Design Line: Always keep the end in sight

Some of the beautiful fabrics for bedspreads and window treatments.

Colours add finishing touch but take care when dressing windows.

Fabric next to colour signifies comfort in our homes and sends the strongest message about the style and atmosphere we want to create. I find there is nothing more rewarding than adding finishing touches to windows or soft furnishings on completion of a renovation, a room or new home.

I have equal passion for fabric as colour, whether it is a simple fine texture of silk or cotton, a romantic voile, luscious velvet or taffy, rich brocade, plain, pattern or textured. We are so spoiled for choice when it comes to fabrics that sometimes it takes a little time to find the right fabric for that special job.

There has been a trend towards more simple window dressings, often because of budget, but also the need for simplicity in our homes.

Unfortunately, when new homes are built, the finishing details in dressing windows are often forgotten. With house plans, site meetings, concrete, mud, framing, roofing and so on to consider, who wants to think about fabrics?

But it is in the early stages that some of those decisions should be addressed, especially if you need window treatments of some sort. On the odd occasion it has been nearly impossible to dress a window, so we have had to leave it bare rather than do something that wasn't going to suit the situation.

So, why do we dress our windows? Privacy, warmth, protection from UV rays, glare, light, filter light, or to hide the neighbour's unsightly shed or house.

I have clients who have built a beautiful new home designed to maximise the view and have decided not to dress their windows at all.

They have them double glazed and tinted because of the fantastic view, day and night - and being miles from neighbours, privacy isn't an issue.

But that with the first frosts this winter, there might be a psychological need to block out the dark and cold of the night, even if it is only in the bedrooms.

Most of us do not have the luxury of fantastic views with no neighbours for miles.

In many of the newer subdivisions you can almost open your window and shake your neighbour's hand, so privacy becomes the biggest issue.

Unfortunately our next issue is blocking UV rays to protect our treasured belongings. Eaves and tinted windows give more protection than homes without, but often that is not enough. So the right window treatment should be a necessity in all cases, not an afterthought. The end result should be thought through completely before starting.

It can be difficult when I am called to help choose fabrics and look at the best options available if tracks have already been purchased.

When I am fitting the chosen window dressing (often drapes), the tracks might not be suitable for the type of fabric or a blind may be more suited to the situation. It ends up being false economy if the process hasn't been thought through or, if my client decides to work with the new tracks, they may find that on completion of the job they are not completely happy with the end result. So think carefully before buying.

I may fit out a house completely in drapes because that suits the situation or individual rooms may have different treatments because of the style of the windows or the requirements of the room.

Think about the mood or atmosphere you want to create, the type of fabric or blind that will best suit and work for you and the room. Creating that special look can be fun and that's one of the things I love about my work.

Terry Lobb is an interior/kitchen designer and personal colour and style consultant who takes a holistic approach to living with colour, texture and style - email: terry@terrylobb.com; website: terrylobb.com