You know that you live somewhere hot when you find yourself looking forward to a trip to Miami Beach 
If you have time, we would love to see you at the HD Boutique Exposition. In fact, just contact Heather heather@helserbrothers.com and she will mail you a free pass! To learn more about the event click here.
HD Boutique – An Extremely Hot Ticket!
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“I Meant To Do That”
Beckert Dining Room Before
In this dining room, the clients had hired someone else to do the blinds, stationary panels and board mounted Empire valance, and didn’t continue working with her because they were disappointed by how “ordinary” the window treatment looked once it was installed. I can see why my predecessor went with a board mounted treatment; the window was in a weird little recessed niche, so there wasn’t room to do a swag valance on a pole set with finials (which is what the client mistakenly thought that she was ordering). What’s more, there were little can lights inside the niche, so you couldn’t mount the treatment on the wall outside and above the niche or there would be light shining through from the back side of the valance. Mounting the valance inside the niche, as the other designer chose to do, required dropping it down well below those can lights, which looked kind of weird and underwhelming.
Beckert Dining Room After
The clients brought me in to design window treatments for their living room and kitchen treatments, specifically requesting decorative hardware and more drama for these rooms. I suggested adding some decorative hardware to jazz up the board mounted treatment in the dining room as a low-cost alternative to expensive rework or scrapping it altogether. The clients were having trouble visualizing how these finials were going to look sticking up at the top of the swag valance, so I did a quick mock up in my design software and assured them that it was going to look like “I meant to do that.” I ordered the finials with wood screws and my installer was able to add them to the dining room valance on-site without even taking it down on the same day that he installed my treatments in the other rooms. The size of those finials was perfect – it looks like the valance was installed at that height deliberately to accommodate the height of the finials, and it seems as though the can lights were installed specifically to illuminate the decorative hardware. The clients got a more formal and unique design for just a couple of hundred dollars’ worth of hardware – and I like the way it turned out so much that I plan to use finials that way “on purpose” for future projects!
Contributed by Rebecca Deming Rumpf of Custom Interiors By Rebecca.
Victoria And Albert Museum
Judith Carol Ellis was at the Victoria And Albert Museum in London recently and was kind enough to bring back some ideas and images in hopes of providing some creative inspiration. It is flattering that one of our clients would think of us while on vacation, but to actually go to the trouble to put together ideas and photos for us is just a beautiful gesture. Thanks Judith!
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Hand Forged Swing-Rod
This swing rod was designed for a customer who needed extra strength and a hand forged look. Our blacksmith forged the rod from one piece of solid 5/8″ round bar, and gave the 2×6″ back-plate a simple but handsome look by hammering the corners into a flare. You will not find this design in any of our catalogs, but is available as a custom item by request. Just refer to this post!
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Steelworkers United By Cheryl Draa
My 30th High School Reunion was this weekend, and I traveled to Ohio to see all my friends from long ago. I was impressed with how accomplished they have all become, and how they have blossomed in their skills. The drive up and back seemed longer than the actual reunion, as it was 12 hours each way. Along the way, I came across the most unusual sculpture I’d ever seen. Ohio is known for its coal mining and steelworkers, and that particular area has also taken an economic hit. But there is still a lot of pride. Take a look at the quality of craftsmanship in this architectural feature found along the side of the road, in front of the Steelworker’s Union House in Niles, OH.
I imagine someone building it onsite, with scrap metal as it came along, fellow workers checking it out as they came and went from their jobs/meetings. It has weathered well outdoors, and is still inspiring others as they pass by.
Helser Brothers Hardware is the same….built on site, compiled by skilled artisans, and a piece of art in the making. Just ask them can they make (fill in your questions about hardware here)….and the answer is usually yes. They are a united team that can make all your draperies look even better. Call for a custom quote now!
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Contributed by Cheryl Draa of Cheryl Draa Designs.
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The “Kyoto” Tableaux Design
When customers browse through our Tableaux brochure at the designs available, they have numerous options. Design #942 doesn’t exactly stand out and scream “pick me!”, but for Robin Munson of Elements of Design in Henderson, NV, it did more than that! It completed her vision in a simple, modern bedroom. As seen in this photo, the windows aren’t in an ideal location, but the Tableaux worked beautifully. Design #942, (Kyoto), is a great solution for any modern, Asian theme, or even makes a natural additional to your patio. Contact Jocelyn Saccuci at Helser Brothers (Ext. #118) for ordering details.
