Monday, March 15, 2010

Dressing Up My Window

If you stopped by last Tuesday for the Show Me the Progress party, you've already seen how I took my front Family room window from drab to fab with a $20 drop cloth from Wal-Mart. Today, I'll show you how I did it.

Before (This poor window wore these Waverly curtains for too long--close to 7 years! Time for a makeover):

After:

A new outfit made of one large drop cloth, and a custom bamboo roman shade "accessory." I likes it!

I was inspired by several different blogs to create this new look for my poor window. It was like a perfect storm of cuteness. I've seen gorgeous drop cloth curtains all over Blogland and knew that was an inexpensive way I could update my room.

The goal with this project was to be as thrifty as possible, so I started with a new black curtain rod from Wal-Mart. I would have loved to purchase something more with a more substantial feel to it, but again with the money and the budgets and the thriftiness. Wal-Mart also carries ring clips, and I purchased two packages, each containing 7 clips.

I ended up having to purchase a custom-cut bamboo shade from Lowe's for around $75, but now that I know they just cut it with some sort of saw tool that T owns, I'll have him give it a shot next time with the cheapie bamboo shades.

At home, I opened up the package with my new "curtains," which was really just a package with a 9x12 painter's drop cloth inside...be sure to buy WASHABLE. Yes, it's a lotta drop cloth!

I washed and dried my *fabric* first (I told T it was fabric because I thought he'd freak if he knew I was using a drop cloth from WM), then I cut right up the center of the drop cloth, using the center seam (it's two large drop cloths sewn together) as a guide.

After I had two panels, I folded along the entire cut I made, measuring about a 1/2 inch seam, pressing and pinning.

You could completely skip this step if you don't like to sew, don't own a sewing machine, or think you can hide the raw edges. Just use some fusible fabric tape. If you can sew a straight line, you can do what I did and run it straight through your machine using thread that matches the fabric.

At this point, I was left with two giant panels and no clue as to how to make it look like I did not hang drop cloths at my window. Fortunately, one of my most favorite bloggers in the world, Big Mama, posted a hilarious yet helpful video on her version of a Nesting Place mistreatment, The Pouf. I learn better when someone can show me how to complete a project, so having a video was the next best thing to having a real live person in my family room doing the work for me. The lively commentary offered by her daughter makes it even more enjoyable.

If you don't like videos (what's wrong with you?), and can't find the project in The Nester's files, here are a couple of pictures I took using a green shamrock towel as an example.

Start with your "panel" laid out straight, then fold the top under once:

Take that fold, and fold it back the other way so that it's doubled up:

Your panel will look like this:

Then use your ring clips to secure at either end (I've used clothes pins here to demonstrate):

Fill in the rest of the fold with your clips, hang your panel, and then "pouf" them to achieve the look I have in my "After" shot:


I really love the way my new shade and curtains warm the room up. I love toile and Waverly fabric, but it was time for a change.

There are still a couple of minor adjustments to make, like painting over the spot where the old rod was, but my window is so happy to be sporting the latest in blog mistreatment fashions that she doesn't mind.


post signature

39 comments:

  1. I've never seen the 'poof' before...i really like it! And i'm amazed that something so pretty was intended to get all dirty...great job!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, those curtains look amazing - and I'm in awe of the poof!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Looks great! I'd like to try something like this for my dining room.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love the mini tutorial! =) I mistreated my shower and I'm planning to pouf a curtain to divide my "new" (in progress) home office very soon! Love the drop cloths too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Great job on the curtains - I really really love how the roman shade looks!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love your new window treatments! And while I like videos, sometimes I don't have time to watch them. . . so I love your towel demonstration. :)

    Your window does look very happy and quite chic. Now what are you going to do with all that blue toile fabric?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great pouf!!! The "new" draperies look terrific. Good for you. And adding the shade is perfect!!
    Hugs
    SueAnn

    ReplyDelete
  8. What a huge, huge difference! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
  9. That's a really, really big difference! It totally refreshed the room and made it look much more modern. The shade drop cloth combo is to die for!

