Covering my windows

When we moved here, six years ago, every window was covered in something different.  There were curtain of fabric, match stick blinds, vertical blinds, torn roller shades and perhaps a mini blind or two.  I tore every one of the down within days of moving in.  We actually spent a couple of months with virtually no window coverings at all.  We really aren't the type to close drapes or blinds every night anyways.

living room - January 2005 - bare windows

I decided the living room and dinning room would have the same drapes.  On the same rods.  It took a few months to even find affordable rods that would span our 10 foot windows in the living room and dining room.  I also want simple drapes or curtains that hung from clip rings.  I also really wanted blinds AND drapes but our windows are too shallow in depth to accommodate the big old style blinds that I would have liked.  So drapes alone it was.

Since I'd already decided what color my window trim would be, it was time to find fabric to make my drapes.  Also a difficult challenge since home decorating fabric isn't cheap.  Even at $5.00 a yard for my fabric, it was almost $200 to cover just three windows.  This did include lining.  The drapery rods and clip rings totalled an additional $450!

living room - March 2005

First, I must confess, the drape fabric hung on the windows in the living room for a few years (5 to be exact) before I actually made it into actual drapes.  I also broke every decorating rule by not making the drapes come to the floor.  Since both of the windows in the living room would have furniture in front of them I didn't want drapes scrunched up behind the chair or couch.  As far as the dining room, well we have 2 dogs, big labs, that pretty much have run of the house.  I didn't need them skimming across the drapes every time they took a trip around the table.... either pulling on them or brushing doggy dirt and hair all over them.

dining room - early 2005

I did decide to add a little something at the top of the drapes.  A separate piece of fabric than the actual drape, so if I tire of it I can change it out.  The living room has a fabric that I also made into two throw pillows. 

living room - fall 2010

close up of living room "valance"

The dining room fabric is reminiscent of barkcloth, which I love. I trimmed that separate "valance" out in a coordinating fabric. After two or three years, I still really like this addition. My husband of course prefers them plain.

dining room - fall 2010





close up of dining room "valance"

Enjoying the start to a new week,
Chris at Red Gate Farm

PS, I must admit, in full disclosure... although the living room drapes are complete, the dining room drapes are still just pieces of unfinished fabric... after 6 years.  But it is on my "to do list" for March!

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