Custom Flat Roman Soft Shades Made for Your New Jersey Home

Features - Options - Sample Prices - Examples - Projects

Flat Roman soft shades feature a clean, simple look.  A flat shade hangs flat when lowered and falls into pleats when raised.   It has a very tailored look and is a good choice to show off a fabric pattern.  Suitable for traditional, casual and minimalist themes, flat Romans allow the fabric to set the mood.

They can be mounted inside or outside the window casings.  They are most commonly mounted inside the casings, allowing the millwork to show at all times and to create the greatest privacy.

Medium weight fabrics work well.  Lighter fabrics and sheers are also used, but require a bit more hand dressing to stack nicely.

Standard Flat Roman Features

  • Lined in standard white or ivory
  • Weighted bottom bar
  • Cords with locking pulley and cleat (Cordlock)
  • All sewn hems
  • Inside or outside mount

Typical Flat Roman Options

  • Front Valance
  • Vertical or horizontal banding
  • Alternate linings (blackout, interlining)
  • Rollease or cordless operating mechanisms
  • Bottom tassels or button

Flat Roman Shades - Example Price

Example flat roman shade costs for a 32" x 65" window.  All standard features.  The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three popular patterns.

$345

Pirouette color Cashew by Kasmir Fabrics.  Linen textured neutral.
Cost: $345

$465

Downing Grove color Garden by Kasmir Fabrics.  A pattern with movement.
Cost: $465

$330

Breathless color Brushed Gold by Kasmir Fabrics.  Semi-sheer with vertical influence.  Cost: $330

 

Flat Roman Shade Examples

Shown with vertical banding.  Mounted outside the window casing, behind a cornice board top treatment.

Here with vertical banding and a decorative center tassel.  Topped with an outside mount valance.

Flat Roman Shades - Installed Projects

Flat Roman shades in Haddonfield, NJ

Flat Roman shade with attached valance in Mullica Hill NJ

Flat Roman shade with attached valance in Mullica Hill NJ

Flat Roman shades in a Haddonfield, NJ sun porch.  Sheer face fabric and a sheer lining keep the bright illumination while cutting glare.

Attached front valances add some weight to the top and help hide the operating hardware with such sheer fabric.  Narrow headrails and an inside mount keep the shades tight to the window frames, giving privacy with the shades fully lowered.

The lightweight fabric requires some hand dressing when raising or lowering - a trade-off for keeping a bright room.

Read more about this project →

Flat Roman shades in a Mullica Hill, NJ living room.  Mixed fabrics fulfill the window treatment design goals.

Mounted inside the window casings to show off the traditional millwork.

Longer opaque valances shorten the tall feel of the windows.  The random pattern offsets the strong rectangular lines in the room.

Vertically striped body fabric keeps the vertical emphasis on the exposed windows.  The lined sheer fabric maintains illumination while giving privacy when needed.

Read more about this project →

Flat Roman soft shades to grace your windows from the quality workrooms at Kasmir, Carole Fabrics and Robert Allen.  Serving southern New Jersey, Delaware and the Jersey shore areas.

 

Custom Relaxed Roman Soft Shades Made for your New Jersey Home

Features - Options - Sample Prices - Examples - Projects

Relaxed Roman soft shades hang flat when fully extended with soft folds at the bottom that remain in any position.  The swooped (or smile pattern) at the bottom hem lends a softer feel than a square bottomed shade.

The flat-hanging upper section makes it a good choice to show off a fabric pattern.  When stacked behind plain hung drapery panels or square bottomed valances, the curved bottom offsets a boxy look. 

Suitable for traditional, casual and minimalist themes, relaxed Romans allow the fabric to set the mood - with a soft accent.

They can be mounted inside or outside the window casings.  But are most commonly mounted outside the casings when serving as the only window treatment.  This is because the curved folds at the bottom pull the fabric slightly inward, potentially creating a gap along the edge.  Also, they cannot be lowered fully onto the window sill when mounted inside the casings.

Standard Relaxed Roman Features

  • Lined in standard white or ivory
  • Fabric covered returns on outside mount
  • Cords with locking pulley and cleat (Cordlock)
  • All sewn hems

Typical Relaxed Roman Options

  • Front Valance
  • Vertical banding only
  • Alternate linings (blackout, interlining)
  • Rollease or cordless operating mechanisms

Medium weight fabrics that drape and fold easily work well.  Lighter fabrics and sheers are also used, but require more hand dressing to appear even when raising or lowering.  As in the pictures above, wider width windows call for a repeat of the bottom swoop.  Generally, windows up to 54" wide can be a single swoop.  Windows from 55" to 96" need a repeated or double swoop.

