Make over a window with three steps
September 22, 2009
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So next to the paint, the biggest change in my dark brown dining room was the windows. I swear these windows have been through more transformations than all the windows in this house put together. The first step in the redo is something I plan to do in the whole house -- can you guess what it is?
Ah DUH -- it's molding! Our home has no trim around the windows, just window sills:
I heart thick, beautiful molding around windows, but alas, our window sill only goes beyond the window about an inch. So to get the look I really want, I'd have to tear those out, and that's just not happenin'. The solution? The molding I've used all over this room is just the right fit to trim out the window and match up with the window sill:
Here's the before:
Here's the after:
I'm thinking about shortening the rods just a bit, to make the drapes pleat more.
I painted the trim and the drywall around the window all glossy white, giving the illusion that it's all molding:
It's all an illuuuuuuusion. I like illusions. They are cheap and easy.
Uhhh yeah, by the way, I really can't reach out and touch our neighbors, I swear. It looks like I can in this pics, but I promise, no touching going on.
It's all an illuuuuuuusion. I like illusions. They are cheap and easy.Next step: More of my beloved bamboo roman shades. I am on a mission to change all of our two inch blinds to these. I don't know why, but they just scream natural and warmth to me, two things that have me at hello.
Bamboo roman shades are so easy to install it's just silly. You mark where the brackets go, install them, then tighten the wing nuts and there. you. go. (Use anchors if you don't hit studs though!!):
Oh...I was already in love after these two steps.
The "window casing" makes such a difference:
Uhhh yeah, by the way, I really can't reach out and touch our neighbors, I swear. It looks like I can in this pics, but I promise, no touching going on. The final step: Fabric! I just need fabric to finish off a room.
Since the dark paint color adds so much drama, I wanted the drapes to be light and airy. I found a fabric I ADORE (at Joann's) and hung it with my faux pleat hack:
It makes them look a little more custom.
I quite literally took the fabric off the roll, cut it in half and then hung them. They puddle on the floor just a bit:
I pretty much ALWAYS put lining in my drapes, but these are so lovely on their own, I don't think I'm going to. I didn't even hem them (*real* decorators all over the world are passing out right now). But I did use my hemming tape to hem up the bottom, just so they were finished there.
This take minutes peeps -- I took video to show you how easy it is:
I did the bottom of each drape in about five minutes. You can probably hear my stories on the TV in the background. :)
And excuse the spray paint on my hands and the sweatpants. I didn't dress up for y'all. ;)
I am loving the white drapes on the chocolate brown walls:
Here's the before:
Here's the after:
I'm thinking about shortening the rods just a bit, to make the drapes pleat more.Just some paint touch ups to do, then the two biggies -- I want to recover the dining chairs desperately. I did the seats years ago but would love to do the whole chair. That's another post for another day.
I am also DYING to extend our hard floors into this room. I'm hoping we can swing it soon, and have a friend help me install them.
Next up -- I'll show you the dining room ceiling and the hutch redo.
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September 22, 2009
dining room
Dining Room (previous)
fabric
molding
Window and door trim
windows
I love the new look! I am a "sunlight" person and I love how much lighter and brighter it is....Good Work!
ReplyDeleteIt looks so great! I really love it!
ReplyDeleteso pretty, the chocolate brown walls look great with the airy white drapes
ReplyDeleteI love bamboo shades! I have them in almost every room and love how they look against a great drape...I was able to get "up and running" on my blog and hope to become more familiar with things....very impatient am I!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for emailing me back. Can't wait to see the rest of your dining room!
~Tamera
Beautiful! Excited to see the rest.
ReplyDeleteOoh, so pretty! I love those dark walls, and I can see why you fell in love with that fabric. Perfecto...
ReplyDeleteLove your solution to address the lack of trim around your windows!
ReplyDeleteJanell
Gorgeous! I love bamboo shades, too - especially w/fabric. Question: did you have to cut shades to fit your window? We special ordered them 4 my mom's house and verrry expensive. I've heard they're easy to cut. what did you do?
ReplyDeleteWhere did you find your bamboo blinds? The room looks fantastic.
ReplyDeleteThat fabric is to die for! Love it. Together with the blinds? Gorgeous !
ReplyDeleteKate
Love the new look--I totally heart bamboo shades. Bamboo or Roman...my faves :)
ReplyDeleteI like the 'airyness' of the new fabric. You're a fantastic decorator :)
Loving the new look!! Total AWESOMENESS!!
ReplyDeleteTiffany @ Mine Are Spectacular
WOW! I love those drapes! I've been slowly but surely converting my blinds to bamboos. I love it. I sit and stare at them all day. Perfect for any window!
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to see the whole room! All these teasers, I'm trying to picture it as a whole.. Oh with wood floors ;) That'll be AWE-SOME.
