Window Treatments

[MrsDM]

Either or is cute.

Isn't buying stuff for the house fun and a little shocking? I don't know about you but I was surprised to find out the prices of some things.

We are currently trying to outfit our back room with curtains and I can't get over the prices! If the price of curtains isn't bad enough .... the cost of decorative rods is worse! I think the windows are going to have to go nude for a while longer :rofl:

Ugh, I'm still dealing with the curtain cr@p! I've finally decided on going to HD and get some cellular shades for the front window. They can custom cut them right there which saves me about $100 or more at JCPenny, or the like.

One window down..9 to go! :bbeek:

[SerendipityCrafts]

Ugh, I'm still dealing with the curtain cr@p! I've finally decided on going to HD and get some cellular shades for the front window. They can custom cut them right there which saves me about $100 or more at JCPenny, or the like.

One window down..9 to go! :bbeek:

We have a "shop at home" salesman coming this Sat. morning. Our thought is to "pick his brain" and then see what we can find off the rack LOL It's either that or go with a payment plan for the customs that he is sure to suggest :)

[MrsDM]

We have a "shop at home" salesman coming this Sat. morning. Our thought is to "pick his brain" and then see what we can find off the rack LOL It's either that or go with a payment plan for the customs that he is sure to suggest :)

Good luck! Hey, maybe you will get lucky and find some great curtains, cheap!



Eh..who I am kidding?! On second thought, I hope he gives you great information that you can go and use in a affordable store!! :rofl:

[SerendipityCrafts]

Eh..who I am kidding?! On second thought, I hope he gives you great information that you can go and use in a affordable store!! :rofl:

No such thing .... even Wally World set us back, just to "decorate" the front window.

$54 - 2 x side panels @ $27 each
$32 - 2 x inner sheers @ $16 each
$35 - fancy dancy rod for sides
$7 - plain rod for sheers
===
$128

We have 4 windows and one patio door to deal with at the back. The major issue is the sun which comes through most all of the day. Sunscreen shades are necessary but not so attractive ....

We were thinking of trying something like this - roller shades + wood valence (which we will build) + side drapes for show (which I will ummm errr sew). When the roller shade is up, it will look better :)

http://elitewindowtreatments.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/designerroller_clutch_den_2.43174100_std.jpg

Sorry to highjack Justina :)

[SerendipityCrafts]

I didn't want to highjack Justina's knob thread (:rofl: <<<< why is that so amusing to me??) so I moved the window treatment posts over here).

[SerendipityCrafts]

What do you think? Would the window treatments above work with our windows?

We were thinking of having dark wood valences to match the furniture and also make it more "formal dining room-ish"

http://www.bfmonline.net/images/AnatoleWoodValence_sm.jpg

BTW - the dining room isn't really as yellow as this. It's more of a pale gold.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3592/3435719734_bf506999cb.jpg?v=0

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3093/3159455715_8e3a5c4bee.jpg?v=0

[Kfancii]

Do either of you have a Tuesday Morning store near you?

www.tuesdaymorning.com (http://www.tuesdaymorning.com)

We found really nice designer drapes/curtains there that had been marked down to actually be reasonable! Of course they don't have a regular stock of anything since they get closeout lots, but the cool thing is that they always have something new to choose from.

[MrsDM]

OMG Elizabeth - I love love LOVE the wood valance idea!!!!! And actually, the way it is showed with the two panels on each side and the shades is what I'm doing in my living room. But i don't know, that wood valance is pretty darn cool looking.....!! Hmm... I may steal your idea!

I think the dark would look great!!

[MrsDM]

Do either of you have a Tuesday Morning store near you?

www.tuesdaymorning.com (http://www.tuesdaymorning.com)

We found really nice designer drapes/curtains there that had been marked down to actually be reasonable! Of course they don't have a regular stock of anything since they get closeout lots, but the cool thing is that they always have something new to choose from.

OOo...I never thought about it there! I don't ever remember seeing curtains there!

Another option too. Elizabeth do you have Bed, Bath and Beyonds there? I get 20% off coupons in the mail that can be used per item. I bought my panels for like $10.00 a piece (org. $15). I might go back and do the shades there as well. Not sure yet. I have some other coupons for Lowe's that may be more cost effective.

[SerendipityCrafts]

We have bed bath and beyond but the prices are higher here (most everything is higher here). You know it's pretty bad when curtains from WallyWorld cosot that much :rofl:

We don't have tuesdaymorning either. :( I think it's time to go visit my bro & do some shopping in the states :)

With that said, Montreal is one of the main fashion manufacturing centers in Canada so, we can go to fabric/drapery wholesale stores. It can't be that hard to sew some straight forward side panels, right? LOL

'Ghead and steal the idea. I got the idea when I went to the window show room. The thing I like about the wood valance is that it will hide the fugly roller shades (we plan to use the ones that were here until we can save up for some of the newer ones like above), when they are up.