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Jane Maxwell Shares “Adventure”
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Jane Maxwell of Maxwell House of Design just finished a project using customized hardware from our “French Pole” line and was kind enough to share her experience……
If you are a designer, you know, that every once in a while, a homeowner is going to give you a challenging window to dress. Of course, a difficult window is never an auxiliary window, or one that hides in the back, no, it’s pretty much guaranteed that it will be a focal point in the room. This happened with me recently. The client’s dining room had a traditional three-window bay that had fourth window around the corner on the next wall. In order for the treatments to make sense, the fourth window had to be included in the bay. In addition to needing a custom bend to the rods, I knew that traditional finials weren’t going to work because the symmetry would be off. Thankfully, I had learned about Helser Brother’s French Poles in March at a WCAA vendor event with Jackie Von Tobel in Charlotte, NC. Jackie spoke glowingly about them from stage and during the break, I headed for the Helser Brother’s table where Anita Boetsma was able to show me the product and fill me on the details.
Now anytime you use a new product, you hold your breath just a little until they are installed. I had just a couple of concerns; would we miss having finials? Would my installer be able to figure out the installation? Would the product look as good up as I was hoping it would? Well, the product came in looking better than I had remembered, my installer had no issues whatsoever installing, and, the finish on this gorgeous product completely complimented the design. Needless to say, I breathed a big sigh of relief, took pictures and decided to share the adventure.
On side-note, I like the clean look of this product so much, that I am now using them for all of my transitional and modern design jobs.
There is an intrinsic value to being able to relax and trust that a vendor is going to deliver. Anytime that we, as designers, can eliminate some of the stress that accompanies our job, it’s a great thing. Helser Brother’s, as a company, delivers beautiful products that do what they are supposed to do, with great customer service to boot. That’s why they are now my standard go-to source for drapery hardware.
Jane Ann Maxwell is a professional interior designer based in the Charlotte, NC metro area with some 20 years of interior design experience.
She is a Professional Member of the Association of Interior Design Professionals (AIDP) and is the current President of the AIDP Charlotte Chapter…. (read entire bio)
Posted in Creative Custom Solutions, Feedback 3 Comments
Proud as a Peacock!
I am as proud as a peacock to have the privilege to display this couture window treatment in my retail store! While at the Vision 10 Conference, I networked with some very lovely and talented people and along the way feel like I had a major coup over my fellow designers! I was entranced with the designs from The Jackie Von Tobel Collection, the amazing hardware combinations by Helser Brothers, fabrics through Sunbrella and Greenhouse Designs and the tapes and welts available through Rowley. Imagine my delight to see them all together in a unique window fashion couture display. The workrooms of Stacie Kennedy and Lisa Forman did an amazing job on putting this all together.
As a designer, I know that sourcing is key, and having the right fabric and hardware really makes a couture treatment, But the
workmanship behind it is also exquisite.
Sleuthing around a little, I was pleased to find out that one of the artists behind the assembly was Stacie Kennedy. Lo and behold, the girl lives in my area of town! I sought her out immediately. Come to find out that in a contest put on by Grace McNamara for Vision 10, Stacie (Divine Drapery Design) won first place in Draperies and Panels while my current workroom (Window Couture by Trini) won second place. So much talent in my region!
After the show, Stacie and I had lunch….”What was she going to do with that lovely display?” Bingo!
It is now hanging in my retail store….displaying high couture window fashion and Helser Brothers hardware!! We are getting rave reviews by people walking in and it is a fabulous way to showcase some other vendors in a unique way.
Trying to place a price tag on it is impossible….so it is not for sale. Thank you to the vendors who
donated their product and time to allow us a fabulous display and I’m so happy that it is out front for all to
see. If you are in the area…pop in our store to see it in person!
Contributed by Cheryl Draa of Cheryl Draa Designs.
Posted in Helser Field-Bloggers, Uncategorized 1 Comment
Historic Loft Apartment by Tammi LeNair (updated) (and updated again)
Everybody wants to be a hero. And today we are feeling pretty good. When HB Client Tammi Le Nair of L’Interieur Le Nair in Ephrata, PA had to figure a way to comply with restrictions in a historical brick building, she came to us. Tammi needed to install an arched treatment 2 feet above a window on the brick, without touching the brick!
Using her sketches and dimensions, Anita Boetsma, Mark Helser and Tammi designed a bracket that allowed her to install using the same holes as the blinds supplied by the building management, on the wood window frame. When they were done, the brackets allowed Tammi to “float” the rod above the window along the top of the arched brick. Pivoting saddles gave her the ability to match the curve of the rod wherever she needed to. And since the bedroom treatment was straight, she was able to move the saddle straight up and down. We’ve been excited about this project from the beginning and now that we see the gorgeous treatments Tammi designed and created, we are amazed.
“I am working with Anita at Helser Bros. because they were the first ones that came to my mind to make something like this.”, Tammi
“I just got my hardware from Helser Bros and boy do they ROCK! My arch rods are gorgeous, I am squealing with delight! Like a kid in a candy store, even better…WooHoo!”, Tammi
“Check out the brackets Helser Brothers did for me. Aren’t they great?”, Tammi
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Creating Fabulous Outdoor Spaces WEBinar
Don’t Miss This MEMBERS ONLY Free Webinar:
Creating Fabulous Outdoor Spaces from the Ground Up with Anita Boetsma, Director of Client Relations, Helser Brothers, Inc.
