Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label vintage. Show all posts

Friday, August 10, 2012

Fun, Unique, and Inexpensive Window Treatments

One area of interior decorating that usually produces high anxiety in most all people is the dreaded window treatment. People think they have to spend an enormous amount of money to have their windows look nice. And let's face it, custom draperies and other treatments can be expensive if it is a luxurious look you desire. Billowing draperies made of silk, linen, or taffeta  are beautiful, and while I love to work with those fabrics and create high end looks for my clients, the creative part of me also tries to talk them into trying something unique and fun ever once in awhile.

This blog post will show you some simple, inexpensive window treatments that are still lovely and unique and will create that "wow" factor for you. Most of these you can make yourself and even the ones you can't will only require a small amount of help. I hope this will help you find an answer to your window dilemma. Try and have some FUN decorating your home!



This is the perfect window treatment for a beach or lake home. It is fun and right on theme.


Tiebacks are perfect the perfect way to bring that "wow" factor to even simple curtains. These are simple, using only rope and a starfish. You could use ANTHING in the beach or nautical line.


Who would have thought an old wooden hanger would have been such a cute curtain rod!! You hang it in the middle to cover your window, and just slide it over to let in the light. This would be really cute on both sides of a window


I love this these wonderful straw hats used as a valence. Put yourself up a peg board and start collecting cute hats. Vintage would be my choice but new ones would be fine too. You can really customize this look.


This is clever if country is your decorating style of choice. You could do several things with this idea such as using old aprons. You come up with some great ideas!!


I think using old lace dresses..... or vintage party dresses......or old tutus and other ballet costumes would be lovely  to use if you wanted a more vintage "girlie"look!!


Stenciling a window is another charming idea. I love this lacy look!


Another fun tieback. To see how to drill a hole in porcelain, check out this link. You will learn how to make a cool lamp as well. http://www.twiggstudios.com/2012/02/diy-tea-cup-lamp-tutorial.html


Lovely lace runners stitched together make a wonderful window treatment.


Add vintage doilies to a sheer for a bit of interest!!


Consider vintage jewelry as a drapery tieback. Can you envision this with a pretty cream silk panel?


Simple, fun idea for window treatments in a child's room. Here is another place you can get really creative by adding other things. Can you imagine bunnies with  fun stuffed carrots as finals for your rod? Or monkeys with tropical leaves and bananas as your finals. 


Very easy. A rectangle of fabric tied up over the rod with ribbon, rope, a leather belt,  a scarf, beads, the list goes on and on . It depends on YOUR style!!


These are very simple window treatments I had made for a client . You simply make a long runner with  different coordinating fabrics (these are black/black and white stripes) on either side. Flip the "curtain" over the rod and pull it 3/4 of the way down so the reverse side can sow a bit. I had a gorgeous tassel attached to finish it off. You can really customize with this idea!! I wish I had a better picture of them but think you can get the idea.


Such a pretty tieback. You can make something that is equally pretty by finding an interesting branch and hot gluing your birds on and maybe some silk leaves. You can leave your branch natural or paint it with a clear sealer to give it some shine. Just be creative.


An awning is always classic and very simple to do.


This is a treatment I did for myself for a small room where I just "hang out" It is a reverse awning. I had two large pieces of fabric I had bought just because I liked them so decided to make a window treatment from them. I split  the pieces of fabric and finished off the edges.  I brought the rods (suspended by tasseled drapery tiebacks) out from the wall approximately two and a half feet, attached them to the ceiling and then used beautiful  hammered brass nail heads to pin the fabric to  the wall. I then laid the top of the fabric over the rod and let it hang down about  a 18 inches.


Three easy ways to dress up your windows. I love being different by attaching to the ceiling instead of the wall. These would be great as side panels for sheers, blinds, shutters or what ever you decided to use as window coverings. The third one is simple rolled up and tied with a ribbon. Reversible coordinated fabric would be great for this.


What could be better for a country kitchen or laundry room?


A vintage spoon makes a wonderful  vintage drapery tieback.


You could get really creative with customizing this idea of using scarves or vintage handkerchiefs as tiebacks.


Lovely window treatment when used in a Bohemian style room.


Imagine a window covered with alot of these colored paper chip and string  lengths. Boho perfection!!


Think outside the box...you don't always need rods!!!


For a rustic room, antlers make great curtain tiebacks.


Branches are always fun curtain rods!

Just remember there is nothing wrong with a touch of whimsy in your decorating. 

Tuesday, July 17, 2012

The White Album - Decorating in the French Country Style



How do you define French Country decorating? Personally, it is one of my absolute favorite styles. It embodies grace, charm, and simple elegance. The French Country style is warm and welcoming and is inspired by the ambiance of the amazing Provence landscape. This style brings the colors, textures and freshness of the French countryside into your home. The look is romantic and charming, using old and worn elements combined with an air of down to-earth comfort for a look of casual elegance. It is simple and fun to mix antiques and flea market finds and new items to create a decidedly country French aesthetic. French decorating is possible at any budget.

The warm, inviting space of your French country home is just right for relaxed, comfortable times with friends and family. And when you close your eyes, you may even imagine a sunny French vineyard stretching out just beyond your window.


google.com

Simple, graceful lines are a prominent feature of French country furniture. These furniture choices will give your living room an old world French country charm.





trouver.files.wor..
.

French Country decorating truly has no set rules...just a few guidelines. It is all about textured walls, informal wood tones, weathered patinas, and distressed painted furniture. 


A great craft idea that will add some bling to your French Country home. This style can be accessorized with a subtle amount of crystal, (especially chandeliers) and  tidbits of glam. Just be very careful, this must be handled with finesse. 


Remember, French Country interior design is pastoral in nature! Aren't these babies adorable?

google.com

For a genuine French country atmosphere, choose living room floors with an old, rustic and informal look.




See the different textures here. Very important. You just can't paint everything white and expect a true French Country look for you home.


The French village where Joan of Arc met with the Dauphin.

ana-rosa.tumblr.com




Beautiful textures from marble to fabric. Look at how there are 7 elements of texture in the one picture in the middle. This is how you have to THINK when decorating in all white to keep your interiors from becoming too FLAT!


Texture from floor to ceiling. Fabulous!


A bicycle with lace decorated wheels....why not!! Just remember with French Country lace has to be used sparingly. Fru Fru and country don't mix. The best lace to use is a heavier tatted lace. Nothing TOO delicate!




Beautiful cream exteriors. Notice how they are not all the same color. Remember to not paint your interiors all one color white. It is the mix of  whites that give interest to French Country! The mix of colors give the kind of texture that is needed in a monochromatic color scheme.


Flowers and metal, always gets a thumbs up!


Don't forget to accessorize....it makes the home!



axel-vervoordt.com


The French embrace the “hearth and home” lifestyle, and it reflects their love of life.


 If this is the style you wish to achieve, you will have to be a treasure hunter. You will have to be willing to go to flea markets, antique shops, and garage sales. But I promise, the hunt is half the fun!


French Country decor must haves! Pretty linens!

lovefrenchbulldogs.tumblr.com

Baskets of flowers!

lovefrenchbulldogs.tumblr.com


French milled soaps!

eclecticrevisited.c...

As with French country fabrics, mixing and matching furniture is the norm for this decorating style. 

miresparis.com


Distressed wood is a must for a French Provence style decor.

oncedailychic.blogspot.com

google.com


Do you find white boring? Think again! 
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...
 Follow Me On Facebook Follow Me On Pinterest Subscribe to my RSS Feed Send Me An Email