Hard Treatments

No, I'm not talking about difficult window treatments, rather wood blinds, cell/honeycomb shades, verticals, and the like.

Take wood blinds for instance. They come in a myriad of shades and tones which will enhance the beauty of any room in the house. Think about a masculine entertainment room with leather furniture, clean lines and an uncluttered feel. Wood blinds with their rich wood tones are a perfect solution to the privacy and light issue for such a room and still add that finished look every room needs.



On the other hand, think about a bright cottagey room with lots of whites and colors. What could be simpler than matching white woods with their clean, unfussy style which still open the room to the view of your garden with the twist of a baton.



With their clean lines and the right color selection, they can be a subtle addition to a room, yet they still provide privacy and light control. Easy to take care of, they now offer a cordless option, which is so important to child safety. Those long dangling cords are an eyesore as well. They can dressed up with colorful tapes to match your decor and all come with a matching wood valance to cover the headrail. Want to put them in your bathroom and worried about the humidity? Wood blinds also come in faux wood, which look just as beautiful, but are not vulnerable to the warping that might occur in a steamy bathroom.



Wood blinds can stand alone on a window or be one element combined with a cheerful valance, tailored cornice, or drapes. The possibilities are endless!

The Diagnosis

Can you play "Taps"?

*Sigh*, it is not good. I blew the transmission on my car.
Hubby brought home a couple of shards of the main gear that I apparently shattered. Both pieces are about 1" long. They belonged to a piece that was around the size of a dinner plate.

-I broke her real bad-

I know, I really do, that this is small potatoes in the Real World of Real Tragedy. Heaven knows that the life of a car is nothing compared to the life of a loved one.
I'm just sad, that's all.

A Tragedy

Picture this in gleaming perfect black......

We've had a tragedy in the family. My beloved Saab convertible has suffered massive internal injuries and is incapacitated. I drove up to Lake Geneva for a measure yesterday (top down, of course!) When I pulled into the neighborhood, she was banging and knocking in a very alarming manner. Within minutes it was even worse.
My Knight in Shining Armor husband was on his way to rescue us within minutes of my call and actually arrived just as I was finishing up with the client.
His verdict? He made that face Lucy makes when Ricky catches her doing something sneaky. not good. So she spent the night in Wisconsin waiting for her tow back to Illinois. I cried all the way home.
We're still awaiting Mike's diagnoses.

My New Website

Please check out my new website:
www.leefrewcustomdraperystudio.com

Thanks for looking!

A Kravet Experience

Last week, I had the opportunity to watch an upholstered chair be made from the frame up. The Kravet Showroom in the Arlington Design Center offered a fascinating seminar hosted by Susan Lorenz, the Vice President of Sales-Furniture and Showrooms, accompanied by a Master Upholsterer from the furniture factory in S. Carolina.

The chair was the Pelham model from their Studio Collection and was covered in a wonderful camel colored chevron from their Smart Collection. We seldom realize how much handwork goes into a quality piece of furniture. There are layers and layers of cotton-like material batting, quality high-density foam, metal strapping, the all-important 8-way tied springs, and down/feather/material filler in the loose cushions. The frame was incredibly sturdy-no wobbling or twisting. The legs were constructed as a part of the frame, ensuring no loose legs. In fact, the legs are so integral that should one be snapped off in shipping, the chair would have to be completely re-constructed. I can honestly say that a chair of this caliber would last indefinitely! The retail on this chair was $2000.00. A lot, I know, but when you consider the quality, longevity and style endurance, it was a bargain! And, I am proud to say, completely made in America. The style and fabric are both timeless and enduring.

The charming folks at Kravet served us a delicious lunch as well. Best of all, the actual chair was raffled off at the end of the presentation. I'm sorry to say I did not win, but my good friend, Tammy did! Nobody deserved it more!

If you are interested in more information about Kravet furniture, please feel free to ask.

A Wonderful Saturday

My honey and I had a wonderful day today--spent the entire afternoon driving around Gurnee, Fox Lake, north to Wilmot and the neighboring areas. We love being in these towns with lakes and channels; enjoying that laid-back water-folk atmosphere. (Of course it helps that the hubby can fish just about any place he can park the car!) We saw some amazing homes, running the entire gamut from multi-millions in horse-country to the tiniest cottages on the channels. Our buddy, Bob has the tiniest little blue rustic cottage that I am just itching to get my hands on and renovate to the shabbiest chic-iest little nest ever. It is alive with birdlife and right on a channel.

We finished off with an amazing meal at The Stagecoach Inn in Wilmot---delicious lambchops for me (and Wrigley) and filet and lobster (wow) for Lach.

All in all, a really relaxing day for the two of us, something we haven't been able to share in a while.
Hope you had a lovely Saturday, too~
Lee