Advice from those with mid 19th century homes

[Pandora]

Okay I'm stumped and hope someone else can lend suggestions. Trying to find window treatments for living room, dining room and 1 bedroom in our 1860's house and not having much luck. Our style is more of a modern-y antique casual country clean lines (yeah..figure that one out LOL), we like more plain than victorian (no lace, no ruffles, no check patterns *i.e., too country). Absolutely No Flower patterns...

Thus far I've done sheers & regular window treatments (nothing meant to be perm.) and just got done ordering, putting up...and subsequently taking down - white roman shades. Looked good when I saw them, but once up...way too contemporary.

So - if you have an old home, especially an old farm house style one - what did you do for window treatments? We want privacy, but also light / light filtering when necessary. I've looked at top-down/bottom-up blinds with valances over them but would rather not have custom made ones ($250+ ea), however we'd have to given window sill / surround sizes. Any regular mini-blinds are out as are roller shades as I dont care for them.

Sites to suggest? Pictures to look at?

Thanks for the help!

[tobee43]

do absolutely HATE hate blinds???

although my taste as always been collective by nature...in other words i just get what i like...LOL!! kitchen curtains look like a funeral parlor as the kitchen and appliances and granite counters are all black counters oatmeal colored....so what i just happen to have found was some fabric with all the color tones and just made up some cool drapes with a inside panel that raises up...and i put in oatmeal colored blinds. it really doesn't look contemporary at all...i personally don't care for modern or contemporary look...

check out penny's!!!!!!!!!!! they do custom cuts for CHEAPER than anyone ever.

i just got a shade for my daughter's half moon window for $40 while other places wanted $200!!

i don't have the site, but just google jcpenny and they really have some great window dressings.

[tobee43]

oh!! and i also wanted to mention i always wanted an OLD Victorian coming from san fran ...there is nothing more beautiful that a fixed up treasure!!

[carlsbadmike]

How about plantation shutters?

[tobee43]

How about plantation shutters?

i LOVE those...i have personally only seen them in a few places and they were soooooooo expensive...unless one could make them themselves???

[Pandora]

Thanks ya'll...

@ Tobee - do I absolutely hate blinds? Hmm..well - it depends on the blind LOL! I've had wooden plantation style before and what a pain in the backside they were. If I had to have a blind/shade scenario it would have to be the top down/bottom up cordless hybrid-type (not a shade but not a blind either...in between).

@carlsbad - yeah thought of those too but our windows arent casement type (the deep ones) and I'd hate to have them stick out.

I think I've narrowed it down to wooden Colonial cornices - then either a hybrid-shade or simple clean white sheers. The more I see the cornices, the more I like them Now to get hubby to build them, thats another story that will involve batting of eyelashes and plying of wine LOL! Anyone ever make a wooden cornice? If so... what did you use wood wise?

Now my mind is going - I have old antique solid wood doors that we've taken off each room (all entryways had doors...too many for my taste) and am going to venture into making headboards out of them. Also have 2 fireplace mantels that I want to re-purpose into headboards since we're only keeping 1 FP open and covering 2.

Anyone done headboards?

[tobee43]

headboards..........???????

me too,, i really never liked blinds until we got this house that faces front south west...southern heat all day...and that west heat is a killer.

i'm with you with the lacy stuff...i'm a Feng shui...(if i spelled that correctly). i like clean lines, but homey and warm...it's an odd combo.

or...i can come on up and help you sew some...now i must first warn you that ...here's the good....my kids won top price for their Halloween costumes every year...i sow by all hand....the bad news is, they only last a day since they all fall apart.

now i'm hoping these curtains in the kitchen last because i sewed them by feet........ROFL....with my grandfather's old foot pedaled singer machine...so i think or hoping they will be good for at last a month or two if i'm lucky.

[Pandora]

Yeah... headboards..ya know - for a bed? They're pretty neat actually - google "headboard made from old door photo" and see what comes up!

Oh I can sew - but I'd rather not...I get aggrevated too quickly

[tobee43]

of course i know what a headboard is........LOL!!!

i LOVE them...i found really old french doors and my dh took hingles and we painted them and that's my daughters headboard!!!!

i can't believe you found those....on google...we did do them about 10 years ago....promise!!!!!

also...taking ply wood works and hinging them as well and covering with padding and fabric.

i want you to see.....LOL!! i LOVE fabric...use it on the walls everywhere...ok. i know you know i'm nuts. i always start a room with the fabric and then work it from there.