Ooo I really like your valance! Good job! Love the fabric and trim.
Good idea about the draft issue. I need to learn how to sew.

I think it looks fine. You did a good job. Is there a privacy issue though? I see another house not too far away. I'm a nut for having my windows covered at night. I could be the only one on top of a mountain and would need all my windows covered at night. LOL, I know I'm nuts.

I think your valance is beautiful! I don't see any problem with it at all.

I think it looks great. I wouldn't discourage you from trying the ring tape, but if it were mine I wouldn't bother. If you need mpre privacy, can you add an inside-mount blind or shade?

Regarding the fan in the bathroom - I usually don't run the fan until after I get out of the shower. Don't want to ruin that nice steamy goodness!

Well -- I think both projects turned out brillantly! Elegant solutions that really enhance the whole space!

Well done indeed! :)

Jan

Thanks everyone. I'm a bit sewed out, so maybe I'll just live with it for a few weeks and if it still bothers me I'll try the rings.

The house behind us is probably 100 feet away, and their windows facing ours are their bath windows too - actually they have stained glass in theirs. The window is actually about eye height so not too much to see above that on me! I guess if they really wanted to spy on me they could catch someone every now and then but I doubt they'd be interested in my belly rolls!

What pretty fabric against the trim and paint -- I like it.
I think you are lacking a bit of fullness on the sides. You might try pulling the fabric in a bit at the top to give more width on the sides where the fabric is drawn in nearer the bottom. Since this might show a bit of a gap on the pole, you could hang large tassels (or something) from the pole to cover it. You also might try wider straps. And you might also try an inside mount as someone suggested above.

caroleoh, I think you did a great job! I'm glad you could follow those directions.

Carole, you did a nice job, but I think it could use wider straps. Maybe you have a coordinating smaller print--or solid? It will just help out with the proportions.

Looks pretty good for your first try! Glad to see someone else try this before I make the attempt. I would think you will be happier if you just use a wider strap also. Maybe a champagne color grosgrain ribbon, or the pretty blue. Can I ask how long your finished piece is? Was it the yard-and a half as my3dogs suggested? Could it be raised up a wee bit more - - to add more fullness?

That's a pretty tub and tile, and you did great on the valance, the colors are great with tile and walls. I am longing to see the ends of the rod and the window frame disappear by being painted the same color as the walls, even though that's a very beautiful color of wood.

I am glad you made the valance, it turned out great and I love the fabric. The only thing I would do would be to use a wider ribbon, that is what I plan to do when I get around to making some for my BR. Your post may push me to do it sooner than later!
The draft curtain is a brilliant idea! It looks so custom above your shower!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts.

I'll try a wider strap. What I had initially thought was to use the same fabric in a 2" strip and put the ribbon overtop, but will also look for a green/blue ribbon. It's hard to find a color in ribbon that isn't a true blue or green which wouldn't go with the walls. I'm also going to try pulling the valance in to poof it a bit and shorten the straps. I could redo the brackets and move them in if I needed to! :-(
I already have to fix the holes from the previous rod - another set wouldn't be that bad.

I used 1 1/4 yds in length. My comments on this project are that it took me the longest time to just get the fabric cut with straight edges with the pattern straight across. Sounds simple, but isn't always with slippery fabric. A solid or very small print would be easiest to handle.

Also, my window is pretty wide - 54" across trim edge to trim edge. I think if I had a narrower window or more fabric, it might have turned out better. But also, the linen fabric tends to drape vs. puff, so be aware of what fabric you're choosing and how heavy it is - or how much natural stiffness does it have to poof a bit. I think that's why mythreedog's red and plaid silk valances look so nice - they're narrower windows and the silk had some body to it to begin with.

Bigdoglover - thanks for your comments. Actually I've thought about painting my trim an off white color, but haven't gotten there yet. Don't know if I'd like it to be the same as the walls. I like some contrast for the trim.

I think you did a great job, and I love the fabric you chose. Your 'barrier' above the shower is a wonderful creation, too!

I must admit, tho, that this is one of my least favorite styles for a window treatment. I guess the style tends to feel to me like someone took a regular shade and just decided to tie it up with something. I am not a fan of how the sides look at the bottom.

