DESIGN TIPS

Did you guys happen to read all of the ORC post on Wednesday?  I'm getting pretty darn excited to watch the progress of these talented bloggers.....and don't forget to check out the linking projects which are posted on Calling It Home on Thursdays.  I plan on getting to those this weekend!


The other day I got an email from a reader about hanging natural roman shades with curtains.  This was her dilemma.

Her window treatments were already up and she wanted to add the shades with an outside mount[outside the moulding of the window] up high under the rod.  

Like this.....

This is Joni's family room from Cote de Texas.  I wonder if she knows that this image is on a window treatment site?

Or this....

 Southern Living

She was not able to do it because there was no room under her rods.  It takes a little planning to for this to happen.....the most important being the bracket length.

Here is a very elementary explanation.

These are my natural shades.  You can see that they are about  2 1/2" from the wall.

That means you will need an expandable bracket that is at least 3"  long to allow for the shade to fit up under the rod.  The term is called the "return".

You can see a little screw used to release the extra length needed for different returns.  Capishe?

Now if you are hanging the shades with an inside mount [inside the window moulding] like this:

Your return [bracket length] is not as critical.  So that is hanging curtains 101.

Next up is hanging pictures.  OK.....I know there are a million ways, ideas, thoughts on the internet about this.  You don't need a lesson but I am just going to go over my thoughts since I just hung some.

8 botanicals.  And one foot. [not included in the vignette].

Arrangement #1.    A little too much height.  When you see the bench you will see why I felt that way.

Arrangement #2.  Not bad but not a fan of top heavy.  Plus still too tall.

Arrangement #3.  Not a fan.  Don't like the holes at the corners.  AND....that height issue is still there.

Arrangement #4.  What if we tighten it up.  The holes are still there.  and so is the height.........No.

Bingo....this gives it width with minimum holes at the corners.  It will also balance with the bench as seen below.

And.....that's a wrap.  Except still waiting for the cushion. 

Have a wonderful weekend....no rain for us here in Atlanta so I'm smiling about that.  Tomorrow morning I am getting up at the crack of dawn to run this charity race  for The Furniture Bank!  

Shagrumpyinthemornings.