Monday, August 20, 2007

Windows to my world

We live in a little ranch house. The rooms are small, the closets are small, the bathroom is small, and the windows are incredibly small. Although I have lots to complain about, this post is going to focus on the itty bitty windows. We have lots and lots of windows in our house, but they are all very short in height. This feature makes it extremely difficult to purchase curtains. I would just make them myself, except I can't figure out how to use my damn sewing machine.

So, a few weeks ago I decided to buy curtains for the kitchen and bathroom. I wanted to hang a valance and tier, like this. However, I couldn't find any curtains short enough for our windows. The valances would be touching the tiers, blocking out all natural light. Grrr.

I went home and thought about our curtain conundrum. Finally, I came up with a compromise...
I draped ivy garland across the top and hung a tier on the bottom. I thought it looked so good, I decided to repeat this design in the bathroom...Now that I am living with my new window treatments, I can't decide if I actually like them. Be honest - do my windows look retarded?

13 comments:

JC said...

I love them. What a great idea!

Anonymous said...

I like them. I showed them to my husband and we are totally stealing your ivy idea! (we have a small window above our kitchen sink.)

darksadist said...

they're actually a rather cool idea...looks pretty :)

Amber said...

Looks good to me!

Rachel said...

I love it. It is so Feng Shui. I love the ivy and it truly brings the outside in. You are such a smarty pants.

S said...

I really like your idea!
The kitchen is great.
Maybe "tone" down the bathroom one, it looks too bushy.
Can you use something like bamboo only flexible? Or something to go w/the shower curtain like this:
http://images.buycostumes.com/mgen/merchandiser/22637.jpg
(only trim the fringe to your liking and get rid of the flowers at the top and just have the fringe)?
Just a thought.
I think your decorating ideas are great!

S said...

ok, my link isn't working now. It's a picture of a tan hula skirt.

Antropóloga said...

Wow, you are CRAFTY! I think it looks great. Blocks much less light and yes brings the outside in.

Lainey-Paney said...

We live in a Ranch house with small kitchen & bathroom window too!

In the kitchen...I have no curtains....only the blinds.

In the bathroom, I have white shutters & a sheer & beaded curtain at the top. (sounds weird, looks cute...I think....)

:)

Anth said...

I agree with S. The kitchen window looks darling, the bathroom window looks bushy.

Christy said...

S and Anth,
I agree about the bathroom window - its too bushy. I was trying to find a different type of garland then ivy, but I may have chosen the wrong one.

I really wish I could see your link S. You should try to post it again.

Lainey-Paney said...

oh, and maybe people are saying that the bathroom one looks bushy...but look at the theme on the shower curtain. To me, it kind of goes, you know?
I mean, you wouldn't want some type of grape-leaf vine in there b/c then it wouldn't go with the theme.

I dunno...I think it's fine.

Carrie said...

I love the kitchen window. I'm not crazy about the bathroom one.

I do have a solution (no Sew!)get a thin tension rod and cut a small hole on the bottem hem of the curtain (on the inside) and thread it thru to the other side. Wedge the rod on the inside of the window frame. You might have to reset the top bar higher to pull the fabric straight, but that would eliminate the curtain from being bushy....