If it were me, I would probably do a soft roman instead. But if you like the look, I would at least try to pull the sides out and reduce the amount of swag in the middle section, so that the sides of the shade don't pull in quite so much.

I agree that you need wider straps, and darker, to balance the dark rod and dark trim. A rich blue would be nice, and would bring out the wonderful pattern in the fabric.

It would be pretty to have a shelving unit or even a wine rack on the left side of the tub to hold towels, bottles of product, etc. A tall orchid or other tropical arrangement in a blue pot would be nice in the corner where the small plant is now. Some artwork on the two side walls would finish the space nicely.

Very nicely done!

Carol,
Your fabric & wall color are soooooo pretty!!

When I 1st saw it...my thoughts were like Les' above pull the ties out closer to the end. Now that I have read other responses, I agree about a wider strap. We did this to decorate for a play one year - another mom brought her sewing machine - she sewed the straps and we used safety pins to connect them at the top. They turned out really cute.

Your new steam shower is wonderful!!

Smiles:)

I was just thinking about les917's comment, not being a fan of how the sides look at the bottom. When I began looking for a valance project, I found one on the Better Homes and Gardens site and bookmarked it (link below). I had a similar issue with the sides at the bottom of that one. It seems that it is the nature of that style for the bottom to curve in a little (link below) Then I saw my3dogs' version and she pulls it off so well!

Now I'm wondering if I changed things a little, used a dowel at the bottom, left it straight but added ties, how would that look? Has anyone made a valance like that? I would be giving up the fullness of the gathers and therefore lose much of the 'personality' of the valance. Then again, it wouldn't be hard to change if it doesn't work.

Regarding the window frame, I like it and wouldn't touch it. I might change the rod, maybe to match the walls or to a creamy white (but I like everything creamy white).

I probably won't be doing anything for at least a couple of months and I don't have fabric selected yet, but I think it will be a fun project. The instructions my3dogs posted look so easy. And caroleoh, if mine looks as good as yours I will be satisfied.

Here is a link that might be useful: BHG easy-sew valance

Hi...I really like the fabric you made the valance out of ... do you know the name and style of the fabric and/or where you purchased it? It reminds me of a beautiful Pottery Barn bedding fabric that I liked a lot from last season and I would love to use it to make a duvet cover and window treatments for my bedroom. Thanks so much ...

Beach,

The valance you posted is different than mythreedogs by a few things.

1) the length is drastically shorter on your valance - so that's why you don't see the large amount of poof or drape when pulling up the sides. Not that either design is better than the other, just a different look.
2) The web design is mounted on a board, so that will also give you a little different look.
Other than that, I think the concept is about the same. What I found to be the most difficult is getting the fabric to lay straight and if you want a very tailored valance you'll have to measure your window and do the cutting etc. I think what works so well for Mythreedogs valances in her house is her windows are the perfect size for the one full width of fabric and they drape nice - plus she is smart and knows what kind of fabric works and which doesn't. I guess that's the plus of doing a valance many times.

I bought some new trim today and a new rod, so I'm going to do some alternations and I'll post a picture later!

Kjmystery - The fabric is called Ambala - 5th Avenue Designs for Covington. I found it at a local store here in Columbus. I couldn't find it online anywhere, but perhaps you can have it ordered. It is very pretty, and even tho I'm frustrated right now with my "project" I think I'll be happy in the long run once I get it fine tuned!!

Oh yes, I appreciated the difference between the two versions right away. The most striking difference might be the length, but more important for me, the Better Homes and Gardens version looks like it would be a much bigger project. Whenever I thought about going out to buy the materials and get started on it, I would think, "Groan, there goes my weekend." and I was not even sure I would get it right. But my3dogs' instructions seem so easy to follow. Between the two I would much prefer making the my3dogs valance. What they have in common is the tendency for the bottom edges to turn in a little because the fabric is being drawn up by a sash or cording.

I guess what I am debating is whether to try rolling up the bottom with a dowel inside rather than gathering it up. The result of course would be that they would lay flat, no gathers, looking more like shades. Once they are made, I think I could try both with and without dowels.