At 'shopdecorator.com', we believe in fostering a business environment where women's creativity and skills are not just recognized but celebrated. Every purchase you make is a direct support to women designers, who are often underrepresented in the industry. Our commitment is to showcase their extraordinary talents through a curated selection of home decor products. By choosing 'shopdecorator.com', you're not only elevating your space but also contributing to the economic empowerment of women. We invite you to join us in this meaningful initiative, where every transaction is an investment in female entrepreneurship.
🚀👩💼 **When Women Lead, Diversity Wins! 🚀👩💼
The business landscape is evolving to include more diverse leadership, with a growing emphasis on increasing the presence of women in key roles. This change not only enriches the business sector but also encourages a more inclusive and equitable corporate environment. The support and promotion of women-led businesses are crucial in driving this positive change.
*Increasing Female Leadership: A Closer Look at Women as CEOs**
An analysis of current trends reveals a significant, though gradual, increase in female representation in top leadership roles. As of recent data, women occupy 19.4% of CEO positions, a notable rise from 17% in 2015 to 28% in recent years
https://www.catalyst.org/research/women-in-management
This shift marks a critical step towards greater gender diversity in the highest echelons of corporate leadership.
The Impact of Female Leadership on Corporate Governance**
Research indicates that companies led by women tend to exhibit more gender-balanced boards, with 33.5% female representation compared to 19.4% in male-led companies. This shift towards diversity has been linked to enhanced creativity and innovation in corporate strategies and policies, including improved health and education initiatives.
https://openknowledge.worldbank.org/entities/publication/59d43be6-643e-4357-92b9-99a87ced6251
The Transformative Role of Microloans in Empowering Women Entrepreneurs**
Microloans have become a vital tool in supporting women's entrepreneurship, particularly in developing countries. These financial instruments have enabled a substantial number of women to establish and grow their businesses. Impressively, institutions like the Grameen Bank report that more than 90% of their loan recipients are women, highlighting the effectiveness of these loans in fostering female economic empowerment. This success is attributed to women's ability to leverage these small loans effectively for both business growth and community development. Women borrowers have consistently shown a higher rate of loan repayment and a more responsible utilization of the funds for entrepreneurial activities, contributing to sustainable economic growth in their communities.
https://asiasociety.org/education/microfinance-and-women-micro-mystique
In contrast, microloans extended to men have not always yielded similar positive outcomes. Studies indicate that men are more likely to divert these funds for non-business-related expenses, leading to lower rates of business success and loan repayment. Furthermore, men's approach to utilizing these loans often lacks the community-focused perspective that is a hallmark of female entrepreneurs. This difference in loan utilization reflects a broader trend in which women's engagement with microfinance contributes more substantially to community welfare and economic resilience, underscoring the unique and transformative role of women in leveraging financial tools for broader socio-economic development.
https://gap.hks.harvard.edu/gender-differences-cooperation
*Women's Influence in Home Design and Business**
The intersection of home design and business is increasingly being shaped by women, who bring unique insights and expertise to this domain. Platforms like 'shopdecorator.com' are testament to this trend, where every purchase supports the creative work of women designers, showcasing their significant contribution to the industry.
🌈🙌*Let's Make Business More Colorful - With More Women!** 🌈🙌
It's time to paint the business world with more shades of awesome - and that means more women in charge! We can all play a part in this vibrant picture. From cheering on women-led initiatives to actively promoting diversity in our workplaces, every action counts. Let's empower and inspire each other to break glass ceilings and create a kaleidoscope of opportunities. Together, we can transform the landscape of business into a rich tapestry of diverse leadership and innovation.
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Our design laboratory puts five (5) interior designers head-to-head to see how they can deliver different decorating goals using the same space. We sat down with 5 interior designers: Jamie Alexander, Joe Trunball, Paris Wexler, Doris Demarco, and Jade Oliverie to discuss how changing out just the curtains and pillows can completely transform your entire space.
Shop Decorator: Welcome Designers. What inspired your overall design scheme? And how would you classify it?
Jamie Alexander: I appreciate the offer to discuss my design concepts. As a designer, I let my world travels inspire my designs. I just came back from Kenya, so I would say the tribal modern aesthetic best describes this look.
