Hi AT,
My boyfriend and I just moved here from DC and we're renting our apartment. We're slowly making it look like "home," but we have these hideous metal Venetian blinds that just make the whole place look tired and "naked."
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We had the same problem in the bedroom, and we bought curtains that actually tie up top and tied them to the base of the blinds, so we have both the curtains and working blinds.
Problem is, those curtains only came in four colors:
1. deep chocolate brown (a bit dark, as we have a dark wood fireplace/bookshelf and a big black sofa)
2. baby pink (we don't like pink)
3. light sage green (a possibility, but the color is a bit weak)
4. light blue (used in the bedroom, we already have a big blue chair)
We can't seem to find similar curtains in better colors anywhere, and we don't want to do too much damage to the wall, but we're not sure what our other options are. The base of the blinds is about 1.5" thick. I thought about getting a long curtain rod for curtains and just placing it on the base, but I'm not sure how to keep it there (if we open the window, the wind will invariably knock the rod down). Any suggestions?
Thanks, Sam
Hmmmm. Anyone with an attractive, curtain-over-blinds solution for Sam that will cause minimal wall damage?
What's the fabric content of the curtains? You may be able to buy a baby pink pair and dye them. RIT provides a guide to what's dyeable:
http://www.ritdye.com/a.asp
A lot of those "decorating on a dime" shows would buy tab top curtains, cut the tabs open at the back, slide the tabs over the blind top, and then staple the cut bit back together at the tightness you want. The staples shouldn't show from the front.
I would use screw eyes and clip rings to hang a couple of curtain panels from the ceiling. This would make a dramatic statement on that wall, with a swath of color from ceiling to floor; they would be secure; they would cause little damage (about as much as a nail hole for each screw eye, easily spackled when you move); and the window would still be easily accessible. I think a couple of red or orange panels--to match that stripe in the pillow--would be nice back there.
Thanks!
I like the idea of hanging something from the ceiling (and red curtains), but I'm confused as to how to pull it off. Is there somewhere where I could find a "cheat sheet", or should I just go to a hardware store with that description and whimper for help? I'm new at this...
Sam,
there's really no cheat sheet. This is something I did when I was looking for a really cheap room divider; I doubt I invented this technique, but I've never seen any instructions. So maybe this helps:
Start with a handful of screw eyes, available at home depot. (they look like this: http://www.chopperstoys.com/images/Parts/HardWare/ScrewEyes.jpg )
Add the same number of clip rings (that's what I call them, anyway)--I got mine from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, I think. They look like this:
(http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/assets/product_images/380/29793105158C.JPG ) These kinds of rings are mostly intended to be loaded onto a curtain rod, so many of them are solid rings. You want to be sure to get the kind that have a bit of an opening, like the ones in the picture do.
Once you have your hardware, just attach the rings to the screw eye--see why that opening is important?--and screw the assembly into the ceiling, about an inch away from the where it meets the wall. Space the screw eyes evenly across the window area. Now you can attach curtain panels (or any fabric you find appealing) using the clamps on the rings.
Obviously, this technique means the curtains are pretty stationary, but they're easy to tie back to allow light in.
Please let me know if I've made this even more confusing, and I'll try to clarify. (wish I'd taken a picture of that room divider! it would be crystal clear to you!)
For what it's worth, I'm pretty sure I used these Umbra clip rings:
http://www.lnt.com/product/index.jsp?productId=1358072&cp=2167013.1331965.1334498&view=all&parentPage=family
That seems to make sense. How do you screw the screw eyes into the ceiling to begin with? Just drill a hole into the ceiling? We don't have a drill, so would nailing them in, or putting in a nail, then taking the nail out, then putting the screw eye in the hole work instead?
(you know, I did stage crew in high school....I'm not sure why I'm having so much trouble with this...)
I think that I just screwed them right into the ceiling without predrilling. I might be wrong (this was a while back), but I guess if you have any trouble, a nail hole would give you the start you need for screwing them in.
(you should definitely get a drill, though. eventually you'll need one.)
I don't know why I'm having such a hard time explaining this--I used to be a technical writer/trainer!
It seems to make sense, don't worry. Thanks for your help!
Can you use shower curtain rings?
I had the same problem and didn't want to add any holes to the wall or ceiling, so I bought wood blinds from Soko Hardware in Japantown for $40 and some heavy duty picture handing wire. I put the wire thru the two loops on the top of the blinds and wrapped the ends of the wire around the top inner part of the cheezy metal blinds that I can't take down. I slipcovered my blinds with nice Japanese ones.
I've found groovalicious tie-top curtains at Cost Plus World Market in deep reds and other nice rich colors... there are also some on the website: http://www.worldmarket.com
the "Pomegranate Crinkle Voile Curtain Panel" is very nice on that site.
good luck!
I had same issue. I ordered curtains from pottery barn - which arrived with around 10 "S" type of hooks and loops attached to the back of the curtains. (Aparently this is how sliding curtains are attached.) I ended up just sliding the hooks through the loops on the curtains and then hanging the other part of the hook off of the blinds. they dont slide as easily as if there was a pulley system, but they do open and close
Thanks for all the suggestions! I have to marinate with all this now...
I say bite the bullet and put up a rod. The window is not that wide (so only a bracket each side, and not much weight to support), holes will be minimal, and you won't be limited to "what works" as far as lightweight/tie-top curtains.
Or, and now I'm just talkin' crazy... just leave the blinds. You cdon't have that much wall space on this window, and hanging panels would potentially chop up the space even more.
I say nekked is good.
What about a regular spring rod? You could probably put one directly below the blinds and gather enough fabric on the top of the rod to hide the blinds fairly well.
Love your tie curtains, btw. They look great!
People are too cautious when it comes to putting holes in their walls. It isn't like you're going to try and put in a new window with a sledge; we're just talking about four little holes for a curtain rail. When you want to move just spackle, that's what it's for. Touch it with a bit of paint on a q-tip and you'll never know there was a hole. You must be brave to banish the ugly blinds. You don't want to live with a so-so solution; you want to live with fabulous.
true, true. i just found out my boyfriend actually LIKES the venetian blinds (*shudder*). now i must go convince him style isn't evil....
I'd just put up a thin rod - you're not going to damage the wall and you can spackle the tiny holes when you leave. (Spackle on fingertip, pop in there, wipe off excess.)
Plus, the walls are white and have texture - it's not going to show once you leave. Plus, you know, if you just left the rod behind, the next tenants would probably use it. We've left rods (and sometimes curtains) behind in every place we've rented with nary a complaint from a landlord.
re: "now i must go convince him style isn't evil...."
Or, he needs to convinvce YOU that unadorned Venetian blinds aren't necessarily evil, either.
If the blind is hung inside the frame, why not install a tension rod just under the blind hardware? No damage at all. And you can use rod pocket or tie-top panels.
Also, tie top panels are everywhere. Check BedBathandBeyond.com or WorldMarket.com.
Here's what I did with my sliding glass doors. It's important to choose something that's not too opaque or you risk losing all your natural light. Layering sheers adds texture and allows you to experiment with colors.
"Or, he needs to convinvce YOU that unadorned Venetian blinds aren't necessarily evil, either."
They're hideously evil, Patrick. Obviously, advice on decorating is not something you're good at. So why don't you let those who have good advice to give do so?