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For this edition of History of Hues, we will be focusing on a shade of grey that we like to consider “stone.” When grey dye first became popular, it leaned more heavily toward tan and brown undertones. It wasn’t until chemical dyes came into fashion that a range of warm and cool greys could be produced as we know them today. Evidence of fabrics found during archeological digs shows that textile dyeing began thousands of years ago in what is now called the New Stone Age, which took place around 10,200 BCE. Many textiles have also been found in Egyptian tombs from 4,000 years ago. Pigments made from ochre in cave painting were traced back as early as 15,000 BCE. From 7200 to 2000 BCE, fixed settlements and textiles were developed, which led to the use of dyes as well. Natural dyes come mainly from plants and minerals. To achieve a grey color, the plants Butternut and Canaigre Dock are used. For dyes to adhere to fabric, mordants must be used. Mordants are water-soluble chemicals, usually metallic salts, which create a bond between dye and fiber thus increasing the adherence of various dyes to the item being dyed. The actual color one gets from a natural dye depends not only on the source of the dye but also on the mordant, and the item being dyed. Iron and copper are the common mordants to achieve grey. They also help lighten or darken the color. Butternut, a tree native to the eastern United States, was both a food source and a dye source. Research suggests that the dye was never used commercially, but was very popular in the mid-19th century for dyeing homespun fabric. The bark was used for a brown dye and the young roots for a grey or black depending on the duration of the soaking. The most popular use of butternut for dyeing was the grey coats of the Confederate Army. Canaigre Dock, which is also known as Wild Rhubarb, is native to California. It can also be found outside of California but remains confined to Western North America. The tissue of the plant is used for dye, and depending on the mordant, can result in a yellow, green, or grey dye. The rise of synthetic dyes started in the 1850s. The industrial revolution began in the 1700s and textiles was one of the main industries that benefited from this era of invention. Many inventors developed machines and techniques that helped improve the production of fabric and clothing. Multiple chemists started exploring and creating dye formulas for fabrics. There are cool greys and warm greys. Payne’s grey, named after the artist William Payne is a cooler variant of the color. It is a combination of black and ultramarine blue. The room darkener in stone falls on the side of Warm grey, which has a little bit of yellow in it. A neutral stone will look good in many rooms and coordinate with multiple color palettes. A neutral window curtain is a wonderful way to let your walls and windows become the backdrop and let your furniture and accessories become the star of the room. Want to learn more about the history of hues? Check out the other colors we cover in the series.

Spring Clean Your Way to a Beautiful Home If you need extra motivation to tidy, spring cleaning is a great reason to organize, declutter, and redecorate. We find that the first step to a truly clean home is decluttering. While you might not traditionally think of decluttering when it comes to spring cleaning, a decluttered home is easier to clean and brings calmness to your life. When you remove all that stuff from a room, you can sit down, look around, and develop a much better understanding of what your space really looks like. Plus, you’ll likely be less stressed without all of those things blocking your view. Who doesn’t need to reduce the level of stress in their life? Some of us have already done a good portion of the decluttering after spending most of 2020 inside our homes. No matter where you are in your spring-cleaning journey, our process will help prepare your home for the new season. DECLUTTERING When it comes to decluttering, there are two popular methods to try out. We’ve found great success from both and recommend trying a combination of the two. Marie Kondo By now, we’ve all heard of Marie Kondo’s famous “spark joy” method. Her bestselling book The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up has helped a lot of people, and her subsequent TV show led to so much decluttering that thrift stores were overflowing. We love that this method is based on identifying what brings you joy and cultivating as much of it in your life as possible. We’ve found the most success using this method on clothing. Taking a hard look at your wardrobe and asking each item if it brings you joy really helps put your clothing choices in perspective, especially if you’re being honest with yourself. You might like the concept of high-waisted wide-leg jeans, but the actual reality of wearing them might not bring you joy. Becoming Minimalist Less popular than Marie Kondo’s books, The Becoming Minimalist Method by Joshua Becker is about de-cluttering one room at a time. He recommends starting with the rooms you use the most so you instantly see the benefits. We’ve found this method to be the most useful when there’s a lot of decluttering you want to get done. For example, when it