The Not-So-Secret Diary of a Soft Furnishings Specialist

Quality Bespoke or Made to Measure Soft Furnishings-which would you choose?

2011-02-13T21:19:00.011Z

What do you type into Google when you're trying to find someone who makes curtains, blinds or other soft furnishings for you?

Perhaps you start with "curtains and blinds"? How about curtains and blinds in your county? Or better still your nearest city? I know some people even put in the first half of their post codes...

But a search like that will throw up all sorts of different products and services - from the cheapest possible readymades to top-end, bespoke items. So how do you choose?

Well, assuming that you are reading this blog because you are interested in a quality product, I'd like to focus on two commonly used terms: made to measure and bespoke.

As the name implies, made to measure curtains and blinds will be made to fit your windows, according to your measurements. Of course, this method of ordering has its advantages over readymade in that it can be a good solution for difficult windows where standard sizes won't suit. But the range of colours and styles in made to measure ranges are often rather limited, you rarely get a choice of lining, trimming or other details and most of them are machine stitched throughout, which means (in a nutshell) that they have been made quickly and the finished product will often not drape well and will perhaps show machine stitchlines where it needn't.

All of this can sometimes leave a client feeling disappointed if they don't understand what to look for in the first place.

If you're looking for soft furnishings such as curtains or blinds for your home and you want something made to your own specifications, the service you need is bespoke soft furnishings.

The word "bespoke" is defined in the dictonary as meaning "made to the
customers specification"

Bespoke soft furnishing makers can offer you an unlimited choice of fabrics and styles to choose from, they will usually be prepared to vary their making methods where particular situations require it and go to far more trouble to see that you are happy than most other soft furnishing services do.

As Hampshire based Bespoke soft furnishing specialists, we offer

free initial consultations (our service covers Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester and the rest of Hampshire, UK)

free estimates/quotations

free advice, based on years and years of experience making our lovely products, not just a day or two at a sales-training seminar up at head office!

We use traditional methods where necessary to create the best possible effect - so look out for hand stitched hems and vertical edges and well as hand finished pleats on our curtains. We don't shy away from the technological advances within our industry either, when we know they'll improve the product. So you can have blinds that are raised and lowered by cords and a cleat (the traditional method), or fitted to chain lift tracks that do away with the need for the cleat or even have remote controlled/timer or light activated tracks and poles! The choice is entirely yours.

Most bespoke soft furnishings specialists also offer a home visiting service - it's the best way for us to advise you, and it takes all the pressure off of you (not to mention your feet) trudging the high street, seeing the same thing again and again.

I won't pretend that a top quality, bespoke service is less expensive than the other options, but what I will say (if you come to us, anyway) is that you will get beautiful soft furnshings, that fit perfectly and are made to your exact specifications. You'll also save your precious time and money that could otherwise be wasted on those regretted purchases.

If you have any questions about this blog post, or would like to comment in any way, please don't hesitate to contact us by:

Posting a response to this blog below

Joining our Facebook pages www.facebook.com/pennygregoryinteriors and www.facebook.com/finesoftfurnishings and leave us a post

Or simply email us at penny@pennygregoryinteriors.co.uk

We look forward to hearing from you :-)

Penny

Interior Colour Schemes - stuck for inspiraton?

2010-12-01T08:54:00.016Z

Are you in search of inspriation for a new interior colour scheme? Do you find it hard to picture how colours will look together? Yesterday, a fellow blogger and Mumpreneur, Alison Rothwell, http://www.alisonrothwell.com/ alerted me to the wonderful website, http://www.colourlovers.com/. SEO expert Alison recommends this yummy site as an aid to choosing colours for websites and logos etc. But there are lots of different "channels" within the site and I was particularly interested in the "Home" area. Here you can browse literally thousands of original colour schemes and patterns or create your own. It's like a digital colour board!

I had a "play about" with a little project I'm working on at the moment, where we are looking for a new colour for upholstery to fit with an existing scheme. Within minutes, I'd picked the colours of the existing scheme and from there could experiment with other colours for the proposed sofas and see just how the whole scheme would work. The programme automatically suggests colours for you, so you don't have to be an interior designer to come up with a really good scheme quickly and easily. Much faster than putting together a mood or colour board, and using the site is entirely free of charge. I was even able to save a copy of my scheme to my PC!

You can also experiment with using your chosen scheme in any of the hundreds of patterns on the site - or with a little practice create a pattern of your own - a great way to see how the proportions of colours will work together.

Finally, this fab site has another treat in store. You can actually upload photos and images and then pick individual colours to build your scheme! Many lovely colour schemes are inspired by nature or our surroundings...so now all you have to do is take a quick photo, upload and away you go.

Can you tell I'm impressed?

