3 Steps to Choosing the Best Fabric for Your Furnishings
Laura Nelson Laura Nelson

3 Steps to Choosing the Best Fabric for Your Furnishings

You've found the perfect color fabric for your bedroom, but will it work well as a duvet cover as well as window treatments? There are many different fabrics available for your home, but it takes careful consideration to know which will work best and where…

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5 Ways to Use Performance Fabrics to Improve Your Home
Amanda Laurence Amanda Laurence

5 Ways to Use Performance Fabrics to Improve Your Home

I remember how excited I was to purchase my first sofa. It was brand new, and it wasn't a hand-me-down or a tag sale piece I had left behind at my college apartment. Then one day, it happened: chocolate crumbs missed the plate and got smushed onto a cushion. I was devastated! Performance fabrics are durable, super easy to clean, and beautiful! Today I'll be sharing five of the best places to use performance fabrics in your home.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Drapes and Curtains
The Socialite Agency The Socialite Agency

Frequently Asked Questions About Drapes and Curtains

All too often, I see beautiful window treatments hung incorrectly in a room. Hanging window treatments incorrectly is a problem because they look awkward and make your room look smaller than it really is.

For example, when you hang drapes too low with the rod directly above the window the room feels shorter and cramped. In a small space, this makes the room seem even smaller.

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3 Easy Ways to Transform Your Sofa Seasonally
The Socialite Agency The Socialite Agency

3 Easy Ways to Transform Your Sofa Seasonally

I have a friend who loves to decorate her home for every season and holiday. For this reason, she was hesitant to purchase a new sofa because she didn't want to be "stuck" with just one look.

I told her to purchase a quality sofa that she likes and that's comfortable. Then, I told her how a slipcover or adding different throw pillows can really change the look. Today, I’m sharing 3 tips with you, so you know how to transform your sofa seasonally (and for the approaching holiday season!).

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How My Award Winning Design Was Created
The Socialite Agency The Socialite Agency

How My Award Winning Design Was Created

Have you ever wondered about custom window treatments? What makes them different than those you can purchase in a store or online? In this month's blog, I'll be sharing with you the behind the scenes details of a custom window treatment project.

This project was very special to me as it won first place in the Combination Treatment category for 2021 WF-VISION magazine Design Competition.

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Celebrating 27 Years in Business
The Socialite Agency The Socialite Agency

Celebrating 27 Years in Business

The business has grown so much over the past 27 years and I’m very proud of that. I had no idea when I started that I'd be teaching at conferences, holding leadership positions with WCAA, and winning awards for my work! It wasn’t all smooth sailing getting here however. There were quite a few hiccups along the way: The steep learning curve from sewing hobbyist to professional, the lean years - especially 2008 and 2020, and balancing work and family, to name a few. What helped to get over those bumps and bring the business to where it is today was the love and support of my husband, the relationships I’ve formed through WCAA, and my trust in God.

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The Big Reveal: Window Treatment Transformation
The Socialite Agency The Socialite Agency

The Big Reveal: Window Treatment Transformation

You know the story about how the shoemaker's kids have no shoes? I am no exception! Finding time for my own home is difficult. Most of the rooms in my home are what I call finished, and the rest are waiting patiently (along with my husband).

This month I'm inviting you into my own home and sharing the details of my dining room transformation. The before photos, the decision making process, and of course, the results.

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How to Choose Window Treatments Based on Your Design Style
The Socialite Agency The Socialite Agency

How to Choose Window Treatments Based on Your Design Style

Every person is different; wouldn't it be boring if we were all the same?  We all prefer certain colors, patterns, textures, aesthetics, etc.  Within these variations, we tend to gravitate toward one design style or another. 

In this month's blog, I'll be sharing information about the window treatments that jive best with each particular design style.  Not sure what your style is?  No worries - I'll also include a few details on each so that you will be able to identify something you are comfortable with. 

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Privacy Please! Covering Doors and Entryways
Amanda Laurence Amanda Laurence

Privacy Please! Covering Doors and Entryways

I’ve made many treatments for sliding glass doors, French doors and sidelights, but the number of requests for door coverings last year alone surprised me! Now that people have been spending more time at home than ever before, they are realizing a need for more privacy.

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5 window covering combos for a warm and cozy winter
Amanda Laurence Amanda Laurence

5 window covering combos for a warm and cozy winter

My perfect winter day at home is spent curled up on the sofa with a good book or playing board games with my family when they're visiting. Snowy winter days will soon be here, and I'm looking forward to them. If the amount of food my outdoor cat is eating is any indication, we are in for a lot of snowy days! My cat knows his layers of thick fur and added fat will keep him warm.

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linings: the undergarments for window treatments
Amanda Laurence Amanda Laurence

linings: the undergarments for window treatments

When is the last time, if ever, you’ve thought about drapery linings? If your answer is never, that’s good! The purpose of drapery linings is to enhance window treatments but not take center stage. Linings are to window treatments as undergarments are to clothing. You shouldn’t think about them, but if they are doing their job, they make everything look good.

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5 Months With Freya
Amanda Laurence Amanda Laurence

5 Months With Freya

From late March to mid-August of this year I had the opportunity to care for my 2-year-old granddaughter, Freya. While COVID had been going strong on both the East and West coasts for a couple of months, it arrived later, similarly to fashion trends and high-speed internet, to Indiana. By the end of March, COVID had reached the midwest and poo filled the diaper. Not just filled it, but blew out the sides and top.

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