Thursday July 8, 2010 11:00 AM CDT / 12:00 PM EDT
Attractive outdoor living spaces are increasingly popular. 
Learn how to design a perfect outdoor space for any client’s style. This webinar will cover everything from lighting to great ideas for special features. Plus, learn to specify and fabricate spectacular outdoor areas using today’s fabulous fabrics and trims. Outdoor curtains, shades, sails, pillows and cushions will be covered. Construction techniques and tips for longevity in the outdoor environment will be included. Class will cover everything from specifications, filler and fabric choices to hardware options. Don’t miss this.
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Ace and Ludlow From Janet Elliot at Sew Dynamic Designs
These are my “innocent” sleeping grand dogs, Ace and Ludlow.
Ace, the wire fox terrier, races to my sewing machine when he hears me turn it on. He sits beside me waiting patiently for what he hopes will be a new squeaky toy falling from the sky.
I’ll admit it…I spoil them rotten.
Posted in Just For Fun, The Hounds Of Helser 1 Comment
Milestones
How do we look at our world? The immediate world around us is sometimes only a bubble within a short distance of our work and home. Living in the metroplex of Atlanta, I have a somewhat larger bubble that I travel daily, and I’ve been putting on some mileage this summer exploring areas beyond my comfort zone. This last weekend marked a milestone in many ways for me. I drove about 785 miles with my daughter from Georgia to Texas, getting her set up in an apartment for a summer internship. She will graduate in August from Auburn University (yes, we know they have two mascots…you just don’t get it) with a degree in Radio, Film and Television. The only way we could figure out to get her car and her clothes there, was to drive it together, and then fly me back to Georgia. So we started off on what we called our “Excellent Adventure”.
The general idea is to get on I-20 and head west….we can pick that up right under the Atlanta name on the map for Georgia, and keep going until we come to the Dallas name on the map for Texas. We started off on a Saturday morning, and took our time driving through Alabama. We made a pit stop at the University of Alabama…just to see what all the fuss was about…and agreed we’d made the right choice for her with Auburn. Good thing as she does graduate this August! The Mapquest said to “go through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, entering Texas…”with no further instructions. We didn’t even turn on the navigator for quite a while. We talked constantly, making stops at every State Line Rest Area….and made a wonderful discovery in Mississippi! They have decorated their rest area welcome center to look like a parlor in a southern town! Complete with lace draperies, and cushy seating you can browse through the brochures of available sites in the state. As an interior designer, I was quite impressed with the decor. 
When we exited with brochures in hand, we did a few brisk laps around the site, and stumbled upon the best looking garbage enclosure I’d ever seen….and decided Helser Brothers could start a whole new line of decorative exterior hardware for ugly areas of the home!
We finally reached the Dallas, TX area and settled her into the apartment, then capped off the night with a margarita from a local restaurant and being the design guru I am, I marveled at the foyer of the restaurant. 
The central piece of art was backlit tequila bottles with the ends cut out…So original!
The following morning I watched her walk down the long highway towards the parking garage, and off into the Dallas traffic on her way to work….we both realized another milestone had been reached. My daughter grew up that morning into a working adult responsible for herself in a big city 798 miles from home. I’ve taught her a lot and she sees beautiful things all around her as she travels to and fro….what will she see tomorrow? I’ve taught her to look at the beauty of a different landscape, the backlighting of ordinary objects, and new ways to use ordinary things… How will you look at your world today?
Contributed by Cheryl Draa of Cheryl Draa Designs.
Posted in Helser Field-Bloggers 2 Comments
A Big Square Drapery Rod
The clever folks at Robb & Stucky in Scottsdale regularly supply our metal artists with special projects. This beefy 2″ square rod is one recent example. The Pyramid finial and square collar combined with the very cool square rings complete the look with style.
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Zoe From Tammy Tant Of BG Custom Windows
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Zoe is THE sweetest dog ever. We take her to doodle romps, she lays around in the doodle pose, which is on her back, all 4 legs flopped open. We are on the way to the lake now, she loves riding on the boat. I’m hoping she will learn to swim this summer !
Posted in Just For Fun, The Hounds Of Helser 3 Comments
Ashes From Ann Johnson at Sew Easy Windows
This is our very gentle 13 year old dog “Ashes.” She is easily intimidated by bold cats and is very gentle with small animals. She was one of 13 pups who’s mother took off one weekend and obviously had a good time because it was quite a mixed litter. We think Ashes is a mix of beagle, retriever and 
shepherd.
Ashes has always loved sitting and sleeping on the stairs in my workroom and I could never figure out why she didn’t fall as she is definitely not a small dog. She is very proud to be the latest Hounds of Helser inductee!
Posted in Just For Fun, The Hounds Of Helser 2 Comments