Joe Trunball: Thanks for the invite. I’m from Texas, so in all of my designs I try to incorporate some of that flavor. I would say that my aesthetic boils down to ‘modern southwestern’.
Paris Wexler: As a designer, I love interacting about design projects. Clean lines define my style. I tell all my clients that when they work with me they can expect a minimalist aesthetic.
Doris Demarco: I am driven to make a house feel like a home. The more to look at, the more cozy and lived-in a room can feel. I decided to mix patterns and describe my design as Bohemian. I'm hoping to be asked back to contribute to design selections for clients.
Jade Oliverie: For this design challenge, I was mostly inspired by the cozy Scandinavian ski chalets. I would describe the overall look as traditional. It's an honor to be a part of this fascinating decor discussion.
If you want to brighten your living room, I definitely recommend these unlined curtains. It doesn't look so dark and these sure met that expectation. I'm a stickler for natural lighting and I love the way this changes the space.
We ultimately pick blackout curtains since they effectively insulate the windows and prevent you from becoming cold at night. Even in the middle of the day, with both windows shut, the room is pitch black, which is ideal for napping.
Paris Wexler: I chose the pillows first and let them inform the drapery design. The drapes feature two of the colors shown in the pillows, which supports the overall design scheme.
We chose these unlined drapes because of its sheerness, yet not to the point of being transparent. Nicely assembled. Straighten up. Grommets are obvious, but they're also quite stylish.
Doris Demarco: I chose a drape that has a long pattern from floor to ceiling to make the windows look taller. The pattern is also large scale which balances the small pattern on the pillows.
My plan for the summer is to save electricity and keep my house cooler so we ended up with these very nice blackout curtains. They block the sun entirely and keep the room dark, a perfect choice indeed.
Paris Wexler: Less is more. Start with a few things and grow your room transformation from there. When redesigning, you don’t have to completely overhaul your room all at once.
Doris Demarco: When designing with grey, vary the shades so that it doesn’t become too dull. I like working with the lightest shades of grey next to the darkest ones. Drama is the key to keeping it lively.
Jade Oliverie: Dark drapes with light pillows in the same room are a simple way to make a statement. You can do vice versa and it also works. Dark and light together are an easy way to make a big transformation.
Our design laboratory puts 5 interior designers head-to-head to see how they can deliver different decorating goals using the same space. We sat down with 5 interior designers: Maude Laney, Jack Ruse, Ellen Staber, Joe Cann, and Mack Bouldes to discuss how changing out just the curtains and pillows can completely transform your entire space.
Maude Laney: Thanks for inviting me here. I was inspired this time by shape more than texture, so I wanted to feature geometric patterned pillows for a more Contemporary aesthetic.
Jack Ruse: I personally was inspired by the beach--coastal colors and feelings. So I wanted to go more Boho. I hope to be invited again to weigh in on Decor decisions I make for clients.
Ellen Staber: I am glad for this opportunity that you gave me to share my design ideas. Since the challenge was to use gold throughout the decor, I knew that going with a modern style would make it feel the most fresh and young feeling, because sometimes gold can feel too traditional.
Joe Cann: It is my pleasure to be part of this great decor decision. Since this room was empty, I wanted to make it feel down to earth and warm--something that felt home-like, so I decided to go with a rustic theme.
Mack Bouldes: As a designer, I love to discuss design projects. I wanted a pattern right away and I think the most eye-catching pillow patterns are tribal. I would describe the aesthetic as eclectic.
Shop Decorator: What made you choose these drapes?
Maude Laney: I like to use a little design trick called ‘scale’. Since the pillow pattern I chose is large scale, I knew that the pillow pattern needed to be small scale and closer together. The two balance eachother out well--it’s an easy way to mix two patterns seamlessly.
We chose blackout because it's light and airy, reminding me of summer, and it goes with any tribal or boho vibe.
Jack Ruse: I chose these drapes because they look solid-but are not. Up close, they have a subtle horizontal striation pattern, which gives them an overall appearance of movement. They make the windows look taller.