Relaxed Roman Shades - Example Price

Example relaxed roman shade costs for a 32" x 65" window.  All standard features.  The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three recent patterns:

$335

Doorstep color Blue by Carole Fabrics.  A fresh floral print.
Cost: $335

$380

The Look color Sterling by Carole Fabrics.  A regular pattern with movement.  Cost: $380

$422

Compelling color Azure by Carole Fabrics.  Semi-sheer with embroidered accents.  Cost: $422

 

Additional Relaxed Roman Shade Examples

Shown in a neutral fabric with a repeated swoop.  Mounted outside the window casing, behind a cornice board top treatment.

Here with a vertical stripe with a single swoop.  Mounted outside the casings, mid-window.  The hourglass pull of the single swoop softens the vertical.

 

Relaxed Roman Shade Projects in The New Jersey Area

Relaxed Roman Shade installed in Blackwood NJ.

Relaxed Roman Shade installed in Blackwood NJ.

Relaxed Roman shades in a Marlton NJ kitchen

Relaxed Roman shades in a Marlton NJ kitchen

A double swoop relaxed Roman shade mounted inside a very deep window well.


The semi-sheer horizontal stripe fabric was a very difficult choice for this type of shade.  The fabric is lightweight and difficult to dress.  Illumination through the shade was important, so interlining was not an option.


The horizontal stripe appears to sag in the center, as the fabric bias supports the weight unevenly.


However, the goal was to soften the very rectangular mission theme in the room while introducing a horizontal emphasis.


You can see the widened gap at bottom edges as the swooped fabric pulls inward.  This is why relaxed shades are often mounted outside the casings.

 

Single swoop relaxed style Roman shades in a Marlton, NJ kitchen.

A very large and colorful pattern by Thibaut shows one of the advantages of the less structured shade.  The fabric pattern unfolds to become a mural in the room!

An inside mount accents the architectural elemant of the window casings.

And an ivory lining keeps the warm tones set by the fabric despite the cool wash of sunlight streaming through the window.

relaxed-roman-shades-kitchen-nj.jpg

Kitchen Shades - Relaxed Roman

Bright afternoon sun overpowered the cellular shades in this New Jersey kitchen.  And "with all the slabs of color in the room", she wanted something with some design interest.

The heavier face fabric on the windows blocked enough sun that blackout lining wasn't needed.  Enough light gets through that the pattern glows, keeping a cheerful mood

The door shade is mounted with a magnetic bar - preventing screw holes in the metal door!  And the narrow head rail lets the shade operate behind the door knob.

Relaxed Roman soft shades to grace your windows from the quality workrooms at Kasmir, Carole Fabrics and Robert Allen.  Serving southern New Jersey, Delaware, Philadelphia and the Jersey shore areas.

 

Custom Front Fold Roman Shades Made For Your New Jersey Home

Features - Options - Sample Prices - Examples - Projects

Front fold Roman shades hang flat when fully extended - featuring the fabric.  They differ from flat Roman shades.  Stiffening rods are sewn at regular intervals across the face side of the shade.   The rods encourage the fabric to fold evenly giving a neatly stacked look when raised with less hand dressing.

The stiffener pockets add dimension and a horizontal element drawing your eye around the room.  The shades seem to widen the windows.

Standard Features

Common Optional Features

  • Blackout lining
  • Attached front valance
  • Bottom trim
  • Vertical banding

Front Fold Roman Shade - Example Prices

Example relaxed roman shade costs for a 32" x 65" window.  All standard features.  Mounted inside the window frame. The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three recent patterns:

$375

Pattern Jungle Safari color Breeze by Kasmir.  Shade cost $375 installed.

$420

Pattern Bentridge color Flaxseed by Kasmir.  Shade cost $420 installed.

$435

Pattern Kilkenny color Hazelnut by Kasmir.  Shade cost $435 installed.

Front Fold Roman Shades - Additional Examples

Front fold roman shade NJ valance

Mounted outside the window frame and under a valance.  The neutral textured fabric adds weight to the room.

Front Fold Roman shade floral fabric

Mounted inside the window frame.   Intentionally short in a very tall window.  Sheer fabric filtering the light

Front fold roman shade NJ cornice

Mounted outside the window casing under a cornice.  Blackout lining keeps this light canvas fabric from washing-out in strong sun.

Front Fold Roman Shades - Projects in New Jersey Neighborhoods

Bay window with front fold Roman shades in a Camden County kitchen.  Ivory lining fabric keeps a warm light.  See more about this window treatment project.