[SerendipityCrafts]

These are the WallyWorld drapes + rod. We threw these up in a rush since the family was coming for Easter and we wanted the window dressed.

I am thinking of adding a wood valance to this window too because it "bugs" me to see the two curtain rods. It also bothers me that the rod's extension piece is right in the middle and so, it can be seen. Finally, I don't think the rod is thick enough for the curtains either.

I'll use the fancier rod for our bedroom window, whenever we get around to doing that room too.

BTW - yes, I know there is an electrical outlet above my living room window. Now does anyone know what it might be for??? Christmas window lights maybe?

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3663/3449620283_287b7b5d56.jpg?v=1239983976

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3449618965_4e43e7c7d8.jpg?v=0

[MrsDM]

I actually really like the curtains! The curtain rod does seem a little wimpy, I agree that something a little thicker may look more rich. That room is awesome looking. It looks so inviting and warm!!

The outlet above the window...for a clock! We have one outlet in our kitchen sink in the kitchen and one outlet randomly in our hallway to the bedrooms.

[SerendipityCrafts]

I actually really like the curtains! The curtain rod does seem a little wimpy, I agree that something a little thicker may look more rich. That room is awesome looking. It looks so inviting and warm!!

Everytime I walk by the living room I say to DH "It finally feels like we have an "adult" living room" :rofl:

The outlet above the window...for a clock! We have one outlet in our kitchen sink in the kitchen and one outlet randomly in our hallway to the bedrooms.

Ya think? Seems weird to me to have a clock in a living room .... especially that high :snide:

[MrsDM]

Everytime I walk by the living room I say to DH "It finally feels like we have an "adult" living room" :rofl:



Ya think? Seems weird to me to have a clock in a living room .... especially that high :snide:

Yeah, that was what I was told with the outlets in our house. Its the only thing that makes sense to me!

I'm jealous, I want an adult living room!!!! I'll just have to settle for drywall dust and paint drippings everywhere! LOL!

[SerendipityCrafts]

I'm jealous, I want an adult living room!!!! I'll just have to settle for drywall dust and paint drippings everywhere! LOL!

You will get there in time :)

If it makes you feel any better -

1. It took us until our mid-40's to get that adult living room
2. Until the window is dressed to my liking, the living room isn't actually finished (plus DH wants to add built ins on either side of the fireplace.
3. The guest room and the living room are the only rooms close to complete. It's overwhelming but we have the rest of the house to go through yet.

[mitch]

I'm never gonna get an "Adult Living Room". With Three Dolls Houses on display. It's always going to look like a branch of Toys R Us. :rofl:

Your Drapes are a similar colour to ours Elizabeth. We have dark wooden poles holding ours up. I've just been waiting two years for DH to finally get around to putting the tie-back brackets up.

The rest of our house has Drapes i "Borrowed" from the Skip when the Hotel had a refit. :winktongue:

[SerendipityCrafts]

I've just been waiting two years for DH to finally get around to putting the tie-back brackets up.

DIY it girl. I'll lend you my "I am Woman; Hear me Roar" t-shirt + tool belt :)

BTW - if I could have "borrowed" some drapes, I would have. We did ask in our offer to purchase, that the window coverings be included but the owner said no :(

[mitch]

DIY it girl. I'll lend you my "I am Woman; Hear me Roar" t-shirt + tool belt :)

BTW - if I could have "borrowed" some drapes, I would have. We did ask in our offer to purchase, that the window coverings be included but the owner said no :(

I would do it Myself. But there is a shut off point of "Why Me AGAIN" And i've just reached it :rofl:

DH is a Painter and Decorator by trade yet there's no Wallpaper or Paint on the walls in the Spare Room. :whyme:

[MrsDM]

DIY it girl. I'll lend you my "I am Woman; Hear me Roar" t-shirt + tool belt :)

BTW - if I could have "borrowed" some drapes, I would have. We did ask in our offer to purchase, that the window coverings be included but the owner said no :(

This tool belt you speak of...is it pink!? I dig pink!

Oh and the previous owners not leaving drapes, don't worry, neither did ours besides for vertical blinds in the bedrooms.

[SerendipityCrafts]

This tool belt you speak of...is it pink!? I dig pink!

Oh and the previous owners not leaving drapes, don't worry, neither did ours besides for vertical blinds in the bedrooms.

