This window has new curtains and blinds! I don’t blame you if you can’t exactly feel the excitement, but it’s exciting to me. Here’s how it was looking after I refinished the window frame in our bedroom. Getting that done was well and good, but the next task was to tackle the pile of curtains and blinds that had been sitting in the corner, staring me down for the last six months. There it is over on the right, hiding but not really. The pinky-putty aluminum venetians were okay, and I knew they were custom-made for these windows, but we wanted to upgrade to a curtain/blind combo for a couple reasons. Sheer roller blinds would allow light and privacy during the day, while lined curtains would provide privacy and a degree of insulation at night. With that decided, we collected a pile of furnishings — three sheer roller blinds, a set of curtains and curtain liners — on a side trip to IKEA when we were in Sydney a few months back. (The blinds fit in our luggage, except the 1m blind which had to be wrapped in brown paper and checked as a separate piece of luggage.)

There were other options — Spotlight, Bunnings, custom treatments — but the hassle of IKEA felt worth it to me. (I made curtains for the living room, which, my #1 lesson learned there: DIY is not always cheaper than buying new, especially with textiles.)I got my window furnishings, I fixed up the window itself, and then it was time to send the curtains and blinds into surgery. ENJE roller blind surgery (as seen on: Door Sixteen, Making It Lovely) This was simpler than cutting down the roller blinds. All I wanted to do was convert the tab-tops into hooks and rings. Less casual than tab-tops, pockets or grommets, less fussy than any style of pleat. That was what I used when I made our living room curtains, and I like ‘em. I carefully cut off each tab, stitched the gaps closed, and then attached curtain pleat tape along the top edge. Easy to pop in a few hooks and then hang them off rings. The liners needed hemming, but the curtains were fine — I hung them so they just hover over the floor.

I’ll be glad not to think about this window again anytime soon. I’m happy with how the curtains and blinds function, of course, but I do like how the ‘natural’ (light beige) curtains, timber window frames and dark walls go together. It’s a small room, so I want it to feel minimal and soothing, yet cozy. (The star quilt, if you’re curious, is one I made.) When I hung my curtains, I attached GLANSNAVA curtain liners to them, which come with tape and clips so it’s easy to attach them to curtains or put them on hooks. Together, they’re still not fully blackout shades, but they’re blackout enough. This gives you an idea of how sheer the ENJE blinds are. I get to check out the scenery, like our recycling bin waiting for pickup. Small room, big window, so it’s a bit tricky to get a photo of the full thing. (One day I might even learn how to take photos of rooms without major blowout in the windows!) That’s a 3m (10ft) rod, the longest curtain conduit available without going to a specialty shop.

There’s more stuff I want to sort out for this room (the light fixture, the headboard), but things are coming together. 1 - 25 of 53 ads for "used curtains for sale" within Curtains & Blindscountry crafts and curtains fredericton nbI'm so glad to share a "home" post with you - it's been quite a while because I keep getting started on projects and not finishing them! blackout curtains belkOr rather...taking a break while searching for more inspiration. lottie red eyelet curtainsMy second bedroom, as a whole, is nowhere near finished, but I've finally completed this cute little corner. mercer grommet top curtain panel

I started this project in January during the massive Snowcation in Atlanta - finally now, at the end of May, it's done! Keep reading for details and inspiration pictures... After painting the room, my first step was to find a desk in the right size. viceroy bedding blackout curtainsI wanted something no larger than 36 inches wide - most new desks were 45 inches or larger. eclipse frisco energy efficient curtainI hit several antique expos and stores and found this wonderful piece, exactly 36 inches wide, at my ballroom dance client's antique store, The Queen of Hearts in Alpharetta, GA, for roughly $125! ikea merete curtains beigeIt was originally a cream color and had very basic knobs so a coat of white paint and clear acrylic knobs from Home Depot helped it!

Next I went in search of those gold shelf brackets at Ikea like my first inspiration pic (below) - they were unfinished wood and only $3 each, if I remember correctly, and the white shelf was cheap, too. Throw in a can of gold spray paint, done and done. I wanted an upholstered Parsons chair that wasn't antique and I found this one, along with the black and white striped blanket (second inspiration pic) at Ikea recently. The chair legs were natural wood color so I painted them the same color as the desk. I found the pillow form and fabric at JoAnn Fabrics, and put that together on my sewing machine very quickly. The last thing I did was add the pom poms to the curtains - I love pom poms...you might remember me adding them to this vintage dress last year. Desk - Antique {similar here, here, and here} Desk knobs - Home Depot {here} Shelf Brackets - Ikea "Ekby Valter" {here} Shelf - Ikea "Östen" {here} Curtains - Ikea "Merete" {here} Pillow fabric and form