November 4, 2009

Guest Bedroom Revisited – Window Treatments

 

When I posted about my guest bedroom reveal,  I promised that I would share some specifics at a later date. 

Today, I will share the crazy planning that went into my window treatments.

Let me start by saying that the first blog that I truly fell in love with is “Cote de Texas”.  That talented Joni says all the right things…well actually, she has been known to get in a little trouble, but I love her for that too!!  She also has that magic touch that doesn’t come naturally to everyone-and by that I mean interior designers and interior decorators.  Yes, designers know how far off the floor a handicap handrail has to be and the rating of fabric for commercial use, and wheel chair accessibility codes, etc!!!! But, there are some things that years of continued education can’t teach and that is real style.  Whew!  I said all of that to say that Joni has style.  She has posted several of her clients homes and I LOVE them all.  Her blog is  chocked full of  impressive interviews and beautiful photographs of lovely room after lovely room. 

The connection to my guest room and  “Cote de Texas” is this:  Joni is doing a series of posts about her “Ten Favorite Design Elements”.  Curtains/Window Treatments ranked high on her list.  It was a wonderful post.  It had great examples of “what to do” and “what not to do”.  Of course, most of my window treatments fell in that last category. 

I did learn a while ago that you should hang your curtain rod close to your ceiling.  I have done this in every room.   I made an A+ in this class.  That opens up a whole other problem, though.  You can’t hang the standard 84” panels on them unless you want it to look like your windows had a growing spurt!  So, custom-custom-custom. Luckily, I can sew.

The problem now is that weird, blank wall space between the top of the window and that design-savvy rod hanging proudly at the ceiling.  Some folks hang a row of plates, or a piece of metal art, or a long painting.  Maybe that helps – who knows?  

To eliminate this problem, Joni suggests that you hang your shade, sheers, blinds, etc. as close to your curtain rod as you can.  And, I totally agree that it looks so much better this way.  No more odd wall space.

Unfortunately,  the numerous windows at Blue Creek Home were custom fitted with inside mounted, mini blinds during construction.  We have 5 foot, double windows installed 6” apart in the master bedroom and also in the family room.   I used 12 foot rods over these windows in both rooms.  And, remember, I hung all my rods close to the ceiling.  Yeah, all of my windows have the dreaded wall space!

I don’t even want to think of how much a 12 foot wide bamboo shade, or any 12 foot shade for that matter, would cost.   I am not going to hang anything to try to make it disappear.  I just brainstorm and dream about a solution that won’t break the bank!!  Please let me know if you have any ideas. Really!

While I was planning the make-over in the guest room, I knew that I would fix this problem.  I took out the mini-blinds and raised the curtain rod.  Then, I bought a pair of dark bamboo blinds that I ended up hating because they were dark!!! Duh!  Down they came!  Pass the spackle, please.

I remembered a really wide, light colored, bamboo blind that had made the move with us from Mississippi.  It would be perfect.

The photographs will help the story go faster!!

 

 

A Before Shot Of The “What Not To Do” Windows!!!  Yes, I Know…It’s  B-A-D!!!

 

 

 

The Wide Bamboo Blind…

 

 

 

 

Getting Cut Up!

 

 

 

I Love My Power Tools!!!

 

 

 

Working With This Fabric Was Awful.  It Kept Sliding Off Of The Table!

 

 

 

Hanging The Blinds Behind The Rod Was Challenging.  I Am Now A Pro At Spackling!

 

 

 

These Blinds Are Not Functional, But The Drapes Close For Privacy.

 

 

 

I Wish The Blinds Were Shorter, But They Have To Come To The Top Of The Window. 

 

 

 

Better…Much Better, And Definitely Worth It.

 

Transformation Thursday 

Today is “Transformation Thursday” at “The Shabby Chic Cottage”. Thanks, Gina.

 

 

 Sat. Night Special  Junky Interiors

Also, check out the “Saturday Nite Special” party at “Funky Junk Interiors”.  McLinky goes up on Friday night.  I will link up then.  This is my first time to attend this party.  Go with me?

Rhonda

25 comments:

  1. Those windows look FABULOUS! And YAY for power tools! They are the bestest kind!

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  2. Gorgeous window treatments! What a beautiful room, your guests will never want to leave!

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  3. Such a beautiful room...the window treatments are the icing on the cake!

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  4. What a great way to treat the windows. I learned a lot just from this post! Beautiful, comfy room!

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  5. Hi Rhonda...

