Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
My Interior Decorating Phobia
When it comes to interior decorating, I am paralyzed by fear of spending a ton of money on something I'm not sure I'm going to like. I need curtains. Making the wrong choice will mean having to look at huge expanses of ugliness. I want something not too pricey, because I don't expect to be in this house forever, but decent, in case I do end up here forever. I want color (my walls are all sensory deprivation-inducing eggshell), but color is risky. Of all the ones I've browsed, I rather like these, but the $30/panel price tag (x 14 panels) is definitely more than I wanted to spend. Here's another stripe, but I don't like it as well. Most of the less expensive options are solid colors, which I'm afraid will just be too flat and boring (though this one at least has a little texture). Anyway, all this is to say, "Help!" What should I think about that I'm not thinking about? Where should I shop that I haven't shopped? Could I maybe skimp on the width (e.g., make one 50" panel work for a 36" window rather than buying two panels), or would I be really sorry if I did that? In an ideal world, I would make curtains, but since I live in reality (well...at least my house exists in reality) I've got to give up that fantasy and buy my poor nekkid windows some drapes!
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 1:29 PM
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6 comments
6 Comments:
On December 29, 2007 12:02 AMAnonymouswrote... I guess if I were you, I'd go to the library and look at some issues of House Beautiful or some other magazine that might show pictures of possibilities. Only you know what you'll not be bored by, and magazines are good for ideas, I think. The other thing to remember is that you can take curtains with you. I bought some lovely curtains at Country Curtains and took them from my old house to my new, where they fit in just fine.
Regarding color, why is it risky when you can buy a sample pot of paint that covers a square yard, and then you can just paint over the swatch when you've decided for or against it? Painting walls is much less risky today. You could have alot of fun with some wild swatches. I would if the choice and the habitat were mine only.
Also, it may sound eccentric, but a friend of mine painted her study ceiling purple. And it works. The walls are a barely-there shell pink. She has her computer desk in there, a few shelves painted to melt into the walls, and a simple rug on the floor. Plus a chair, and that's it. Well, why not? You can always paint it over, and then you can at least say you tried something new just to prove you aren't getting ossified, right? ;>)eleanor
On December 29, 2007 11:08 AMThe BadgerMumwrote... Well, I like nekkid windows so I may not be much help, but how about this idea: buy two very narrow panels for each window, and never close them - use an inexpensive shade or blind instead. Seems like a basic cream or off-white that matches the walls would work.
Another idea is to go ahead and buy one panel (or one pair) and hang it on the most prominant window and just live with it for awhile. Probably more expensive than Eleanor's suggestion, but much easier to do and undo.
I lived with eggshell walls and nekkid windows ( only honeycomb draw-up blinds in eggshell for privacy) for a long time until the boredom & blandness became oppressive. Then I went crazy and I LOVE IT! Contrasting color everywhere. Deep yellow kitchen with cobalt, teal and orange accents. Teal great room with orange and cobalt accent colors. I couldn't afford drapes so I left the blinds and added side panels and valences with colors & stripes & patterns.
Valerie, you are an artist! Trust your instincts & go for it!
On December 31, 2007 1:49 PMAnonymouswrote... Why not buy solid panels and then use striped or other less-boring fabric for tiebacks?
On January 3, 2008 1:23 PMAbrawrote... I love curtains!! They make a room warm and personal. I like the first ones. I tend to prefer the long drapes and earth toned colors, but that's just me. You could scrimp on the length (the floor length ones can be so pricey!!) or you could just do a valance. Have you checked at Ikea. They have pretty affordable window dressings. Good luck!
On January 8, 2008 12:03 PMAnonymouswrote... Have you checked for a curtain exchange place, where you can get really nice ones that hung for a year or were made for a specific party and then consigned? I also see lovely curtains at Salvation Army and thrift stores in the "right" nieghborhoods.
That said, I think most curtains are dustcatchers, and with my allergies, I'd certainly choose painting the ceiling over installing curtains.
