HELP! ROMAN SHADES

I am regularly approached for "a word" of design advice. What would YOU do in this and that case?

This is not a rare occurrence and as flattering as it is to be asked, giving advice for a space you usually have not seen is at best tricky.

Hence, this column: 

I will post  general advice in answer to non site-specific questions I have been asked. 

You may participate, of course. 

That would be so much fun. 

Just keep it relatively general, if you could. 

LES STORES

Karen:  I would like to install Roman Shades on my windows. Can you suggest some styles that I could choose from?

There are indeed quite a lot of beautiful roman shades to pick from when dressing windows. Some guidelines might be followed however if the project is to be successful:

There are pleated, soft, and flat roman shades and  "balloon" shades  and they might not all be appropriate for all rooms. 

I suggest keeping the more froufrou for the bedroom, living room and maybe the bath and the stricter look for libraries, offices and media rooms. Of course if your style is "feminine" you might go one way and if it is more minimal you might go another. In my book less is often more, but the choice, in the end, is up to you and your preferred design style.

So I'll simply illustrate some roman shades that are very successful in the room where they are installed and you can lean which ever way you like.

Soft Roman shade in a sheer fabric with a border on 3 sides

Strict unadorned roman shade

Balloon shade with pleats

Flat roman shades in a graphic stripe

Floor length sheer roman shade with ribbon inlay

Flat roman shades with 4 borders

Flat roman shade following the window's shape

Soft roman shades 

Flat roman shade

For a more ethnic look, bamboo and matchstick roman shades

If you like a little more fabric on your windows, why not try a bit of both; a roman shade and a curtain. 

I like this look as it keeps the already decorated bed wall simple and keeps the volume on the adjacent window.

If you have a topic you may want me to analyze or any design question you would like answered, let me know at un petit commentaire below. It would be so much fun for me to put my 2 cents in. 

au revoir.