Front fold Roman shade in a semi-sheer pussy-willow fabric.  Mounted over a double-wide sliding window in a New Jersey family room.  A lighted mural by day!

Custom Reverse Fold Roman Shades Made for your New Jersey Home

Features - Options - Sample Prices - Examples - Projects

Reverse fold Roman shades hang flat when fully extended - featuring the fabric.  They are similar to front fold shades with a difference.   Stiffening rods are inserted into narrow channels sewn into the fabric at regular intervals across the back side of the shade.   The rods encourage the fabric to fold evenly giving a neatly stacked look when raised with less hand dressing.  

Where front fold shades show the fabric channel, reverse fold shows only the seams.  

The seams add a horizontal element drawing your eye around the room.   They add a soft tailored break in the lay of the fabric.  The shades seem to widen the windows.

Roman shade reverse fold New Jersey

Standard Features

Inside mount custom Roman shade New Jersey

Typical Optional items

  • Blackout lining
  • Attached front valance
  • Bottom trim
  • Vertical banding

Also known as plain or back slat Roman shades.  This style is especially well-suited for vertical stripes and solid fabrics.   Regular patterns (such as damasks) will show a pattern break at the seams due to the reverse tuck of an inch or so of the fabric.  Larger random patterns (such as florals or vines) can work since the 'jump' in the pattern at the seams is less noticeable.   Solid or linen type fabrics show a crisp horizontal emphasis for a clean, structured appeal.  Medium weight fabrics that fold well work best.

Custom Reverse Fold Roman Shade Example Prices

Example reverse fold Roman shade costs for a 32" x 60" window.  All standard features.  Mounted inside the window frame. The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three recent patterns:

$329

Pedestal Bronze from Carole Fabrics - a random pattern neutral.  Shade cost $329 installed.

$347

A triple washed linen by Carole - Westbury Silver.  Textured solid.  Shade cost $347 installed.

$423

Ellis Granite by Carole Fabrics.  Nice bodied stripe to lay well.  Shade price $423 installed.

Reverse Fold Roman Shades - Additional Examples

Reverse fold Roman Shade - attached valance

Outside Mount

Mounted outside the window casing with an attached valance.  The valance adds dimension off the wall, showing depth at the top.

Reverse fold Roman shade outside mount

Outside Mount

Mounted outside and above the window frame.  Note the short end caps covering the return at the header.  A short window, taller

Blackout lining reverse fold Roman shade New Jersey

Inside Mount

Inside mounted reverse fold in a very subtle tone-on-tone neutral stripe fabric.  Solid fabrics work very well on reverse fold Roman shades.

Custom Hobbled Roman Shades Made for your New Jersey Home

Features - Options - Sample Prices - Examples - Projects

Some people consider the hobbled Roman shade to be the "classic" Roman shade.  It is also known as a waterfall or a cascade Roman shade.

Hobbled Roman shades have excess fabric between each pleat to keep folds in the fabric even when fully extended.  The folds remain in place creating a soft ripple effect.

The shadows from the folds create a more strongly horizontal effect than front fold shades.  The 2" folds also give more dimension to the shade.

Standard hobbled Roman shade for New Jersey homes

Standard Features

  • Fully lined - white or ivory
  • Inside or outside mount
  • Cord Lock lift system
  • 2" deep folds
  • Fabric covered mounting board
Inside mounted hobbled Roman shades NJ

Common Options

  • Blackout lining
  • Attached valances
  • End caplets (flaps) on outside mount
  • Banding
  • Bottom trim

Fabrics well-suited for hobbled shades are solids, jacquards, vertical stripes, randoms and floral patterns.  Less well are regular patterns, toile and large scale patterns.

Custom Hobbled Roman Shade Example Prices

Example hobbled Roman shade costs for a 32" x 60" window.  All standard features.  Mounted inside the window frame. The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three new patterns from Carole Fabrics:

$366

Carole Drifter Tangerine fabric.

Pattern: Drifter, color Tangerine.  Tight muslin weave with crewel style raised embroidery.  Light filtering with some pattern.  Shade cost: $366

$425

Carole Norbert Smoke fabric

Pattern: Norbert, color Smoke.  Mid weight tight linen weave.  Crisp hand to create smooth folds for a clean look.  Shade cost: $425

$517

Carole Stolen Moments Wine fabric

Pattern: Stolen Moments, color Wine.  Soft jacquard in a soft palette with some sheen on the highlights.  Drapes well.  Shade cost: $517

Hobbled Roman Shades - Additional Examples

Outside mount hobbled shade

Outside Mount

Hobbled shade mounted outside the window casings.  With a regular pattern fabric and a separate cornice board header.