We got the fugly roller blinds :rofl:

It's a pink tool belt - with a boa trim :) :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2412/2432293943_2d2ddebbba.jpg?v=0

CAUTION LADIES - You have to be careful when attempting extreme home reno/repair DIY projects. I am not worried that you will hurt yourself. Oh no - the down side to tackling these "jobs" is that you will no doubt be successful but this will only serve to show DH that you are "capable" of doing these things ALL THE TIME. Psssssst - Sometimes, it's best to keep them in the dark. :innocent:

Oh Dear Husband .... can you puleeeeeeze hang this 'lil 'ol picture for me? I would try but I just know that I will mess it up and you are so big and strong ;)

[MrsDM]

:soppy: *sigh* Your soooo cool Elizabeth!!!! When I grow'd up, I'm gonna be just like you, pink tool belt and all!!! :rofl:

[SerendipityCrafts]

:soppy: *sigh* Your soooo cool Elizabeth!!!! When I grow'd up, I'm gonna be just like you, pink tool belt and all!!! :rofl:

:rofl: oh you just save the false flattery for DH so that you can get some projects done!

Oh yes .... do not forget to bat your eyelashes when you tell him how wonderful he is :)

[SerendipityCrafts]

So the guy just left .... 4 windows + a patio door (2 panels) of sun shade roller shades (like it the pic) would set us back $858 (+ taxes) - OUCH! This doesn't include the wood valances or any side panels that I might want.

BTW - he suggested going with the shades, then DIY-ing the valance but he thought that side panel curtains might close in the room too much. He thought we might want to wait to see what the shades + valance look like before deciding on the side panels.

http://elitewindowtreatments.com/yahoo_site_admin/assets/images/designerroller_clutch_den_2.43174100_std.jpg

[MrsDM]

Wow!! I don't feel so bad spending my lousy $150 for the panels and shades now!!

People actually spend that much???

[SerendipityCrafts]

People actually spend that much???

I'll let you know :rofl:

That's what we have to pay when it's manufactured in the US, brought into Canada, the exchange is calculated and the profit is added :snide:

I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to have shutters but apparently that is the priciest option. These roller blinds are less expensive than custom curtains or wood blinds.

*sigh* The decision would be easier if they had a payment plan :rofl:

[SerendipityCrafts]

Hahahaha ... we might be changing our minds again!

DH and I passed by a decorator's place that we have never noticed before. She is normally not open to the public but she had put out bolts & end of roll designer fabrics for sale, and so we stopped in for a look.

She has accounts with all the blind/shade people too but, she has an interior designers eye (as opposed to the last guy that only agreed with everything we said). I found a bolt of fabric that we think would make GORGEOUS curtains for the dining room area. We talked to her about several different options (including lined curtains) and she will be coming next Saturday to have a look at our room & take measurements, give us opinions and some prices.

[MrsDM]

Hahahaha ... we might be changing our minds again!

DH and I passed by a decorator's place that we have never noticed before. She is normally not open to the public but she had put out bolts & end of roll designer fabrics for sale, and so we stopped in for a look.

She has accounts with all the blind/shade people too but, she has an interior designers eye (as opposed to the last guy that only agreed with everything we said). I found a bolt of fabric that we think would make GORGEOUS curtains for the dining room area. We talked to her about several different options (including lined curtains) and she will be coming next Saturday to have a look at our room & take measurements, give us opinions and some prices.

Good luck! She may be able to suggest some other ideas too that you didn't think of!

I heard awesome things about lined curtains. Especially in the winter, I guess they are really supposed to help keep the cold out. I should try and find some nice shades that are lined, our front window is old and not sealed correctly that I could see it being a problem during the winter.

[SerendipityCrafts]

our front window is old and not sealed correctly that I could see it being a problem during the winter.

If you can't afford to replace them quite yet, get on your pink tool belt and calk around the windows, inside and out. You can also buy window insulation kits (shrink wrap cellophane stuff) to cover your windows in the winter.

http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-insulate-a-window-against-winter

[MrsDM]

If you can't afford to replace them quite yet, get on your pink tool belt and calk around the windows, inside and out. You can also buy window insulation kits (shrink wrap cellophane stuff) to cover your windows in the winter.

http://www.howtodothings.com/home-garden/how-to-insulate-a-window-against-winter

Calking will do the trick, I'm sure. They didn't like to use calk in that house for some reason. Like, the countertops aren't calked. :huh: FH is happy, because it will be done his way and to his standard, but still!

[NOTKT]

Yea, that's kinda weird. Caulking should be standard.