    ReplyDelete
  10. I love how you curtains turned out. I have to laugh because I just bought drop cloths this weekend to do my windows. I wasn't going to tell my hubby either but had to when I needed to buy more drop cloths..... I wanted to let you know in case you do them for another room. Home Depot sells them for $10 and there is no seam running down the middle, and they are hemmed on all four sides. The one's at Lowe's have the seam and are not hemmed on all sides (ask me how I know? ha) I needed drop cloths to start painting anyway. I can't wait to get them up, and might even try your poof. Have a great day!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Well done... who knew a drop cloth could be so cute! ha ha! ;) I will go check out the blogs you highlighted. ;)
    Just Jenn~

    ReplyDelete
  12. Amanda, I love your drop cloth curtains, I am glad you showed us the pouf, I have wondered how to achieve that look. I am considering this mistreatment in my bedroom. Thanks for stopping by Seven Palms and leaving a comment, hope you'll visit again. Hugs, Marla

    ReplyDelete
  13. Great job Amanda. I love it. Such a great transformation!!! I have never made anything with drop cloths, but my brain is spinning trying to think of something now :)

    XOXO
    Jen

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love these.

    And, you are pushing me to get going on my office curtains. I have the drop cloths. I have the rods. I just need to get moving. Thanks for the push.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi again, the drop cloths are indeed 9x12. I can't believe Walmart is charging twice the price for half the size -- go figure. I have really high ceilings so I was thrilled to find something long enough :o) I think the actual price was $9.98 each.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Fantastic! I love the drop cloth look and your design is fab!

    ReplyDelete
  17. These turned out great! I love that you used drop cloths :) It makes me happy....how frugal.
    And the bamboo blinds? I know the feeling about the custom cuts, I'm about to tackle cutting one myself for our bedroom. If you do it before me, let me know how it turns out :) Great transformation.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Well, great minds think alike. I just bought some drop cloths a while back, but I've yet to hang them. Where did you find the skinny curtain rod. I've been looking for something like that.

    Anyway, love the look. It turned out great.

    ReplyDelete
  19. I think this is EXACTLY what I need to do in my office!! I LOVE it!!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Oh I love your new treatments. The top is gorgeous! Thanks for sharing and the tutorial!

    ReplyDelete
  21. I really like my dropcloth drapes too. I like how long they are, I have long windows in my living room and the regular length ready made curtains are not long enough.
    I actually use some old curtains that were in my daughter's room when we moved in as my dropcloths when I paint ;-). They are a heavy black material and I've re-used them many times.

    ReplyDelete
  22. The window looks fresh, clean, and appealing to the eye! Great change overall. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Great re-do. I love the color and the style. And now it's even better to look out the window because the snow is finally gone!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Oh I just LOVE it! You have inspired me to treat my windows! They are all just bare and boring!
    Thanks for visiting my blog and for the comment love :)

    ReplyDelete
  25. Great job,what an improvement! Like others have said,I like the little poof you added. You have a cute blog, I'm adding you to my blog list.

    ReplyDelete
  26. Hey!
    Thanks for the comment on my blog! I absolutely LOVE these curtains! I saw another post today where someone made a sofa slip cover out of drop cloths. You did a great job and I loved the poof! I'm planning to make curtains out of burlap, so I may have to add the poof, too!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow! you did a great job...I NEVER would have thought of using a drop cloth or drapes...I might have to find a place for some in my house really soon!

    AND, thanks for the nice comment on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Good job, that really made a difference. I have so many windows to dress it is a little overwhelming.

    ReplyDelete
  29. I absolutely love it! The curtains are beautiful! I've been wanting to try burlap and/or drop cloths, and I'm excited to see what yours look like -- and mine COULD look like! Great job.

    ReplyDelete
  30. How did I miss this? They look GREAT!!!! I love them! Great job!

    I'm cracking up about you telling T it was fabric. I would've done the same thing!!

    ReplyDelete
  31. My hubby would've said, "hope you didn't pay to much for it, it looks like a drop cloth from WalMart" The video was great, and your trendy curtains look really good.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Thank you for the great "pouf" tutorial!

    I have had a drop cloth FOREVER waiting to be made into a great window dressing...now I know how to make it look like I want it to!

    ReplyDelete
  33. incredible results, i ene might like the drop cloth with paint smatters in a childs room! love the towel demo, the green provided a contrat that made the instructions easier to follow!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Wow, that looks awesome! I'm thinking of doing the same thing in my dining room. Thanks for sharing the how to!

    I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  35. Great post, what you said is really helpful to me. I agree with you anymore. I have been talking with my friend about, he though it is really interesting as well. Keep up with your good work; I would come back to you.

    ReplyDelete

I love to hear your feedback! Please feel free to leave comments...just don't send me spam asking me to buy stuff off your website! I've got three kids and no money to purchase your magic weight-loss pill or bust enhancement, or whatever else you might be selling. Thanks, and I look forward to hearing from you! :)

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.

Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...