comes to your kitchen, you might ask yourself, ”How many potholders do I really need?” You have one oven, two hands, but have some collected four potholders. Or maybe your thing is big stirring spoons and you realize it’s time to narrow down the kitchen gadgets and duplicates. By combining these two methods, you feel the immediate gratification from the Becoming Minimalist approach and the joy that comes in identifying the items in your home that make you happiest. Keep in mind that while decluttering may feel wasteful, there are many options for donating your clutter to people in need. Thrift stores that are accepting donations are the obvious choice but don’t forget the power of Buy Nothing groups, which can be found for your neighborhood on Facebook. DEEP CLEAN After the decluttering is finished, it’s time to use that elbow grease and start the deep clean. There are lots of things you can spend extra time cleaning once or twice a year such as taking time to not only vacuum your floors but also getting behind the headboard and sofa. Since we’re curtain experts, we have specific tips for deep cleaning curtains: While your curtains are hanging, you have two options. You can vacuum them if you have a small attachment for your vacuum cleaner. Or, if you have a steamer, that is the ultimate! Steaming is like giving your curtains a hot bath and ironing them all at one time. Another option, if you have space (not a city dweller) is to take your curtains down and hang them outside for a few hours. Curtains can gather a lot of dust. When the curtains are off the rod, take this opportunity with a damp rag to wipe down the rod and maybe even the wall. Dust is sneaky! If you want to wash your curtains, make sure you check the care instructions and do a spot test. A lot of curtains that are lined are made with multiple fiber contents that could react differently to washing. If the care instructions say dry clean, then follow that instruction. REDECORATE This is the best part. You decluttered, you cleaned, and can now redecorate. This may mean taking some of those special treasures that bring you joy that you found during the decluttering and putting them someplace that makes you smile. It may mean a fresh vase of flowers. If you are ready to take the plunge, new curtains paint and decorative pillows are the top 3 ways to freshen up a room. Remember, whatever you choose, make it fun. Involve everyone that lives and uses the space. At the end of the day, an incentive like a movie or ice cream can help motivate the crew.

Did you know that studies reveal that red is the most attractive color to both men and women? It is a color that evokes, power, beauty, and (of course) love. But let's talk about a specific red, Muted Clay. So rich a hue and what a history! We believe that the mineral hematite is the most direct, natural pigment that would be used to create this color. It’s also an important color to the drape—look at our logo. We wanted to build a brand and look that was not only well designed but also rich with history. The Beginning of Hematite It is believed that people first started dyeing cloth between the sixth and fourth millennia B.C. Items that are stained deep red have been discovered and dated as far back as the Upper Paleolithic era, which was 50,000 years ago! In ancient Egypt, the Wah (a prolific scribe) was wrapped in hematite dyed cloth when he was mummified around 1957 B.C. The name is derived from the Greek word “haimatits,” which means blood-red. Ancient superstition held that large deposits of hematite formed from battles that were fought and the subsequent blood that flowed into the ground. You can look at historic cave paintings and see many uses of muted clay and shades of red. Hematite Today, hematite is one of the most abundant minerals on Earth's surface and located in the shallow crust. It is an iron oxide with a chemical composition of Fe2O3. Iron oxide, more simply put, is rust. The color range is vast with different shades of red, spanning from pink to a deep rich cayenne. Why we love Muted Clay Muted clay, like hematite, is a color abundant in nature. We are inspired by the shades that you can see in places like the Grand Canyon and Antelope Canyon. Colors that you see in nature are pleasing to our subconscious. As humans, we react to the color red because it is associated with life: celebration, sex, joy, death, and danger. This may be why the color has lasted and stayed strong for so long. When it comes to design, we love to pair muted clay with indigo, white, and cream. We have two fabric options for you to discover: The textured velvet comes in a luscious shade of muted clay. This is our Goldilocks fabric—not too shiny, not too matte. It’s a lovely color for any type of room, and it looks great with many colors. The cotton canvas in muted clay is a classic fabric choice in a pop of color. It will never go out of style because it is crisp, classic, and durable. How do you know if this color is right for you? Take a look around you. Are you surrounded by natural and earthy tones? Muted Clay is a warm, rich red color, so keep your neutral sofa and add some color to your windows! And if you need help, just ask. Want to learn more about the history of hues? Check back for more info on the colors that shape our designs.

