My life is to make everything around me beautiful.

Monday, September 17, 2012

The Lazy Decorator

The dirty little secrets. Yep, I told you I'm lazy when it comes to some things. I can also be frugal. Sometimes! This post will explain most of it. But let me tell you a story.

In our previous house we had a library with wood folding doors right off the living room. I didn't like them, especially closed, so I disguised them with drapes. When opened, they were tight against the wall, so I took a long length of fabric and tied it off with pretty white rope I bought at the farm store. I didn't hem or sew one single bit of the fabric as I knew we weren't going to live in that house long. (Okay, at first I thought it was our last house but after 7 or 8 years in it, I realized it was just too big for us at 5,000 square feet.) After tying it at the top, I hung it on a cup hook at the top and fanned out the top and poofed out the bottom. I then pinned on some long twisted fringe. Yes, pinned, not sewed. No one, not one single person, who came to our home ever realized they weren't finished off properly. It stayed like that for several years. We lived in that house about 14 years before we finally sold it. Not one person could detect the cheap and easy ways I decorated that home.


Now on to this house. Here I'm hanging the floral curtain.

Here you'll notice the selvage edges. I simply tuck them under.

I didn't even both to stitch them up.

Again, I didn't bother hemming them, just puddled them under.

Closer view.

The other side. I have so many cords running under things. I may someday have an electrician put in more outlets. I'd have at least 3 on every long wall.

The selvage can be stitched down of course, but in not doing that I leave my options open to use this fabric another time in another way if I choose to do so. Also, what you can see here by this little red arrow is that I stuck a map pin in to hold it out. My space at the top is severely limited so I cannot make the rod come out to its full potential. But if I anchor them with a tiny invisible pin along the mid-section down then they appear fuller.

I've leaving the sofa out a bit more because the new sofa will come out about the same. Also, in leaving it out more it gives the curtains more room to billow.

These photos don't even do it justice. It really is gorgeous in that room. Can't wait to see the new sofa in there.

I can also bring the bottom of the pink stripe curtain out a bit to make them appear fuller in the middle. They are now evenly distributed on the window though this photo doesn't show it as well as in person.

I am very pleased with the results.
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A cute family room off a dining room, but what I found I like about this photo is the siding on the inner walls, the reds and that leather sofa barely visible on the lower side.

Sigh....What a cute little cupboard and dishes.

I'm getting ready to order a new ruffled quilt for my bed. This is beautiful but I have no idea where it came from. Mine is coming from a specialty site in California.

I do like blue and this is one vignette I thought was worthy of note.
~*~
Linking with Make It Pretty Monday and WOW.

9 comments:

  1. I love your striped drapes paired with the floral panels...so pretty!!! You also posted a couple of very pretty vignettes, too.....love that last one!

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  2. You always know how to brighten up my day!

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  3. I'm always up for no sew short cuts. That's a great idea for drapes. I love them!

    XOXOX Debra

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  4. Your new drapes are beautiful! I'm looking forward to seeing your new couch with them.

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  5. Hi Connie, I love how you did your drapes. There is no need to sew the edges because folding them works perfectly. I just put a fabric valance in my guest room and did the same thing. I love the colors so much. Did you finally pick out a new couch? You may have posted about it and I missed the post. They really look lovely, as does your room. The windows are awesome. Good job.

    Hugs,
    Jeanne

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  6. Oh, Connie. I like you already. The first sentence in your ABOUT ME segment made me laugh out loud. I reckon I'm going to have to follow you because I like your drapes AND your humor.

    This Oklahoma gal is visiting for the first time from SSS, where I showcased my Fall home tour.

    Blessing,
    Meredith

    P.S. If you like those polka dot mugs, I THINK you'll appreciate my blog which is thepolkadotshoes.blogspot.com. The title is connected to my children's book.

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  7. I love idea about the curtains. Great job.

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  8. Lots of eye candy for us, dear Connie. Love your clever curtain idea.♥

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  9. Connie you crafty gal you! I love the drapes and think your living room area is truly delightful! Have a beautiful week!

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Comments are so nice and I thank all of you that leave one for me.