Custom Roman Shades & Mock Roman Valances
Custom Roman shades, with their clean, elegant lines, add a touch of sophistication to your windows while also addressing practical challenges.
Often, homeowners want a grand effect for their window treatments, but the window does not have room either on the side or below for full curtains. The beauty of Roman shades is that they can be fabricated from the same fabric as drapes in the same space. Like draperies, Roman shades showcase a fabric that adds softness; however, they lower and raise horizontally and generally stack above the window.
Why are custom Roman Shades so popular?
In other cases, homeowners want beautiful window treatments but also want to enjoy their view. Roman shades can be mounted either inside or above the window frame. On the outside of the frame, when raised, they can stack completely above the window. This way, nothing obstructs the view or the natural light entering the room.
Custom Roman shades have several other benefits as well . . .
Custom Sizes: Bespoke Roman shades are designed and built specifically for your windows, ensuring a perfect fit that looks tailored and professional.
Unlimited Design Options: Whether you want a sheer linen fabric to filter light and enjoy a sophisticated look, or a heavier velvet for more privacy, insulation, and light control in bedrooms or media rooms. The choice is yours.
Functional Beauty: You can choose from several different manual lift systems or may want to select motorization, especially if your window is extra-large or not easy to reach.
What are the different styles of Roman shades?
A "structured" Roman shade is flat. It is entirely flat when lowered and has a more simplistic, clean, tailored appearance. These shades look great when fabricated from a print that showcases and centers on a striking motif that creates a focal point in a room.
However, they are also impactful and even exquisite in solid colors.
Imagine Roman shades as a blank canvas, ready to be transformed into some of the most popular styles, such as structured or semi-structured.
“Flat” Roman shades require stability built into their structure so that when raised, they fold evenly and don't need to be fussed with by hand to look good. We achieve this with a unique fabricating technique that our experienced artisans in Portland have mastered.
Between “flat” and "unstructured” are “semi-structured” shades, including “traditional waterfall”, aka “Full-fold” Roman shades. From a side profile, the soft pleats show off this shade's extra fullness, incorporating more softness but still maintaining structure.
Hemlines for either of these styles can be either straight or shaped.
If you prefer an unstructured look, Balloon shades are also available.
Don’t forget about Mock Roman valances!
A close relative of the Roman shade, these purely decorative top treatments mimic the look of Roman shades but don't move. Installed at the top of your window, they add a touch of visual interest without requiring the functionality of full Roman shades. Mock Roman valances can also hide blinds or window shades when raised.
Mock Roman valances provide these benefits . . .
Decorative Impact: Mock Roman valances are perfect for adding a finished look to your windows without needing full coverage.
Cost-Effective Style: Because they don't require hardware or functional elements like lift systems, Mock Roman valances are often a more affordable way to showcase a unique designer fabric in your space.
Versatile Pairings: You can use Mock Roman valances on their own or combine them in the same room with fully operational Roman shades made from the same fabric to create an eye-catching focal point.
What are the different lift systems available for custom Roman shades?
Our clients Whitney and Harry purchased a vintage home in downtown Portland, and they chose new Roman shades to add a simple backdrop to the eclectic furnishings in their home. The entry room, with a bay window, was cold and needed privacy from the street below. They were thinking of adding floor-length draperies like in the adjoining living room but then, as we mentioned above, realized there was no room on the sides to stack the draperies. Roman shades were the perfect answer. The shades nestle next to each other in the bay and rise with a chain-loop lift system.
A chain loop lift system allows the user to make easy adjustments to a shade’s height. The chain will be attached to the wall or woodwork for child- and pet-safety.
Beyond manual lift systems like a chain loop, Roman shades are perfect candidates for motorized lift systems. Our motorized lift systems can be controlled from an app on your phone, allowing you to open your shades from anywhere in your home. You can even program them to open automatically in the morning, adding a touch of luxury and elegance to your home.
The cordless lift system is also popular and works like a roller shade mechanism. With a tug on a ring sewn behind the bottom hem of the Roman shade, it lifts and lowers flawlessly.
The quality of hardware used with any lift system on Roman shades is essential. Many workrooms use inexpensive plastic rings, which quickly deteriorate under the sun's UV rays. The plastic fails and breaks, rendering the shade inoperable. We always use metal rings on our Custom Roman shades to ensure their longevity, providing you with a durable and long-lasting window treatment. Our designers and craftswomen pay close attention to many small, essential details like this. When we craft your custom shades, you will 1) have a quality product that will add a beautiful design element to your home, and 2) it will last for many years and work well.
Luxury Roman shades are the perfect solution for a powder room!
Roman shades for powder rooms are an excellent idea because powder rooms and their windows are generally small, and a Roman shade does not project out much from the wall and take up valuable space.
Back to our clients Whitney and Harry, they wanted their powder room to be unique for their guests, so they found the perfect wallpaper and painted their woodwork and ceiling a deep red tone. Whitney knew she wanted the option of having the shade with a top-down/bottom-up lift system that makes it easy to adjust its position. A small valance hides the mechanism, giving the shade a sleek, modern look.
Why invest in custom Roman shades?
While off-the-shelf options are tempting for their pricing and quicker availability, custom-made window fashions provide long-lasting quality and a perfect fit for your windows.
Custom Roman shades and Mock Roman valances give you the flexibility to choose from a wide range of fabrics, textures, and finishes to match your home's décor.
Just as important, a good designer creates a design with functionality in mind that meets your needs. Whether your priorities are energy efficiency, privacy, or light control, they make sure your shades help create the best possible living experience in your home.
Add the unique allure of luxury Roman shades to your home!
Roman shades are the place where classic beauty meets modern functionality, but don’t let their seemingly simple appearance fool you. They are surprisingly intricate products that take expertise and experience to create.
When clients contact us about custom Roman shades, we engage in a thorough design consultation. We always prioritize understanding our clients' dreams and goals, making them an integral part of our process. This level of personalization ensures that your Roman shades genuinely reflect your style and preferences.
Schedule a design discovery call with our lead Window Fashion Designer, Marlys Wiegand. For decades, Adrette Window Coverings has been Portland’s leading design firm for luxury window treatments. The white glove experience we provide makes it easy and joyful to add the final, elegant touches to every living space in your home.
Areas We Serve in and around Portland and Salem, Oregon
Portland – Metro
Salem & the Willamette Valley
Portland Metro: Portland, Lake Oswego, West Linn, Wilsonville, Beaverton, Sherwood, Newberg, Happy Valley, Damascus, Boring, Sandy, Oregon City, Milwaukie, Hillsboro, Tigard, Durham, King City, Tualatin, Forest Grove, Troutdale, Gresham, Scappoose, St. Helens.
Salem, Oregon, and the Willamette Valley: Salem, McMinnville, Eugene, Corvallis, Albany, Silverton, Mt. Angel, Woodburn, Aurora, Canby, Mulino, Estacada, and Beavercreek.
If you live outside of Portland Metro, Salem, or the Willamette Valley, don't hesitate to contact us, and we'll see if we can be of assistance.