New sofa so good? Or is it time for recovery?

2010-11-28T19:44:00.004Z

I've just had a Facebook comment from one of our "likers" at www.facebook/pennygregoryinteriors regarding the pros and cons of recovering or replacing her sofa.
There are a few things to consider here:

The age and condition of the sofa. If it's in good condition and you really just want to change the fabric, there are two options when it comes to recovering. You could consider having a loose cover made, which would simply slip straight over your sofa as it is. This option suits sofas with simple lines, and depending on the fabric you choose, can be machine washable. However, loose covers are often too large to launder in a domestic washing machine, so a trip to the laundrette or dry cleaners may be necessary. For sofas with more intricate details (such as buttons and piped scrolls) and those currently upholstered in heavily textured or napped fabric, it may be better to consider removing the existing fabric and replacing with a new, fixed cover. If however, the sofa is a few years old, has loose or damaged springs, sagging cushions or other signs of wear and tear, the only option really will be full re-upholstery, where the sofa is stripped right down to it's frame and then totally rebuilt, this time finishing off with your new choice of fabric.
Comfort. It's amazing how many people overlook this factor when choosing their sofa! What might look wonderful in the showroom/on the website may be a nightmare to live with long term and could even aggravate back problems. A sofa that is 100% comfortable is worth it's weight in gold, so if you're struggling to find a replacement - reupholstering your existing one may well be the best bet.
Cost. This will vary depending on which recovering/reupholstery option you go for and also the fabric you choose. A 2 seater sofa can require around 10 metres of fabric, which will need to be durable enough for it's purpose. Suitable fabrics will cost anything from £20 per metre upwards, on top of which you will be paying for labour and other materials required. A loose cover with usually be the least expensive option and full reupholstery will cost more.

If you have questions regarding soft furnishings for your home, I'd be pleased to offer my advice. Please email me at penny@pennygregoryinteriors.co.uk or "like" our facebook page www.facebook/pennygregoryinteriors and post your question on our wall.

Phew! We Made It!

2010-11-27T12:56:00.009Z

Anyone who knows me even a little bit will know that I am what is often termed an "ideas" person.

A couple of years ago, I had one of those lightbulb moments, when I had the idea of launching a website to sell our soft furnishings online, and reach clients outside the Hampshire area. Finally, yesterday - http://www.finesoftfurnishings.co.uk/ was launched. "So WHY EARTH did it take nearly two whole years to come to fruition?", I hear you ask! After all, it's my job (and passion, I might add) to make things happen for my clients - producing curtains and blinds etc in just the right fabric, just the right size AND on time.

But whilst I can do all that with my eyes closed (metaphorically speaking, of course!) this idea was something new top me and there were so many "learning curves" along the way.

The life of this particular so-called "Mumpreneur" is a complicated one - I find myself divided in many different directions at once (it's called multi-tasking), the theory and practice of delegating areas of responsibility and recruiting staff/sub contractors are two very different things. If you run your own business, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about!

So those were the excuses/blocks/barriers/challenges whatever you like to call them that were stopping me from actually getting on and bringing that idea to fruition. But it was more than that. I was getting bogged down in the detail of "how" I could make it happen, and this became obvious when I attended a Business Power Group facilitated by Sheryl Andrews of http://www.stepbystepcoaching.co.uk . Sheryl's coaching method is different to anything else I have experienced (and I know quite a few coaches!). Thanks to her careful questioning, I worked out the way to move my idea forward and reach my destination - all the background work had been done after all, and after a few weeks of hard work, Fine Soft Furnishings was born!

It's so easy to get bogged down with the "how" of a project - bringing something like a website into the world involves lots of techy stuff that can be off putting, but it's important to set a deadline and stick to it and then do whatever you can within that.

My original idea had to be downsized considerably if we were to launch "on time" - there are lots of products still to be developed for the site, which WILL come, but it wasn't possible to do it all for the launch - BUT what we have is a site that IS up and running, IS selling soft furnishings to people the length and breadth of the UK and from now on it WILL grow!

As well as being an "ideas" person, I'm also a bit of a perfectionist where our products are concerned - that hasn't changed, but what I have learned is that as long as the products are good, in the rapidly evolving world of cyberspace, it's far better to focus on being a sloppy success rather than a perfect failure.

Thanks to Sheryl, my lovely family, my trusty team of helpers at http://www.pennygregoryinteriors.co.uk/ and others in my business networks for their support and guidance -

Phew! We Made It!

My Interview on The Supermummy Mumpreneur Radio Show, 2/12/09

2009-12-02T14:13:00.007Z

In recent years I've met lots of interesting and like-minded women who run their own businesses through my networking activities, both face-to-face locally (Hampshire Winning Women and Networking Mummies (Hampshire)) and nationally through social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Giant Potential and Supermummymumpreneur.