It is March so let's celebrate Women’s History month! At the drape, we’re all for empowering women, especially since over half our team identifies as female, myself included. This month I vowed to watch female-produced TV (Shonda Rhimes), read female authors (Brené Brown), and listen to female vocalists (Madonna—yes, I am of that age 😊) All of this is easy to do, but what about the WHY? We are blessed with the ability to do endless research from the comforts of our homes so that is what I did. There are many fun lists and activities for the month, but I wanted to know more and share what I learned with you. Maybe then you will be curious enough to look deeper into Women’s History Month and how it started on your own! Originally called National Woman’s Day, the annual celebration spread across the world starting in 1911, but it was Russia that set the March 8th trend. In 1913, it became an official holiday in Russia. Women in Russia suffered many difficulties due to the results of WWI. They dealt with food shortages and a government that would not listen to them. On March 8, 1917, tens of thousands of Russian women took to the streets demanding change and paved the way for their right to vote. In 1975, the United Nations officially recognized International Women’s Day. According to womenshistory.org, the US movement started locally in Santa Rosa California in 1978 as Women’s History Week, coordinating with March 8th International Women’s Day. The following year, the movement spread across the country as communities organized and initiated their own events. In 1980, a consortium of women's groups lobbied for national recognition, and in February 1980, President Jimmy Carter issued the first Presidential Proclamation declaring the Week of March 8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. In 1987, Congress passed a law, designating March as “Women’s History Month.” Between 1988 and 1994, Congress passed additional resolutions requesting and authorizing the President to proclaim March of each year as Women’s History Month. The proclamations have continued every year, most recently with President Biden’s proclamation issued on March 1, 2021. Every year the National Women’s History Alliance selects and publishes a theme. This year’s theme captures the spirit of these challenging times. Since many of the women's suffrage centennial celebrations originally scheduled for 2020 were curtailed, the National Women's History Alliance is extending the annual theme for 2021 to "Valiant Women of the Vote: Refusing to Be Silenced." We have the right to vote. We have had this right for 200 years, but it must be flexed and used. Not just for the “big” elections, but ALL elections. Take time this month to learn about women in politics. A good place to start is Emily’s List, Celebrate ALL women, your mom, aunt, sister, BFF, teacher, barista. Celebrate the famous and the soon-to-be-famous. Celebrate the legacies of all the women that have paved the way for us. Be an example for all the generations of girls to come. The possibilities are endless. Here at the drape, we have worked hard to build a company culture based on equality! We ensure fair and equitable compensation, encourage a healthy work-life balance, and prioritize partnering with brands and companies that have similar values. Empower yourself and those around you, not just women, but also our allies. The world is changing and these are exciting times.