[FFC]

I'm so behind on the times. Sheesh. I got my curtains for $10 for 2 panels at Wally World... they have several different colors and designs... I know I may be a bit late on this. I'm looking forward to getting blinds eventually though :)

[MrsDM]

Hahahaha ... we might be changing our minds again!

DH and I passed by a decorator's place that we have never noticed before. She is normally not open to the public but she had put out bolts & end of roll designer fabrics for sale, and so we stopped in for a look.

She has accounts with all the blind/shade people too but, she has an interior designers eye (as opposed to the last guy that only agreed with everything we said). I found a bolt of fabric that we think would make GORGEOUS curtains for the dining room area. We talked to her about several different options (including lined curtains) and she will be coming next Saturday to have a look at our room & take measurements, give us opinions and some prices.


Sooo....how'd it go?

We went to HD today and bought some cellular shades. They cut them to size right there. I'll take a picture later!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Sooo....how'd it go?

We went to HD today and bought some cellular shades. They cut them to size right there. I'll take a picture later!

Well, she seemed to understand the concept of trying to make a $ stretch.

We showed her the fugly blinds that we had, discussed some options and this is what we all came up with.

We think we might go with faux side-pannel curtains made from the gorgeous fabric, put up white valances and keep the fugly shades for now.
We figured out that we would need 19 yards of fabric but we knew that she only had 15 yards on the bolt we saw :(

When she got back to her shop, she called me to say that she found another 5' piece on the roll but she was still going to see if she could make it work with less to save us money :)

Your cellular shades shades .... are they like a honeycomb?

[MrsDM]

I think so -

Here is a close up of them:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll63/FutureMrsDM/House048.jpg?t=1240938054

[SerendipityCrafts]

I think so -

Here is a close up of them:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll63/FutureMrsDM/House048.jpg?t=1240938054

Ohhhhh I think those are the ones that were going to cost us an arm and a leg. Can you see through them when they are down, if you adjust the positioning? Can I ask how much you paid per blind?

[MrsDM]

Ohhhhh I think those are the ones that were going to cost us an arm and a leg. Can you see through them when they are down, if you adjust the positioning? Can I ask how much you paid per blind?

Nope. You can't see through them at all. The two side windows cost about $30 a piece (19" width) and the large window was $65 (51" width). They cut them right to size at HD.

Here is another few views of them

These were taken in the morning:
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll63/FutureMrsDM/House044.jpg?t=1240939845

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll63/FutureMrsDM/House049.jpg?t=1240939871

I was worried they would look cheap, but they aren't! You can't see in at night, and it blocks any bright sun during the day, but aren't room darkening, which I like.

[SerendipityCrafts]

Nope. You can't see through them at all.

We were showed some that looked like that but, one side was like a fine tule and the other side was fabric. If you adjusted the position of the louvers, you could see out through the tule and then adjust them back and it blocked the view and sun. Hard to explain but they were pretty funky .... not to mention pretty expensive too! Hunter Douglas - need I say more? :)

[mitch]

Brick up the Windows.


Problem solved :rofl:

[SerendipityCrafts]

Brick up the Windows.


Problem solved :rofl:

How would I spy on the neighbours then?

Hmmm I have a feeling that the cost of a mason + bricks + mortar would end up costing more than stupid window coverings.

Maybe I should just hang a bed sheet :rofl:

[mitch]

How would I spy on the neighbours then?

Hmmm I have a feeling that the cost of a mason + bricks + mortar would end up costing more than stupid window coverings.

Maybe I should just hang a bed sheet :rofl:

I made Drapes from a Bed Sheet once. I bought two to match. Put one on the Bed and made the other up for the window.

Was watching TV the other day and some top interior designer from London is "Infamous" for doing exactly the same thing.

And there was Me thinking i was ahead of the times LOL.

[MrsDM]

I made Drapes from a Bed Sheet once. I bought two to match. Put one on the Bed and made the other up for the window.

Was watching TV the other day and some top interior designer from London is "Infamous" for doing exactly the same thing.

And there was Me thinking i was ahead of the times LOL.

Aw...man! You should have hopped on that trend, you'd be rich by now!!!!

[SerendipityCrafts]

Aw...man! You should have hopped on that trend, you'd be rich by now!!!!

I did it in my very first apartment but it was more of the sheet (or flag) + thumbtack type treatment :)

It's true though .... some sheets do make pretty draperies!

[FFC]

I used sheets in our old house, and in my room at my mom's house... just cut a slit for the curtain rod at the wide part of the sheet and call it a day! I didn't know it was a common occurrence LOL!

[NOTKT]

I really do like those. :) We will have the wood blinds on every window at the new house, not sure if I'm a fan for all over. This gives me some ideas!