Ellen Staber: I am not afraid of mixing a strong geometrical shape with something more abstract in print, like the pillows. You can make a strong statement if you feature the two patterns close to each other.
For your living room or bedroom, this is the ideal balance for a light filtering finish. These have a beautiful linen fabric and filter the light well while yet allowing plenty of light in that’s why we chose these.
Shop Decorator: What’s your biggest piece of advice for buying decor?
Maude Laney: Don’t be afraid to mix patterns--as long as you play with scale. You can mix patterns as long as you balance large with small scale.
Jack Ruse: I like to match the color of my drapery with my accent pillows as much as I can. I think it’s important to coordinate your toss pillows with your drapery to highlight the accent color in a room.
Ellen Staber: Take your time. Go on Pinterest and look at all different types of decor and see what you’re naturally drawn to. I think that it’s worthwhile to let yourself have a vision and be inspired.
Joe Cann: Start small-- if you don’t have a large budget then just changing out the pillows and drapes can actually upgrade your room to make it feel like a completely new space. I tell my clients to just focus on trying to accessorize before they decide to splurge on a large piece of furniture first--like a brand new sofa.
Mack Bouldes: I like to use 3 colors in a color scheme rather than just 2. You’re less likely to run into feeling too matchy or getting “designers block” and feeling stuck.
Shop Decorator: Why did you end up choosing Shop Decorator?
Maude Laney: Shop Decorator is all the rage amongst emerging designers. I specifically like to use it because I know the quality is super high-end at a good price. My clients don’t always want me to shop custom, but they still want the luxe material. It’s a great solution.
Jack Ruse: Shop Decorator has an easy ordering system. It’s straightforward and sometimes my clients want to order directly, so I just send them the link and they agree it is a breeze.
Ellen Staber: I only buy from brands that support ethical practice and local artists and Shop Decorator fits both of those needs for me as a designer.
Joe Cann: Shop Decorator is the only brand I know that carries blackout shades that come in such a wide range of colors and patterns. So many on the market are too simple and too heavy. They have all different weights and textures-- so they are my new go to for bedroom curtains and pillows.
Mack Bouldes: It’s often easier to reupholster a sofa or upgrade a drape, rather than scrap all of your existing furniture and redesign from a blank canvas. Start by upgrading here and there rather than doing a full re-design.
Shop Decorator: What do you think of other interior designers' choices?
Maude Laney: I think Ellen did a really good job making the space feel modern with the use of the abstract pillows near the geometric patterned drapery. It’s a bold design choice to use a strong geometric shape with a free form pattern.
Mack Bouldes: I feel that as a designer, both Ellen and I had a similar vision and so her design I understand most. I think balance is key in a scheme, so if I have a patterned pillow with a solid pillow, I will maybe add another pattern-in a drape. I like to balance pattern and solid to create harmony.
Ellen Staber: Mack’s choice of tribal pillows is unexpected. At first I wasn’t sure about it, but upon closer inspection, I think it is a very successful design scheme. I think a patterned pillow, like the tribal pillow, paired with a solid pillow behind it creates a cohesive aesthetic.
Joe Cann: I feel that Mack won the challenge because his aesthetic feels really achievable, cohesive, and liveable. There’s something successful about pairing a patterned pillow with a solid pillow in a color that unites the scheme.
Jack Ruse: I like my own decor best, if I do say so myself! I don’t really like mixing patterns all that much, but by featuring a drape that is more textural than patterned, it creates a nice balance without looking busy
The transformation is dramatic from before to after photos.
Tell us what you think in the comments below.
The Johnson family had a challenge of re-designing their living room on a tight budget.
Shop Decorator: What was the most embarrassing thing that happened during this new design process?
Roberta: I realized that I wasn’t having people over to our house before I redid it. I was embarrassed that our place looked bad! Now, I find myself entertaining more because my decor seemed more luxurious.
Shop Decorator: Dan & Roberta, tell us a little bit about the two pictures here of your living room?
Roberta: So, the picture on the left is our living room during the winter and the one one the right is the same room during the spring.
Rather than buying furniture, they switched up their look by investing in the little things, new drapes and pillows, which led to major transformation.
