Stunning pocket weave fabric in a roman blind. Photo/Supplied
Fabric next to colour signifies comfort in our homes and sends a strong message about the style and the atmosphere we want to create within our spaces.
There is nothing more rewarding than seeing the finishing touches to windows or soft furnishings on completion of a renovation, a room or new home.
I have equal passion for fabric as colour, whether it is a simple fine texture of silk or cotton, romantic voile, luscious velvet or taffy, rich brocade, plain, pattern or textured fabrics and just writing these words I can see the colour and feel the beautiful textures.
We are so spoilt for choice with the stunning fabrics imported into New Zealand from all over the world that sometimes it takes a little time to find or even decide on just the right fabric for that special project.
Over the years, there has been a trend towards more simple window dressings. Often this has been due to budget, but also the need for simplicity in our homes. Unfortunately, when new homes are built, the finishing details in dressing windows are often forgotten.
At the stage of house plans, site meetings, concrete, mud, framing, roofing and so on, who wants to think about fabrics or window dressings - it seems such a long way down the track.
But think again. It is in the early stages that some of those decisions should be addressed, especially if you need window treatments of some sort.
On the odd occasion I have had a situation where it has been virtually impossible to dress a window, so we had to leave it bare rather than do something that wasn't going to suit.
So, why do we dress our windows? Privacy, warmth, protection from UV rays, glare, light, filter light, hide the neighbours' unsightly shed or house ... there are many reasons.
I have a client who built a beautiful new home that had been designed to maximise the view and they have decided not to dress their windows at all. The views were stunning day and night so they opted for double-glazed and tinted windows to protect their furnishings and help with the extensive bright light during the day.
Their home was built under the ranges in the back of Manawatu, miles from neighbours so privacy wasn't an issue.
With the first dusting of snow in their first winter, they admitted that they felt a need to finish the windows with curtains. The house was warm enough but they felt a need to block out the cold and dark of the night, even if it was only in the bedrooms.
They eventually did the complete house so at night the feel of the living areas changed to be more welcoming rather than reflecting the exterior.
But most of us do not have the luxury of fantastic views and no people for miles. In many newer subdivisions, you can almost open your window and shake your neighbour's hand, so privacy becomes a major issue.
Our next issue is blocking UV rays to protect our treasured belongings. Eaves and tinted windows give more protection than homes without but often that is not enough.
Choosing the right window treatment should be a necessity in all cases, not an afterthought. The end result should be thought through before starting or in the early stages of the project, even if you don't get to physically choose the actual treatment, it needs to be considered.
It can be difficult when I am called to assist in choosing fabrics for a new completed room or home and looking at the best options for the windows if tracks have already been purchased. Not all windows lend themselves to drapes or the tracks may not be suitable for the fabric in mind.
I work a lot with blinds and shutters as these are often a better solution. Picking window treatments needs to be a complete decision, not a piecemeal one.
It can often be false economy if the process hasn't been thought through or if clients decide they will work with the tracks purchased. They may find that on completion of the job, they are not completely happy and purchase tracks more suitable.
It is really just about thinking the process through. I may fit out a house completely in drapes because that suits the situation, or individual rooms may have different treatments because of the style of the windows or the requirements of the room.
Think about the mood or atmosphere you want to create, the type of fabric or blind that will best suit. Creating that special look can be fun - it's one of the things I love about my work.
Blankets are not a substitute for a well-designed window treatment that fits the situation. If you have blankets covering your windows you need help, so give me a call and I'll make the choice easy for you.
Terry Lobb is an interior/kitchen designer and personal colour and style consultant who takes a holistic approach to living with colour, texture and style - email: terry@terrylobb.com; website: http:// terrylobb.com