Un-Do-It-Yourself

You know how you stare at something for so long that you don't notice it, anymore?

Or, maybe, you stare at 'it' so long that it just always seems "fine."

Well - I was sick and tired of my kitchen window (the one over the sink).


The more I thought about it, I realized I was tired of the other window, too!

So, I took down the curtains. (I made the toile curtains 10 years ago when we first moved in - so they were due for removal. -as in - "I will not feel guilty about this.")

Background: My kitchen "building" was built in the 1800's, so it is actually just a large room with a wall in the middle that someone added in the 70's to have a place to hang more cabinets. The entire kitchen is 20'x15' and probably used to have a stove/fireplace at one end.


My whole point in explaining the kitchen layout has to do with the center wall. You cannot see one window from the other window. Ideally, I want my kitchen to look like this.............


...........But am currently lacking the funds necessary to tear down the wall, buy and install new cabinets, and purchase the white marble counters. (And also pay for a kid to go to college in 2 years, AND get a newer car, AND continue to buy shoes for the 10 year old with the fastest-growing feet EVER, AND buy groceries, etc.....)


Therefore, any changes I make must be low-budget changes.


Window #1 above the sink: I started with the storm window and curtain - removing both of them. WOW! What a difference! I am LOVING the sunlight coming through that window in the mornings! The storm window and curtain blocked ALOT more light than I would have imagined! I LOVE using my sink, now!




On to Window #2 by the table: I removed the old toile curtain and actually cleaned the windows. (shocker! for anyone that knows me). Then I moved all of the art in that area to one wall to make the window less 'bare' and the kitchen less 'busy' and to draw the eye to the one wall (instead of sending the eye into a panic "which way do I look? which way do I look?")

Problem: We have to have a curtain of some sort on that window, because there is a sidewalk and street just outside that window and we don't want the entire world watching us argue at dinner.


I went to our local Wal-Marché and bought some burlap and bias tape and made quick window treatments with a hot glue gun (and NO thread). (Also known as a Nester window mis-treatment).

The burlap lets the light through AND lets us have privacy while we eat our breakfast in our pajamas.

I actually made the curtain in two parts, althought it looks like one curtain. That way I can let more light in, during the day (when we are all behaving). I used the selvage side of the fabric in the middle, because it doesn't need the bias tape to keep it from unraveling.

I just kept adding the art fairly high along the wall (these are 11.5' ceilings) - art this high may be too high for some -but I like to have things look a little different than expected. (On second thought, I am now thinking I may place art up to 11.5' - and just cover the whole wall -even above the window.)


Here is a picture of both windows.


In the above picture, you can see "the wall" I referred to earlier -- the one that divides the 20'x15' kitchen area into two parts.



Ta-da! Out with the old! And for almost nothing ($7 for burlap and bias tape at Walmart) - I have a much brighter kitchen and can make it a little longer without my dream kitchen!


Participating in The Shabby Nest blog party and It's A Beautiful Life blog party at.......

Comments

Bunnym said…
I love your blog. I hope you don't mind that I check in once in a while. I too need a re do for my kitchen, but atlas...no money honey! Thank goodness I am creative like you and my hubby loves to build things. I absolutely love the checker floor.

tootles,
bunny
Terry said…
This is so much better. I like all the art on one wall. But since y'all probably neither eat nor argue all time, your dining room looks so good without the cafe curtain. Folks really can't see in during the daytime. So just put up when in the dark while your are arguing at the table. :^)
Unknown said…
That looks beautiful! I loveeeee your inspiration kitchen, but yours is GORGEOUS, too!

Gotta love burlap for a quick, chic change.
Rue said…
"we don't want the entire world watching us argue at dinner"..... that made me laugh out loud LOL I love what you did with the windows. It's amazing how much light is let in by removing storm windows, isn't it? So strange.

Oh and I would have never expected Alan Jackson to live in a home like that. I was expecting something simpler. Beautiful home though.

rue
Claudia said…
This really made me giggle. Great clean up and I am always impressed when anyone can create a simple curtain like this. (me and needles do NOT like one another)

TTFN~~Claudia ♥
So so so cute - I love that you added the ribbon, it added so much.
You can't go wrong with burlap and the added touch of ribbon is priceless!
Oh burlap... now I am convinced I must try burlap and canvas drop cloth curtains. Absolutely convinced. (Love your fun kitchen floors!)
Amber said…
I love your kitchen! It's quaint and cute just as it is! It has character.

Love the burlap window treatments. They are simple yet warm and inviting.
Wendy said…
Loving the window treatments...very pretty.
Anonymous said…
I love the way the cafe curtain turned out! Simple and classic! Good job!
Anonymous said…
I think your kitchen is quite charming and I love all the pop of color in the wall art. From the pics your kitchen looks like the same color as mine.

LeAnn:)
Lisa said…
I love your kitchen...and the kitchen you want but I really like yours. I also love how the curtains turned out and no curtain over the sink I really like.
:)Lisa
kssnnikkel.blogspot.com
I love it. Perfection!!!

Thanks for sharing what you did to inspire us!!!

xo
What a change! I think your kitchen is wonderful! Very cheerful... and now, so bright!
~Amy
Julia said…
I love the bright, graphic look of your eating area...great art.

Have you thought about accidently kicking a hole in the wall that divides the kitchen and eating area? Like putting a big hole in it? So then you would have to repair it....but wait! Let's just tear it down??? I'm afraid I would have to fight the impulse to tear it down.

Or are you one of those patient people? haha.

I love your home...and those SS prints are adorable. You have great style.

Julia
You have a nice blog. I think this is the first time I've visited you. I came over from the Hooked on Houses tour. I have been pinging around from post to post. I see that you redid your curtains and the wall in your dining room. In an earlier post, you said you like thick shelves and corbels. Since your ceiling is so high, you could put one long shelf along the whole back wall in your dining room just a couple of feet from the ceiling and merchandise it with large baskets, urns, etc. That way you still get to have your paintings on the wall and still have your shelf. Just a thought.
autumn said…
trish,
i LOVE your floors! they are gorgeous.
i love that they are a creamy tone with the black. super cute!
thanks for sharing and commenting on my blog---it has been so fun to take a peek and see all of your fun projects!
have a fabulous day.

autumn