Sleep hygiene, also known as good sleep habits, is a popular topic all over the internet, especially as it relates to how we’ve adapted to life during COVID. Our lives have been disrupted, including our daily routines: where we work, go to school, and how we socialize. However, research continues to point to healthy sleep habits as key to staying healthy physically and mentally. Lack of sleep can increase anxiety and depression, as well as reducing the effectiveness of your immune system. On the other hand, getting a good night's sleep can boost your energy levels and lead to better decision-making. After a good 8-10 hours of sleep, you feel better physically and emotionally. As there are many different tips and tricks out there for a better night's sleep, it can be hard to narrow it down to ones that have the best chance of working for you. From our research across different agencies, foundations, and sleep experts, we’ve found three consistent recommendations that top all lists. Be consistent. Go to bed at the same time each night and get up at the same time each morning, including on the weekends Make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and set at a comfortable temperature Remove electronic devices such as TVs, computers, and smartphones from the bedroom Let’s talk about, “make sure your bedroom is quiet, dark, relaxing, and at a comfortable temperature.” This is where the drape can help. We offer multiple options for situational light management. When it comes to bedrooms, they should be as dark as possible, which is why we suggest adding the blackout lining to any fabric you’re choosing for your bedroom. Since our entire line is customizable, that means you can add our blackout lining to any fabric, even a sheer! There is no need to compromise for a fabric you kind of like, a color that is just ok or settle for what is available. We have been in the “curtain business" for a few decades, and we can tell you not all blackouts are created equal. Ours is 100% blackout. Order a free swatch and try it for yourself. Our process has been vetted and tested. We’ve even made sure that the amazing light blocking quality has not ruined the drape of the fabric. If this is bordering on too much to think about, we have your back, you can go straight to the blackout bundle on our website. We have married the cotton canvas and the blackout lining together for you. If designing is your thing, order some free swatches to play around with color and texture, and remember, the blackout lining can be added to any of our fabrics.

History of Hues: Spruce Green Green symbolizes many things. It is a color of hope, nature, and freshness. Spring and new beginnings are associated with green, communicating harmony and calmness. Additionally, the color invokes safety, like in a traffic light. A personal favorite green color association is with fairies, leprechauns, and dragons. While it’s a whimsical color, its many shades can also provide a more grounded feeling in the world around us. The Beginning of Green In the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, social rank and profession were indicated by the colors of clothing that you were able to wear. Reds and purples could only be worn by nobility., and peasants were limited to browns and grey. Green was the color for the merchant class, encompassing merchants, bankers, gentry, and their families. The Arnolfini Portrait (1434) by Jan van Eyck is one of the most recognizable artworks from the time and features the bride in a deep green gown. As most of us learned at a young age, yellow and blue are combined to make green. The yellow used during the Middle Ages and Renaissance was a plant called weld (dyer’s rocket) and the blue was from dyer’s balls of woad that are made by crushing the woad leaves to a pulp between rollers and draining off any excess liquid. They are combined with an alkaline, which at that time period was normally stale urine. Because green is a combination of two dyes, the process took longer and was, therefore, more expensive. The deeper and richer the green meant the process was repeated multiple times, again raising the cost of the fabric to be affordable for the merchant class. Dyer's Rocket (left), Woad Ball (right) The Death of Green During the Victorian age, women loved green. In 1814, a company in Germany called the Wilhelm Dye and White Lead Company developed a new green dye, which was chemical and brighter than its natural predecessors. This was the period that gas light was becoming more popular causing ballrooms and dining rooms to be much brighter than they had been. Wanting to stand out, women flocked to gowns in bold shades of green. The problem was that arsenic is what made the dye so striking. Exposure to arsenic is deadly, and if it didn’t kill the wearer, it caused ulcers and sores any place the fabric had contact with the skin. In the 1850s doctors and reporters were speaking of the slow poisoning of people who wore green or used it for carpeting or upholstery in their homes. In 1871, there was a report of a woman who was horrified that after purchasing gloves from a fashion house her hands broke out in blister, but the obsession with the color caused people to overlook the danger. Many consumers felt they would be ok as long as they didn’t lick the fabric. It took until 1895 for regulations to be put into place to stop the creation of green dyes with arsenic. Luckily, there are many options available for safe synthetic green dyes today. Green in your home Incorporating Spruce Green into your home will add to its feelings of warmth, welcome, and calm. This is a great color for all rooms. Combining colors that are found in nature always works well. Spruce Green added to rooms that have a lot of grey and cream can evoke a coastal feeling. Neutral, blue, and grey rooms with Spruce Green curtains will make you feel like you are living outside in nature. If you are looking for something a bit more unusual, accent the room with Spruce Green curtains with lavender or ginger decorative accessories like pillows, candles, or wall art. Ready to add a touch of Spruce Green into your home? View our selection of curtains now. Have questions about length or design? Reach out to our team.

