Saturday, May 21, 2011

My new Curtains

I know that most of us make do with what we have, I am no exception.  Our home is a 1976 4 bedroom, 2 1/2 bath, nothing special house.  We have made many changes in the 10 years we've lived here - it still screamed 1976 in 2000.  
The living room windows are a challenge for me.  The three large windows take up almost the whole wall, which IS nice because it lets in lots of light, which is also NOT nice because it lets in lots of light! The windows certainly aren't country/prim at all. If you look closely at the right hand side, you can see that the windows are recessed back into a jut-out (is that a word?) which is kind of interesting.
These dark brown curtains are my second attempt to figure something out for these windows.  I made them a few years ago and have never really been happy with them.  Previous to these, I had made valances I copied out of  Country Curtains.  Those went bye-bye to be replaced with these dark brown ones.  

In an effort to go simple, I bought a bolt of osnaburg and tore pieces for these curtains.  I stitched a rod pocket at the top and tied them back with string.  While I would like to string these across my windows on jute, instead of having the rod, that isn't possible. 

The new curtains...... 

These windows face South and I have to have the roman shades on the windows for blocking the sun in the summer - just to cool down our living room.  Because of the shades I can't hang the curtains on jute - like I would like to, but I will make do! 

Oh, and by the way, I didn't throw out the cats with the dark brown curtains - I have no idea where they disappeared to for the final picture!  
~Ann


23 comments:

  1. It looks nice! I have mini blinds at my windows and I just hate them. I like how they filter the light but they get so dusty all the time. I'm always trying to figure out what to do differently but so far haven't found anything.
    Maybe the cats were on their break at the time of the photo shoot! lol

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  2. Ann, what a difference! I know you must be pleased. I have a similar issue upstairs in our three dormers...all different rooms so it is a challenge to get something across the front of the house that looks unified. Right now I have pull down shades that are scallopped with shutters sitting in the windows (garage sale find) They are not perfect enough size wise to be hung, so they are just propped up. I recently saw an idea I loved and have a friend making the curtains now ( I don't sew at all!) I'll share with you when I am done! Nice to make changes! I have cats too and you never know if they are photo ready or not! :? Happy weekend to you! Beth @ The Prim Colonial

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  3. I Love your new curtains. What a difference. They brightened your room up too.

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  4. Good Morning, Ann,
    I do like the change...it looks so much bigger and brighter.

    Happy Saturday ~Natalie

    p.s. Gotta love cats!

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  5. Love the new curtains!!! They look so much larger now!

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  6. Your new curtains look really good. I know how you feel about the shades. I have to have them for privacy and I feel if they show, they show.
    betty

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  7. I love your new look for your windows. I made the same brown mistake once for my kitchen, it was homespun with deer in the checks. Looked good till I hung them. I think the brown does something to the mood. Anyway mine will now be blue. Thanks for posting your pretty pictures, now go find those kittys!

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  8. Ann,
    the curtains look great, and I'm sure glad you didn't throw out the cats !!LOL. I'm also in the process of making new kitchen curtains, I have chosen a fabric with coffee cups in an allover pattern, I hope they turn out well.
    Wendy

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  9. Love your update - really freshened things up! Maybe the kitties are just adjusting to the change! I hate figuring out curtains- it's such an expensive to do it wrong! I see ones in magazines and things and of course they just don't work on my windows! Love the higher tie back

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  10. Hi Ann, Love the new curtains, really made a big difference. Well I can't have jute hung curtains either, I have shades behind my front room curtains, just to much afternoon sun. We live in a 1950's ranch house, not very primitive either, trying my best. Have a great weekend. Vicky

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  11. Ann~

    Love your new curtains!! They really brighten up the room.

    Enjoy your weekend~Becky

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  12. Ann,
    The new curtains are bright and spacious , and I have to live with shades or opt for shutters instead I opted for high quality stained glass window film , filters light but no longer a view ?? :0( I say keep the shades or watch some yard sales for shutters! Enjoy your weekend hugs
    lil raggedy angie

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  13. Love your curtains! So glad the cats are still
    there!

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  14. love your curtains! they are perfect. i have bamboo shades and valances in cooler months and lined curtains in summer. it gets tooo hot in florida. denise

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  15. Your curtains are ADORABLE!!1 Love the simple look, Valerie

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  16. Wow - the difference is night and day! Great job, they look wonderful!
    Tracey

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  17. I am loving the new curtains. It seems to make a difference to create three small windows instead of one big one. It looks very charming.

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  18. Well, we went through this dilemna too and ended up with valance on top and indoor shutters on bottom half. They still let the light in when you want it and we just close the shutters to keep the sun out.
    Carol

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  19. Just found your blog...very nice! I really like the curtains. It can be so hard to decide what you want! I'm actually thinking of switching different window treatments per seasons because I can never seem to make up my mind! I think these look wonderful! ~Kriss~

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  20. I LIKE!!! Very nice! So much brighter, I bet you love it!

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  21. Hi: Just found your blog. Love, love, love your curtains. Those windows call for just the style you chose and you will love osnaburg...if you get it out of the dryer quickly, give it a shake, you can put it right back up and it gets softer with each washing. Good Job! Please visit me: http://theoldefarmhouse.blogspot.com and leave me a comment. {{hugs}} Joy

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  22. Ann I love the new look ! It really prims up your space quite nicely. I have a similar problem with too much light except I ahvent found such a nice solution as you yet ! Stop over and enter my giveaway if you get a chance.
    Hugs,
    Margie at Hungry Hook Primitives

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Thank you for visiting my blog. I'm so happy to "meet" you through blog land. ~Ann