Our recent road trip to see Katie and her amazing house gave us that tickle to get down to business when we got back home. You know how your DIY momentum is up and you’re moving right along ticking things off your to-do list and then the dust clears and you’re just spent and need a little break? Like, mehaps, a road trip? That seems to be the way it goes with us. When it comes to house progress, we tend to work in fits and starts. But then something sparks that get-back-to-business excitement and suddenly we’re done with our four-ish day Hammer And Paint Brush Hiatus and are refreshed and ready to go. Yeah, so that happened.
I guess being on the road produced that absence makes the heart grow fonder effect. Not that we were mad at our house, but we just weren’t raring to go when we left like we were when we got back. So the morning after our 9.5 hour drive I woke up early, sorted through a million (ok, a thousand) photos, wrote that shopping post that went up in the afternoon, caught up on comments/Facebook/Twitter/email, wrote this house crashing post for the next morning, and then it was dinner time. Then I up and made dining room curtains. And they might just be my favorite things in the whole darn house.
Seriously, I love them.
You guys know we’re into our hallway frame gallery a little too much (along with our giant bedroom light fixture and humongous gray sectional). And I adore my weird horse art and miscellaneous ceramic animal menagerie. But you’d think I carried these curtains for nine months and went through 48 hours of labor to bring them into this world – that’s how much I love them. And it only took me about an hour and a half – two tops – to make them. Wham, bam, thank you Katie (for the kick-in-the-pants inspiration that your gorgeous house provided).
Here’s how it all went down. We already mentioned snagging this deeply discounted Robert Allen curtain fabric from a local fabric outlet called U-Fab (for any non locals, here’s an affiliate link to the same fabric on amazon). It was fancy schmancy designer fabric that I’d been in love with forever, but it was marked down to $12.99 a yard (as opposed to the original cost of $40+ a yard!) thanks to a bit of an irregularity in the fabric (a white stripe that ran down one side, which I knew I could work around).
Since I wanted two 90-ish inch panels for either side of the big picture window in the dining room I calculated that five yards would do the trick, which factored out to $32 a panel (still not dirt cheap but a whole lot cheaper than the regular price of that fabric, which would have run me $100 a panel). Score.
We’re just not really curtain closing and opening folks (except in the nursery since we close the blinds and draw the curtains – anything for five more minutes of sleep) so we don’t plan to draw them shut (we add white faux wood blinds or bamboo shades when it comes to actually gaining privacy, although since we usually hang out in the back of the house when it’s dark enough to see into the windows, we’re not in any rush to add privacy blinds or shades just yet). But we do love hanging curtains high and wide to let the light stream in and add height and drama. Which means we didn’t have to worry about the width (since we’d need a lot more of that than what we had to cover the long picture window). And boy are these babies a fresh little slap in the face compared to the white Ikea Vivan curtains that we embraced in nearly every room of our last house.
But on to how I made them. First I rolled out the fabric on a 5 x 8′ rug in our office (one of my completely not patented ways to get straight cuts since you can line up the fabric with the corners/edges of the rug to be sure it’s square before snipping away). Then I just pulled out my tape measure to see how long I wanted them (90″ each before hem allowances, which would make them about 87″ long after hemming – but then I add ring hooks which make them 90″ again):
It was as simple as lining up the end of the fabric with the 90″ mark on my tape measure and then cutting the other edge against the rug at the 0″ inch mark, for a nice straight cut (sure enough, I was left with a nice 90″ long rectangular swatch of fabric).
