The steps below follow the order of the work for this our remodeled homes & projects project.
I’ve had a few comments about the windows in the family room… They are nekked, it’s like a bad dream! I totally know…
When we first moved in I made these drapes from 4 pre-made panels. I wanted them to be nice and long, so I purchased 4 total panels, then I cut one up into thirds and added it to the bottom of the 6 ft.-ish panels, hung the bars about 3 inches from the ceiling, and finished them when they were the proper length! (not the best picture, but I don’t want have to go looking for another one! Sorry!)
Here are what the windows look like when we finished the built in project. There is obviously not the room for full length panels any more. ( I am trying the old drapes out in Etta’s room now!)
I‘ve had one reader suggest moldings, because of the space limitations (with the now installed mantel), I am not sure about that option yet, (but I make no promises about controlling the amount of moldings I put in a house!)so they may end up in the plan!
I do know that I want to have some sort of window dressing. But finding the RIGHT fabric has been driving me batty. I have this option of what I want in my head and it just doesn’t exists apparently. Cuz, I just can’t seem to find THE fabric
The rug’s print is a very flowing, an organic floral paisley. It has a lot of great colors to pull from. Because the rug has so much movement, I want the opposite for the windows. I really want the window covering to be a geometric print in a solid color (pulled from the rug!) with white or neutral design, but I haven’t seen the scale or print that I like, so I think I am going to have to go the stencil route.
So, when it comes to the window coverings for this space I KNOW that I want a roman shade/valance. I don’t really care if it operates… But I may make it operable just in case for watching movies in the middle of the day… (although that is a lot of extra fabric to have to stencil.. hum…)
Before we finished the built-is, I was testing out what it would look like with an old shower curtain I am not using… maybe it does need moldings?!
When it comes to fabrics I am thinking more of the Moroccan stencil style, sorta large scale, I also feel like I want some color up there, but I am not totally sure about that. I as I’ve been contemplating this, I have come to the decision that I am going to force myself to use one of the many fabrics I have bought over the years and not used. I love this print as an option:
So, I climbed into my craft closet… use I just used the verb climbed to describe how I walked into a closet, it is kinda outta control at the moment. C’est la vie.
Here are some of the fabrics I pulled out of my stash that I thought could work (minus one, cuz I pinned it up to the window already to see what I thought about the look of a roman valance)
The (1)brown and white would sort of give me the graphic look I want… I like (2) the stripes, but I am not sure. The (3) colorful one is too similar to the rug (but I LOVE it). I like the (4) two burlaps… I like all (5)direct solid blues… and they could be stenciled… we will have to see what happens.
I want the overall look of the roman shade to be direct, like this only outside mount
This is a home show I got to work on during my college internship. The designer I worked for was the fabulous, Michele Dunker, and I love her style. She let me do so much, and that also meant I got to go crazy with moldings(notice the lattice ceiling), and pick out a lot of the finishes. it was a FUN internship, that gave me a ton of actual experience.
Or like this, which is maybe a little more preppy.
(source)
Here is what the windows looked like with the pinned up drape. Just pinned mind you with pushpins… not well fitted in anyway.
P.S. Notice the lamp up there? My daughter knocked the other one over and it shattered. So I only have the one, and it isn’t heavy enough to be on a side table (obviously)… Do you think this is too odd to have it up there? I am still planning on lights on either side of the fireplace, I might wait and see how it looks once they are up. For now it is safer than it was on the side table, and I only need one, so it works.
I am also considering curtains on the outside corner of the large window. It might be a fun way to add another fabric… I am not sure that is going to happen! What do you think of the panel option from below?
I definitely haven’t made up my mind yet. What do you guys think? Which fabric would you go with? Do you like the panel on the side yes or no?
I would love to hear your opinions, I still haven’t taken the pinned drapes down they have been up all week, but I am liking the direction it is moving. But I still haven’t made up my mind entirely!
