BEFORE May 15th 2013

then tell us in 25 words or less why you deserve to win your order back!

                      Enter by emailing or posting your 25 words or less answer. Get creative now!

                      email@rainsfords.com.au        OR         PO Box 445 Burnside SA 5066

Terms and conditions: All entries and orders must be placed by 5pm on Wednesday the 15th of May 2013. Only orders that have had a deposit paid by the 15th of May 2013 will be eligible. Total value of prize is $500.00 which will be deducted from the final invoice on the day of installation. The prize is not redeemable for cash. The winner will be decided by a non-Rainsfords employee based on the answer they submit for the competition. Entries must be submitted by email or by posted entry. One prize only is available for this competition. The winner will be announced Thursday 16th of May 2013 and will be notified by phone. The winner will need to agree to have their first name and photograph published on the Rainsfords web-site.

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Styles

• Pinch pleat – Pinch pleat curtains have been the classic staple in curtain styles for many years in South Australia. This style suits both modern and traditional homes, and can be made in lined or sheer fabrics. Pinch pleats are often used under pelmets and suit contemporary or traditional fabrics. They are definitely the all rounder of curtain styles!
• Pencil pleat – Pencil pleats look how they sound; like a row of stacked pencils. This pleating suits both lined and sheer fabrics and is often used on the rear track for double curtains due to it’s low profile. For a more casual look the fabric can be pleated so it is less full, but for a more traditional look the fabric must be pleated tightly. Three times fullness will give you this traditional look.
• Reverse pleat – Reverse pleats are one of the new contemporary styles in South Australia. They are best suited to homes with a classic or modern feel. Instead of the pleat protruding forward, it is sewn flat behind the top of the curtain giving the front of the curtain a flat smooth appearance. Reverse pleats suit either standard curtain tracks or more decorative tracks and rods.
• S fold style – Turn your home into a hotel all year round with S fold curtains! S fold curtains are not formally pleated as the special track is the key to how these curtains fall. The track holds the flat curtains in a beautiful ‘S’ shape, giving them a full soft look. S fold curtains look best in sheer decorative fabrics but can easily be made in block-out lined fabrics too. This style suits a more modern home and can be made to suit a double track giving the flexibility of privacy and light control.
• Triple pinch pleat - For the ultimate in traditional grandeur, a triple pinch pleat is decorative and sumptuous! This style gives the curtain a full look which can be enhanced by having the fabric ‘pool’ on the floor. Suited to traditional style fabrics, silk and taffeta,  triple pinch pleats can be used with many styles of decorative tracks.

Fabrics

There are thousands of curtain fabrics available in South Australia, so here are some of the best fabric wholesalers to visit when deciding on curtains. By visiting these showrooms you’ll be able to select your favourite fabric, and your curtain company will be able to buy on your behalf. Be sure to take note of the manufacturer, pattern name and pattern colour.

Warwick Fabrics – Warwick Fabrics are an Australian family owned company who have been a household name since the 1960′s. Warwick have an extensive range of drapery and upholstery fabrics to suit any budget. You’ll find them at 103 Wright Street, Adelaide. Click here to view their collections

Mokum – Mokum Textiles are a New Zealand based company with a flair for design and difference. With James Dunlop, Loop and Heptech under the Mokum name you’ll be sure to fall in love with what they have to offer. You’ll find Mokum at 57A Kensington Road, Norwood. Click here to view their collections.

Charles Parsons Interiors – Charles Parsons Interiors is a fourth generation family company who have been designing textiles for interiors since 1915. Recently pairing up with Dulux paints, you can use the paint and fabric selector on their web-site to design the perfect look for your home! You’ll find Charles Parsons Interiors at Suite 2/15 Fullarton Road, Kent Town. Click here to view their collections.

Zepel – Zepel fabrics began as an Australian family own business in 1978, and soon grew to be one of the leading textile companies in Australia. With a passion for quality and affordability, Zepel have a beautiful range to suit any style and budget. You’ll find Zepel at 3/68 King William Street, Kent Town. Click here to view their collections.

Curtains are certainly back and one of the most popular choices for South Australian homes. With so much choice, why wouldn’t you? For more professional advice on curtains and fabrics click here.

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Operating systems

1. Cord and cleat operating system – Traditionally roman blinds were made with a pull cord and cleat. The pull cord is used to pull the blind up and the cleat (the metal cord tie attached to the wall) is used to tie the cord off to stop it from slipping back down. While this is a perfectly simple operating system, it can sometimes be cumbersome to use with larger blinds and may leave you wrestling to tie off the cord at exactly the right height.
2. Heavy duty cord lock operating system – The heavy duty cord lock system is by far the best way to operate a roman blind. The blind is made with a cord and cleat, however as the cord is pulled to raise the blind, the cord will lock off at any height stopping the need to tie off the cord immediately. Just a small flick of the wrist will lock the cord into place and keep the roman blind exactly where you want it. It is mandatory by law that all cord operated blinds be kept out of reach of children, so the cord of a roman blind must be tied securely around the cleat after operation every time.
3. Chain drive operating system – The chain drive system is the same used for roller blinds. The looped beaded cord runs continuously through the driver attached to the head board. As the cord is pulled to either raise or lower the blind, the cord runs continuously from top to bottom. The down side to this type of system is the roman blind takes much longer to operate.