When it comes to the width, I just usually go with the width that it comes right off the bolt (which is wider when you get upholster fabric like this- ours was 57″). But remember it had that defect running along one side of it, so I just cut three inches or so from that side (again I used the edge of the rug to get a straight cut). But I didn’t completely cut off the white part since I knew once I hemmed it, it would be completely invisible (even from the back). You can see the normal white edge that comes on fabric on the right of the swatch below and the irregular white defect on the bottom half of the left edge below:
So there I had one 90 x 54″ curtain panel cut out, and just needed one for the other side of the window. So I laid the freshly cut one on top of the uncut remnant of fabric and used it as a template to create another panel of exactly the same size:
Then I washed both curtain panels so they would be “pre-shrunk” and easy to launder from here on out (one of our main goals is to have as many “washable” surfaces in the kitchen and dining room as possible). Oh but it’s always smartest to preshrink fabric before you cut it, I just knew I only had enough fabric to make two panels of this size so whether I washed or cut it first (or cut and washed it later) I’d end up with the same sized panels in the end. I grabbed them fresh out of the dryer instead of letting them sit there to keep them wrinkle free for the most part.
Next I had to decide between my trusty curtain-making method of using iron-on hem tape or the slightly scary idea of using Oh Brother (my new sewing machine) to attempt to do what I used to use hem tape for. After a decent amount of out-loud debate with myself, I decided to try my hand at sewing curtain panels- just to see if I could do it (but you can find full curtain making tutorials with hem tape here and here). Even without my hem-tape security blanket, I did break out the iron to make a half inch “seam” down one of the short sides of the curtain. It just seems like now whenever I dabble in sewing, I find myself trying to iron instead of pinning – just to see if it’ll work. Am I a rebel or what?
The ironed seam definitely stayed put while I dragged the giant fabric swatch back into the kitchen to sew the hem, so I happily skipped the pinning step and even boldly (well, maybe that adjective is a stretch) decided to try another hemming technique that some of you have commented to tell me about in previous I’m-a-shaky-little-sewing-novice posts. I took the ironed seam and folded it over one more time, then I sewed down the seam to create a nice finished looking hem (even from the back). That extra fold hid the raw cut edge of the fabric, if that makes sense. And even with my extra folding step, there was thankfully no pinning required. Sweet.
See, here’s what it looked like completely folded over as I sewed down the seam.
And this method surprisingly worked on all sides (I worried the long 90″ sides of the panels wouldn’t take to ironing and would need to be pinned, but it went just as well as the short sides). And as for the defect, you can see how when I folded the hem over one more time, it became invisible and I was once again left with a finished looking edge from both the front and the back.
Here’s how the back of a corner looked once I was done with my quickie ironing-then-folding-then-hemming technique:
Then I clipped seven oil-rubbed bronze ring clips to each panel (from Target) and slipped them onto a super long oil-rubbed bronze rod. Oh how I love not having to sew a rod pocket or anything complicated thanks to the magic of ring clips. I ended up getting the curtain rod from Lowe’s since the ones at Target weren’t long enough – I ended up needing 144″ of length (that’s what she said).
Our curtain hanging method (also not patented or even endorsed) is for one of us to then stand on a chair (in this case, John) while the other one steps back and looks at the length of the curtains and how they hit the floor while the chair-stander raises and lowers the rod ever so slightly until the floor-stander screams “perfect- don’t move an inch or I’ll kill you” and then runs up to hold a rod bracket under the perfectly held rod to measure the distance from the crown molding or ceiling that it should be hung to keep the rod right where it’s being held.
Of course this only deals with the height of the rod and not the width, but we typically like to go as wide as we can with the curtains so they drape in front of the wall instead of blocking light and hanging in front of the window. In this case we went as wide as our extra long rod allowed (19″ outside of the window molding on each side). See how the panel just kisses the window and blocks wall instead of light?
Oh and notice how the curtain also seems to just graze the floor ever so slightly? Poor John raised and lowered the curtain on that chair fifteen times until it was juuuust right. We’ve tried measuring the wall or the panel instead of doing the by-eye real-test (involving two people, a chair, and some serious arm strength and balancing skillz) but you just can’t beat the result. At least we can’t. So we keep going back to it. And I tell John he’s my Atlas when he’s up there holding the rod up. Gotta keep team morale up.
Here’s another rod shot for you. You can also see how the curtains just hang slightly in front of the window trim here as opposed to blocking the whole side window, which is only 20″ wide. Since we mentioned that we hung the panels 19″ wide on each side of the window trim, you can totally see how if they were hung flush with the trim they would block all but one inch of that 20″ side window. Which is definitely not what we were going for.