Hobbled shade with attached valance

Attached Valance

Inside mount shade with blackout lining and an attached valance.  Velvet type fabric for full folds.

Hobbled shade with vertical banding

Vertical Banding

Inside mount hobbled shade in a jacquard pattern with a vertical stripe.  Coordinating side banding adds a vertical emphasis.

Banded hobbled Roman shades New Jersey

Another example of banding on hobbled Roman shades.  Here the banding is on the very edge of the shade rather than inset.  Standard lining allows filtered illumination.

Slouch Roman Shades Made for your New Jersey Home

dog ear roman shade new jersey

The slouch Roman shade is a soft shade with permanent round folds at the bottom.  Similar to the relaxed style, they feature a center 'swoop' or 'smile'.  Different from the relaxed style, the lift lines are set in from the edges of the swoop to create folds or 'ears' at the outer edges of the shade. 

Slouch Romans are also called 'dog-ear' shades for that reason.  Some people call them swag-tail shades as well.

They are flat when lowered except for the bottom rounded folds and 'ears'.  When the slouch roman shade is raised the bottom continues to gather soft folds at the bottom.  Less-tailored than some roman shade styles, their more whimsical look is ideal for bedrooms, kitchens and baths.

This roman shade is a not a tailored shade and takes some dressing or fixing after raising and lowering. The slouch roman shade is a relaxed style shade and should be fabricated with medium to light weight fabrics.

Outside mount is recommended, with the shades a few inches wider than the window, since slouch shades tend to 'hourglass' where the sides pull in toward the center of the window.  To use as a fixed top treatment, a short shade can be adjusted to height and tied off.

slouch roman shade nj kitchen

Standard Features

Fully lined - white or ivory
Inside or outside mount
Cord Lock lift system
Fabric covered mounting board

Custom slouch Roman shades in New Jersey

Optional Features

Blackout lining
Attached valances
End caplets (flaps) on outside mount to cover hardware
Vertical banding
Bottom trim (tassels, beads)

Custom Slouch Roman Shade Example Prices

Example slouch Roman shade costs for a 32" x 60" window.  All standard features.  Mounted outside the window frame. The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three recent patterns from Carole Fabrics:

$561

Roman shade fabric Carole Cavalcade royal

An easy blue in a brush stroked pattern: Cavalcade color Royal.  Light filtering and a medium weight.  Slouch shade cost: $561.

$305

Roman shade price with fabric by Carole Fabrics

Great in a kitchen or alcove.  A floral pattern: Dusty Hues color Vintage Red.  Mid weight, warm or cool based on the lining.  Slouch shade price: $305.

$344

roman shade cost in NJ with patterned fabric

Coral pattern in a contemporary neutral palette. Great for a modern bathroom or beach-side bedroom.  Ocean Depth color Platinum.  Shade cost: $344

Slouch Roman Shades - Additional Examples

slouch roman shade vertical banding new jersey

Vertical Banding

An outside mounted slouch shade with a contrasting vertical band.  The banding adds vertical strength and a more structured look.

Custom slouch roman shade with bead trim in New Jersey

Beaded Trim

A slouch Roman mounted outside the window trim.  A beaded fringe along the bottom edge catches the sunlight and softens the fabric edge.

inside mount slouch roman shades custom made in NJ

Inside Mount

Mounted inside a stepped window casing, this dog-ear shade escapes the light flare from the hourglass effect.

Custom London Roman Shades Made for your NJ Home

The London roman shade is similar to a slouch shade with 2 vertical pleats that create a “tail” on each side.  The pleats are 6 to 8 inches in from the edges of the shade, providing fullness and creating a swooping center 'pouf' or smile.  Like a slouch shade, the London creates a more casual, somewhat whimsical feel, and is perfect for bedrooms, kitchens and baths.

Also known as a butterfly, or tulip or Venice or swag tail or box-pleated dog-ear Roman shade.  Whew, lots of names for one shade style!

london roman shade kitchen nj
london shade plain nj

While structured,  this roman shade is a not a tailored shade and takes some dressing or fixing after raising and lowering.  Keep in mind that dressing a London roman shade can be a little time consuming, so it’s best used in places where it won’t be raised/lowered daily.  This makes the London shade a good choice for a more decorative accent, rather than a light or privacy controlling window treatment.

 The London roman shade is a relaxed style shade and should be fabricated with medium weight fabrics.  Heavier weight fabrics create an extra full appearance.