    My friend...what a treat to revisit your fabulous frenchy guest bedroom! I would never tire of seeing this beautiful room...it's absolutely breathtaking!!! I love, love, LOVE the look and ambiance that your beautiful blue drapes give to the room! Ohhh my goodness...and after viewing your "before" photos...I just can't believe what a differce that changing the drapes and adding that pretty blind made to the room!!! Such great design choices, my friend! Last year I went through my home and bought all new drapery hardware and placed them as close to the ceiling as I could get them...I just couldn't believe the difference that it made to the overall look of the rooms!!! Now...I stand on my "soap box" whenever given a chance...proclaiming to raise those rods! Hehe! I do have to admit though...I have that blank space of wall between the rod and window...eeekkks! I never really thought about it till you mentioned it...now look what you've gone and done! wink! I'll have to put some thought to it!

    Thank you so much for sharing your tips and "how to's" with adding the blinds...you're so creative, Rhonda!!!

    Warmest wishes,
    Chari

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  6. The window treatments looks absolutely stunning. Love it!

    Have a wonderful day.

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  7. Fabulous to say the least ... elegant and classy, well done!!

    xo
    Jill

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  8. You did a great job, Rhonda! I love the fabric and color of your drapes, too.

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  9. Such a gorgeous room. I love the bamboo blinds. I cut some down in my last home and they were just wonderful. Thanks for sharing. Hugs, Marty

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  10. Rhonda,
    You used every designer "trick" in the books, and you did it perfectly...also, not many designers do it themselves..I do, but most go to a workroom...you are one smart lady...
    OXOX
    Jessica

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  11. Rhonda,
    Your room is so inviting! Thank you for sharing about how you solved the blank wall space problem. I often teach people how to hang thier rods higher-but you do end up with those couple of problems. I have not seen this solution done so well before!

    I am really impressed with how you created the bamboo shade---way to go using what you have already! It is perfect for that space and with the curtains it makes the room remarkable.

    Love what you did, and how amazing the room looks! I will be following you.
    -Angela

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  12. Bonjour! What a great job you did on the windows, love the color. Congratulations on the power tools - I love mine too!

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  13. The LOVE I have for your new drapes, is not small!!! Wow, what a dramatic transformation. You really nailed it. I see Joni & Cote de Texas all over that room! Great job~ Deborah

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  14. Every time I see this room I fall in love with it all over again. I love the separate functionality of the blinds & drapes...there's nothing worse than people tugging at those gorgeous curtains to get them closed. Awesome room!

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  15. Beautiful redo! Isn't it amazing how much a difference window treatments can make? Love it!
    xoxo
    Donna

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  16. Thank God I found this window treatment. It is EXACTLY what I want for my room! Thank you Thank you Thank you soooooo much!

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  17. Rhonda, first off welcome!!

    And now I have to tell you, I have never learned as much about window treatments as I have from this post. Amazing info. I'll have to go check out Joni for more more more! Thanks so much for spelling out what you did and why.

    The result is really beautiful! I too am eyeing up fakeish blinds but I hate to cover any glass window area or framework. Maybe I have it all wrong after all... ponder...

    It's my belief that you'll be seeing a few more window treatments sprout out with your version soon. They really really look fabulous!

    Thanks for linking up to SNS #4!

    Funky Junk Donna

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  18. Your lovely curtains are featured on the SNS #4's higlights! :)

    http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2009/11/highlights-from-sns-4-window-treatments.html

    FJ Donna

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  19. I saw these at Funky Junk and HAD to get over here and look at them! VERY nice! Very, very upscale! Great job! That room is perfect.

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  20. These look wonderful. What a difference! I have big wall spaces between my windows and rods. I will have to rethink them. Thanks! (And, Yea, for sewers!)

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  21. I've never been a big fan of drapes, but your windows look awesome.

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  22. It looks so good! Can I come and be a guest in that bedroom?
    I have a suggestion for your 12 foot windows. I have a similar problem in my living room and this is what I think I'm going to do. Get a few yards of fabric and pin them up sideways, making pleats or ruffles or whatnot, just like the blinds, only sideways with fabric. Does that make sense? I'm going to try at my house and when I post pics, I'll link back up to you. : )

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  23. omg!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    this is beyond fabulous! I can not believe the difference. it is beyond wonderful. seriously. you really really nailed it perfectly. who cares if you can't close the blinds? mine don't go down to the bottom either in my bedroom, but no one knows! in fact most of mine don't go all the way down!!! but it solves that empty space problem so great. send me a picture of your problem window and let me see if i can think of something to help out. though you really don't need my help! you did great all on your own. it's wonderful!!!!

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  24. Way to go, you did an amazing job. A woman who can sew and spackle is alright with me !

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So happy you are here - I love your comments!