You’ll have to excuse all of the wide shots of the room in this post. Things like the curtains and the room in general are coming off greener/yellower than they are in real life (the green grass/trees/bushes outside were casting a yellow-green tint through the big light-filled window, and I was too lazy to photoshop it). John will definitely be in charge of photos of this room next time around. As for the true color of the curtains, it’s best depicted in the closer shots without a lot of window going on, like the ones above.
Actually this shot is probably the most accurate to what they look like in real life. I’d describe them as mostly blue with hits of green, chartreuse, white, and brown. Crazy busy but also crazy gorgeous if you’re me (and miracle of all miracles, John loves them too). Who ever would have thought that two white curtain fiends like us could branch out and embrace curtain color and pattern? I wonder if my mom will like these or they’ll finally be a choice that she won’t endorse. What say you, mom?
Here’s another wide shot where they look more yellow/green than they really do in real life (they’re more like a teal blue color when you glance at them from afar) but you get the idea. Oh and the dark rod ties into the other deep tones in the room (the chair legs and dark dining table, the deep color on the back of the built-ins, etc). So that’s why I chose it over stainless or white. I always think a dark rod hung high and wide is like eyeliner on a window.
Mmmm, here’s a good shot of my favorite detail in the fabric. See those smeary turquoise blobs? They tie so deliciously into the slightly darker teal on the back of the built-ins. Yummy. Even the little yellow-green knobs that we added to the base cabinets of the built-ins relate perfectly to the pops of bright yellowy-green chartreuse in the curtains. Hooray for happy accidents like that (we had no idea what curtain fabric we’d pick when we snagged those babies at Hobby Lobby).
Oh yeah and I had some fun setting the table. Not that anyone’s coming over today. Or tomorrow. I just wanted to pull out a runner and some plates and cups and clip some random branches from outside. Why? I don’t know. Why do birds sing? I guess the colorful curtains got me hot and bothered enough to break out Sue the Napkin (times seven) and add some fun to the big empty wood table.
And guess what? I’m leaving everything there tonight. Just because I’m weird and I can’t wait to wake up in and morning and pad in there and smile. Kind of like how I paint a room and the next morning I run in and look at it again. Just grinning at the wall like a fool.
Isn’t it amazing how much of a difference curtains can make? Well, that and some rich color on the back of those built-ins. Here’s a little flash back to the room as it looked when we moved in:
And here it is now (albeit a little side-heavy with that bare wall on the left- for now):
Thought I was done? Nope. One more thing. Here’s a terribly rendered depiction of the doorway that we can’t wait to add that will connect the dining room to the kitchen (we plan to mirror the size of the picture window so the whole room feels nice and balanced). And of course adding a big chandelier over our giant table will add a lot more function (the room doesn’t have any ceiling fixtures!):
It’s so funny to remember that this room was a formal living room when we toured this house (and the office was the dining room). In fact we dug up these old shots that we took during our first walk through:
Gosh, that feels like a million years ago and it was less than six months back. As soon as we walked in we were struck by three things: we reeeally wanted the house, we wanted to change up a few of the rooms, and we reeeeally wanted the house. Yup, we were sold upon entry. I don’t think we ever got into the specifics, but the sellers weren’t 99% sure they even wanted to sell. In fact the night after we walked through the house for the first time they took their stuff out of storage. A sure sign to the realtor that they might take it off the market. Thank goodness it all worked out and they ended up accepting our offer.
As for looking past the way a room looks when you’re house hunting to see “the real space” we just completely discount furnishings and wallpaper and paint color and even entire room functions. That’s how we could look past the dining table and the sofa to almost immediately proclaim that converting the dining room into an office and turning the living room into a big spacious dining room would work more for the way we live. You know, since we have a huge family that we couldn’t cram into the former dining room, a giant living room in the back of the house (no need for two), and a penchant for open living and big wiiiide doorways. We just can’t help ourselves. Anyway, have you guys made any curtains lately? Knocked down any walls? Set the table for nothing but kicks?
