apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Well what can I say, I guess I'm cheap. If this were a condo I owned, I wouldn't think twice about spending the money. But it is a rental I may only be living in for a couple of years, so I kinda want to economize.

Ditch the shades, and do long curtain sheers going across the three windows on each side.

Wow, great windows! I agree that ~$130 sounds about right, but multiplied by 6 - ouch. I think now is the time to learn to sew or befriend someone who sews. Romans are very easy to make and you can go to the fabric district and get a bolt of your choice for WAY less than $600. If you can follow basic building project instructions and operate a drill, you can read a sewing pattern and operate a sewing machine. And you know that satisfaction you get when you accomplish something yourself, priceless.

www.blindsforless.com. Need I say more.

Barry -

Click on my name in this post and have a look at a VERY inexpensive window treatment that turned out very nicely in a Brooklyn brownstone that had incredibly tall windows. I can see this looking very good in your space, although I think I'd try to do it with a color, instead of white.

Those window recesses look deep enough to take shutters. These look great on tall windows. The Georgians did it brilliantly.

i've had luck with www.blindsaver.com. you might want to consider the roller shades, as those seem to be a lot cheaper.

I agree about the shears, or any type of drapes. Use a tension pole (try Umbra Store online; http://www.umbra.com/ustore/product.do?product=238512&colour=005; or even a shower tension pole painted to match yours walls or drapery) within the window frame; either of each window frame or across the three.

I agree with Sagesse. Aside from the wooden sills, the construction of the unit interior has the typical "Modern on the Cheap" look you see in 90% of apartments built or rehabbed since...well, as far back as the 50s or 60s even.

No trim, vinyl cove base instead of wood baseboard, drywall painted Landlord White, no window trim, beige wall to wall carpet.

Not impossible to make look homey and stylish, but I fear that putting up blinds (even Roman shades) will just tip it over the edge into blah.

I'd go with curtains or even sheers, but in some color, even if a neutral like a taupe. (But not white.) Something to complement your furniture and add some color interest to the room.

Further to my previous post. With that view I would never shut them.

I gotta ask - why bother with shades at all?
The view is too good to cover up at night.
I am not certain what you gain from blinds in this room.

i agree with the roman shutter thing. they are interestingly shaped windows and i think those would highlight this. they seem kinda strange for curtains...i think sheers would hide them. roller shades might make it look like an office.

are you near the neighborhood in the "wire"?

maybe you can pick up some shades off of bubby's cart. he'll cut you a deal.

um, did anyone click through on Curtis' link? Funniest thing ever ;-).

As for Barry, added up it is a lot of money to spend on a rental and you'll never be able to reuse tose blinds anywhere else, so I feel your pain. I think you need to ask yourself what you need the blinds for - light protection, privacy, improving the look, etc?

If the blinds are almost never closed, I would suggest putting in some valances on top to hide them (when open). If you really need light/privacy protection, the cheapest alternative will be tension rods and some type of curtain, but these windows are so narrow you will really lose the impact of the view from the windows, which seems rather nice.

SmithandNoble.com also has nice sales on different types of blinds and if you do a search, typically has 10% or 15% off coupons as well. You'll still end up paying more than with curtains, but I found them to be my cheapest source (when I chose colors/materials that were on sale), particularly for the quality.

I think there have been some postings on here about painting blinds as well, that might help improve the outlook somewhat but is sure to be a cruddy, timeconsuming job.

Dave -
I'm feeling you on the 'Modern on the Cheap' vibe. The place was an old high school that was remodeled in the early 80's. The advantage on that is high-ceilings and thick walls (no waking up the neighbors) I'm starting to lean towards the drapes across th three windows idea. Not as pleasing to me as the roman shade, but it can be done a heck of a lot more cheaply.

Alex - yes the view is amazing, but there are rare moments when I need some privacy. Struggling with the cheesy venetians has already given me multiple headaches. It only makes it worse ehen they're this tall.

Anon - "The Wire"-esque territory can be seen less than a mile away, right next to M&T Stadium (Ravens). I drive through on the way to work everyday, and at night it's pretyt much an open-air drug market. The funny thing is about 5 blocks away, there's an American Apparel, tons of boutiques, bars and restaurants. Gentrification at it's best.

Everyone - Great suggestions. This is why I love AT. Please keep 'em coming! Convince me drapes are the way to go, or show me where I can get my cheapo roman shades.

If you like the shutter idea, try Second Chances Inc. (it's really close to you on Warner Street behind M&T). They have salvaged & new shutters (among many other cool things) for reasonable prices.

