beaten track artists and craftsmen that make Marrakesh so special. We're desperate to see the beautifully hand-crafted furniture, textiles, fabrics, rugs, carpets, objets d'art, accessories, lighting… anything that catches our eye and could possibly be brought back south. Berber mats and rugs are definitely on our list, as are the kind of furnishings you might find in a gorgeous Bedouin tent. If you think about it, the Bedouin refined the art of "glamping" into an artform - fabulous carpets on the ground, soft, billowing fabrics hung here and there, plump cushions spread on the ground, intricate leatherwork and carved wood, patinated metal… Total Glamping vibes! We just love all of it and will be tracking as much of it down as we can. We'll also have an eye or three out for wonderful ceramics and glassware and wonderful lamps that give off soft, filtered light. For us it's about workmanship, so we'll hopefully be finding the people who make furniture and ceramics using techniques that have been passed down over countless generations meaning that everything we look at will have its own, and its own special story. Our mission is to share those stories with you and, if it's feasible, bring some of that special workmanship home to the Rainbow Nation. We're most definitely inspired and are sure this is going to be a truly special trip! Counting the sleeps till then! Less than a month to go now - we will be keeping the updates going on our social channels as well as another few blog posts to explain in detail our wild adventures - Stay tuned!
A safari theme never really runs out of viewing time and is particularly popular for interiors at the moment. The warm, earthy tones give a sense of comfort and the accessories offer the anticipation of travel and adventure.
Stay protected from mosquitoes with top quality mosquito nets. Buy online in South Africa for the best deals. Shop now and sleep peacefully.
