These are the Roman Shades I made

16 years ago

I don't post very often, but I thought I would post an update. I was having a hard time trying to figure out what type of window treatment to use on my living/dining room windows. I decided to make roman shades. Here are a couple of before and after pictures.

living room before...

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Living room after...

{{!gwi}}

Dining room before...

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Dining room after...

{{!gwi}}

Thank you to all the people who gave me advice!

Kelly

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Comments (36)

booboo60
16 years ago
jeannema,
Wow! That looks fantastic! Did you cover regular shades with fabric or how did you do it? It really adds warmth and detail to your room :)
texashottie
16 years ago
Wooow! Impressive! Share the details of where you got your hardware and what pattern did you go off of?
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Q
Comments (13)
Thanks for all of your help. I briefly looked at the Terrell site and will need to study that. I didn't find the Joann-Chelone post, but do think I have enough to work with. Mqmoi, I will need to find out how and if I can mount these in my current windows. I think so. I think I am going to start by attempting one for the "pathetic bathroom" I have been working on. It is coming together. If anyone remembers, I posted a few weeks ago about the ugly green tile I had to work with. Since then we have put in a new floor, countertop and painted. Yesterday, I returned the towels I had bought (prior to painting - stupid move) and bought some rust and salmon colors - opposite the color wheel of the green. I think Patricia had suggested that for paint. But I painted a creamy white and it looks greatand am using her suggestion for the towels. I also bought a rug in rusts and salmons and greens with a botanical print. I wasn't too crazy about the rug, but thought I would carry it out with the WT and today trekked off in the blinding cold here looking for fabric. I found a stripe that has the exact color of green of the tiles, the exact color of the walls and the exact color of the towels. I couldn't believe my good fortune! So now the botanical rug will go back for probably a solid color and I am thinking a roman shade would be great (Les had that idea for me a few weeks ago). I hate seeing bare windows, but that's the way it will be for a while, maybe a long while. I think I should do the side panels in the bedroom first, then the bathroom shade as it is the smallest window, then the bedroom shades. Terriks, those are fabulous shades, absolutely fabulous! What an inspiration you are! Red, I didn't find the Joann-Chelone post you were referring to - and the site you referenced was only pictures unless I missed something. Thanks again --- PS --- DH came in and said "Now you are putting the towels in baskets? Pretty soon you are just going to kick me out of my bathroom as you won't want anything touched!" We are both pretty impressed with what we have accomplished in the last few weeks.
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Help with fabric for Roman Shade in kitchen...please
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Comments (37)
A roman shade isn't that hard - I know you can do it! I like the idea of softer, more muted fabrics - and I really like the blue bubbly looking one you last posted. BTW, Christopher Peacock used a tangerine paisley in his kitchen: This might look nice too. or this: Since you like to shop online, try Hancock's of Paducah. They have a ton of nice quilting and home decorating fabrics. I also like fabriccarolina.com, which is where the scrolly fabric came from. Good luck finding something perfect! Here is a link that might be useful: Hancock's of Paducah link
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Thanks, chispa. I appreciate the high confidence input! My husband thought it shouldn’t go higher than before which was what made for extra second-guessing. The fabric is a floral patterned seafoam/pale teal and it’s definitely my hope that it’ll help with this blandness that’s been nagging me.
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Comments (11)
Sometimes the sag is intentional. If that's not what you want, you need to be clear about it. Fabric must be stiff enough to be straight. I've even seen where they insert sticks at each fold to support them if the fabric is too light. You need to know if you want the shade to stack or if you want it to be 'hobbled' so each pleat shows even when lifted. stacked hobbled This sag is intentional... called a relaxed roman shade Note real roman shades do not have a return on them...the bit of fabric that wraps around the end of the mounting rod. Instead it is just flat and the end of the rod shows. See left end below You need to decide if you want a separate valance above or not. This one has a valance Depending on fabric choice, you will need to decide if you want them lined or not. You might look into what's available from a blind store like Blinds to Go which has regular store hours including later night and weekends which might fit with your schedule. That way you'd see what you're selecting before you order it.
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mdoats
16 years ago
Wow! That looks great. Very impressive.
brutuses
16 years ago
Those are great. Can't wait to hear how you did it. Was their a pattern? What instructions did you follow? I know Sherrie of Room by Room made them all the time and she made it sound so simple. For her, it was. I'd love to have that talent, but I just don't have the patience. Would you consider making some for profit? I'll hire you in a second.
susanlynn2012
16 years ago
You did a very professional job and the color and fabric you chose is perfect for your rooms. I would hire you also.
patti_bee
16 years ago
They are perfect for your windows and look very professional! It must give you a great feeling of satisfaction when you look at them and they really finish the rooms. Congrats!
sarschlos_remodeler
16 years ago
Love the shades, but how did you shrink the rocking chair? ;-)
chicoryflower
16 years ago
Jeannema - beautiful work! Those are just perfect.

If you ever have the time to post instructions or some basics, I'd love to read it.