I was delighted to be invited by none other than Mel McGee, founder of http://www.supermummy.com/ and http://www.supermummymumpreneurs.com/ to chat with her live on the Supermummy Mumpreneur Radio Show about how I set up my business, as well as sharing a few tips and insights into the world of the Mumpreneur. Thank you Mel!

Click the link below to hear how we got on...

www.blogtalkradio.com/supermummy

Curtains and blinds- lined or interlined, which is right for you?

2009-11-22T11:53:00.013Z

The beauty of custon made curtains and blinds is that you can choose exactly what you want. This applies not only to the fabric and trimmings used, but also to the type of lining you go for.

It's worth taking a little time to consider the merrits of the three main types.

Cotton Sateen Lining

This is the most popular lining choice for modern houses or where double glazing has elimininated draughts in older houses. Lined only curtains will have crisper, sharper pleats as can be seen in the picture to the left. Lining:

Helps to preserve the life of the main fabric, since it lessens the amount of light passing through
Gives curtains and blinds a smart appearance from the outside of the property

Is a more affordable option compared to interlining

Adds less bulk and weight that interlining, making it a better choice for very small windows, very heavy curtains or where the space at the sides of the windows is limited

Interlining

Interlining is an additional layer of soft, blanket-like fabric which is hand stitched between the main fabric and the lining. We choose to hand stitch this into place because this gives the best possible drape, as the three different layers are able to move against each other better than if they were machine stiched. There are several weights and fibre types to choose from and it's important to ensure that an appropriate interlining is used. Interlining:

adds luxurious bulk and a soft feel to your soft furnishings and improves the fabric's natural drape as can be seen in the picture on the right
reduces draughts from your windows, adding comfort to your home and saving money on your heating bills

protects your soft furnishings from the damaging effects of sunlight, thus prolonging their life

limits untidy creases that sometimes form in natural fabrics such as cotton, linen and silk

Blackout lining

Similar in apearance to cotton sateen lining, this lining has been given a number of surface treatments so that no light can pass through and also helps to retain heat in the room. The drape, texture and weight of blackout lining has improved dramatically in recent years. The picture on the left shows a blackout lined Roman blind and lambrequin pelmet installed in a childs bedroom to help stop her waking early in the summer months. Blackout lining:

Completely stops light from passing through the main fabric, thus preserving it's life

Is an ideal choice for baby's and children's rooms, helping them to sleep during daylight hours in the summer
Is a lower priced alternative to interlining for draughty windows and can save you money on heating bills

Problem Windows - Curtains or Blinds?

2009-09-21T13:26:00.005+01:00

I recently received an advice enquiry via our website, http://www.pennygregoryinteriors.co.uk/ on two rather "difficult" bedroom windows. The main window was very wide, and to the left on an adjacent wall in the corner of the room there was a second, much narrower window. Both windows extended right up to the ceiling, and the client was confused as to what type of window dressing to use, further adding that she was looking for a contemporary feel and was on rather a tight budget.

I often come up against problems like this. Achitects and builders sometimes overlook such minor details as whether or not Mrs A (not her real name) is actually going to be able to hang a pair of curtains at her bedroom window! Where wide windows extend right up to the ceiling, leaving no wall to fix a track or pole to, we have three options:

If you like curtain poles, choose a pole such as the Silent Gliss Metropole (pictured left), which can be adapted to fit like a track to the ceiling and is very discreet. This works well where there is at least 20-30cm of wall either side of the window. On a wider window, a regular pole would probably require a centre bracket fixed to the ceiling. The chances of finding a ceiling joist exactly where you need one for a job like this are quite small and you really need for the weight of the pole and the curtains to be spread evenly across the ceiling.

An alternative to a pole would be a curtain track, which can also be easily fixed to the ceiling. But then exposed tracks don't tend to look so nice and you would probably want to consider a pelmet or valance to hide it - not, perhaps such a "contemporary" look. Where a window is rather shallow and wide (as Mrs A's was), the addition of a pelmet at the top and wide curtains drawing back at the sides of the window may cut out much of the daylight.

A third suggestion would be to choose a Roman blind instead of curtains. Roman blinds can be made to pleat up neatly to less than 20cms and are suitable for windows up to approx. 240cm wide depending on the fabric you choose. You can even treat a very wide window with two or three smaller blinds, depending on the framework of the window.

Next to Mrs A’s narrow side window, in the corner of the room was some concealed pipe work, which meant that there was only 5cm of wall at that side. If curtains were preferred, this window could only really take one, drawing away from the corner of the room.

After careful consideration, I felt that Roman blinds would be the best option for this bedroom. They provide a sleek, contemporary look and since they require less fabric than curtains, they won’t break the bank either.