Curtains have the power to transform a house into a home by making spaces more inviting, livable, and representative of your personality. However, to make sure your curtains truly make the most of your space, you need to know how to measure so you can get the length that you want for the look that you desire. To get the look you want from our custom curtains, we suggest measuring, then measuring again, and then maybe one more time for good luck 🤞 Let’s start with the curtain rod. If you haven’t mounted it to the wall yet, here are a few suggestions. To make a room feel taller, mount the rods 4-6 inches above your window frame. If you extend the rods 3-6 inches on either side of the window, you can create the illusion of a grand window and let in more light when the panels are open. If blocking light is your goal, mount the rod 1-2 inches above the window frame and 2-4 inches on either side. This way when the panels are closed, they are overlapping the edges of the window to add the extra coverage you are looking for. At the drape we have a 2 step process for determining the length you need for your custom curtains: First, you will need a few things to make this easier—a pen, paper, and measuring tape. We prefer a metal-style measuring tape, but a fabric one will work too. A step stool is also helpful, but don’t be afraid to tap a helper if needed! The length of your curtains should be from the top of the rod to where you want the curtain to stop. This can be from the sill of the window down to the floor depending on the look you are going for. How do you decide what length will work best? Here are some recommendations: If you have a heater or radiator under your window the length can be to the bottom of the window frame. For a clean casual look, the length should be a ½" off the floor. It will also make cleaning easier. (wink face) If you want DRAMA add 1-2" for a breaking look as the curtain panels pool on the floor. If you want BIG DRAMA, add 4-6" and your curtains will puddle on the floor. And of course, if you aren't sure and you want to talk it over with us, reach out and ask! What about width? All of our panels are 52” wide. We recommend two panels per standard window (24”-48”), one to hang on each side of the window. If you have a wider window, and you plan to close your curtains, then you will need to cover 2x the width of the window. Example: Window width (72”) x 2 (for fullness) = 144” Divide 144” by 52” (the width of all of our curtains) = 2.7 *round up to the nearest EVEN number which is 4. A window looks best with the same number of panels on each side. Still have questions? Reach out to us via our contact form or email and we’ll be happy to help!

History of Hues Did you know that blue has been called America’s favorite color? We see it everywhere. Cars, Clothing, Houses, 1980s Eyeshadow ♥️. And it’s not just manufactured products the color blue evokes—it can quickly make us feel in touch with water, the sky, and nature in general. But let's talk about a specific blue, Indigo. So rich a hue and what a history! Also, an important color to the drape—look at our logo. We wanted to build a brand and look that was not only well designed but also rich with history. The Beginning of Indigo Until recently, historians assumed that 5,000 years ago indigo traveled from India to the Middle East to Africa. The color was present along these trade routes, so the assumption was that India first created the color and the rest of the world learned from there. However, in 1990 at the British Museum, a team discovered a small clay piece from their collection that had text from Babylon 600 and 500 BC that describes dyeing wool blue! This new piece of information changed our perception of how indigo spread across the globe. It’s now believed that many cultures discovered the color independently through their own processes. Indigo Plants In order to make the color indigo, leaves from the plant by the same name are harvested and made into a dye. There are many species of indigo plants; however, the most coveted is Indigofera Tinctoria. Its colorant provides the deep saturated Indigo color we all know today. It is a pretty shrub with green leaves, pink blooms, and hanging seedpods. The plant is now most common in Central and South America. Making Indigo Dye Indigo is one of the most colorfast of all dyes, eventually making it a global phenomenon. The dye was popular in burial robes and was found in a variety of countries, including