SK Designs Custom Drapery

A few weeks ago we installed these panels and scalloped valance for a sweet client in her new home. We adjusted the treatments to fit the new window size, and changed the scalloped hem band to a softer pink fabric to coordinate with new furnishings.

Today we installed drapery panels and a sleek tailored valance with a contrast insert band to coordinate with this new wallpaper in her soon-to-be-born son's room! We planned the new valance and panels to coordinate with the existing functional roman shades.

Photo 3 shows the client's IG story post with her sources for the well planned room.

So excited to win two awards at the annual IWCE (International Window Coverings Expo) Grace Awards, held tonight in Raleigh, NC.

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, but a friend sent me realtime updates! First place in Decorative Hardware and Trims for the adorable little girl's nursery, and Second place in Outdoor Living in the Artisan category (designed by Welcome Home Designs and fabricated by me of SK Designs. Thrilled to be recognized by industry leaders and looking forward to the magazine publication and photos soon!

I'm excited to be a finalist in the window treatment industry's Grace Awards! I entered a few projects, including this sweet little girl's nursery. We won't know which projects won until the conference Gala in April. Fingers crossed 🤞!

I'm happy to be in the company of so many talented colleagues.
Click the link to see the press release listing all of the finalists.

https://www.wf-vision.com/industry-news/grace-runs-awards-2026-finalists-raleigh/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAQBz2ZjbGNrBAHPHWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHq03m4Vsci_2U0YqYpbq8SUWtuK60jOJrBhjie2_gDLrzpk46ZmozXV3ANZb_aem__bv8tyI1SvP04y0khDggdg

I'm excited to be a finalist in the upcoming industry Grace Awards!

Grace Awards 2026 Finalists Announced Ahead of April Ceremony in Raleigh - Window Fashion VISION The Grace Awards announced the 2026 finalists in window fashion innovation and craftsmanship. Winners will be revealed at the April 22 ceremony in Raleigh, NC.

Coordinating some fabrics and trims today for a presentation for a little girl's "big girl" bedroom transition.

The watercolor style bright fabric at the top is a lovely and fresh Laura Park fabric currently in the room as a comforter and pillows. My client has selected the woven light teal fabric on the left for upholstery and the blue/green/cream floral center fabric for roman shades.

It will soon be decision time regarding the details for the shades: which trim and how to use it and also possible scalloped shade hems, which are always beautiful and fun.

What's on the table today? Gorgeous embroidered fabric paired with a crushed velvet teal fabric and a pop of fun with a multicolored dotted fabric.

These will become beautiful bedding and accessories: duvet, tailored dust ruffle, flanged pillow shams, table skirt and an overlay for the skirt.

Which fabric is your favorite?

Beautiful!

Hoping 2025 is like a Candyland!

2024 was definitely a year of very high highs and pretty low lows and I am glad to have it behind me.

Highs: I completed a very large whole house client project with beautiful draperies and shades throughout; was recognized with an award at my industry's annual conference; a project was featured on our industry's leading trade magazine; and completed some really beautiful and challenging projects.

Lows: our home received pretty significant damage from the May Derecho storm (but we found a fabulous contractor for the repairs); my husband was hospitalized in June; more storm damage in July from Hurricane Beryl (trees and yard only this time); my husband was hospitalized again in August and had very unexpected and urgent triple bypass surgery with several setbacks (now resolved, thank goodness).

So my workroom time has been limited this fall and winter but things are all improving and I look forward to a better 2025 with health and happiness and great new client projects!

(Photo is from our front yard Fairy House which the neighborhood kids enjoy throughout the year. It is currently set up as Candyland Christmas, with a gingerbread style roof, Cupcake Commons, a sweet food court with a Donut food truck and more), Lollipop Lane, Ice Cream Seas and Donut Mountain. There is a Christmas tree for the kids to decorate with candy themed ornaments. So fun!)

In this month of Thanksgiving, I know I have much to be thankful for. We appreciate all of the many clients throughout the greater Houston area (and cities other inside and outside of Texas) who have trusted us to provide beautiful window treatments, bedding and other soft furnishings for their homes. From 24 foot tall draperies, to 19 foot wide cornices, to 38 foot wide draperies, to hand beading embellishments onto fabric, all the way over to mini curtains for a deer stand...we've enjoyed the variety and scope of our projects.

What a pleasure it is to be able to be passionate about your work and to enjoy new projects and challenges every day!

I started out optimistic and hopeful, working in my dining room using my mom's Singer sewing machine and never dreamed of the scope of projects we would work on in the upcoming years, each ranging from $50 to over $250,000.

We moved into a dedicated free standing separate studio with separate office, fabrication, storage and sewing class space (no more sewing machines and bolts of fabric and supplies in the dining room!), taken many trade and fabrication classes, attended conferences across the country (both as an attendee and instructor), taught sewing classes to local Title 1 4th and 5th graders as well as to many of my neighborhood's children, won awards for our design and fabrication work....and so much more.

I feel so very lucky to have had 29 years of successful commercial and residential projects and wonderful clients. And am looking forward to more of both (but probably not 29 more years!).

Thank you for your support, interest, business and trust!

Gearing up for a fun fall neighborhood event this weekend! We love coming up with a fun and usable giveaway. This year's is a mini Tabasco bottle in a shaped soft chapstick/Tabasco holder that is also a keychain. Haven't we all had a Tabasco emergency and needed something like this?

Our theme is "Let SK Designs spice up your windows!"

SO very excited to finally and very belatedly post that SK Designs won First Place in The Grace Awards' Design/Commercial category at the April Vision conference in Dallas.

It is a huge honor to be selected in this international window treatment industry conference!

I was thrilled to fabricate these stationary drapery panels for Little's Oyster Bar an amazing new Pappas restaurant concept in Houston, which has won numerous awards for top restaurants, food and restaurant design in it's first year.

The stationary drapery panels were fabricated in two fabrics; a soft white to coordinate with the wall finishes, and a beautiful blue to coordinate with the patterned upholstery and the wainscoted walls (see second photo). The seam between the panel sections was designed to align with the top wood trim, and accented with a tiny microcord dressmaker's detail which also aligned with and mimicked the wood trim detail. Perfection!

The motorized woven shades also align with the horizontal fabric seam, and can operate individually, all together, or grouped by north facing, west facing or south facing, as needed.

The newly named Grace Awards Gala was attended by many industry designers and artisans and it was a joy to see the talent of my many colleagues' nominated and winning projects.

***If you've read this far: finally posted this award is a balm to me after a very tumultuous summer. Our home was damaged by the May Derecho event, my husband was hospitalized in June, more property damage (thankfully not structural) by Beryl in July, and my husband was hospitalized and had very unexpected open heart surgery in August, with an extended stay. He is home but he required almost full time assistance and my projects and new client appointments were put on indefinite hold.

Hopefully things are moving forward, but it is a pleasure today to post this bit of exciting news for SK Designs and share it with you!

Site photography by Brandy Stoesz Photography