Styles

1. Classic straight bottom hem – This style is simple, classic and the most used for roman blinds. Whether it is made from blind fabric or lined drapery fabric, the blind is finished with a wooden lathe concealed in a hemmed pocket at the bottom.
2. Shaped valances – For a more decorative or traditional look, you may consider a shaped  valance, which is the bottom flap hanging below the hemmed pocket of the roman blind. Scallops, waves or a straight hem valance are some of the options available. Trims and tassels are easily added to these designs to give them a truly individual look.
3. Patterned and plain fabric – Dedicated blind fabrics come in neutral colours with varying levels of texture. They do not have any specific patterns on them and are perfect for more contemporary roman blinds. Most drapery fabric can be used to make roman blinds which allows you to have the pattern or specific colour of your choice. Silks, chintz and horizontal stripes should be avoided as the do not produce a perfect blind.

Mounting styles

1. Outside mount – This is the most common way to mount a roman blind. When the blind is down it covers the surrounding window frame and often the sill. In the up position the roman should cover a small portion of the top of the window, creating the look of a pelmet. This style of mounting gives the best light control and insulation and maximises the light in the room.
2. Inside mount – This style of mounting is generally only used for larger windows or windows with decorative frames that cannot be covered. The blind sits fully within the window frame itself. The disadvantages of this style is that it lets light in through the sides of the blind and stacks in front of the glass of the window blocking day-time light.

Roman blinds are a beautiful addition to any room and by following these guidelines you’ll get the best blinds possible. To speak to a professional about perfectly measured and fitted roman blinds in Adelaide, click here …

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Listen to these experts for the essential tips on getting it right. The customers below recently installed timber shutters in their Adelaide homes and now let you in on their secrets!

1. Bluestone cottage in Norwood – “We recently installed timber shutters in the two front windows of our Norwood cottage. We needed day-time privacy as the cottage is close to the street, and light control in the early mornings as the rooms are bedrooms. We selected the 63mm blade to keep with the age of the home and the hinged panels with framing block out most of the light.”
2. Sandstone Bungalow in Linden Park – “The front of our home has a sash bay window and straight window under the porch. We decided on the 89mm blade in Silk White to maximise the amount of light coming into the rooms. The hinged panels line up with the timbers in the windows which gives a clean, seamless look. The framing style suits the age of the house beautifully”.
3. Contemporary new home in Trinity Gardens – We chose timber shutters for the wet areas and the front of the house. The 89mm blades suited the style of the house the best and let in plenty of light. The wet area shutters are good to give extra privacy at night even though the glass is frosted and keep the rooms warm in winter”.
4. New heritage style home in Highgate – We decided on timber shutters for the front of the house and the upstairs bedrooms. The front of the house is a more classic style but we went with the 89mm blades with hinged panels. The colour of the shutters suits the dado panelling in this part of the house and gives the rooms an very classic look”.
5. Rendered cottage in Dulwich – We installed timber shutters through-out our home and are very happy with the results. As they are fitted into the window, the rooms appear larger and it they have given us extra space to place furniture. We chose the colour Bright White which looks great with the colour of our timber work. The 89mm blades let in plenty of light but close up tightly to keep the house well insulated”.

The classic style of timber shutters are a clever investment for your home as they will never date. They provide versatility and insulation and will give you the look you want for your home!

For more information click here ….

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So let me introduce you to our first home. This beautiful sandstone home in leafy Erindale Adelaide was well and truly due for a complete overhaul. The homes owner (who might I add has impeccable taste) came to us with her ideas and Rob knew exactly what to do! The main photo shows the front bay window with standard pinch pleat curtains that had been in the house for just a little too long! Then dadaaaah … have a look at the window with perfectly fitted plantation shutters. Just stunning! The rest of the house is fantastic too … have a sneaky look!

      BEFORE                                    AFTER

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Why is it important to insulate windows? Did you know a typical home loses up to 30% of it’s cooling and heating dollars through it’s windows and doors. And as windows generally out number doors in a house, it’s easy to see where you should concentrate your efforts if you want to reduce your power bills!

Plantation shutters are perfect for solving the energy tug-o-war. Put plainly, wood is an insulator. It traps air in and around it making it perfect to stop the gross movement of air and heat. However, not just any timber window furnishing will keep your home comfortable. Professionally measured and fitted plantation shutters should fit the window like a glove and by doing so, stop drafts and air movement. The blades of the plantation shutter should close up tightly creating a barrier between the glass and the inside of the room. When the plantation shutter is installed, the installer should fill any gaps around the framing with gaping medium and timber beading. This also gives a beautiful and professional finish to the shutter.