Pssst – Soooo not a sewing person? I wasn’t either. Here’s a tutorial for making no-sew curtains with iron-on hem tape (and here’s another one for good measure).
Update – Wanna know where we got something in our house or what paint color we used? Just click on this button:
Patti says
Wow wow wow absolutely fab … I may have just been inspired to sew curtains for my bedroom because I can’t find anything I like! I love how this room is coming together!
Mariela says
I love your tutorials. I’ll use the hem tape since it will be my first time making curtains. I told my fiance that I will make curtains for our new house and he laughed at me! He thought I was kidding! lol.
Kelly says
I am amazed at how you saw a dining room in what was a living room. The room is looking AWESOME!
We settle on our first house <3 at the end of the month and I'm dying for an "Oh Brother" of my own to make some fabulous curtains like those. You gues are my inpiration for this house… I can't wait to get my paint on YHL style!
Kristy says
A beautiful success!
Katie says
Obsessed. I want to marry that fabric. (My husband would never agree to it.) This might be my favorite look you’ve created so far in the new house!
Caroline says
WOWWWWWWWWWWW. I am super impressed. And super inspired by the ~2 hour timeline. If you can do it in 2, I can do it in 24, right?!?! I was already itching to try my hand at some curtains for our living room, so this post came at the PERFECT time. My husband can thank you later. ;)
Well done, I LOVE it!!!!
Katie says
Obsessed. I want to marry that fabric. (My husband would never agree to it.) Might be my favorite look you’ve created in the new house so far!
Katie says
sorry for the annoying 2 posts! computer froze.
Kay says
Looks fantastic! You did a great job on the curtains! Just read your comment about adding blinds. Have you ever thought about a bamboo blinds? (Maybe you would need one custom one, for all three panes?) I think the brown, earthy-ness would look so nice w/ the brown slip covers!
Whatever you do will be fabulous and exciting to watch!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Oh yeah we loved bamboo blinds in our last house’s big picture window (along with curtains) so we definitely may end up layering them in someday down the line!
xo,
s
Suzanne Supplee says
Purty! You are one talented, busy girl. And I am so officially ADDICTED to this daily blog, so please keep exhausting yourselves!
I made some panels a few years ago, and nearly threw myself out the second story window in frustration. The rug idea is perfect—way better than landing in boxwoods.
Caroline says
and P.S. : can you tell a huge difference using Oh Brother vs. the iron-on hem stuff? I don’t have my own sewing machine yet, so wondering if the iron-on hem gig could work just as well?
YoungHouseLove says
I think it works just as well but might be a tinnnnny bit stiffer if that makes sense. The thread helps the seam feel lighter and more drapey and the iron on stuff is almost like there’s a little more rigidity to the fabric. But only slightly, like a wired ribbon or something (but even more subtle). But we used iron hem-tape for our bedroom curtains and the ones in Clara’s nursery and we love them!
xo,
s
Sara says
Love how it looks now that it’s painted and has curtains – what a change! I love how the slip covers fit perfectly over the chairs too – the just look a little bland to me, brown floors, brown table, brown chair legs and brown slip covers.. I know there’s a lot going on in the room with the curtains etc but anything in the plans to add a little simple spice to the chairs?
YoungHouseLove says
We’re just going to see how the room evolves and take it from there. Once we do the entryway and the opening to the kitchen and get some art on the walls and add a rug by the door it might be too much to busy up the chairs. Or we might want to add some spice down the road! Slowly but surely…
xo,
s
Sarah says
Gah! I freaking love them!! They pull the entire room together, I can’t believe how much the built ins (and everything on them) stand out now…along with the monster eyeballs :)
Seriously, amazing work.