Outside mount is recommended, with the shades a few inches wider than the window, since London shades tend to 'hourglass' where the sides pull in toward the center of the window.  To use as a fixed top treatment, a short shade can be adjusted to height and tied off.

venice soft shade nj

Standard Features

  • Fully lined - white or ivory
  • Inside or outside mount
  • Cord Lock lift system
  • Fabric covered mounting board

Optional Features

  • Blackout lining
  • Attached valances
  • Vertical banding
  • Bottom trim (tassels, beads)

Custom London Shades Example Costs

Example London Roman shade prices for a 32" x 60" window.  All standard features.  Mounted outside the window frame. The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three recent patterns from Kasmir Fabrics:

$480

kasmir summergrove purple

Whimsical medium scale floral pattern Summergrove color purple.  Lighter weight, with lots of lumens. Great for a guest bedroom or powder room.

$585

kasmir roman shade fabric s130 sienna

Large scale vine pattern with embroidered details S130 color sienna.  Medium weight, light filtering fabric at home in a sunroom or family area.

$450

kasmir roman shade fabric sigourney indigo

Small scale paisley pattern Sigourney color indigo.  Middle weight and light filtering.  At home in a living room or a kitchen!

London Roman Shades - Examples and Variations

London shade contrast pleat and beads nj

A contrasting or coordinating fabric inside the pleated area adds visual interest.  Beaded fringe along the bottom catches the light.

custom london shade with bottom fringe nj

Mounted inside the window frame on a narrow window.  With petite ball fringe along the bottom edge - some sculpture for a powder room.

custom london shade edge banding nj

Bright fresh color.  With accent banding on the outside edges and along the bottom.  A crisp transition from wall to window.

Custom Balloon Shades Made for your NJ Home

Gathered style balloon shade

Gathered style balloon shade

Generally, a balloon shade gathers into a series of puffy scallops when raised.  Gathered shades have dressed windows for centuries - forming a staple of interior design.  

The balloon shade delivers softness and texture, but it remains more of a decorative element than a practical one, as it requires fluffing and straightening. 

Consider using balloon shades in rooms that are traditional in style and require little change in light to keep maintenance to a minimum.

With today’s trend towards sleek, tailored styles, balloon shades are less common.

The pleated balloon shade is a bit more structured than some of the gathered or waterfall styles of balloon shades - fitting into contemporary trends.  It uses inverted pleats along the top of the shade that fall into soft poufs at the bottom.

The multi-pouf creates elegance that makes it a good choice for a formal setting and the soft folds enhance more intimate settings.

pleated balloon shade plain fabric nj
pleated balloon shade sheer nj

Softer fabrics work best with this style - light to medium weight fabrics such as cottons, linens, silks and sheers.  Solid fabrics and light colors add sculpture without making the shade appear fussy.  Deeper colors and fabrics with sheen appear more formal.  Heavier fabrics will not want to fold easily and will require much dressing if raised and lowered frequently.

Shirred style balloon shade

Shirred style balloon shade

Standard Features

  • Fully lined - white or ivory
  • Inside or outside mount
  • Cord Lock lift system
  • Weighted bottom

Optional Features

  • Attached valence
  • Ruffles top/bottom
  • Vertical banding
  • Bottom trim (tassels, beads)

Balloon Shade Example Prices

Example balloon shade costs for a 32" x 60" window.  All standard features.  Mounted outside the window frame. The price varies with the type of face fabric.  Here are three recent patterns from Kasmir Fabrics:

$510

kasmir balloon shade fabric bastrop cream

Large scale, lightweight floral pattern Bastrop color cream.  Light colors suitable for a more casual, intimate setting.

$660

kasmir balloon shade fabric la fonda garden

Large scale floral with deep color.  Pattern La Fonda Garden color autumn.  Rich colors for a formal dining room or library.

$495

kasmir balloon shade fabric nishino lemongrass

Lightweight, light colors with a subtle vertical emphasis.  Pattern Nishino color lemongrass.  Calming, for a bedroom or airy sitting room.

Pleated Balloon Shades - Additional Examples

balloon shade with fringe and cornice nj

Pleated balloon shade with ball fringe on the bottom edge.  Mounted behind a cornice.

balloon shade with beads nj

Pleated balloon shade with wide poufs with beads mounted on the bottom edge.

sheer pleated balloon shade nj

Sheer pleated balloon shade mated with drapery panels and a cornice.  Sheer balloons are usually unlined.

pleated balloon roman shade Voorhees, NJ

Here is a shirred style pleated balloon shade we did for a family in Voorhees, NJ.  It features ruffles along the header board and along the bottom edge.  It is used as a valance, so it will only cover half of the window when lowered.  This saves fabric to construct it, and less fabric to gather into the raised position - lessening the bulge of the fabric.