::how to:: painting curtains

one of the first posts that i read at cottage and vine was about how she painted her curtains!

they looked fabulous, but i thought i'd never have the patience for that project.

turns out i got an extra dose a few weeks ago because that's just what i did!

i seem to get the most done around the house when hubby and little one are sleeping...

i had been thinking about painting curtains, so that night i just decided to go for it!

curtains down from the window

i totally lucked out that the curtains i wanted to paint already had vertical lines stitched into the fabric.

made it so, so much easier to tape.

no measuring needed.

these drapes are from IKEA...not sure of the name but I'm sure you can still find them.

{1}

then i taped, taped some more, and kept taping...

until all the sides of the stripes-to-be-painted were bordered by nice even lines of painters' tape

{2}

next up, deciding on the painting surface.

the painting actually took place the next day, not that night.

options

::1:: plywood

too many tiny pieces

::2:: cardboard

too many ridges

::3:: smooth wood

just right

::hint:: always choose the smoothest surface

{3}

tester stripe.

the last thing i wanted to do was paint the 5 stripes (x2) and then not like my results.

so, i painted a stripe and then hung the curtain over the window.

i'm so glad that i did because i realized:

::1:: the curtains need two coats of paint

::2:: i need to sew a curtain lining to block some of the light shining through

{4}

finish painting the stripes.

i used a sponge brush and loaded up the paint. 

the thicker the 1st coat, the easier the 2nd.

{5}

let the paint dry completely.

i set mine out to dry in the TX sun for an entire afternoon.

the last thing you want is a masterpiece ruined due to impatience!

{6}

re-hang the curtains.

{7} 

fall. madly. in. love.

from this,

see how my hutch turned white

to this!

and that's ::how to:: paint curtains! 

i hope you've been inspired to go out and paint your own.

if so, please link back here with your post so i can sneak a peek at your masterpiece!

sharing this ::how to:: with

Debbie Doo's newbie party

 domestically speaking's POPP ,someday craft, blue cricket design,
shabby chic cottage, knick knacks, shabby nest, fingerprints on the fridge, tidy mom, 
finding fabulous, cottage instincts **

from drab to fab with drapes

ever since we moved in, these windows have been in serious need of drapes.

drab

i was in the process of choosing draperies about the time that we decided

to change our color scheme for the room.

as i said here i love thrifting and finding a good deal on home decor,

but this time i splurged.

i am so glad that i did.

fab

the entire room has been transformed by dressing the windows!

i am head over heels for my new ballard drapes.

they were worth every penny!

next family room project, pillows!

want to see how far this room has come since we bought the house?

click here to see the transformation

want to see how we dressed the other windows in our home?

see them here 

panels...a splurge

i hardly ever pay full price for home decorative items.

i love, love, love to find a good deal

and
i am usually up to the challenge of making/sewing/painting it myself

now that i have that out there, i splurged this week. big time.

but

i have been looking for drapery panels forever...i had even decided that i wanted blue ones

i just couldn't seem to find the right blend of color and fabric.

until...

tuesday night i was flipping through my favorite catalogue, 

and realized that ballard offered many more color options than pictured on their drapery page.

they had the perfect blue! 

 ballard designs

spa linen blue

the spa blue that's in the fabric on my loveseat.

 ballard designs

the design is much larger in person, but this gives you a good idea 

and although you can't really see it, the background is spa blue

my heart started beating fast.

 then...wednesday morning i got an email reminding me that ballard was offering free shipping.

and my mom had given me a coupon for 15% off my entire order last time we saw them.

i thought about it all day going back and forth, 

but it was one of those things i knew i'd regret not buying! forever.

mom also said she'd help with the cost because my bday is coming up,

which definitely helped me make the decision.

thanks mom!

i did it! i bought the draperies! and i couldn't be more excited.

 ballard design

those lovely curtains, just spa blue

(they didn't have a picture of it)

they'll arrive sometime next week.

my walls will go from drab to fab!

o don't worry.  i'll post as soon as they're hung!

dress those windows

Nothing creates a warmer feeling in a room than a "dressed" window. Simply adding fabric to a window can make a room much more inviting.  Even though I know this to be true, we've lived in our house nearly a year, and I am just now dressing my windows.

Last week my mom came in town to help!
  Besides spending a couple of days with her, the best part of the project was how budget friendly everything was... 

{1)We shopped fabric stores with good quality, yet inexpensive fabric.
{2}We recovered the cornice boxes that were already here when we moved in.

As I'm writing this post, I realize that taking pictures of the whole process would make this much more interesting/ helpful...thanks for your patience...I'm still learning.  I guess I was too focused on the finish line!
  If you want to know how to build/cover a cornice box look here.

{3} Mom made the curtain for the nursery.  She has great sewing skill, and I am learning, slowly but surely, from her.
{4} I found those ideal white drapes at World Market for the master bedroom and tucked them into the cornice board with a tension rod.

Ta-Da!

I loved these rooms before, but now I just can't spend enough time there.  The family room windows are stuck on the back burner until I decide on new fabric for the loveseat, but I can't help thinking how white and plain that wall of windows is without fabric to soften its appeal.

Even more, I can't believe I've lived with that white wall for so long.  I just had to live here for a bit to make that decorating decision.  I'm going on another fabric hunt this weekend.  I'll let you know how it goes...

So, what do you think? How do you dress your windows?

undressed
(sorry for the dark colors-didn't realize 'til it was already uploaded)

 

dressed

the white drapes are there, 

just difficult to see due to the beautiful sunshine

 undressed

  

dressed

 

undressed

dressed

 

 this is just to show you what they coordinate with

 

Want some other great tips?  Check out what the nester has to say. I can always find great ideas there!