Welcome to our February / March Newsletter 2023
Spring is well and truly on its way! Or have we just jinxed everything, and we’ll have snow next week? We certainly hope not.
After the cold, drab weather of winter, spring feels such an exciting time of year. Finally, we’re ready to throw open the curtains, see the sunshine pour into our homes and start planning for those warmer months ahead.
The longer, lighter days also give us more energy, and we start looking at projects we’d like to do around the house.
Can we inject a bit more colour here?
How can we give this room a new focal point without a complete overhaul?
The great news is that soft furnishings are a simple way to add some va-va-voom to your home without undertaking lengthy re-decorating jobs.
So, if you’re ready to give your home a fresh vibe for spring, how about switching up your curtains? They can totally alter the feel of any room!
Your guide to choosing the right curtain headings
Curtains seem like such straightforward additions to our homes, don’t they? But there are so many different headings you can choose from, each one creating a subtly different look.
It can be daunting to pick the style you like best or know which will work in your room or available space.
Which is why we put together this handy guide on all things curtain headings! We hope it helps.
Curtain headings explained
Type – Pencil Pleat
Style – Casual / Relaxed
Like a neat row of pencils in a drawer, fabric is gathered by pulling cords on the header tape to produce tightly packed folds. Different depths of header tape are available, from 1 inch to 6 inches. This style requires a lot of fabric and creates a large stack back when the curtains are fully open.
Type – Wave Heading
Style – Contemporary
It does what it says on the tin! Folding back on itself like a wave forming soft folds, this design requires a unique heading tape and track system. It is ideal for large windows and doors. As there’s no pleating or gathering of fabric, a neater, less voluminous stack back is created.
Type – Pinch Pleat
Style – Traditional
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Another clue in the title! Fabric is formed into folded pleats at the top of the curtain and sewn in place. This is a smart, elegant, tailored heading that works well in a variety of properties. There are three types of pleats you can choose from:
The number of pleats influences the stack back of the curtain, with more pleats creating a more voluminous look. |
Type – Eyelet
Style – Contemporary
A very popular style! Rings called eyelets are fixed into place on the curtain tape, which is then threaded onto a pole to produce soft folds. Eyelets can be different colours to complement the pole, curtain, or room décor. This type of curtain is a great choice when space is limited, as the design produces a neat, less voluminous stack back.
Type – Cottage Top
Style – Charming / Casual / Relaxed
A one-inch curtain header tape is sewn a few inches down from the top of the fabric, producing a soft ruffle or ruched effect above the tape. This is an ideal choice for smaller windows as it makes a reduced stack back.
Type – Flop Top
Style – Romantic
A strip of gathered fabric is attached to the gathered header and folds (flops) down over the top of the curtain. This can be in the same or a contrasting fabric. This creates a romantic, relaxed drape which works nicely with the curtains puddled on the floor. This design sings when used in a large space, so the stack back can be fully appreciated and admired. It’s a shame to stifle this dramatic curtain!
We fitted this curtain into Langdon Court Manor, visit our Instagram or Facebook pages if you would like to find out more about this curtain.
Type – Cartridge Pleat
Style – Modern
This style is created when folds in the fabric along the curtain header are packed with lining fabric. This pads out the fold and creates a pleasing rounded finish.
Type – Goblet Pleat
Style – Formal / Luxury
Like the cartridge pleat. However, a slim goblet shape is formed in the heading, gathered at the base a,nd sewn in place, producing a highly tailored look. This is another style which benefits from plenty of surrounding space, with the large stack back creating a stunning, luxurious focal point.
Wow! Who knew there was so much to consider when choosing a curtain header style?! There’s a lot to take in, so we’ll be talking more about the different header styles you can choose from next month. Watch this space!
How well do you know your curtain headers?
Take this fun, quick quiz to find out!
Which curtain header gives you the smallest stack back?
- Pencil pleat
- Eyelet
- Goblet
Which curtain header would you use for a modern, sleek contemporary look?
- Wave
- Eyelet
- Pinch pleat
Which curtain header uses the most material?
- Triple pleat
- Cottage pleat
- Eyelet
You can find out the answers below!
Creating the optimum sleep environment
As the days become longer and the sun gets stronger, our rooms are flooded with more natural light. Whilst this sounds beautiful, it can also be problematic. Especially if you need a dark room for a good night’s sleep, have children who rise with the sun, or you work long shifts.
A great way to control the amount of light peeping around your curtains is with a pelmet. Next month, we’ll explain the different types of curtain pelmets you can choose. We also have some other light control tips, so keep an eye out for this.
Above is a very good example of light seeping around the edges of bedroom curtains.
Book your upholstery projects.
Upholstery is an important feature of our homes, and it helps create a comforting sanctuary for us to relax and entertain. Good quality upholstery is labour-intensive though, and our books are filling up fast!
Perhaps you have a treasured armchair or comfy sofa that’s feeling a little tired? While we’re all getting out and about more, the warmer months are an excellent time to be apart from it, so it can get the TLC it deserves.
Above is a Chesterfield sofa in the progress of being re-upholstered.
If you’ve got a beloved piece of furniture you’d like reupholstered ready for the autumn/winter, book in with us now to avoid disappointment come Christmas time.
We promise to take great care of it and give it back to you with a new lease of life!
Life on the open road!
Have you booked your first trip in your cherished camper van or caravan yet? We’re sure you can’t wait to get away and hit the open road!
But are your seat cushions up to the ride?
Above is our new upholstery and curtains in an Airstream caravan.
If they look a little worn, upholstery repairs or upgrades are a great way to give them a fresh new look, so you can relax and unwind in style.
Beat the rush and join our upholstery waiting list now.
Tessa’s English Channel challenge!
In a few weeks, Tessa will be swimming 22 miles (the equivalent of the English Channel) to raise money for a charity very close to her heart – Diabetes UK.
Her training’s going well. She’s currently swimming 3 to 4 times a week and doing 1.5 miles each time.
She’s also had to treat herself to a new hat and goggles, as all she could find was a small pink set she wore while learning to swim as a child!
If you’d like to join us in sponsoring Tessa, you can do so using the link below.
How did you do in our quiz?
Let’s find out!
Which curtain header gives you the smallest stack back?
Answer: Eyelet
Which curtain header would you use for a modern, sleek contemporary look?
Answer: Wave
Which curtain header uses the most material?
Answer: Triple Pleat
If you got them all right, congratulations!
If not, don’t worry. Watch out for our in-depth technical curtain header blog coming your way in March. You’ll be a pro in no time!
We hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s newsletter (and increasing your curtain knowledge!)
We’ll be back in your inbox when it’s officially spring. We can hardly wait!