Mrs A was pleased with my suggestions, and wrote back to me a day or two later saying,
“Thank you for your prompt reply and for the comprehensive advice you have given us. Such excellent service is very rare indeed and we really appreciate it.”

soft furnishings on a budget - 5 top tips to save money

2009-09-03T22:22:00.007+01:00

I visited a client recently who has just spent the last year renovating her home. Finally the builders have left and she is faced with the reality of having over spent by more than 20% on unforseen building costs, leaving her with a much smaller budget than she'd hoped for to furnish her dream home. She wanted to discuss with me the options for her window treatments and I thought that my advice may be of interest to others.

Curtains require more fabric than blinds and cushions, so if the fabric of your dreams is rather expensive, it may be worth considering using a contrasting plain fabric for drapes and saving your favourite fabric for a blind or cushions
When using bold prints avoid unnecessary, fussy headings, valances or trimmings. Let the fabric speak for itself whist saving on make-up costs
Dress up plain, inexpensive fabrics with contrasting borders, trimmed edges or clever heading details to add interest
Good quality soft furnishings are often worth re-making into something new. They'll need to be freshly cleaned and in excellent condition though, as any signs of wear may show. As well as shortening curtains that are too long, it's also possible to lengthen pairs by adding contrasting borders to the tops or bottoms for example
Remember that soft furnishings in an inexpensive fabric can be made to look wonderful if they are expertly made up. However, an expensive fabric will never look good if the workmanship is not up to scratch. You get what you pay for and it always pays to have your soft furnishings professionally made.

My client was pleased to hear that the curtains from her last home, which we'd made for her only two years ago could be remade to fit two new windows and provide fabric for a few cushions. With clever use of fabrics elsewhere we able to dress all of her windows, staying on buget, without compromising on the quality she had grown to expect from us.

Fabrics - New for Autumn/Winter 09/10

2009-09-03T22:20:00.013+01:00

I've just returned from the British Interior Textiles Association Autumn exhibition, where I managed to source some great new fabrics and I can't wait for the pattern books to arrive in early October!

Despite these times of global economic downturn, I'm pleased to report that many of the companies at the show have come up with excellent collections packed with fabrics that are not only affordable but stylish too. Refreshing, zingy shades of lime green, fuschia pink and orange feature in many of the contemporary print collections. The bold, up-to-the-minute designs of these prints look best as simple, understated drapes or Roman blinds - no need for complicated valances, curtain headings or trimmings, the fabric speaks for itself.

Also pleasing to see was the richness of texture in some of the collections. Embossed velvets and chenilles feature along side luxurious damasks, in sumptuous colours like this lovely blue. For a quick, seasonal make-over, why not give your room the wow-factor with a few cushions and a throw?

I selected 10 new ranges - that's more than 100 new fabrics in colours, textures and designs to suit any home. Some of these fabrics are woven in the same mills as used by more expensive designer brands, but whereas the quality of the cloth is the same, the cost is far less! Can't wait to get to work on them when they arrive...

Silk Curtains and Blinds - Affordable Luxury

2009-09-01T23:28:00.001+01:00

For centuries, silk has been revered as the textile of luxury, affordable by the few and admired by most.

Nowadays, with the advances in spinning, dying and weaving techniques, silk is an affordable option for those who admire that unmistakable lustre. Many of the silks within my own collections cost less per metre than cottons or linens.

Silk dupion, in literally hundreds of different shades is by far the most popular choice. Why not create a contemporary look to your new curtains or blinds with horizontal panels or vertical borders in a contrasting colour perhaps, or go for the classic appeal of deep pinch pleated headings or swags and tails?

Although silk thread is in itself a very strong fibre, it can be damaged irrepairably by sunlight. Not only will the sun fade the fabric, it will also cause it to become unstable. For this reason, I would always recommend an alternative, synthetic or faux silk if the window is subject to extreme amounts of daylight (as some bay windows are, for example) and would never contemplate making silk curtains or blinds that are just lined only - they really do need to be lined and interlined or even black-out lined. Please see my other post on linings for a further explanation.

Silk dupion fabrics are also available with printed or embroidered designs as well as woven checks and stripes. More sophisticated silk weaves include satins, brocades, taffetas and damasks which are more expensive, but where the budget allows the result can be outstanding.

Where bright sunlight is a problem, the solution often lies with so-called faux silks. These are fabrics woven from synthetic, ie. man made fibres, usually polyester. Developments in manufacturing technologies mean it's getting harder to tell the difference between some of these fabrics and natural silk. Not only are they more resistant to light damage, these fabrics are less prone to creasing too.

There's no doubt about it. Silk or faux silk is the fabric of choice to add style, elegance and a soupcon of luxury to your home.