finishes, to clear acrylic and high gloss lacquer in more or less any colour. There are amazing finials (the bits that go on the end) incorporating leather, hand blown glass, Swarovski crystal, and even ones that light up !!!
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One more thing about poles; do please be thoughtful when choosing the diameter. Here, the general rule is the chunkier the better. For most windows we would recommend a minimum of 45mm diameter, however 50mm – 55mm adds impact and balance.
Pelmets are still (and I think always will be) very much in vogue, and can add that extra bit of drama and style that some rooms really need. In a contemporary room the pelmet will probably be a straight band or geometrically shaped, often piped along the bottom, whereas in a traditional setting you can really go to town. A sumptuous, scrolled and sweeping pelmet, trimmed with braids and fringes, looks amazing, and gives the weight and importance that a large Georgian or Victorian window needs.
Once again though, getting the proportion right is essential. Thin and weedy pelmets do nothing to balance a window, or indeed bring anything much to the party. A successful pelmet will usually be between one eighth and one sixth of the overall drop of the window.
The current (and very welcome) trend towards maximalism can even lead us back to one of my guilty pleasures – swags and tails – although these are not for the faint hearted.
In line with the maximalist movement, passementerie (i.e. fringes, braids and all manner of trimmings) is back with a bang! Whether you’re aiming for a traditional or contemporary look, there will be a generous selection of braids and fringes that will give your curtains that extra pizzazz.
So, what about the fabric? Well, thankfully the days of “Anything
JOHN BIDDELL - JOHN CHARLES INTERIORS 349 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham B17 8DL
T. 0121 420 3977
www.johncharlesinteriors.co.uk LIVE24-SEVEN.COM
you like, as long as it’s plain and grey” have long since passed. Please don’t get me wrong – some of the most serene and classic interiors we have installed over the last few years have featured soft shades of plain grey, usually textured, fabric, teamed up with sumptuous carpets or rugs and furniture in allied tones. But at least now you have a choice. No longer will the fashion police put you in the stocks for public ridicule for having the very hint of a flower or bird on your curtain fabric. No, in fact the grander and more gregarious the better !!! Wonderful, large scale patterns in all manner of sumptuous colours are available in abundance.
As I said at the top of this piece, I really do love curtains. If you share my passion, or simply want to soak up some infectious enthusiasm, why not give us a call and make an appointment to pop in to our Edgbaston showroom. You’d be most welcome.
HOMES & INTERIORS JOHN BIDDELL
John Biddell - John Charles Interiors
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