Dan: It’s amazing what difference changing out a few things in a room can make. I love the new look every time. The changing of the seasons is the perfect time to give your home a little refresh.
Shop Decorator: What inspired your overall design scheme?
Roberta: We started with the curtains. We knew we wanted to use blackout-lined ones that were high-quality.
Dan: I was very much on board considering we save money on our energy bill. The blackout liner insulates our home during the winter so that there’s no cold drafts and keeps sunlight out in the summer to keep the house cool.
The Johnson’s chose drapery in Harlow Linen in Natural Ivory for summer and switched up their linens for winter with drapery in Funky Tatum Tribal in Black/White.
With a family of four, the design scheme needed to be practical but still stylish. By using blackout drapes they are able to save on their energy bills each month.
Shop Decorator: What other benefits do you get from switching out your curtains?
Roberta: Besides saving a ton of money on our electric bill, we have really come to like having a summer and a winter look.
Shop Decorator: What’s your biggest piece of advice for buying decor?
Roberta: Invest in the right pillows. Since your sofa is the focal point of your room, your eyes will always be drawn to the pillows. They set the tone of the space.
The close up before and after photos shows how drastically different each fabric is in weight, texture, and color to invite each season in.
Shop Decorator: And for winter you chose the Funky Tatum Tribal Curtains?
Dan: Yes. We wanted to add a little spice to our living room and play with pattern. The pattern is subtle enough though that I don’t get a headache everytime I look at it.
Shop Decorator: Why did you end up choosing Shop Decorator?
Roberta: We feel like we had access to fabrics that designers would choose for high end projects.
Shop Decorator: Let’s get specific. What made you choose the Harlow Linen drapes for summer?
Roberta: I ended up with these drapes because they give a sunnier vibe and casual airy feel to the room. The linen is super high quality.
This is the photo of their summer look. It is light and airy.
Shop Decorator: What was your biggest design challenge?
Dan: My goal was to create a room where I could unwind and feel relaxed as soon as I walked in. Roberta and I accomplished this with the help of a Shop Decorator Interior Designer. They steered us in the right direction and taught us about textures.
This is the photo of the Johnson’s winter look. It is dramatic and relaxing.
Shop Decorator: Would you recommend this design philosophy of switching out the little things to a friend?
Roberta: Completely! You ultimately save money if you invest wisely and switch out the little decor elements with the season. Originally we just wanted to gut renovate the whole space, but switching out our accessories actually made us like certain elements of the room we once disliked.
]]>Which fabric best represents this balance between home and elsewhere?
Julian border trim curtain, a stylized depiction of a winding path inspired by the ancient Greek key pattern, symbolizes the theme of outward journey followed by return to a center. The patterned fabrics of Continuous Journey tend to be calm, involving static repeat components, rather than “busy”.
https://shopdecorator.com/products/julian-curtain-panel?variant=13900888440898
Are you also inspired by nature?
Yes, but in a very stylized way. Our Chloe fabric, for example, echoes the structure seen in many natural phenomena: ,fossils, petrified wood and bark to name a few. I’m reminded of the expression, “sacred geometry”, the ancient belief that God created the universe according to a geometric plan.
https://shopdecorator.com/products/chloe-curtain-panel?variant=14412746719298
A different kind of nature-inspired fabric is our Tabu textile. It consists of a schematic, stylized pattern inspired by a tiger’s stripes, but it is not a literal imitation. We are trying to convey a sort of peaceful exoticism.
Given that pattern is such an important aspect of the brand, how do you feel about using more than one pattern in a single space?
I wouldn’t say mixing patterns is “forbidden”, but that to create the kind of serene sanctuary that is Continuous Journey’s vision, it would be better to use just one pattern, in combination with a solid fabric. The exception, of course, is if one combines patterns that are in a single pale neutral, all beige, gray or ivory, for example.
Which Continuous Journey color epitomizes the brand for you?
Our Silver Gray is definitely a signature. It is a universal shade, combining the calm native to all grays with the more vibrant admixture of silver. It is a color seen in nature, in stones, in art, and in precious pottery dating back to the Neolithic period.
