Cafe Curtains, check!

Thanks to the wonderful skills, and gift of time from my sister-in-law, we now have the real curtains (not dishtowels) hanging! There were a few minor challenges in the process, but they came out wonderfully, and I'm loving the pop of green cheeriness they bring to the space.

We started working a few weeks ago, and noticed that the pattern had been printed slightly askew on the fabric...


But we decided that since it was an all-over pattern, and we didn't have much fabric to waste, we would embrace its askew-iness.  (Really all of these pics should be of Colleen...because she did 90% of the work...but I didn't capture that, as I was trying to absorb as much knowledge as possible.)

Our first draft of the curtains had a significant hem on the bottom, to help with hanging, but it turned out to be too bulky for them to fold back when opened, so we decided to change that.  Also, one hem needed to come up about 1/2 an inch.

So today, we finished the two remaining panels, and then did all of the bottom hems by hand with a  simple whip stitch (I say simple because I could do it) - which I did!

Waverley's Lola fabric in Garden

The remaining pieces were not too difficult today - far less thinking than was involved in the first weekend of measuring, cutting, and lining up the pattern where the panels met.

And, after a few hours, I was able to drive them home and replace the dishtowels hanging from the rings with the beautiful panels.

Unfortunately, I then met Brent at the "Sunday football club" and proceeded to get buffalo sauce into my many needle sticks :)

Here is how they turned out.

I really think the pop of green adds some warmth to the wall of white, and the cafe style softens the space and makes it feel more homey. 

They offer the perfect amount of privacy, but you can still see the greenery from the outdoors as well.

I'm really glad we decided to line the curtains - both for light control, and how they look from the outside. 

Colleen really did a great job matching up the pattern on the paired panels!

Funny thing is how there was an article on houzz.com today about how green is so in this fall.... :)  I find it so relaxing and refreshing, I don't see myself getting tired of it any time soon.

Fabric really makes a difference

We may only have one window dressed so far, but WOW what a difference the curtains make.  Not only does the pop of green weave the wall color nicely into the sink wall, but the fabric and dark hardware bring an older touch to the modern touches.

Here is one of our inspiration pictures:

From Better Homes and Gardens magazine

I think we're on the right track!

Here is how Brent and his dad modified the Target curtain hardware that was forcing the curtains too far away from the windows.  This was especially a problem because the curtains need to go behind the faucet.

Larry cutting the extra material off of the bracket.

Old-fashioned tools are still around for a reason - because they work.

Bending the curtain rod support

Brent installs the center support.

A level is your best friend when installing curtain rods.

Ta-da!

The same will have to be done to the hardware for the window to the right.  We got smaller hardware for the smaller window near the pantry.  Tomorrow we will be bringing the curtains with us back to Stow to finish them up.  

More fun accessory finds, curtain work, ikea

Besides working on the curtains with Colleen this weekend,

Colleen pinning a hem

I did a lot of measuring and cutting...not so much on the sewing, though I did progress to some pinning! 

I also was on the hunt for some more accessories.   (Curtains will be finished up next weekend and pictures will come...maybe a preview sometime this week.)

Anyway, I had AMAZING luck at the Home Goods in Acton.  They always have the BEST selection of really current home accessories.

I loved this file system - but we need 2 not 4.   The chicken wire would really go well with my previous TJ find candle holders and our storage bins under the island from Sur La Table...but it wasn't a perfect fit, so no buying!

 Here is what I DID find and take home:

• The green, petite glasses will look great on the open shelving we got from Ikea today!  (They will go between the windows on the sink wall.)

• The burlap-covered canisters will go a long way in warming up the space - I want to add so me more darker accents to warm up the space/ground all of the bright white.

• The mini pots de creme remind us of a very romantic dinner we had in Portland, Maine, and I would like to display them as well.

We've decided on dark hardware for the curtains (though it needs to be modified because it pushes the curtains too far out from the wall), and we think these accessories will help tie in that metal choice.  I don't generally like only one metal in a space - it feels too matchy-matchy to me.  In the guest room and kitchen now, we have incorporated some darker metal and some more modern brushed nickel and even some polished chrome.

Dark metal elements in the kitchen so far include: the candle holders, the wire baskets, and the counter stools.  We also found these PERFECT soap dispensers today at Target - green AND with the darker metal! (Good eye, Brent!)

We got two - one tall and one squat - one for dish soap and one for hand soap.
Love the old-fashioned lever pump as well.

The darker metal also relates the lighting fixtures in the mudroom, dining room, and foyer, and is a nod to the arts and crafts time period of our bungalow.

We are also trying to streamline our dish-ware and get rid of some beat up dishes that don't match or aren't used.  We still need to find some great large white mugs, but we refurbished our green Ikea dishes we already owned today so that we have a complete set of 8 for all pieces.

We found these matching large bowls that will be perfect for dinner salads.  (The picture below is closer to the color of the dishes in real-life, btw.)

These small white bowls are just the right size for cereal and ice cream.

This week is exciting - both sets of our parents will be in our kitchen by Friday night!  And since our parents are our biggest fans, it will surely give us the boost we need to get the last of the projects done! :)

Curtain fabric ordered!

Onlinefabricstore.net

4 yards of Waverley's Lola in Garden are on their way!  I'm VERY grateful that my sister-in-law will be helping in this endeavor! Thanks, Colleen!  I think that this will add the perfect happy burst of green against the white cabinets and marble backsplash.  Now to pick out the drapery rods and rings.  I'm leaning towards a brushed nickel over a darker metal, since all the finishes in the space will be light.

Zeroing in on Paint Colors and Fabric

I've received a few fabric samples that I ordered, and picked up some Target options, and have started to narrow down the direction in which we need to be going.  I also got to visit the paint dept at HD today while Brent was picking up vent pipe for the microwave range hood and scope out some new options.  I know that I do NOT want to be in the yellow-green realm...which seems tricky in the fabric world.  So many green fabrics are lime/kiwi these days.  In order to tie in the foyer/china cabinet green

(here is our inspiration color, CB Primavera from House Beautiful Magazine), I don't want to stray too far.  Plus, we are going for a classic/retro feel, and that is more in the gray-green region of the color wheel.

Here are some new curtain options I am looking at:

http://www.calicocorners.com/

http://www.calicocorners.com/

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/

http://www.calicocorners.com/

http://www.calicocorners.com/

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/

http://www.onlinefabricstore.net/

http://www.pinkchalkfabrics.com/images/medium/cloth/RK-12397-223_MED.jpg

http://www.fashionfabricsclub.com/p/SW26644/Ogee-Aquamarine-Green-Large-Medallion-Draper-Apparel-Fabric?gclid=CJqo58CE0rECFYFo4Aods1MApw

Brent and I are definitely thinking the rings with the clips for half-window style curtains.  We think it will look casual and meet our privacy needs.

Eclectic Kitchen design by Birmingham Interior Designer Tracery Interiors
(Funny...I think this is one of the chef's tables I was looking at for our "island"...)


For paint colors I spent lots of time looking around today while Brent picked up the venting...

Contenders include:

Behr:

• Moss Print
• Mother Nature
• Cilantro Cream
• Spring Walk
• Sagey
• Spring Hill

Martha Living:

• Saguaro
• Spanish Moss

Glidden:

• Prairie Sage
• Pistachio Ice Cream

I think the curtains are going to be the harder find.  I'd be happy with almost all of these paint colors.  Each looked at least somewhat complimentary/related when held up against a foyer wall.  Keep your eyes out and send me anything you find for fabric or paint!