Skip to content

Design Sewlutions of Salmon Arm

Drapery, Slipcovers, Blinds and Education

  • Home
  • BUY the Books
  • SEE pictures
    • Before and Afters
    • Storyboards and Renderings
    • Sofa Slipcovers
    • Chair Slipcovers
    • Odds and Ends
  • LEARN things
    • How-To’s
      • Magnetic Headrails PDF Download
      • Grommet Panels In Corners
      • Blinds and Shades:
      • Fool-Proof Picture Hanging
      • False Boxed Ottoman
      • Make drapery cord drawn.
      • Stop Rings and Grommets From Catching on an Expansion Rod
      • Rolled Hem Tutorial
      • Stop Hating Your Venetians
      • How to Cut a Curtain Rod
      • Grommet movie
      • 25 Design Mis-Guidelines Free Download
      • An Iphone Cover
  • Articles list
  • About
  • CONTACT
  • Cooling pads and collar directions
  • Downloadable guides

There is a lot of information here. 

SEARCH is available in the top right corner or by CATEGORY in the bottom left corner. 

For a list of all the articles, click on ARTICLES  in the menu above.

I've written three books on simplified decorating. Buy them here. 

FOR DOWNLOADS OR ADVANCE COPIES OF COLUMNS CLICK BELOW

Take me to the list of downloads. Send me advance copies, please.

How to Choose Window Coverings

Want to learn how? Click here

Here are the last 8 posts.

Read more through the search below, or the articles list in the top menu

cluttered room

Is it Clutter or clutter?

First of all, I believe that a home should support the people who live there. It should nurture a sense of calm, a sense of belonging. It should be easy to clean, easy to maintain and be a place where the inhabitants want to spend time.  Clutter impedes serenity. It's really difficult to feel calm when...

5 Jun 2022 Read more"Is it Clutter or clutter?"
tug of war

Yetza Hara

I did not know until very recently that every major religion in the world identifies a negative force within every one of us. This force has one main job. It's to protect us from change. It controls the 'flight' response we have in times of danger --  it tries to keep us stable, and on a...

2 May 2022 Read more"Yetza Hara"
before and after closet

A new definition of clutter

"Clutter can also cause feelings of stress, fatigue and depression. Stress can contribute to poor sleep, poor eating habits, and general poor health. (https://zenhabits.net/living-simply-the-ultimate-guide-to-conquering-your-clutter.) Clutter is anything that is not where it belongs.  Huh? A rose growing in a wheat field is, technically, a weed. It doesn't belong there, it can interfere with what should be...

7 Apr 2022 Read more"A new definition of clutter"
Where do I find drapery hardware

Where do I find drapery hardware?

Drapery HardwareHad quite a start the other day when I found out that Fabricland is not carrying drapery hardware or panels any longer.  They won't be replenishing their stock. This is a corporate decision, so don't go hollering at Denise.So, that leaves the DIY-er, and some pros like me, without our favorite lower and mid-priced drapery...

13 Mar 2022 Read more"Where do I find drapery hardware?"
beige living room

What comes after black and white?

My pink and gray bedroom had to go. I'd had that color combo for too long and I needed a change. I wasn't sure what direction to go, and as serendipity would have it, I was directed to the new color for the room via a gift of a forest green and burgundy bedspread. Right on-trend....

8 Feb 2022 Read more"What comes after black and white?"

Quality

Quality If you attach the word 'quality' to something, what does that really mean?  It may be of limited quantity, it is probably more expensive than other similar items, and it is considered 'better' than the other items. It may be made of rare components, it may be made following a patented formula, and it probably isn't easy...

14 Nov 2021 Read more"Quality"
Blue ribbon for the best

What is ‘BEST’, anyway?

What is BEST anyway? If you have a question about almost anything, you can ask 'Quora'. It's an online platform for just that, asking questions. Someone will answer it. Probably. I'm one of the people who do the answering, my answers have been read 142,500 times. Which is pretty mindboggling...  One of the most frequent questions...

9 Oct 2021 Read more"What is ‘BEST’, anyway?"
busy woman at A DESK

Instant Expert

Like most professions, mine has advances and "new" things come along every once in a while.  I try to keep up; I do fairly well, but I don't think there have been ground-breaking discoveries in my profession in quite a while.When IKEA first came out, I was working in the design business in Calgary at a...

21 Aug 2021 Read more"Instant Expert"

Some columns about Guidelines

cluttered room

Is it Clutter or clutter?

First of all, I believe that a home should support the people who live there. It should nurture a sense of calm, a sense of...

Read more"Is it Clutter or clutter?"
tug of war

Yetza Hara

I did not know until very recently that every major religion in the world identifies a negative force within every one of us. This force...

Read more"Yetza Hara"
before and after closet

A new definition of clutter

"Clutter can also cause feelings of stress, fatigue and depression. Stress can contribute to poor sleep, poor eating habits, and general poor health. (https://zenhabits.net/living-simply-the-ultimate-guide-to-conquering-your-clutter.) Clutter...

Read more"A new definition of clutter"
Where do I find drapery hardware

Where do I find drapery hardware?

Drapery HardwareHad quite a start the other day when I found out that Fabricland is not carrying drapery hardware or panels any longer.  They won't...

Read more"Where do I find drapery hardware?"
beige living room

What comes after black and white?

My pink and gray bedroom had to go. I'd had that color combo for too long and I needed a change. I wasn't sure what...

Read more"What comes after black and white?"

Quality

Quality If you attach the word 'quality' to something, what does that really mean?  It may be of limited quantity, it is probably more expensive than...

Read more"Quality"

Lighting.

lighting gesture

The Last One About Lighting

My column from a few weeks ago about light bulbs has been getting some attention....

Read more"The Last One About Lighting"

How to Choose Lighting

The credo here is “Light the tasks, not the room.” I’ve said that before but...

Read more"How to Choose Lighting"

LED or CFL? How do I choose?

I see so many people standing in the light bulb isle with a glazed look...

Read more"LED or CFL? How do I choose?"

There is no gallery selected or the gallery was deleted.

Search for information by category.

Stop Rings and Grommets From Catching on an Expansion Rod

Every been so frustrated at the curtains snagging on the expansion joins that you just wanted to spit?

Here is the solution. I don’t remember where I learned this, if anyone knows where it came from, please let me know and I’ll give due credit. I’ve been using this fix for several years.

 

Articles about solar shades and film

How to Feel Cooler in the Heat

Five Things About Solar Shades

blinds outside in

Solar Shades 2016

too-sunny window

How to choose the right solar shade

layers of drapery help keep the cold out.

Layers are the Key for Reducing Heat Loss at the Window

Window Heat-Loss Rant

Summer Sun

Shade Fabrics

Copyright © 2022 Design Sewlutions of Salmon Arm. All rights reserved.
Go to top