Is there any other color in the collection which is more of a “sleeper”--a color less used but perhaps ripe for a comeback?
Oh yes, definitely Magenta. It’s quite different from our other colors which are often rather muted. Magenta is pungent and punchy, a great accent color to use with black or gray, especially. Magenta made its first appearance in textile in the 1850s, with the invention of aniline dyes, and in the early 20th century Matisse and other Fauves painters made a major use of it because of its emotional impact.
Do you have a favorite quote that serves as inspiration?
Yes, this famous fragment of William Blake’s poem, Auguries of Innocence:
“To see a World in a Grain of Sand
And a Heaven in a Wild Flower
Hold Infinity in the palm of your hand.
And Eternity in an hour.”
Through the microcosm of interior design, we are trying to connect ourselves and our clients to grander universal patterns perceived in both nature and architecture.
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The Marcelle Bleu brand is based in Brooklyn. Tell me about the connections between Brooklyn and Paris.
The connections just recently seem to be increasing exponentially, with Paris--the city which inspired Marcelle Bleu--taking style cues not just from New York (a long-standing cross-cultural influence) but from Brooklyn in particular. Vogue actually ran an article on why Parisian women love Brooklyn men! But all the hype aside, there is an affinity between the fabled Bohemianism of Paris’ Left Bank and that seen in Brooklyn, originally in Williamsburg, but now, as rents there have outpaced Manhattan’s Upper East Side, in neighborhoods like Bushwick and Bensonhurst. The French tradition of wonderful cafes--the Cafe Flore, for example--which become a second home to intellectuals and artists, is mirrored in by Brooklyn cafes, where young people hang out for hours, reading books and newspapers and/or discussing their creative aspirations and work.
What specific qualities of French style in interior decoration and fashion are reflected in Marcelle Bleu textiles?
The colors and textures of our fabrics are in many cases directly inspired by the fabrics used by French couturiers and interior designers. Just look at our fabric named ‘Webster’: one could imagine its nubbly three-color weave used in a Chanel suit. In contrast, ‘Louis’, a lighter fabric with a much smoother hand is ideal for long linen-y drapes, perhaps pooling a bit on the floor, a signature of Parisian style. And then there is our Siena Velvet, the essence of French luxe, calme, et volupte! Marcelle Bleu does not really reflect the artisanal ethos of Brooklyn, but instead seeks to bring decorative symbols of French elegance to our borough.
Which French interior designers do you most admire?
That’s easy! Eileen Gray, for the first half of the 20th century; Andree Putman for the 1980s onward. Also, Jacques Grange, who expresses a far less Minimal aesthetic, but one still marked by classic French restraint. I like Grange’s description of his own style as one of “strange balances”, and the mixture of “something very rough with something very refined.”
Which elements of decoration do you find indispensable in a successful interior?
First of all, long flowing drapes--velvet is beautiful!--because no window should be undressed. An orderly, smartly tailored bed, with duvet cover and pillows sheathed in a sensual, alluring fabric. A long, deep, comfortable sofa. Lamps everywhere, whether ceramic or glass table lamps with shades to diffuse the light; or more contemporary forms of lighting--French designer Serge Mouille’s three-armed metal floor lamp, for example. A beautiful thick-piled rug is a necessity, for both visual and tactile reasons.
What are the ingredients of a happy home?
It is not only how you decorate a home, but what passions you pursue in that home that matter. Friendship, love, work, sleep. Cooking as a primary activity comes to mind! One can imagine a delicious fusion of classic French cuisine with Brooklyn tastes and lovingly, locally cultivated organic vegetables and meats, not unlike the food at l’Antagoniste in Bed-Stuy, for example. All in all, just as young Parisian men now sport beards, tattoos, skinny jeans and lumberjack shirts, so Brooklyn has much to gain from Parisian style, which, arguably, is more eternal than that of Williamsburg.
Artfully mixed and matched, Shopdecorators wide selection of drapes, pillows and bedding—available in many subtle shades and myriad textures and patterns--brings incomparable verve to stylish ensembles of classic Mid-century Modern furnishings. At Shopdecorator, home is not only a place, but an experience, the setting most central to our families, friendships and visual adventures. It is our pleasure to take you on this continuous journey of design discovery.
