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Give your windows a makeover!
October 14, 2019
So you think your windows look sassy with ouma's frills and flounces? Do you really dig that frothy valance? And what about those 1980s "twin" curtail rails with the built-in pelmet? Are you tired of chintz and faux satin? Or candlewick? Then get with the programme, people, and lighten up. Lighten it ALL up and let the light shine in!
Yup. Windows were made to let light in, not be obscured with heavy drapes. So think "less is more" and give your windows the treatment they deserve to literally brighten up your interiors.
There are lots of options when it comes to curtains and blinds. And modern fabrics and materials help to make the choices that much easier with their on-trend colours and textures designed to help you stay on point. All you need to do is figure out which style of curtain or blind you think would go with your décor and make your rooms stylish and bright.
First up, let's look at curtains.
Today's curtains are always lined, unless you're going for a sheer option (which we'll cover below). You can go for a standard lining that lets some light through, or a block-out lining that gives you complete dark (the kind used in most hotels).
Fun fact - in our steamy lowveld climate it's sometimes a good idea to close curtains during the day to reduce heat build-up in rooms. Block out can help with this as it significantly reduces heat build-up.
So next leet's look at how you're going to hang the darned things... And here you've got two choices - eyelets or hooks. Eyelets allow you to slide the curtain onto a rod. We only offer metal eyelets because anything less is just, well, you know, cheap. Looking, that is, because eyelets are usually an expensive curtain option. But they look great. Always. Even when your walls are an unusual shade of baby poop.
With hooks you can choose from either a wave style or pinch pleats. A wave curtain looks pretty much like an eyelet but is cheaper, even though it's more work to put up. Pinch pleats are not as easy as eyelets but are easier than waves and give an elegant finish to your windows. Are you keeping up? Good, it's nice to know you're still awake.
Fabrics can be solid colours, textured, neutrals or sheer. Sheers look wonderful as they allow you to see through them. But rest assured, with the lights on, those outside can also see through them - inside. So no running around naked with bunches of grapes hanging from your parts... Or, like the best KFC, you can opt for a combo package - twin rails with lined curtains in front of sheers. Remember gran's net curtains? Yup, you've got the picture.
OK, so on to blinds. We've got Venetian, bamboo, sheerweave and Romans to choose from. Yes, it may sound like strange breeds of dog, but when it comes to blinds, it's important to remember a few handy tips... First of which is this: Venetians are on trend and are practical because they allow you to choose how much light to let into a room by tilting the slats. They come in a range of materials from aluminium to bass wood and are a first-rate option. Bamboo gives a nice rustic feel and can be loosely woven or woven tightly, giving a block-out effect. With sheerweave you get a light and airy feel when the blind is dropped and can see through it to the outside, but just like sheer curtains, when the lights go on, peeping Toms, Johns, Rogers and Kevins, Janes, Elsies and other non-gender specific names we can't think of can see what you're having for supper. Romans offer that traditional fabric feel but to be honest aren't that popular anymore. But they look nice nonetheless.
Watch out for our next blog when we'll be looking at how your window treatments can transform your "look".
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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.
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