i had a beaded curtain as i kid that i loved. it was a cheap, plastic and probably meant to be a retro nod to 60’s or 70’s. the beads were multi colored and transparent and made the best shimmery sounds when you walked through them. it wasn’t fancy but it made my room a place unlike any other in the house. thinking back on i found myself in an internet rabbit hole in search of any new innovations to this classic and surprisingly i found very few. after a lot of searching i did eventually come across a small handful of very lovely and one of a kind versions. feeling a little more inspired i decided i’d give it a go and see if i might be able to DIY one worthy of a house inhabited by adults. the plan was to make it simple and graphic, allowing texture and shape to take the place of wild colors and plastic bits. • 3/4 inch wooden dowel cut to the width of the door jam were you plan to hang your curtain plus 2 inches • 2 inch styrofoam balls, we used about 60 to create the density we wanted but this will depend on where you hang it

• 1/4 inch natural cotton cord, ours was a large spool we got at Michael’sikea werna curtains review • a drill with 1/4 inch bit (not pictured)blackout curtains 90x90 CLICK THROUGH TO SEE HOW WE MADE IT!….behind the curtains adultos mix the paper pulp according to instructions and smooth over the styrofoam balls. zorbit curtainsit can take a little effort to get the paper pulp to stick at first but as you add more and smooth it it will become easier and stick to the styrofoam. once you have a nice shape set the balls down and allow them to dry completely hard. the dry time will depend on the air conditions where you live and can take a few days in humid or damp climates, so it’s best to set them out of the way during this step so they don’t roll around.

next, using a 1/4 inch bit drill holes through the styrofoam balls. after you have drilled all of your pieces paint them with acrylic gesso. you can also use craft paint be i liked how matte the gesso made the surface of the dried paper pulp. cut 6 strands of cord 1 and 1/2 times the length of your door. after knotting the first bead in, measure about 5 inches and make another knot. add another bead and continue this until you have the length necessary for your door. repeat this for the number of strands you need for the width of your door. loop them onto your dowel rod evenly and snip the remaining cord. if you feel the need you can secure the loops in place with a dab of craft glue. installation of your curtain will depend on your space and how permanent you want it to be. if you want to be able to take it up and down easily you can screw 1 1/4 inch mug hooks (available here at home depot) on either side of your door frame and set the dowel rod in the hook. keeping the palette neutral and the textures a bit rough help to elevate the curtain beyond the kitschiness of the novelty store version of my youth.

I can envision it in a chic island retreat as well as a seasonal play on snow fall, the perfect addition to a winter white interior. let us know if you try it out in your home! project by: natalie and gina gordon for designlovefest The Greenbrier is one of those places that has always seemed so enchanting to me, so we jumped at the chance to hit the road to West Virginia and create an editorial there for Southern Weddings V9! From the colors and patterns, to the architecture, to the history, to the traditions wrapped up in this incredible property, there was an abundance of inspiration to pull from, and we had a blast meeting up with one of our favorite vendor teams (including Jaclyn Journey, Whitney Neal, and Carley Randall, who all made the trip from Kentucky) to bring this bold and colorful, but refined, shoot to life. Our story was inspired by the many real families who create sweet traditions at the Greenbrier–in this case, a girl whose grandmother takes her there for tea every year on her birthday.

When it came time for her wedding, she couldn’t imagine a more meaningful or celebratory place to gather loved ones for a ceremony and reception…and afternoon tea, of course! We’re so grateful to the fantastic weddings team at The Greenbrier for hosting us so graciously, and to the phenomenal team who helped us bring our Dorothy Draper-esque vision to life! We were incredibly lucky to work with Momental Designs for this paper suite. Kristy had visited the Greenbrier before, and knew exactly how to translate their incredible patterns and plaster work into paper. She truly knocked it out of the park! One of my favorite small details from this shoot: our sweet bride’s stylish little teal bow! And of course, that coral charm peony bouquet by Jaclyn Journey gets ALL the heart eyes. Our bride and groom from this shoot are married in real life! It was so fun to meet West Virginia couple Astleigh and Pete and work with them on this project. The Greenbrier is famous for its afternoon tea service (complete with a rendition of the Greenbrier Waltz!), so for this editorial, we opted to replace cocktail hour with afternoon tea!

Our bride’s own 93-year-old grandmom joined us for these photos, and she was completely precious!! Pick up your copy of the magazine for more of the backstory here! Any Bachelorette fans in the house? Emily Maynard made the Greenbrier love clock tradition famous, and we had fun indulging in it with our bride and groom, too! Josh from McComas Video Productions put together the most wonderful behind-the-scenes film from our day at the Greenbrier – it really showcases the iconic property and all that went into this shoot! Southern Weddings Magazine V9: Greenbrier Getaway from McComas Video Productions on Vimeo. Pick up your copy of the magazine in our shop or on newsstands around the South right now! Planner, stylist, and florals: Jaclyn Journey | Photographer: Whitney Neal | Film processing: Richard Photo Lab | Videography: McComas Video Productions | Venue and pastries: The Greenbrier Resort | Hair and makeup: Carley Randall | Cake: Martine’s Pastries | Papers goods: Momental Designs |