M Designs

BOLD COLOR – MAKE IT SAY WOW!

Don’t be afraid to use bold color in your window treatments.  Actually this is the perfect place to make a bold statement…use neutral tones in paint and furnishings, then add that pop of color and tie everything together by splashing the room with color on the window treatments.

I would say your New Year’s resolution should be to make a change and dress your windows in at least one room this year.  It will be an amazing transformation.

Bold color for the draperies and the wall - WOW Image: House Beautiful

The turquoise draperies make this room pop!

I love yellow - what can I say? Image: Elle Decor

LONDON SHADES – WHAT’S A LONDON SHADE YOU ASK?

London shades combine the simplicity of a Roman shade with the fullness of a balloon shade.  They are both functional and fabulous!  You could use London shades in a room where you wanted to add a little dressier touch than a Roman shade, but still want to have privacy from the outside world.  I love to use these shades in bedrooms and baths.

Simple and elegant London shade Image: House Beautiful

Sheer London shades really make this bath Image: House Beautiful

The ruffle at the bottom of this London shade says "gorgeous". Image: House Beautiful

London shades work with almost any decor Image: House Beautiful

DRAPERY HARDWARE – SIMPLE FUNCTIONALITY

When it comes to drapery hardware, I prefer simple iron rods with little fuss.  I prefer the hardware to kind of take a back-seat to the draperies, not to be the star attraction.

Simple iron rod Image: Elle Decor

A simple iron rod adds to the elegance of these draperies Image: Designer Suzanne Kasler

Three of my favs: Iron rod, woven wood Roman shades and drapery panels Image: Designer, Phoebe Howard

There are many different ways to dress a window; draperies, blinds, and shades.  Window treatments are more than an “accessory”; they are the ultimate finishing touch when decorating a room.

DRAPERIES – LONG, FLOWING AND FABULOUS!

One of my favorite interior design treatments is draperies…long, flowing and fabulous!  Draperies can add drama and character to your room and bring it to life.  Whether your fabric choice is a solid or a print, the fabric needs to have lots of body.

Drapery panels paired with woven wood shades Image: Nancy Corzine, Veranda Magazine

Draperies and iron rod Image: House Beautiful

Gorgeous silk draperies Image: Elle Decor

One of my favorite fabric sources is The Robert Allen Group.  We specify fabrics from all four brands of their fabric collections:  Beacon Hill, Robert Allen, Robert Allen Contract, and Robert Allen@Home.

Robert Allen designs are always fresh, innovative, stylish and original.  I love how the inspiration for their designs comes from art, history, and nature, to name a few.  Robert Allen products and are of the finest materials and construction found in the industry today.

M Designs has turned to Beacon Hill many times over when asked to create window treatments for our clients.  Beacon Hill’s use of refined materials and opulent color palette enables us, as designers, to provide a luxurious, one-of-a-kind product.

Fabric being woven on the loom

In the interior design industry, I work with many people in various positions from real estate agents, home builders, painters, carpenters, furniture and drapery suppliers…. the list is endless! I wanted to take the opportunity this week to profile several people whom I have had the pleasure of working with and getting to know. These people are some of the most outstanding professionals in their fields, and I want to share them with you! I’ll be blogging about a new person each day this week, so be sure to check in here daily!

Today I wanted to start my profiling series with Jan Baldwin, Realtor with Briggs Freeman Real Estate, Dallas’ leading boutique firm for premier properties.

I met Jan Baldwin while designing homes with her husband, the fabulous Barry Baldwin, of Waterford Construction Company. We immediately hit it off and had so much in common and Jan knows EVERYONE in Dallas……you can’t even imagine the friends she has accumulated through the years.

What I love about working with Jan is that she incorporates each buyer’s lifestyle into the equation, whether moving within the city or to Dallas from out of state. When listing a property, Jan’s analytical expertise has gained her the reputation among her peers as “someone who knows how to price a house to sell”, while ensuring that the seller gets the highest price possible in the shortest amount of time.

Jan knows houses. For years, she has been an integral part of her husband’s award-winning home building company, Waterford Construction. She and her husband bring her clients a wealth of knowledge, from what it would cost to update a prospective home to lot availability. Jan was able to sell one of her clients a prime property she found through sheer tenacity that was not yet on the market.

Jan has a background as a corporate executive in the Dallas area, including positions with Baylor Health Care System and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital. She works tirelessly as an outstanding leader in the community as well. Jan has been President of the Junior League of Dallas, President of the Leadership Dallas Alumni Association; served on multiple boards, including the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum, The Genesis Women’s Shelter, and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. She is the immediate past chair of The Linz Award Luncheon and is chairing the 2011 Rancho San Miguel Parish Party at Saint Michael and All Angels Church.

Jan is one of the most dedicated, sincere professionals I have had the pleasure to work with. Whether you are looking to sell your home, or buy a new home, Jan can help you find that perfect fit!

As you may know, a designer and the real estate agents she serves are a very tightly knit team. I can assure you that the clients we share love working with Jan and I know you will too!

Jan can be contacted at:

jbaldwin@briggsfreeman.com
www.Briggs-freeman.com