Mali, Peru, Indonesia, and Palestine. The color was also used by many historical figures. Clothing from King Tut has indigo threads woven through it. Napoleon used Indigo for the uniforms of his army—consuming 150 tons of dye per year! In the 1850s, Levi Straus switched from tent canvas to Denim for his work pants. As denim gained in popularity for its durability, the color Indigo went from luxury to “blue-collar”. The love affair with indigo, the gorgeous dark blue, has continued strong, and many of us wear it every day. This comfort with the color is why at the drape we added it to our curated assortment. Then in 1895, German chemical company BASF launched man-made “pure indigo,” which turned out to be a game-changer. Prior to the manmade version, Indigo was a luxury color on par with Tyrolian Purple, due to how complex it was to make the dye powder. The velvet comes in a rich shade of indigo. It is a soft and subtle fabric with a great hand. It’s a versatile color for all sorts of rooms and it looks great with many colors. The cotton canvas in indigo is a classic color and fabric choice. The color is reminiscent of a favorite pair of dark jeans and has the same ability to pair well with anything. How do you know if this color is right for you? Take a look at what you are wearing. Is it those favorite pair of jeans with a comfy t-shirt or sweater? Recreate that feeling in your living room or your bedroom with one of these Indigo curtain options. And if you need help, just ask. Want to learn more about the history of hues? Check back for more info on the colors that shape our designs.

Who we are may be obvious (we are a company that sells drapes), but the interesting thing is why. We sell custom drapes because after years of working in the home fashion business, we know how hard it is to shop for window curtains at retail. They are too long, too short, not the right styling, no lining, the wrong lining...the pain points go on and on. 2020 wasn’t the year any of us expected, but we like our glass to be half full, so after a pause to get used to being at home ALL the time, we got back to work on our vision: creating a place that everyone, including you, can go to buy curtains easily. Our homes are our sanctuaries, and this has recently become even more apparent. At the drape, we want to help you cultivate a home perfect for you, whether you’re decorating, renovating, or starting out. Just like homes, windows come in many shapes and curtain lengths that aren’t easy to find at your average store. The custom drapery that’s needed to correctly fit your space has been far out of reach for many budgets. Stores do their best, but they can’t carry the inventory for everyone. Luckily, we can because everything we sell is made just for YOU! We’re providing affordable luxury by offering curtains tailored to fit your needs without leaving home. THE DESIGN PROCESS Shopping for window curtains is hard, and we are making it easier. Here’s a look at our process for bringing the highest quality drapes to your home: Our team researched high-quality fabrics to select a core assortment of materials in a variety of textures and colors that can fit into any home or design. We then chose styling, detailing, and lining options to allow you to choose the curtains that best meet your lifestyle and specific tastes. Best of all? We made sure you can buy ANY length of curtain you need! Our curtains aren't simply about the aesthetic appeal—we solve problems that affect your wellness with innovative materials that provide situational light management and enhance the quality of life for you and those living and sharing the space. SHOP THE DRAPE From our website, there are a few easy steps to order the perfect curtains for you. Select the fabric you love Select the color that speaks to you Select the styling Select the lining that fits your needs Measure (three times to be sure 😉) Select your custom length and quantity Place your order Overwhelmed? Don’t be. We are here to help you through email or chat. We will not leave you stranded in the aisle. We welcome you to our site and you welcome us into your home. Let’s become partners in creating a comfortable, beautiful sanctuary that represents your dreams the way the drape represents ours. We look forward to sharing our expertise with you! Through this blog, we will bring you helpful tips on styling options, home décor trends, and some behind-the-scenes info. To stay in the know, make sure you sign up for our newsletter.