Special Spaces

Carter’s make over was a huge success. We spent the day painting, staining, putting together bunk beds, hanging shelves and installing window treatments. There were over 30 enthusiastic volunteers helping to transform the family’s home.

A major part of the day went to putting down new flooring and painting the room to look like a hockey rink.

They are going to be home in two hours, we better get these window coverings hung !

Mitch Danforth was the designer as well as carpenter and mural hanger. His excitement kept us all happily working hard. Carl is the artist that painted this awesome mural of Carter and his family at a Hurricane’s game, it was the WOW of the room !

I think seven of us put this bunk bed together and dressed it in about 15 minutes. Carter really wanted this so his cousin could sleep over with him.

The room, all done, complete with laptop and signed Carolina Hurricanes memorabilia.

Stormy came out to meet the family and see the big reveal. I think he liked the bunk beds too.

Katie Martin is the director of the local chapter, Special Spaces of the Triangle. She worked so hard planning, organizing and getting donations for Carter’s room, it was such a pleasure working with her and getting to know her. I look forward to helping with another room in the future.

If you want to see a lot more photos, go to their facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/SpecialSpacesOfTheTriangle

There are currently 22 chapters in the US. If you are interested in helping, contact an affiliate near you http://www.specialspaces.org

Enjoy your room, Carter. We were blessed to be a part of it.

Neutral Draperies

Our installation of the week this week included lots of neutral drapery panels. The breakfast nook was a beautiful linen mounted on wrought iron hardware from the Helser Brothers’ Artigiani line. 

All of the panels are interlined with bump, which is a really thick cotton added to give body and protect your fabric.

The living room panels were banded on the leading edge and the top with a contrasting fabric.

They frame the outside view perfectly…….

Here is a close up of the Euro pleat and the 1 1/4” rod with cannonball finial.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.

Special Spaces of the Triangle

Special Spaces is an organization that creates dream bedrooms for children with life threatening illnesses. These children need a special place to heal, recover and find solitude. They spend a lot of time in their rooms and that place should be a personal space that represents their personality. Whatever they can dream or imagine the volunteers can create.

I just recently heard that Katie Martin started a chapter in my state and when I saw their first child, Carter, I jumped at the chance to make his new window coverings.

Carter is a beautiful, vibrant 5 year old who loves panda bears, Nick Jr. TV and the Carolina Hurricanes. Although he is small, Carter appear s to be a normal, healthy child. What you don’t see, is that he has a very rare, genetic-recessive disease called Fanconi anemia. This disease is so rare, that there are only about 3,000 cases currently diagnosed world-wide and only about 300 of those cases are in the United States. Carter lives near Garner with his mom and dad, and brother Ethan.
Carter was born with two holes in his heart, a hypoplastic thumb, and with both of his kidneys fused together on one side.
He has had a few surgeries, including an index polliciation procedure to remove the thumb nub, and turn the index finger into his thumb. Carter had a bone marrow transplant in 2010 and a G-tube was surgically placed in Carter’s stomach to give him extra nutrition. A hook by Carter’s bed holds his tube in place during feedings. This rising kindergarten student will always battle eating, endocrine and vision problems, and the risk of cancers for kids with FA is very high.
When Carter isn’t shuttling between Duke and the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children’s Hospital, he would love a room with either a bunk bed or a trundle so he can have sleepovers with his cousin or brother. Since Carter spends a lot of time in his room, we’d like to make it a truly special place where he can be comfortable and dream about playing in the NHL one day with his idol, Eric Staal. But we can’t do it alone.

If you would like to be a part of Carter’s makeover, or another Special Spaces child’s makeover, please contact the chapter director.

https://www.facebook.com/SpecialSpacesOfTheTriangle

When Carter’s Hurricanes room is finished I’ll be sure to post pictures !

What’s on my Worktable

These pillows are on the way out the door. The two in the front are by Schumacher: Soho weave.

The hot pink floral are from a vintage fabric that we remade with new brush fringe. So Palm Beach, don’t you think ?

My next three jobs are all using trims. I’m really digging the coral and white Schumacher St Tropez braid and the fancy Scalamandre trim. I wonder why blogger recognizes Schumacher’s spelling but not Scalamandre……. things that make you go hmmmm. (they evidently don’t know hmmm either, oh my bad, I had one too many m’s !)

They say it takes 29 days to break a habit and it’s been about that long since I blogged last. It’s been a busy summer but I’m back now and hope you all are having a wonderful summer.

Custom window treatments can be the single most important element in pulling together your decorating scheme. 
Contact me to provide you with up to date window treatments that you are excited about.