]]>So Joseph-Marie invented the Jacquard Loom which eliminated the need for the drawboy to sit inside the loom in order to lift or position a number of threads according to the orders of the master weaver. Instead, Jacquard automated this process so that anyone might create the most intricate and beautiful designs by using a system of punch cards and hooks. His invention was interrupted by the French Revolution but afterwards, he completed the loom in the year 1801. The Jacquard Loom cut back on the amount of human labor required in the fabric industry and also allowed for the mass production of the most exquisite patterns, providing the perfect design solution for your home.
]]>Throw out those sleeping pills! Our elegantly designed, standard-sized drapes with proprietary high-density natural blackout coating will have you sleeping like a champion every night, blocking out the light so you can rest any time of day.
All natural, No chemicals! When you buy our natural blackout drapes you will help to save the planet because we only manufacture our drapes with non-chemical, triple-weave pure blackout fabric. You will have sweet dreams naturally, without chemicals or harmful toxic products. Authoritative lab tests show that the curtains are vinyl free and environment friendly––safe and green––perfect to use in the kids bedrooms and nursery.
Give your body the gift of sleep in order to restore and repair itself. It has been proven the when you give your body the gift of deep sleep it is better able to repair itself. You will wake up refreshed and revived, reducing your risk of depression and even help your body shed those extra pounds.
Reduce inflammation, stress and improve your memory in your sleep! Our proprietary, sustainably manufactured blackout drapes help you receive the health benefits of a good night sleep by blocking out 90% sun light and prevent 100% UV rays.
Help save the planet, responsibly. Not only will you be doing your body a great service but when you buy out natural blackout drapes you will help to save the planet because we only manufacture our drapes with non-chemical triple weave pure blackout fabric and see that only mature workers manufacture our product and are paid a living wage.
Our quality blackout blinds give you a beautiful, natural, sustainable solution to your sleep problems allowing you to sleep longer and sounder so you can save money on all those prescriptions and sleep aides and instead receive the real health benefits of deep, restorative sleep that reduces inflammation, stress and may help to prevent cancer too.
Welcome to rest and relaxation! Our proprietary, high-density blackout natural coating filters out 99% of sunlight, ensuring you get the deepest, most restorative sleep of your life. It’s been years since you slept through the night and you can’t remember the last time you woke up refreshed. With our natural blackout blinds, you’ll sleep as much as one to two hours more every night which may, over time, reduce your risk of depression.
Our blackout answer to your sleep-deprived lifestyle will find you sleeping better and longer––helping to give your brain and body its much needed rest. Deeper sleep repairs your body in ways nothing else will, particularly your brain, so you can wake up alert and ready to tackle your to-do list confidently and courageously.
Kiss the fads good-bye after you sleep with our proprietary blackout blinds, a natural solution to peaceful slumber. It’s not just quantity of sleep that is important it is the quality too. Our blinds make sure that you get the darkest room possible which means you have the opportunity to have the soundest sleep of your life. And sound sleep means you are better able to restore your body.
Getting the right amount of sleep, on your schedule reduces stress. Sleep soundly when you need it most! It’s proven that blocking out the sunlight leads to deeper, longer sleep and this will lead to less stress. Get ready to wake up refreshed, welcoming the day instead of feeling foggy, hazy and dreading your to-do list.
Help save the planet by purchasing our all-natural solution to your sleep problems. When you buy our environmentally-friendly blackout drapes with all-natural triple-weave pure blackout fabric, rest easy knowing that they are chemical-free, perfect for kids rooms and nurseries.
Our proprietary, high-density blackout coating filters 99% of light. Superior sleep means that you’ll be more alert in the morning and ready to handle whatever the day throws at you––from a marathon sprint to catch the subway, to that extra lap in the pool for your personal best when training for your next triathlon.
The real undisputed benefits better sleep have far-reaching implications for your health including helping with weight loss. If you’ve been trying to shed those extra pounds, our elegant, natural blackout blinds may be just the thing you need to finally meet those weight loss goals.
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