Germaine Murray, Manager of Trimmings and Drapery Hardware for The Robert Allen Group, is our guest blogger this week.  She joined Robert Allen in 2007 and has been designing trim for the past six years.  We asked her to share her insights on the latest ways in which designers are using trim.

Germaine Murray

I love designing trims because they enhance a room’s design like jewelry complements an outfit.  A good trim designer will create styles that are unique, fashionable, and classic.  To do this, you must have an in depth knowledge of trim constructions, while at the same time staying abreast of design trends surfacing throughout the world.  With the growing popularity of transitional/contemporary interiors, I’m seeing more and more requests for bandings.  I’ve pulled together the following images to show some of the modern applications and tailored looks that can be achieved with this popular style of trim.

Bandings encompass braids, tapes and gimps, each of which offer designers a way to accent a contemporary (or traditional) room without the elaborate details that tassels and fringes usually convey. The image above shows a decorative gimp applied inside the stripes of a pillow to add a little embellishment.  Pairing the gimp with a subtle cording along the edges helps to define the shape without getting too frilly.

The folds in this Roman shade are highlighted by applying a banding vertically.  This can also help to bring complementary colors from a room scheme into the window without using a multi-colored fabric in the treatment. We’ve introduced many different styles of bandings in recent Robert Allen collections and each gives a window treatment a completely different flavor.

Page from Southern Accents 

The image above is from my folder of “favorites” – this one from the now defunct (and sadly missed) Southern Accents magazine. The valences here show a contrasting tape applied in a mitered design.  This treatment adds a playful element to a traditional space.  It also brings a visual pop to draw your attention to the top of the window.

Page from Metropolitan Home

Another favorite, this one from an article in Metropolitan Home magazine. Who can believe this great magazine is gone as well? The solid black banding in this room helps to unify the modern outlines defined within the black and white décor.  The yellow pillow was mitered with an inset banding and the drapes show the banding running along the outside edge of each panel.

Page from Veranda

In this image from Veranda magazine, they show a more traditional room where bandings have been used as a subtle contrast on pillows and drapery panels. Just this touch of embellishment adds a decorative element to the look that makes this room distinctive. I just love how the trim here plays such an important roll in tying the room’s color story together.

Page from Veranda

Another great interior featured in Veranda, this image demonstrates how patterned braids blend in smoothly when used in a two-toned color scheme.  The Greek key along the edge of the drape breaks up the solid walls and complements the striped dining chairs.   It’s a subtle and elegant use of trim in a space that feels very current. 

The possibilities for bandings are endless and you can expect to have many more choices of this popular trimming in the future.  I’m working on some of them now!