Beautiful new custom draperies are every homeowner's dream. You spend hours picking out just the right fabrics, and you invest hundreds of dollars on each window to create the perfect look. With all of that effort and expense, imagine your disappointment when, after only one year in the harsh sun, your new draperies have faded or, worse yet, are falling apart.
"Damage from the sun is a real problem for interior designers in working with clients," said Phillip Sides, an interior designer based in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla. "In high sun-lit areas, you can have draperies that are totally eaten up by the sun within a year. The last thing that a designer wants is to have a client call and say their draperies are falling apart from sun exposure."
Until recently, homeowners had few options when it came to installing draperies that were both beautiful and fade resistant. The finest fabrics, such as silk or damask, offer an elegant look, but do not hold up well in direct sun over a long period of time. On the other hand, performance fabrics that could stand up to the sun did not drape well or offer the look and feel that decorators and homeowners wanted.
This decorating challenge is being answered today, however, through the development of performance fabrics that are luxurious in appearance and soft to the touch. One of America's best known performance fabric brands - Sunbrella - is leading this trend with new offerings that rival the finest interior fabrics, yet are fade resistant and long-lasting.
"I worked with a client recently who had Roman shades made from a fabric that had totally deteriorated in the sun," Sides said. "They had new shades made with Sunbrella fabrics so they won't have to worry about them falling apart again. I think you will see more and more homeowners going to performance fabrics for window treatments, particularly in high sun areas such as Florida."
Sunbrella performance fabrics, first introduced more than 40 years ago for awnings, have recently been enhanced through jacquard weaving, advanced fabric finishes and new yarn combinations. The result is a family of performance fabrics that have the look and feel of damask, jacquard, silk, velvet and chenille, yet offer all of Sunbrella's legendary performance attributes.
"Another great thing about using Sunbrella for draperies is ease of cleaning," said Gina Wicker, Sunbrella design director. "You can take your draperies down and throw them in the washing machine when they need cleaning. Many homeowners then put them back up again while they are still damp because Sunbrella fabrics dry so fast."
In addition to enhanced styling, the makers of Sunbrella fabrics have created an entire line of Sunbrella sheers designed for use as window treatments or as architectural embellishments indoors or out. Interior designers are finding many creative ways to use these luxurious performance offerings.
Margaret Donaldson, ASID, an interior designer in Charleston, S.C., recently discovered that Sunbrella sheers can be used as room dividers.
"Sunbrella sheers open up opportunities to be creative," Donaldson said. "Sheers are a great way to provide privacy within a section of a room without completely closing it off. The sheers create a softening effect and make the entire space more useable."
Sides has also discovered creative applications for Sunbrella sheers, including offering privacy and protection on screened-in porches.
"You can install Sunbrella sheers behind the screens on a porch to offer additional privacy when you want it and even protection from the rain," Sides said. "Because it's Sunbrella, you don't have to worry about the sheer fabric getting wet. It dries right away."
Interior designers are also using Sunbrella fabrics in combination with more expensive fabrics, such as silk.
"Sunbrella can be used as an inner-liner to provide the sun protection you need for other, non-fade resistant fabrics," Donaldson said. "It's a great solution for many decorating challenges."
Inside or out, a growing number of homeowners have discovered that Sunbrella fabrics are ideal for draperies. So, before you order your next set of draperies, you may want to check out performance fabrics. It could be just the answer for beautiful window treatments that provide enjoyment year after year.