Rachelle
Great illlluuussssioon, Sarah! It's like "mind freak" seeing how you put this stuff together! I love the fabric and think it is a nice complement to the dark walls and the shades. I put bamboo shades in my son's bedroom and I love them! I would use them again for sure. Now I'm going to go back and read your "how I got the drapes like this" post.
ReplyDeleteHem tape was the best thing ever invented for sewing-maching impaired fools like myself. Love those bamboo curtains- think I'll need to get some for myself.
ReplyDeleteLooks great! Come over and check out my bargain finds and thrifty re-do at www.countryclublivin.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteYou inspired it!
Seriously fabulous. I love bamboo blinds and that fabric is amazing.
ReplyDeleteDelish! Those are some of favorite things too. The contrast of the brown walls, light fabric & bamboo is heavenly. Love it!
ReplyDeleteI love the new curtains and blinds. The old ones looked nice, but there's something much richer and more sophisticated about the new ones.
ReplyDeleteLOVE that fabric!!!!
ReplyDeleteI love these - and since I'm sewing challenged (read: lazy) the hem tape is a God send! You knocked it out of the park girl - as per usual.
ReplyDeleteSarah,
ReplyDeleteI also have a question about the bamboo shades. My windows are not long enough to have the full size stock blinds from Lowe's. Did you cut them to fit?? How did you keep them from unraveling?? HELP!
amy
Love love love it. Those drapes are fab, I think I might need to go to Joann's and get myself some fabric too for some wonderful "pleated" "hemmed" drapes! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the new look!
ReplyDeleteI am obsessed with chocolate brown - yummy!
ReplyDeleteSoooo pretty! I love the chocolate walls with the white drapes :)
ReplyDeleteI really love the bamboo shades, they are so pretty. We helped my father in law change a little in his house and added those. He had the vertical hotel type blinds, ouch!!
ReplyDeleteI wanted to also add that I have been reading your blog and love it. All the decorating and crafts you add on here are amazing. I am in love with your laundry toom!! Anywho, I received a blog award and was told to pass it on to 6 fellow bloggers. Well I don't have many, but yours is one that always catches my eye, so well I pass it on to you. I'm not sure how real the award is, but hey it's blog love. Hope you have a great week. Seriously, not a stalker :) Just paying it forward!!
This is positively gorgeous! Congrats on another beautiful job well done. :)
ReplyDeleteI to love how the Natural Sunlight seems to flow in, better. Very Beautiful transition!!
ReplyDeleteThe fabric looks wonderful - so does the molding. The illusion worked beautifully
ReplyDeleteOh I have been doing my clippy ring things on the top of the drapes all wrong! Good thing I have your blog to refer to....
ReplyDeleteI love the light airy feel :)
Wow, that looks amazing Sarah! Great job! I love the contrast of the colors!!
ReplyDeletePS My client's name is Laura Connell Guerrero
Fabulous!
ReplyDeleteWhere did you get the bamboo shades??? I have been looking everywhere! I'm totally cheap and I know you wouldn't pay a ton!
-Jill
Get Out!!! Wow...and I thought your dining room looked awesome before...but now, whoa. So great! I just refinished my hutch and posted an entry on my blog. Can't wait to see yours.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous! I love the bamboo shades. We are dying to do that in our house but cannot find them for a reasonable price. Boo :(
ReplyDeleteSo many wonderful projects, but I'm curious..... do you ever sleep? * giggles*
ReplyDeleteDi
This looks fantastic! I need to find a solution for my cheap blinds on my windows. Where did you get your bamboo shades?
ReplyDeleteI'm with everyone else, where did you get those wonderful bamboo blinds? I think I need them for my house too...
ReplyDeleteExcellent redo. I love the light colored drapes contrasting with the dark walls.
ReplyDeleteHardwood floors...way out of budget now, but I am frantically searching for a way to remove the carpet from the bedrooms and have it work next to the rest of the hardwood. Tile is out.
I love it! Big surprise, I'm sure...
ReplyDeleteMy question is...what did you do with your old drapes? 'Cause, for real...I could use 'em!
:)
I am all about ditching the white mini-blinds too! Where do you get your bamboo ones from? I've picked some up at Target that have been nice. I only have a few more windows to go!
ReplyDeleteI am seriously saving my pennies to fly you to Texas once I am in my new house!
ReplyDeleteAnd maybe we can make the trip coincide with the HUGE Thrift extravaganza in Canton!
Nice! Well done!
ReplyDeleteLove your blogg -You drive people to Love they home and do Better!
Thanky YOU for that!
Mvh liene
I`m only you shadow!
For those of you asking where to get great bamboo shades, I purchased mine through Lowe's and my husband cut the width to fit. I love, love, love them!
ReplyDeleteTamera@doubledelightdesigns.blogspot.com
I need some bamboo or cloth roman shades for the bay window in my dining room. They need to be outside mount as the trim is only 3/4" deep. They seem to be awkward widths; 20 3/4" for the outside two and 30 3/4" for the inside window. Will it be possible to fit these windows without having to have custom blinds made? Any help would be greatly appreciated! I noticed Tamara said cut them down, but how far can you trim the sides before you hit the mechanisms?