Megan says
long time lurker, first time commenter (eek!)
i looooooove me some curtains, and these are gorgeous!!! i recently bought some fabric online (scary!) and paid a friend to sew them into 4 90ish” panels for my 2 large windows. i LOVE how they turned out. so i can relate to running into the room and smiling like a dork :) and as a bonus, i was super happy that my friend had them done in time for my 2 year old’s bday party!
random TIP with the clip rings if you wanna try it:: i pinch and clip the fabric and it hangs all wonderfully pleated-like… (as opposed to clipping the rings on straight like in your pics) just a touch of slightly-polished-casual. my decorating mantra :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh I love that tip! Thanks Megan.
xo,
s
Jill says
I love this fabric SOOO much that I’ve already found a website that sells it!
http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/robert-allen-fabric/robert-allen-khanjali-peacock-fabric-.htm?cvsfa=2700&cvsfe=2&cvsfhu=3538343933
How bold would I be if I ordered it strictly based on how much I love it in your dining room??? (It would be for my bedroom!)
YoungHouseLove says
Do it, do it, do it! Haha.
xo,
s
Nik says
Any plans for a fabulous light fixture or leaving it as is?
Looks awesome by the way. You guys inspire me…and of course my husband hates that because it usually means work for him.
YoungHouseLove says
We can’t wait to add a huge chandelier over our huge table. There aren’t any ceiling fixtures in there so it’s super dark at night.
xo,
s
Sarah H. says
Looks awesome!! I am really starting to see – and love – your vision. Love it when a plan comes together. ;)
Jennifer K says
It looks amazing you guys!! Really ties the whole room together.
But I have to say, that cow picture on the wall in the former owner’s house, I LOVE it!! :)
Jessica says
I LOVE the curtains! But I especially love the place settings and centerpiece and votives (oh my!) at the table….I must say I was iffy on the brown chairs, but once you added all that color to the table, it just WORKS! It looks fab in there….can’t wait til you knock that wall out…it’s going to be amazing….
Leah @ L4L says
*Squeals* I LOVE IT. I need to make Huz start reading your blog so he doesn’t feel as anxious about DIY projects. Also, I think this post finally gave me the motivation to make some no-sew curtains for our new house when we move next month! Yay! You guys rock!
Crystal says
Wow! The dining room looks AMAZING! What I like most about it (and about your blog in general) is that it took 6 months to go from here to there. It tells me it’s ok to wait for the right inspiration, the right price…heck, even the right mood.
I didn’t know where you were going with this room or how you were going to get there but I absolutely love the results!
Question: so until you open up the wall, do you have to walk through another room to get to your dining room? Just wondering how this set up would work in my house…
YoungHouseLove says
The kitchen is connected to the office, which is right behind the dining room, so we walk out of the kitchen into the office and then into the adjoined dining room. Not the best layout for sure, so we can’t wait to change that!
xo,
s
Meghan says
It’s official, as always: you both have impeccable taste! :)
Mary says
Please don’t take this the wrong way. I would like to help you with making any future window treatments.
Your hems at the bottom & top should be 4″ high & they should be sewn before you hem the sides. And the side hems need to be 2″ wide.
I am a professional so please trust me. This will give your drapes a more professional look and helps them hang better. You can use the same technique you used but just make your hems bigger. That’s all.
I hope you don’t take this as criticism or being snarky. I understand you are learning as you go. I just wanted to pass along some tips.
Caity says
What a fun room!!! So bright and colorful. The curtains look PERFECT!! Great job! :)
Elisa says
And this is why you guys make a living off of your blog. That’s all I have to say.
Wait, one more — you guys rock.
Elizabeth says
I’m just gonna blame my cold medicine for the fact that every time I read “rod” in this post I giggled.
Shannon Burke says
So I too love the curtains and need to create some similar type jobbies for my condo – however, I am stuck on how to a. adhere the rod to the wall – it is concrete and I’m not sure heavy machinery will do it (Dad broke a drill bit going through a bit to hide the cable).
b. the wall is giant window – door to outside – giant window. Do I do something all the way across and add a warming panel in the winter…since the door is d-rafty.
