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"The Curtain Bible" offers styles for contemporary windows

Author Katrin Cargill admits that one of the main influences on her life has been "Travel, travel and more travel," as well as "museums, books, history, Swedish houses, Shaker houses and furniture."

This world travel has apparently served her well, spawning enough design ideas to fill a number of beautiful how-to decorating books, including Fabrications, Swedish Style, and Simple Curtains.

Her newest book, Katrin Cargill's Curtain Bible: Simple and Stylish Designs for Contemporary Curtains and Blinds features fabric window treatments designed to fit into modern homes, urban lofts, and decidely hip interiors.

Twenty and thirty-somethings who may not be interested in the traditional pinch-pleat drapery styles preferred by their parents, should find some of these projects perfectly suited to their desire for a look that is fresh and simple.

Explained in clear how-to illustrations and step-by-step instructions, these are window treatments that require only basic sewing techniques. The results however, are curtain designs with a flair for the unusual.

Even if you have no intention of ever picking up a needle and thread, the book can be helpful as you preview styles that will be made by a custom workroom. Katrin notes that her new book, The Curtain Bible , "is as much for non-sewers as it is for sewers. There are countless wonderful photographs of ideas to help guide you through the maze of possibilities. An idea can be shown to a curtain maker. Alternatively, there are a number of styles available in ready-made-curtains, usually fairly basic, to accommodate many situations. The great thing about ready-made-curtains however, is that you can add touches that personalise them: a trimming, contrasting tie-backs, some beads, a contrasting lining-or just use them as they come."

Katrin began her journey into design as a child. Since her family moved frequently she had plenty of opportunities to watch them personalize each new living space. "My parents had a wonderful knack for moving into a house and transforming it into an elegant and personal home. I loved nothing more than helping them to place furniture, paint a room, or drape something exotic over a window. Years later I still get a thrill from moving house, or at the very least, completely changing ours rather often!"

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