Just stunning!
redbazel
16 years ago
They look wonderful...........I hope you'll post a closeup!

Red
Molly Brown
16 years ago
Fabulous!! i like the color as well. I'd like to see directions also, and if possible, a close up of the fabric.
That was a lot of work, you should be proud.
oceanna
16 years ago
Kelly, those look great. Nice job!
chelone
16 years ago
Very neat and very tailed. Very nice!
caminnc
16 years ago
Awesome job, you are very talented.
hoyamom
16 years ago
Nice work!!
jan_in_wisconsin
16 years ago
Kelly,
Those are gorgeous! I love them, and they look professional. You must feel great. Please, please share the pattern and steps you used to make them. I would love to make some for my boys' rooms, but have found myself intimidated by it all. I have looked into having them custom made, through an online company, but they are VERY expensive.

Thanks for sharing,

Jan
tinker_2006
16 years ago
wow, wow, wow... very nice, can't waiti to hear more about how you made them.
mry193
16 years ago
Very Nice! You should be very proud of yourself, they really do look professionally made. I'm also hoping you will share all the details.
patricianat
16 years ago
Great job, good sewing skills!
johnatemp
16 years ago
Perfect!!

Did you already know how to sew?

Smiles:)
daisyadair
16 years ago
I love them. Such a nice, clean look. You did an amazing job!
sandra12
16 years ago
Very nice! Wonderful job you did!!!
hoosiergirl
16 years ago
LOL @ Sarschlos_remodeler!

Fantastic job, Jeannema! I'd love to know how to do that as well, although I don't know that I'd have the patience for it. You have a beautiful home!
mahatmacat1
16 years ago
Adding my appreciative voice to the chorus...and a question: how much prior sewing experience did you have before this magnum opus?
wooderlander
16 years ago
Those are beautiful.

It appears that you have small children, yet you accomplished this. Amazing!
no_green_thumb
16 years ago
Amazing, aren't they? And I can see from the dining room that she has at least two little kiddos. Amazingly clean and beautiful home. I can't wait until she pops back in to #1 see all of her well-deserved compliments and #2 let us know how she did all of those. This is my current project as most of you already know. I think I finally found a JoAnn's with the fabric.
Seeing these has really made me want to get started asap!!
msjay
16 years ago
Wow! Those are great! You did a wonderful job!
kellymamom
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you all so much!!!!! I'll try to explain what I did and hopefully it will make sense, since I didn't use a pattern or anything. First I watched this video to get an idea of how to make a roman shade.

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/dc_windows_shades_blinds/article/0,,HGTV_3543_1939431,00.html

I pretty much followed the direction in the video for how to measure and sew the shade, but I didn't make it scalloped and I didn't sew the seams on the back. Instead I sewed little plastic rings and the front is completely flat with no seams. When I finished the shade I mounted it to a board as described in the video.

This is what they look like down...
{{!gwi}}

{{!gwi}}

Close up of shade (sorry it's so dark)...
{{!gwi}}

Close up of the fabric (with sun shining through, looks more solid on cloudy days)
{{!gwi}}

Back side of shade...
{{!gwi}}

I also made a hem at the bottom of the shade and inserted a wooden dowel. Overall they were very easy to make. The most time consuming step was sewing all the little plastic rings in the back. I hope I did a decent job explaining how I made them. If anyone has any specific questions I would be happy to try and answer them.

Kelly

Here is a link that might be useful: How to make a Roman Shade
debo_2006
16 years ago
They are gorgeous and look very professional. I think I may give it a try for my kitchen and dining room window.

Can you share how long it look to make one - just out of curiosity?

Thanks. Great job.
kellymamom
Original Author
16 years ago
debi 2006,

I would guess that it took me about 2 hours per shade.

Kelly
kitchenkelly
16 years ago
Those are fabulous!
chicoryflower
16 years ago
Kelly, thank you for sharing and for posting the "how-to".

Amazing!

I have several windows to cover and those would be perfect.
roguevalley
16 years ago
Excellent work!!!! All of you who have been showing your DIY window treatments are giving me the courage to give it a try soon.
clubcracker
16 years ago
Those are fabulous! Great job!!!

Mary
organic_smallhome
16 years ago
Fabulous!!! Really, really, really impressive.

Kelly: You live in MA, right? Any chance you'd want to make some for my house???
kellymamom
Original Author
16 years ago
organic smallhome,

Thanks for the compliment!! IÂm sorry, but I just donÂt have the extra time right now, but thanks so much for asking!!! Maybe once my kids are older, IÂll start making shades for people, but right now they are keeping me really busy. Plus, we completely renovated the inside of our home and this spring weÂre going to start on the exterior of the house and yard. We have a lot of work to do and IÂm going to be one busy girl. Thanks again to everyone for all the kind words. I really appreciate it!

Kelly
organic_smallhome
16 years ago
Kelly: You're so sweet! I was really just kidding--I already have window coverings. BUT-- if you ever do decide to start a cottage industry in making custom shades, let me know! Seriously, they are really beautiful.

These are the Roman Shades I made

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