Dining Room Window Treatments: DONE!

It took ALL DAY, but we are done! They turned out pretty much how I envisioned (see my post about my window treatment inspirations here)  It took forever to get these ideas into action, but I am so glad I did it!

Here's the before:

Here's the AFTER:

Ready for a close up:

My sources for materials were: Ikea, curtain rods, Overstock for the Bali Rattan Blinds, and WalMart for the Better Homes & Gardens drapery panels.
I spent 66.00 (about) each for the rattan blinds (they were sooo large mind you--for a small window much cheaper) and 9.00 per panel (on clearance ) for the panels. I bought 4, so I could lengthen them to 94" (from 84") The curtain rods were 9.99 each (steal! they came with fleur di lis filials, but I left those off)

Inspiration:

from Cote de Texas

Things I learned:

1. Curtain panels typically some in 55" and 84" length--check your packages carefully before you trot out of the store (I thought I had all 84" L panels, but one was 55"L!! Major bummer)

2. Stitch Witchery beats hemming a curtain panel every time...and.....

3. Satin/Taffeta is a major pain in the arse to sew straight, ok?

4. Gets hubs to help you put up the blinds...they are heavy and it'll take the two of you to hold them up while you attach them

5. Ikea has good , cheap curtain rods in lengths up to 134" in width!

6. Yes you CAN make a curtain rod our of PVC pipe, but it will sag if its longer than, like 3-4 ft ...so you will need a center bracket, ok?

Make it a Great Day!
Ann

Living Room: an ongoing evolution

I've been going nuts on how to inject color into my living room, while still keeping it  neutral/relaxing. Also I needed to incorporate a new layout in a long, narrow room... one of the hardest room shapes to layout furniture.

Here's the progress

I like the green...what do you think?
Still to do:
Replace verticals with curtains and rattan blinds...
sew the pillow covers ON the pillows...haha, right now they are just folded on....
spray paint the coffee table pewtery-gold
get an nice rug? sisal?

Sunshine Awards!

Thank you to Michelle of House Changers for my Sunshine Award!!

If you have not already, go and see absolute MAGIC at her blog--- the before and afters are a-maze-ing!

These are my Sunshine Awards!

ReStyled Home
Linda has so many tips and ideas you can roll thru her blog all day. One of the first blogs I discovered, she got me hooked! Her kitchen ideas and pictures alone are pure joy.

HouseChangers
OK, OK, Michelle gave me a Sunshine award, but I have to go right back at her  because her ideas are out of the box, ambitious, and, well, you gotta go check it out. She is blogging about totally rehabbing houses, so if you are hesitating about painting your kitchen (I am right now) because you are lazy too busy, see what she's done in the last week and see you don't have it so hard!

Anything Pretty
Jenny's house is amazing and her posts are so much fun. I love her kitchen..that's how I found her... our kitchens look kind of similar with the dark cabinets. Her makeovers are fantastic.


Cote de Texas
Joni's blog allows you to enter the world of high style and check out the most gorgeous houses around, especially Texas...it will make you wish you are a Texan, I swear. She's always got amazing designers on hand to lend advice and swoon-worthy tours. She herself is an interior designer extraordinaire, so check it out.

Clover Lane
Design Inspiration? Check. Do It Yourself projects? Check. Incredibly inspiring reads on life, family, and making a happy home? Check. I love her blog and you will too.

Centsational Girl
Kate's house is crazy-gorgeous and her kitchen is a dream --you gotta go check it out. She has great projects and a tremendous sense of style--all done by herself and on a budget.

Its Always Something Around Here
The name alone makes you wanna go check it out, right? Go. She's great.

Nesting Place
She is so funny I laugh out loud at many of her posts. And her tutorials are the best! Her window "mistreatments" alone are worth the hours you will spend browsing through all her amazing makeovers.


The Byrd's Nest
This is the sweetest blog that will tug at your heart while you browse the many creative projects she  has tackled.

Arren Williams Design

Arren is amazing and I love all his ideas and designs, he will even help you if you ask! I have gotten some great design advice from him. Check out the reno he is doing in a clean, mid-century vibe which I love.

Addicted2Decorating

See how Kristi is decorating her place on a budget... her kitchen is to die for and she did it all herself! Unbelievable you gotta check it out!


The Stories of A to Z
I love this blog for many reasons...one of them is, Beth doesn't have a 6,000 sf home on 20 acres of pristine pasture.. No, she lives in the city in a lovely historic home and has a sweet little backyard and terraces. What she has done in her spaces is just delightful. Her sense of style has a city-vibe that I really dig, but she has integrated that into a warm, homey style that suits her adorable family.

His House; Her Help Great chronicle of a house being redone, reborn, plus great design inspiration.

Thanks!!

. If you'd like to play along, here are the rules for the Sunshine Award!
1. Put the logo on your blog or within your post.
2. Pass the award on to 12 other bloggers.
3. Link the nominees within your post.
4. Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.
5. Link back to the person from whom you received this award.

Here it is... pics of The "Before" House

OK, Here are the befores--- hopefully this blog will be more interesting when I begin to post the "durings" and the "afters"... any advice, suggestions or references.... please comment!!!!


I was going to try to post these "in order" as you walked into the home, but I am not good at posting photos I admit! So, here they are... there is also a powder room, kids bath, master and 3 more bedrooms upstairs but I'll get to those later---

Inspiration for master bath:

Den... connects w/ kitchen overlooks backyard....nice beams, dontcha think? and the wall is all windows after those hideous verticals come down.....

cabinets are staying for now..... but I am having them professionally painted an offwhite... counters will be Ikea butcherclock in Oak (hubs choice) or Birch (mine)... Hopefully with the big white double bowl farmhouse sink..... white appliances...... Floors will be Pergo in a dark cherry finish.

Thinking of re-doing cabinetry on this side with open shelves above fridge and a small bar-area with base cab, counter and top glass-front cab to add to counter space...in place of that huge pantrycloset.... and build-in the fridge so the whole right side can be a blackboard!

Nice size peninsula...will have 4 barstools.... will look good with the new counters, yes?

Dining room--- sad now, I know... blinds: gone!(Those are corner windows- very midcentury....) Replace with: rattan shades and muslin curtains? My chandy from Overstock! My newly refinished dining room table? Yes!!!!!

Hmmmm... yes I am working on a plan for this monster. Any insight appreciated.....

Looking from Dining room to formal Living room- faces front of home, will be the first room you see upon entry so I want it to be my showplace.. The light will increase so much once those verticals are gone gone gone!!!!! This is my inspiration room:

Sigh... I love that room... its actually the lobby at my fave little hotel in Santa Ynez Valley in Central Cali....Hadsten House

Stairwell- sigh.. what can I say? I will have to think on this................... but nice double entry doors I love that and the fact there is a proper entry / foyer!!