First, related to nothing design-wise, but The Wire - best show ever!

And Barry, your description of the open air drug market 5 blocks from uber-gentrification land reminds me a lot of Philly.

I'm curious, what is the condo market like in Bal-more? Say compared to DC, NYC, SF

eeeck - Hmmm. The valances do look like a good middle of the road option. The shades will indeed be very rarely closed. Smith + Noble is still kind of pricy even with this option, but I'm definitely liking it.

Jack - thanks for the tip on Umbra.com. Lots of great reasonably priced stuff. It may come in handy for this project.

Dave - Condo market here is meh. Not too many options, with a few new buildings here and there. The whole Washington DC-Baltimore area condo market is seeing a lot of buildings going to rentals cause of the market 'slump'. There is actually a whole new warehouse to rental conversion on the south side of the neighborhood called 101 Wells. Seems to me like the insane prices are kickstarting a reality check in people's minds for what they're getting for their money. The big thing, in Federal Hill at least, is re-modeled rowhouses. Some of these things are absolutely beautiful. I have seen a lot of these go to rentals after they languished on the market as well though. Overall prices are much cheaper than DC. Its probably the only thing that keeps a lot of the young professionals here. It's a recurring theme when I talk to people who actually work closer to DC. You can get twice the place for the same money in Bawlmer (proper pronunciation).

Yeah I imagine the super-fast gentrification cycle has caused this situation in a lot of cities.

supergenius - I have been to Second Chances, and it is indeed a very cool place. Problem is with the extra-long windows, there are slim pickings. I'm definitely going to hit it up if I ever buy a place out here though.

I live in Baltimore. I suggest for a more local resource, go to super linens in fells point. they have a ton of linen curtains, who knows they might have some roman shades?

another option is looking up a place called Blanks Fabric. They do custom window shades. They're located in woodlawn, MD (by security Blvd.)

Look them up online at http://www.blanksfab.com/ for the address.

Having a nice dialogue with apartment-dwellers from all over is exactly why we come here! Barry, I made valances for my own apartment and as long as you can sew a straight line (or know someone who can) it's very easy.

Just get small tension rods for each window - less than $10 each at Bed Bath & Beyond. For the simplest valance, cut out a rectangle that's the width of the window and twice as long as the desired valance, fold it in half with the pattern inside and sew around the edge, leaving some space at the top to turn the fabric outside-out and insert the rod. Iron, put in the rod, install in the window and voila!

I went a little fancier on mine and have a point in the center that ends in a tassel, but otherwise the method was the same. You should be able to do all the windows for as low as $100 with an inexpensive fabric, or much less if you don't need rods. I tried using picture wire and eyehooks instead but they sagged in the middle, your windows are much narrower (mine are 5' wide) so it might work.

Barry - There's also IKEA. As always, its good to be moderate in one's IKEA usage. For curtains and sheers, they have a somewhat decent selection. A lot of their curtains come sort of unfinished in very long lengths. They include a long strip of tailor's tape. You just cut the curtain to the length you want, fold over a little 1-inch hem and iron the tailor's tape between. The stuff melts instantly from the tape and and essentially makes a glued hem.

Its very easy - and speaking from personal experience - bachelor friendly.

Home Depot, Home Depot, Home Depot.
They have cellular shades, roman
shades, wood blinds, vinyls blinds, etc. and
will cut them to size.

I bought three wooden blinds there, 43 dollars
each, and each had
to be cut smaller than the width they had,
and each fit perfectly
(they have a special cutting machine; the
employee just has to put the blind in and
type the measurements into a keypad). I took them home the same day (self-checkout!).
Good luck.

IKEA actually has beautiful Venetian blinds, in wood, for about $25. It is relatively easy to cut them precisely to size, if you wrap the blind really tightly in duct-tape, and then use a circular saw to cut the edges. I just did it in my new home, and in one room where I had 8 huge windows, spent $150 for all the blinds. The blinds look great, and the DIY cutting procedure is relatively easy (I'm not very handy).

it's a toss up.
i like the idea of a roller shade but fabric would be nice too.
if you curtain panel you could have grommets put on the top and thread the tension rod thru them.
this would give it a notch up from a plain pocket top curtain panel.
there is a store in NYC which will put them on if you mark where you want them.
http://www.steinlaufandstoller.com

Barry,

my first thought was to just have draperies going across... instead of covering each window. I'd have a few panels of drapes and allow them to rest (plant) on the walls between the windows when you are not covering the windows. (Possibly use the cable curtain wire from IKEA or West Elm.) I don't like to conceal windows - personally.