Thoughts? Or will you be taking a trip to NOVA soon and I could get your thoughts in person? :)
Shannon
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, Ikea sells some awesome rods that go into the ceiling. I know it sounds crazy, but hanging them at ceiling level instead of dealing with the concrete wall might work and look cool too. Good luck!
xo,
s
Jen says
The room is SO lovely and fresh now!!
Melissa says
Wow! I love the panels and they are so easy to do. I think the price is great since you would have paid that for something a JC Penney which would not have fit your aesthetic perfectly anyway. Have you thought about taking the next step to line them so the fabric won’t break down in the hot sun? I’ve had that happen – it takes a while but devastating when it does!
I think the chair solution really was the right one but I feel like they need a pop of color to tie them into everything else – either some sort of ribbon trim, a small lumbar pillow, or something. Can’t put my finger on it but if I come up with something cool, I’ll let you know!
YoungHouseLove says
We did think about lining them. Maybe since they hang in front of the wall and not the window and won’t be drawn closed I decided to skip it. Perhaps someday I’ll go back and add some lining…
xo,
s
The Orchard says
Wow! Your place looks fantabulous! I wish I had your creativity and taste!
T
TracyJ says
Oh, dear,I think I’m in love! I can hardly wait to buy fabric for curtains in our dining area. Your choice really brought everything together. You two cease to amaze!
Peg says
I agree with you! I think this is my favorite addition so far……although I am a fabric addict…..its incredible how the right print can pull it all together……even your chair covers color is repeated in the print! LOVE! It looks great! (although I did love the mirror over the window idea, the gallery walls, the scrap book paper in Ikea frames, the new outdoor space, the green LR rug, the……………:O)
Bethie says
I am so impressed with how this room has come together. I was curious how you make it all work, but I never doubted it would be as wonderful as all your other rooms. Congrats!
(And I swear I’m not looking for typos, but here is one you might want to look at: “I find myself try to iron.”)
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks so much for the tip! Off to fix that.
xo,
s
beekeebear says
Curtains look great! You’re brave for a novice! Folding the edge over twice is critical to keeping the fabric from fraying when laundered. And on your next set of curtains, you should tackle mitered corners!
Joy says
Beautiful curtains! You’ve inspired me to start tackling my bare windows…so sad, we’ve been here almost 2 years now and I still haven’t put up curtains (we have blinds currently) :( I am just so indecisive and can’t commit to a curtain color. But seeing how beautiful your patterned curtains are, maybe I’ll check out a fabric store and see if anything catches my eye. Thanks again for the inspiration and DIY tutorial!
angel says
I love your easy method of making curtains…no rod pocket. I wish I had thought of that before making curtains for my 12 ft tall windows. I’m actually pondering making new curtains since these have been up for 4 years and I need a change so perhaps I’ll try your method with the rings next time. I can’t tell you how many sets of curtains I’ve made with pockets on them. Why, oh why, couldn’t somebody have mentioned this to me years ago. LOL. Your room is coming together very nicely!!!!!
Asia@upward says
I cannot wait for y’all to knock out the wall leading to the kitchen! Cannot wait!! I absolutely adore how this room (and the rest of your house) has come together. You two make a great team! It’s soooooo fun to follow the progress-the witty dialogue doesn’t hurt either ;)
Always a fan!
Steph H. says
I really love the curtains, and how to whole room is coming together. One question though: when you do open up that large room, are you going to close the previous doorway in that wall or just leave it open? If you’re going to leave it open, are you worried it may look like a wall with just a buncha’ wholes in it? Overall I think this room is becoming my favorite in your house!
YoungHouseLove says
That doorway leads to the hall with the bedrooms and the new opening will be much wider and lead to the kitchen. We’ve taped it off on the wall to envision it and we think it’ll just look like an open planned room that opens to a bunch of spaces (like many rooms in newer homes with an open floor plan). The big opening to the office, the new opening to the kitchen, and the doorway that leads down the hall will hopefully just make it feel airy and breezy. Here’s hoping it works out the way we envision it!
xo,
s
Izzy says
I totally agree with hanging curtains so they don’t block any of the window pane. I can’t understand folk who start the curtain pole where the window frame starts, it seems such a shame to block the light. Like your colour scheme, especially the teal.