Plantation shutters can also be fitted to bathroom windows for privacy and insulation. Made from the advanced polymers used by the car industry these plantation shutters are perfect for any bathroom or laundry where warmth and beauty are a must.

By coving your windows with professionally fitted plantation shutters you can save yourself a packet on heating and cooling. And let’s face it; they look absolutely gorgeous too! For more energy saving tips click here …

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I’ve recently been catching up with my wonderful textile companies (one definite perk of the job) and the one common thread in the trends for 2013 is colour and pattern. Now I’m not sure how ready we are Adelaide, but you should seriously consider throwing caution to the wind and think about how easy it is to make a room look ‘styled’ if you make a statement with colourful curtains and blinds.

The trick to avoid buyers remorse is to let your heart lead the way. Find a fabric you love at first sight. More often than not, you’ll come back to it even if you look at thousands more. Look at fabrics in the colour palate you’re thinking, but keep your mind open to alternate possibilities. If you’re not sure which direction to head in look on Houzz.com to find squillions of images to get you started, then play copy-cat (or put your own spin on things).

So, what’s new and exciting in the textiles world? From Warwick Fabrics, the Lumley Collection is a versatile mix of colour and design and can be used for upholstery or drapery. Another colourful addition to Warwick Fabrics is Kinetic; an almost three dimensional block design. I would love to see roman blinds made up in this one. For a fresh yet playful look try Piazza in a room with neutral walls.

At Mokum Fabrics under the Pegasus banner there are many colourful prints, florals and stripes to indulge in. One of the BEST things about their web-site is they have a room setting you can add any of their fabrics to giving you a clear picture of what the final look will be. It is brilliant! So have a play with these … the Richmond Park Collection allows you to mix and match patterns and prints so you can coordinate blinds, curtains and cushions. One of my absolute favourites is the Weekend Collection with Bubbles … a gorgeous way to add colour and pattern to a room. How about something ‘berry’ flavoured? Charnwood in Berry is just what you need!

If you’re not familiar with Harlequin fabrics, please let me introduce you! Harlequin is a UK based fabric, homeware and wall paper company who combine classic and contemporary in unique and inspiring ways. Here are a few of my favourites … Serene is a stunning fabric with horizontal stripes consisting of tiny brush strokes. Fantastic for long luscious curtains! Consider Define sheer in calming blues or turmeric gold to really make your curtains come alive! This pattered sheer is really something different. Add some drama with Zeal in your blinds or curtains. This embroidered fabric has four vibrant colour ways that resemble brush strokes.

Have I got you thinking about colour for your home? With so many colourful fabrics to drool over I know you’ll find the one that you adore!

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We can custom colour the rug of your dreams in a vast range of styles and designs. Simply select the style you love, then we will help you select the colour palate you want from our huge colour range. A bit smaller, a bit larger? We can custom make the size too!

Our rugs are made from the best New Zealand wool and silk which feels like walking on the softest cloud! Composition aside, these rugs are made to perfection and can stand up to everyday living. Need a quote on the rug you desire? We can do this for you in a flash!

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The Hamptons look is all about simplistic elegance. A few beautiful pieces artfully arranged and tone on tone colour palates. When it comes to the windows, blinds and curtains should be soft and blend in effortlessly with the surrounding walls. Natural fibres suit this styling, so look for cottons, linens and wool blend fabrics. Plain fabrics with self patterns, self stripes or a slubbed texture give a soft yet interesting look. Consider Hoad Neutral Territory collection or fabrics by Hemptech through Mokum Adelaide.

As far as curtain styles go, you can pretty much do anything your heart desires; pleated, gathered, full length, pooled onto the floor. The main idea is to keep the look simple. The fabric you select will go a long way to achieving this. One common style in many Hampton homes is semi-sheer curtains (fabrics that let light into the room but you can’t see through). The advantages of this style is they let light into the room during the day but give privacy both day and night. The down side is they are not very insulating. Fear not … by installing a double curtain track you can hide block-out lining behind and only draw this behind the semi-sheer curtain when needed. Problem solved!

Curtain tracks can act as a feature, so consider using a timber pole with carved finials in different shapes and sizes. Teak or walnut stained timber are perfect when paired with neutral coloured curtains. Metal curtain tracks in satin silver, antique brass or wrought iron also look the part. These are available with different shaped finials to suit.

Another common Hamptons style, is semi-sheer roman blinds. Once again, not very insulating but very beautiful and perfect for living rooms. Use gorgeous linen and linen blends for this style of blind, but make sure your manufacturer pre-washed the fabric before making, to ensure the fabric doesn’t shrink after manufacture.

Curtains or blinds just not your thing? Then plantation shutters are perfect to complete the Hampton look. Select shutters in a shade of white and in a wider style blade to really make your home look the part!

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