ReplyDeleteI've wanted to do bamboo shades for forever, but the ones (cheap) at the home improvement stores are too long. Do you cut the length? How did yours turn out so fabulous?
ReplyDeleteI love the way these look and the DIY wreath!! Thanks for the tips!!
ReplyDeleteGreat job! Your have done such wonderful things to your home! On another note I emailed you did you happen to get it ? I know you were trying to contact me about winning one of your great giveaways!
ReplyDeleteoh my gosh! i love that fabric! so so gorgeous. someday-hopefully-my home will be as beautiful as yours!
ReplyDeleteSarah! Girl you so rock!! I have the same windows you do...no trim and the window sill that only extends out about 1 inch. I have been trying to figure out a way to add moulding and you did it for me!! :o)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for all of the awesome inspiration you put out there!!
So pretty! I swear we must be on the same wavelength. I spent Monday and Tuesday nights working on drapes in my kitchen. So much fun!
ReplyDeleteI love yours -- it turned out so cute!
XOXO
Jen
Sarah~ I love the fabric you chose and the blinds look amazing!!
ReplyDeleteLooks nice! You make it sound so easy.
ReplyDeleteI host a "Room a month makeover" every Monday (Don't worry, you don't have to complete a room, a small change!) Stop by and link up!
http://theshadesofpink.blogspot.com/2009/09/room-month-is-back.html
The window looks BEAUTIFUL! I love the new drapes and the molding is a great addition!
ReplyDeleteKristin
http://reclaimingthehome.blogspot.com
fabulous!!!
ReplyDeleteI really love that fabric!
ReplyDeleteDo the bamboo roman shades provide decent privacy? I noticed you get a little bit of light through yours, and that's fine, but I've been thinking about them for our living room, and want privacy at night.
ReplyDeleteLooooove the new look! The curtains are gorgeous. I love your centerpiece and window mouldings. I may have to try that trick. The cute kitty is perfect touch!
ReplyDeleteLooooove the new look! The curtains are gorgeous. I love your centerpiece and window mouldings. I may have to try that trick. The cute kitty is perfect touch!
ReplyDeleteVery nice...love the contrast between the walls and drapes.
ReplyDeleteGREAT illusion on the molding and LURVE the fabric!! it is all coming together so nicely!!
ReplyDeleteOh! I'm loving the after! Everything came together so well. Great work.
ReplyDeleteI loooooooooooooove that fabric. Exactly what I'm looking for for our den...in a house which also has no molding around windows which I hate. Thanks for the great post.
ReplyDeletethat turned out great! Funny, your old drapes would go perfectly with my dining room :-).
ReplyDeleteI love the molding you put around your window! We're just in the process of painting the walls and installing new laminate wood flooring in my 2 year old daughter's room and figured this is a great opportunity to add molding to her window which looks exactly the same as the window you showed, with 2 windows side by side. I think we even have the same windowsill. Our house was built by ADAMS, not sure how common that company is or if it's just local. Anyway, I just showed my husband and he really likes what you did also. He says we can't nail gun the molding around the window? Did you glue it on? Please answer soon, I REALLY NEED to know! Lol :) I love your blog, I get so many ideas. Thanks for inspiring me and all the others!
ReplyDeleteI would love to use those bamboo blinds! Everywhere I have looked doesn't have the sizes to fit my windows. One window in particular - it's 46 1/2"H x 82"W. Have you hit this problem before when using those? If so, I would appreciate any input! Thank you so much I know you must be very busy with other comments and just life in general. My email is jori.hodgson@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteI need that fabric! Do you remember the name/designer of the fabric you used for your dining room drapes? Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeletemyaliboop@gmail.com
Ummm.... I think I love you. bahahahaha!! No, really tho. I just moved into a house that has bamboo blinds EVERYWHERE, and it was my LIFE'S MISSION to get RID of them because I thought I HATED THEM! But NOW...? Now, I think you might've just changed my mind? I think my problem lies in the fact that I am CLUELESS on the "rules" of curtains. Hence, i will be reading on on your curtains posts!
ReplyDeleteLOVE that I found your blog!
You're AMAZING and you inspire me to DO STUFF!! :0)
Thanks for the tip about being able to paint bamboo shades. You saved me a pretty penny. I had been looking at them for a couple of years but the ones in the dark wood tones that I wanted were more expensive by about $20 and I just couldn't convince myself to spend it.
ReplyDeleteSo yesterday afternoon the new ugly wood color bamboo blinds arrived. Today they're primed white and tomorrow they will be chocolate brown thanks to the wonders of Krylon and your advice. For about $7 total instead of $20 per blind.
I have the same issue, this is the perfect solution!
ReplyDelete