Design Center On Top Of Spring Trends

By Nancy K. Crevier

Over 21 years of marriage and moves that have taken her from Florida to North Carolina and finally to Connecticut, Jill Fleming has had the opportunity to indulge her love of sewing, decorating, and seeking out the details that make a house a home. Although a software engineer by trade, once she had children, she started decorating homes; while living in Raleigh, she launched her first decorating business.

Nearly three years ago, Ms Fleming and her husband, Jim, Newtown residents, opened her dream store on Route 6 in Bethel, just across from the Target plaza. Drapery Couture Design Center is 2,400 square feet of home decorating delight, filled with more than 1,000 fabric sample in 40-plus books, floor models of the North Carolina-based Century furniture line, window treatment hardware, and bolts of luxurious fabrics for windows and upholstery, as well as decorative accessories and art work. New to her store this spring is a line of high quality indoor and outdoor rugs and lighting to provide her clients with further decorating options.

Ms Fleming is available for in-store or on-site consultations, offering full service decorating assistance or providing a resource for those who prefer to do it themselves. During a home visit, she takes photographs and measurements, and defines the important projects to be tackled first, before working up ideas and presenting them. “Most people cannot afford to decorate their entire home at one time, so we take it one step at a time,” she said.

“I enjoy it,” said Ms Fleming. “I have concentrated on window treatments and decoration at my store, and service is a very important piece of my business. My reputation is everything.”

She is proud of the Century line of furniture Drapery Couture offers, noting that the company offers a lot of options for customers in a fairly good price range. Each piece is tailored to the individual, she said, using sofas as an example. Once a frame is selected, client can choose from a variety of arm styles, padding, and cushions, then with the help of Ms Fleming, personalize it through the selection of material and detailing that best suit the function and décor that person needs.

When advising clients, Ms Fleming said she is careful to apply style rules without forcing a “look” on anyone. “It’s not about ‘cookie cuttering’ everybody’s house,” she said. “I put a lot of time into each order. I’m decorating for the whole family when I am hired.”

She is pleased with the success of her business so far, but what has surprised her is that more people come in looking for full service than seeking fabrics and accessories to do it themselves. “I have been surprised by how very few people sew anymore. Most of my clients want to be helped from beginning to end, and I’m happy to do that,” she said.

The downturn in the economy has not been terribly detrimental to her business, so far, said Ms Fleming. She has observed that people are tending to do smaller projects, though, and perhaps buy one, more versatile piece of furniture rather than several smaller pieces as they may have in past years. “When budgets get tight, people still seek quality and are more careful with how they spend their money,” she said.

As her business has grown, Ms Fleming has had the opportunity to take note of trends in decorating. And with spring in the air, people are looking to make a change, she said.

In window treatments today, big valances are falling out of favor. Silk drapery panels, woven Roman shades made from natural materials, and faux shades are the popular way to dress up a window this spring, and a new window treatment is a simple way to give a room a new look, said Ms Fleming. Window treatments can dress a room up or down, disguise architectural flaws, and create atmosphere.

Fabrics have taken on a new look this year, as well. “The design is getting simpler and cleaner, but the textiles are getting bolder,” she said. Clients are gravitating to large-scale and graphic prints that are more stylized. “We are definitely seeing an influence from India and China in the patterns,” said Ms Fleming. But while the designs are waking up, the colors for spring are on the subtle side. Neutral colors and tone on tone colors have taken off, and calming spa colors of the palest blues and greens have worked their way into the home.

The natural fabrics, whether for furniture or draperies, are in demand. Silks, linens, cottons, and hemp materials are often requested now, and she believes it may be in response to the “green” movement. “When you say ‘green,’ it can mean a lot of things, though,” said Ms Fleming. “I have always been conscious of health and environment, and I do hunt for organic and natural products.” She has seen this past year that people are seeking products made in America and furniture crafted from native woods, and this is one way of going green.

 “People want fabric that is natural or organic, but they also want durability and that is where it can be a problem. If you Scotchguard a piece for a child’s room, for instance, to prevent stains, now you have applied a chemical to a natural fabric. But if you don’t protect it, it is going to wear out more quickly. It is something that people need to think about when making a decision,” she advised. There are durable fabrics made from recycled polyester by a company called Ecopoly, but she generally uses these in a corporate setting as they are not the soft, homey feel that clients seek for their living quarters.

The Antique Drapery Rod Company is a great supporter of the green movement, and is Ms Fleming’s hardware company of choice. “I love their products. They are beautiful and functional and high quality,” she said. The company actually uses other recycled products to create their own rods, finials, and other drapery hardware, she said, and all of the packaging for the products is made from recycled paper and plastics.

Other decorating trends include one large cushion for sofas, as opposed to the traditional two or three cushions making up the seating piece. The neutral color scheme is being brightened by splashes of color from interesting accessories and wall art.

In the bedroom, high headboards for the bed are in style this year. “You want the bed to be the focal point in a bedroom,” she said. An easy way to give the illusion of a high headboard when one is not part of the bed style, said Ms Fleming, is to place a series of similar prints just above the head of the bed.

Getting a trendy look for spring does not mean having to go all out on a new decorating scheme, however. Pillows are big — and not just in size — this year. “We are seeing tons of pillows this year,” said Ms Fleming. “They are bigger and have a down or down and feather combination for a filling, making them very soft and puffy.” That quality also lends itself to another new pillow trend, what she referred to as the “karate chop” look. A swift chop with the hand down the center of a pillow leaves an indent in a feather pillow and adds a casual air to the scene. Pillows, said Ms Fleming, are a small way to make a big change.

Whether looking to make a big change or a small change, to update a look or incorporate an antique into a modern setting, Drapery Couture Design Center is ready to help. “I’m committed to selling quality products at great prices,” said Ms Fleming.

Drapery Couture Design Center is at 6 Stony Hill Road, Route 6, in Bethel, just north of the Target plaza. The store is open Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 10 am to 5 pm, Friday and Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm. It is closed Wednesday and Sunday, except by appointment. To arrange an appointment with Ms Fleming or for more information, call 748-4300.