"Woman Returns Rescue Dog 'because it clashed with curtains'"
Wednesday, May 25, 2011 at 8:40AM Don't worry Derby, we won't do this to you.
Well, I've been chipping away at the ol' list for the past few days & have come to the point where I need to decide what to do about the window treatments in our living room. For the past 5 years, all we've used are the blinds that were here when we moved in. I am not a fan of blinds, but they do function very well & if I have to have them, I am glad that they are wood slat blinds.
Our main living area has a small bay area & since we keep our sofa in there, I've never really worried about curtain panels. However, I am tired of looking at these blinds day in & day out and I want to at least partially hide them. One problem - that gorgeous, original stained glass window dating to the late 1800s. Do we really cover that? & how about picking a fabric? I would love a bit of a pattern, but don't want it to clash/compete with the stained glass. A bold color would definitely work, but I *think* I'm leaning more towards a light fabric. Again, I don't want them to just be solid white...but I can't think of what else would work with the window.
My first thought? Sheer burnout curtains. West Elm has them; Crate & Barrel, too. As I've mentioned in the past, I love Marimekko & these panels could give me that pattern I love without being too obtrusive.
There are 2 problems. #1 is the price. #2 is the length. We have really tall ceilings and need curtains that are at least 12' long! Alas, these only go to 108".
A much, much cheaper option are the Alvine Rund curtains from IKEA. At $24.99 for a pair of panels, these are more than affordable. I couldn't even buy fabric for that price (if I could even find this kind of fabric!). I don't love the pattern, but I do like it well enough. I love IKEA curtains because they are so long & hemmable, but apparently their curtains max out at 98". Funny, I really didn't think about how tall our ceilings were until the other day.
I am currently sewing drapery panels for our master bedroom, so I figured "What's another 4 - 6 panels?" and started searching for fabric. Fabric.com is one of my favorite sites, but nothing but a bunch of crushed velvet (CRINGE) came up for "burnout fabric". I am either missing the correct term or you just can't buy this kind of fabric.
Going back to the pattern idea, I also searched various sites for "pale grey on white" and needless to say, it didn't return many results. But I still really love the idea of something like this (again, price is way to high).
So please, help! Here are my questions/thoughts:
- White curtains or color?
- Does that Marimekko fabric exist by the yard?
- Should I save my pennies for them & if so, what to do about length (curtains that look like highwaters...no. Just, no)?
- Is there other sheer burnout fabric that I can get by the yard? If so, please tell me where...
- What are your thoughts?
Interior Design, My Home 
Reader Comments (7)
What about these? They come in ivory, 120" length, and are $39.99 per panel (which isn't super cheap, but not horrible for 12 foot length I don't think, either). http://www.curtainworks.com/othello-modern-geometric-curtain-panels.html
I think a fabric term you might be able to use for more searches is voile -- usually used for sort of sheer fabric, if that's what you're going for. Good luck, hope you find something perfect!
I have ikea white sheers in our living room and love that they hide the blinds, but still let in light. You can get fabric at both the C&B outlet and Ikea. I could also see a nice wide colored and white strip too- something not as bright as these: http://high-heelfootinthedoor.blogspot.com/2009/09/seeing-stripes-diy-curtains.html
What about something with some green in it? It would go with your pillows, lamp shade and I don't think it would clash with the beautiful stained glass window either. Maybe something like this: http://honeywerehome.blogspot.com/2011/03/new-living-room-drapes.html
Kelsey - I am starting to think the same thing. Again. I was worried that a green pattern would be too much green, but I still haven't bought a new rug yet, so could make that more neutral. I will post an update tomorrow.
Thanks everyone!! I really appreciate it :)
Increasingly, it is used in cabinetry doors, as an accent around mirrors, and even in light fixtures. The design as well as the color palette of an art glass piece is easily personalized; most shops will work from drawings, photos or color samples to fashion a product that is uniquely yours.
Choosing the right widow curtains for your house is very important, as they impart elegance, style and effect to your room. Two things that you need to keep in mind before zeroing in on the curtains for your house are the purpose to be served by the curtains and their style suitability.
Very simple yet elegant curtain. Perfect for any occasions. And I think it gives a wider impression inside the house.