Take the drapes!
Why custom window treatments are worth it. And how Nicole Regan of Cedar & Rush moved them from her first home to a new life in another.
Blogger Nicole Regan stepped up to custom window treatments from Calico in her first home near Chicago to enhance the living room, dining room and her young daughter’s bedroom. When this home was recently listed for sale, these design details attracted buyers and the house sold within 48 hours! With the recent arrival of a second child, the Regans moved to a new home—with the draperies! Here Nicole got six rooms of window treatments from three rooms in her former home. Pretty amazing!
Nicole posts as Cedar & Rush which she describes as “a Chicago Blog, the intersection where style meets entertaining”. We interviewed Nicole to learn why she loves her custom draperies so much that she couldn’t leave them behind:
Q: Nicole, in your first home, you installed custom window treatments from Calico in your dining room, living room, master bedroom, and also your daughter’s bedroom. Tell us what was behind those decisions:
A: “If I was going to have custom draperies and Roman shades, I wanted them to be where everyone could see them! We started with the living room and dining room since they were on the main floor, where we spent much of our time. Also, everyone walking into the house would see how beautiful they were too.
I didn’t understand how complicated window treatments can be! I have a new appreciation for custom drapes and shades—and what it takes to make them.”
At left, the dining room in Nicole’s first house, with draperies and reupholstered host chairs by Calico. At right, one pair of these fan-pleated draperies now dress the library in Nicole’s new home.
Q: Did you think about these window treatments as an investment in your home?
A: “Yes, I thought if we do this right, it will be worth it! We anticipated moving eventually—but didn’t know when. I knew well tailored draperies and Roman shades would help sell our home. They took your eye up, enhanced the windows, and made the house feel larger and more attractive.”
The fabric chosen for drapery panels in the former dining room is a little heavier, so it works well in the new library setting, notes Nicole. “With the tassel trim, the drapes are a little more formal, so they are best suited for a dining room, living room or master bedroom. If something is made well and timeless, it just works out!”
Q: Did you think that you would be able to take the window treatments with you to a new home?
A: “My husband fought me on this—but I was adamant that we keep them! When our house went on the market, people recognized the photos from my blog, from Calico ads and Martha Stewart Living. Those curtains were memorable!”
Q: How did you determine which draperies would work best in which rooms?
A: “My interior designer came to the new house, we unpacked the drapes and then figured out where to place them. We got bonus rooms out of the draperies, since there are fewer windows in our new house. However, these windows are larger, so I had to purchase a little extra fabric—and extra trim too.”
Draperies from the living room in Nicole’s first house became draperies in the great room in her new home, with the addition of a little more fabric and trim. “Calico had all the details of our original selections, so this was all done with just an email or two. Our new house has higher ceilings, so we worked with a local seamstress to let out hems and adjust the panels to fit.”
Q: Why do you think your original Calico fabric selections worked so well in the new house?
A: “Everything we picked out for our first house was cohesive and flowed together. We trusted that it would work just as well in the new house. And it does! This is a testament to Calico, plus my interior designer. After doing the breakfast nook in our first house, they made sure that the adjoining rooms complemented one another to create a great story.”
Q: Nicole, it’s nice to see a child’s bedroom that is not an homage to licensed characters! You chose stylish fabrics for Penelope’s room that she won’t soon outgrow. We see that the floral print cornices changed shape in the new home. And what are your plans for the second set of these draperies?
A: “I love that floral fabric on the two cornices—we were able to repurpose it on one longer cornice in Penelope’s room. The pinstripe pink drapes have a blackout lining, perfect for children’s rooms. One set is in this bedroom and the extra set has been installed in the nursery of our new daughter, Chloe. I hope the décor of these rooms will train their eyes to love color and be bold!”
Nicole loved this wallpaper so much in Penelope’s old bedroom that she put it in her new room! No changes needed for the headboard, dust ruffle or pillows—also from Calico.
In Penelope’s old bedroom, two scalloped cornices (right photo) were redesigned as one new rectangular cornice. The green ribbon trim on the leading edge of the drapery panels repeats on the new cornice to hide seams.
Many thanks to Nicole for sharing her new home with Calico and with her followers at Cedar & Rush. We can’t wait to see what she does next!
