Can I get nice roller shades to fit these brackets? (see pics)
sarahandbray
15 years ago
We have an 1870's farmhouse in upstate, NY that is in DESPERATE need of window treatments! I have been avoiding it all together because (A) the ones I like are expensive, (B) I don't want curtains because I don't want to cover the thick, original trim, and (C) because most of the windows are 26" wide which just screams CUSTOM as most regular manufacturers only have 24" or 25" and then 27".
One room still had cheapo roller shades from the previous owner that I kept until I could find something better. Then I realized that ALL the windows in the house have these brackets, which I now know are for roller shades.
So where can I get roller shades that are pretty (not necessarily custom) and not just plain vinyl white? And will they fit these brackets (I have no idea how old they are...but if I can find something to fit, how easy would that be?)
Oh...and my style (if I can even be so picky!) isn't really Victorian, though this house is of that era and has some Victorian elements...less fussy, frilly and girly.
Sarah from Albany, NY
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palimpsest
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15 years agoRelated Discussions
So nice seeing this sunflower in deep shade
Comments (35)I have not noticed the helianthus family requiring much in the way of sratification...so would hold off planting them until late February. Astonishingly, there are NO woodland sunflowers available as seed or plants in the UK or EU - helianthus strumosus is the nearest I can get through B&T world seeds - so it would be new to me and I will have to check the germination requirements. I usually sow seed at the approximate time it would ripen in the wild...unless it was from a tender plant..but with a limited supply, my default sowing times are usually early spring. I sincerely doubt there will be any need for heat, lights or any special treatment other than sowing half a dozen seeds in a 5inch pot of a reasonable friable potting mix, covering with a layer of fine grit, watering and letting them get on with it in some sheltered spot outside. I would probably cover the pots with a perforated seed tray, enough to admit some light but keep out foraging birds and insects...but hey, we should have a communal sowing session and keep each other up to date. Seeds are cheap, addictive and completely thrilling. I stumbled upon a Pictorial Meadow seed mix display in the week around some municipal tennis courts on one of the college greens...just as seeds were nicely ripe...and filled all my dog poo bags with seed heads (at least 7 of them) in a maniac redistribution/scavenging session (even collaring a couple of passing children to help)....See MorePretty roller shades...to fit these old brackets? (see pic)
Comments (13)I would LOVE to make my own...but I am the least crafty person on earth! This is the ONLY project that has ever gotten me to consider buying a sewing machine...just because the cost of shades is so much...and because we have SO MANY windows in this old house. But other than photography (so maybe scrapbooking someday, if I'm bored), I have zero passion for the art of craftiness. I do love fabric and was hoping to do some really cool shades...just to make it look like I "meant" to do roller shades...not because they were just the cheapest I could find. I guess I don't really want the vinyl ones for that reason...I was hoping for fabric of some kind. That make-your-own roller shade thing sounds ideal...but how well do they work once you add the fabric onto the backing? Does it make it too "heavy" so they don't roll up too well? I kind of need something heavy duty enough to withstand three little kids running around--not that they ever mess with the blinds we have now...I would just hate the thought of them breaking something I either spent a ton of $$ on or a ton of time!! Great ideas, though...I'm going to try to figure it out soon!! Sarah...See MoreRoller shades? Roman Shades? What would you do?
Comments (30)Becky - don't know if you remember my room and link from up-thread but I've continued to follow your situation and thought I'd give you an update on mine since we have similar large, private settings and goals for views. Much as I love roman shades whether fabric or some kind of woven wood/bamboo, I just didn't want to cover up that much glass with the stack height. We did a test run with a textured roller shade on 2 windows in our living room. That way if we hated them it wasn't an investment in every window and we'd keep looking. Here's what we have, a roller shade behind a cassette. You can see the texture, it's not room darkening but offers excellent light/glare control and privacy. When they're open, they are very unobtrusive and leave the glass bare. The cassettes aren't invisible but if you match your wood they will disappear as much as anything can. Mine are in between my wall and my wood color so they have a bit of warmth to them. We are probably going to use these throughout the house where we need light control. Some of those windows may get additional decoration with curtains, and that's an opportunity to add some pattern and color. Personally, I don't think these have a modern look or really any definitive style look because I chose a neutral to basically disappear. If you chose a wood tone or a color of course they will be a focal point and that to me is where the clean lined modern look comes in. But as a first layer with curtains or even on their own matched to your wood, IMO they can work with any home or decorating style. Hope that helps. It's a tough decision and a lot of money, that's for sure!...See MoreDouble / dual roller shades with solar and blackout shades
Comments (4)This is what I did. We installed room darkening shades inside the window depth. Then, over them, we installed Duette linen pull up blinds. I also added drapes. In the evening I raise the Duettes and pull down the darkening shades, then the Duettes and it's pitch black in the room. I can't stand any light showing. I even taped the light on the phone and tv. This was ten years ago and still holding up like they were installed yesterday....See Morek9arlene
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