Stacey P says
Wow! I love seeing it all come together and well done on sewing the panels. It’s awesome that you get so giddy over setting the table…I’m the same way, but what a blast that you’re living comes from having fun & celebrating the little things in your home!!! Yay! It’s so cool to virtually participate in what you’re doing to make this sweet house your home. Can’t wait to see what is tackled next :)
Lianne says
IT’S GORGEOUS!
Who knew that everything, although collected over some time, would be so cohesive! The patterned curtains really help pull everything together. And I’m glad you went with brown chairs instead of apple. It would have been too overwhelming. Look at that beautiful table! And I love what you put the branches into.
Very jealous. One day I WILL own a house, and this can be my baby :P
Nichole@40daysof says
I absolutely love your curtains. They look awesome! Take it from someone who has “skimpy curtain disease” – me, go splurge on more fabric and make 4 more panels. You’ll be much happier a year from now. :)
Melody says
Sherry, your “babies” look amazing! The dining room looks like such a fun yet polished place to eat!
Liz F. says
“Here’s another rod shot for you.” That’s what she said! To Andrew Breitbart?
Dining room is really coming together! The color choice on the chair slipcovers was excellent — you’re right that the original plan would have led to too much blue and green (though I, too, love apple green). Hurry up and put a massive hole in the wall already! We’re dying here.
Amber says
That fabric makes me swoon and I think maybe even I could depart from my white, brown, or tan curtains to (gasp!) a gorgeous pattern like this. So beautiful! It looks lovely.
@austinklee says
My wife keeps the table set for kicks EVERYDAY. I admit it helps our small kitchen/dining area look a lot better than a blank table.
Any suggestions for renters? We don’t own…but like to decorate!
YoungHouseLove says
We have a whole section about dorm and apartment decorating (which also works for rentals) on our Project page for ya (see that tab up under our header?). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Karin says
NOW we’re talking, sister! I have been blog stalking you for months, just waiting for a curtain post. Yes, I know you did some lovely things in the nursery, but I’ve been waiting for some inspiration for my own bald living room windows, and my own shunned sewing machine, and this has done the trick, I think. At least I’m sure I’ll get started right after I pimp your birthday party bling for my son’s party this weekend! You guys ROCK!
Jami Denton says
OK–I have to say I totally doubted your fabric choice, but Holy Moly–that’s one awesome looking window. Love, love, love how those curtains made the room. They just tie the teal on the back of the cabinets, the brown chairs, and the green from outside all together. BEEE-A-U-TI-FUL. Now, maybe I’ll be inspired to get some stuff done in my home.
Callie says
Mmmm gorgeous. I love the curtains!! Perfect choice to help the rest of the colors in the room be more cohesive. Love it! Great job!
Rachel P. says
Well, you did say you wanted to go more bold in the color department for this house. I would say these curtains definitely fulfill that desire. It looks great, but honestly, I was more interested in the plan for the doorway. I couldn’t visualize it when you wrote about it earlier, but now that you showed what you mean I understand a lot better.
Carolyn says
I’d love to knock down some walls in our house, but am worried it’ll make our house less structurally sound. How would you recommend figuring out if a wall is safe to knock down and not a crucial support beam or something? I guess it helps you guys don’t have an upstairs …
LOVE the curtains! I actually just bought some white curtains from Ikea to hang in our bedroom with bamboo shades … looks like I’m still in the first-petersik-house stage ; ) Would love to make some bright curtains for another room though.
YoungHouseLove says
If it’s a load bearing wall (which usually runs the opposite direction of the beams in the attic and parallel to the wood floors, which is the case with our wall) we always get help from a pro. They add an extra support beam above the doorway so our house doesn’t collapse! Muy important! We just ask around and check out the yellow pages to find a few contractors and get a bunch of estimates to pick the right people for the job. More details as we go!
xo,
s