One way to coordinate your kitchen or dining room is to match the window fabric to that of the napkins, place mats and upholstery. DIY Decorating and Design host Nancy Golden shows a simple yet striking window treatment made from dinner napkins and "curtain jewelry," pin-on embellishments made especially for decorating. (If you wish, you can use three print and three coordinating soild-color napkins and layer them to create a border effect.) Fold the first napkin (or layered napkins) in half, and then in half again, diagonally. The folded edge fits over the curtain rod, and the curtain jewelry is pinned to the corner that hangs down, which will be the side that fits against the window frame. Repeat with the second napkin or napkins, and slide to the opposite side of the rod. For the center panel, simply fold the third napkin or napkins once diagonally across the rod, and fasten the center point with the remaining piece of jewelry. You can also cover windows creatively with tablecloths, antique coverlets or fabric used in new ways. Home economist Deborah Durham demonstrates three inexpensive window treatments that are quick to do and easy to change when you get tired of them. Each requires a curtain rod already in place. Metal curtain rods with curlicues or hand-blown glass at the end are among the wide variety of decorative rods available. Fabric-Drape Window Treatment Materials:
About 10 yards of fabric
Optional: decorative jewels and fabric glue
Tissue paper for stuffing if the fabric is lightweight
Drape one long piece of fabric several yards in length over a decorative curtain rod for a quick look that's easy to change. An optional touch is the addition of little jewels to the fabric, which accentuates the jewel tones of this rich tapestry print. The total price of this window treatment, using this type of tapestry print hung on a decorative rod, is about $100 -- much less than a custom window treatment. - Drape a length of fabric over a curtain rod, with fabric cascading down the sides (figure A).
- If desired, use fabric glue to attach small faux jewels to the fabric and add sparkle and richness (figure B).
- If necessary, stuff tissue paper in the folds of the fabric drape to add body (figure C).
Crocheted Curtains Hang a pretty crocheted tablecloth or coverlet from decorative shower-curtain hooks looped through the fabric. This project takes only a few minutes but creates a very pretty and romantic look. Materials:
Crocheted tablecloth or coverlet
Decorative shower-curtain hooks
- Attach decorative shower-curtain hooks to the top of a crocheted tablecloth or coverlet (figure D).
- Hang the crocheted curtain from a decorative rod at the window (figure E).
Tablecloth Curtains Loop decorative cord through grommet holes in the top of a tablecloth, and hang it at the window for a casual kitchen look. The total price of this window treatment is about $35. Materials:
Tablecloth
Twill tape for reinforcement
Decorative cord
Package of grommets (includes the grommet-attachment tool)
Ruler
Scissors
Hammer
- Grommet holes should be about 8" apart at the top of the fabric. Measure and mark the placement of the grommet holes, and cut a hole a bit smaller than the size of the grommet at each point.
- Lightweight fabric must be reinforced. Cut a small square of twill tape with a small hole in the center to serve as reinforcement at each grommet hole (figure F).
- Assemble all the parts needed for grommet attachment: grommet top and bottom, grommet-attachment tool and a small piece of twill tape for reinforcement (figure G).
- With the fabric wrong side up, assemble the grommet pieces and attachment tool on the fabric according to package directions, making sure to put the twill tape reinforcement in place next to the fabric (figure H). Tap the grommet into place with a hammer (figure I).
- Loop decorative cord through the grommet holes at the top of the fabric, and hang the tablecloth curtain from a curtain rod (figure J).
RESOURCES :
Window-treatment products
Pier 1 Imports
Website: www.pier1.com
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