Then I also like Curtis' idea... fabric with grommets... and then I would also suggest to buy some plastic rings to stitch in two rows (spaced about 16 inches apart) along the length of the back of the fabric and run a cord through them - knotting it at the bottom, then fishing it up through the rings and then back down OUTSIDE of the rings ... so you pull them up in a billowy effect, and when they are down... they are rather plain and simple.
Let me know if you need further explaination.

CC

I wouldn't put any window coverings at all. Tall, skinny windows like that don't come often and neither does that view. Less is more.

Barry:

I think you live in the same building as my elderly father and stepmother. (They live on the courtyard side of the entrance from Federal Hill.) Small world.

Compared to the other places my Dad has lived in the Baltimore area, this unit is the nicest by far. Yes, it's landlord white and beige, but the windows are magnificent. Dad and Janet's apartment is an eclectic mix of my family's mostly modern furniture, combined with Janet's antiques. The space is incredible with the high ceilings and huge windows. And I loved that the blinds were black and not white. I loved the look . . . but then my Dad has taken advantage of the generous, deep window sills to display small objects of art and mementos. Their blinds are set at a certain height, at least in the dining area and living room. No window dressing other than blinds did not cause me heartburn . . . but then I grew up in a house that was almost all glass and there were virtually no window treatments . . . the exceptions were curtains in my parent's bedroom, modesty curtains over the window into a shower that someone might be able to look into from the driveway, and shades in the kitchen that got DIRECT sunlight in the mornings other than winter.

Especially with the fabulous view, I think you could do without, but that's your call. If we are thinking of the same building, you must have a fabulous unit.

Some neighbors of mine put up some really nice looking cellular shades, fairly opaque, but you could see shadows through them. They ordered them from Home Depot (by taking measurements to the store) and said that they weren't very expensive.

another thought... inspired by a post above.

I would leave the windows bare...but in the interest of cost savings... and less fabric; maybe just a nicely stiched piece of fabric on the lower third of each window (with tension rods) - for privacy - and then you can get plenty of sunlight - and the nighttime view.

lynherne - We are almost definitely in the same building. It is definitely a beautiful unit.

Jamie - I will definitely check out Super Linens . I'm very new to the area, so I'm still exploring around. Im going dedicate a hopefully warmer Saturday to check out the Fells Point area. Any other suggestions? I just checked out your blog too, great stuff. Maybe one day I will have the most brutal apartment ever.

Thanks everyone for the great comments. I think I'm going to go with a valance solution to cover up the blinds when they are open (most of the time) I'll just keep the existing blinds for the rare occasion when I need some privacy. I'll be headed to Ikea and Home Depot and Super Linens for options. Bed Bath and Beyond too (20% off mailer coupon will finally get some use too)

Now my other problem. With the recent cold snap, it is super chilly in the room with these windows. They are really drafty. Any quick and easy ways to seal these guys up?

RE: Shutters. Incredibly difficult to install, requires a real carpenter and installation cost for this arrangement would be over $1,000. Not a good solution for a rental

Barry, you may even be able to build/create valences pretty cheaply. I think all you would need is plywood cut to size covered with fabric using either a hot glue gun or staple gun on the back. I'm not totally sure how you could apply them to the window, but I'm sure it could be done using a bracket (perhaps L-shaped?) If that went in the top of the window, above the blind, then you could definitely close the blind when you needed.

In a previous rental I simply staple-gunned fabric to the ceiling in front of the window - I did it slightly, but not too, gathered and then tied a ribbon round them to tie them back - if you angle them slightly as you are holding them to tie the tie round them you can get them to tie to one side of the window - it was a quick, cheap, and efficient way of covering the windows and I could buy whatever cheap fabric I wanted and just had to hem it to the length I wanted - I stapled it to the ceiling about six inches from the edge of the fabric and those six inches then draped down at the front into a valance (or pelmet for UK people) - when I leftthe rental all I had were some tiny holes in the ceiling where the staples had gone in which barely showed

$130.00 is cheap. I live in Chicago and commute between NM and TX. Average cost of a window treatment in the extreme climates - $500.00.
A friend of mine just spent over 28,000.00 for window treatments in a 11,000 sq. ft. home in Indiana. This was the lowest bid. The other bids came in between 45K and 60K.
Do it yourself seems to be the way to go. Check out linensource.com domestications.com brylane.com
I'm sure you will find something.
Also, Walmart has a clearance section and you might be able to find something there.