I love them!

You may decide not to repurpose them after you get them hung. They are really sharp.

I love them, too!!! Order them NOW! ;o)

Really love the S&N montage, those colors are so ideal. The Ballards curtains are adorable, just not the "nailed it" sort of result the other fabrics would offer. Think it would work though. You have an outstanding kitchen, just beautiful! This may sound like an off the wall suggestion, but have you considered having someone come out from JCPenney home decorating to give you an estimate for custom draperies? They have over 3,000 fabrics from which to choose. They did work for me & the quality is excellent. Also Calico Corners & other fabric stores in your area would offer the same service. Just want you to really have that WOW factor, since your house is such a stunner.

I love the curtains and since you can repurpose them when you have the other window treatments made, I say go for it.

Thanks everyone.

I'm waiting for an email from Ballards about the backround color. In the close-up of the swatch I thought I saw some blue and the hue of it wouldn't work if I'm right. If there's no blue I might take a chance.

Stinky, I know just what you mean. I actually did go to Pennys and talked with one of the 'decorators' there. It was about the window treatments in the front of my house. I'm kind of anal and may have given her a hard time, lol.

She said she would come over with some books and we would find something from those. Well, I don't make up my mind that quickly and when I asked to see some of her samples, she refused. When I asked if I could talk it over with DH after she had been here she said, no, I don't want to come twice. We live less than a mile from the store.

Then I asked what company fabrics she had, Robert Allen perhaps? She sniffed and said that his fabrics were passe. All the while she was name dropping "The Mart". As in, "Oh it's been ages since I've been to The Mart but I doubt they show Robert Allen there". For those not from Chicago, she was refering to the Merchandise Mart which is a designers' showroom for the trade only.

We really didn't hit it off. She kept telling me she was a decorator and she would know best and if I didn't like what she showed me in her first couple of books she brought in, she would bring a few more in. Then I really frustrated her by saying "How could I know what I'd like best if I couldn't see them ALL at once?". You can imagine her face by then, hehehe.

I doubt if it helped that I looked like something the cat dragged in. Had a lot going on that day and happened to have a beautiful fabric sample in my hand from what turned out to be Pennys made-to-measure side of the store which she made me put back.

Since I've moved to Chicago, I have a bad feeling about what passes for drapery treatments around here. I keep getting mail from a local designer whose treatments are soooo bad that I wouldn't have them in my house if she paid me.

Too much info stinky? That'll teach you to ask. lol

No, Parma, not TMI! Actually, it is almost scary how your experience with the consultant echoed my own, & I'm no where near Chicago! I too, was frustrated by my consultant's attitude (very snooty) & refusal to share all but a select sample of the 3,000 fabrics. We did not "hit it off" to say the least. I suggested that DH & I also visit the studio to browse at our leisure & she said no. So, why did I suggest this as an option? Because I am very pleased w/the final results. I was definitely a "difficult" customer through the whole process & am sure she was so happy to be finished w/my project. She told me that she had seldom encountered anyone as particular as myself, & she's been doing this for 30 yrs! Anyway, very long story short, I had really tricky windows, won't go into all the details, & after much deliberation, measuring, thinking, looking, decided that the only way to dress them well would be w/a custom design. In the final analysis, the work was well done, the install was well done, & I believe I got the best result I could get. Mind you, I interviewed 5 other window treatment places before I met up with Penneys. This woman actually did have the best, most classic, but least "frou-frou" design concept.
So, Even w/all the angst, & in spite of her snootiness, I still plan to hire her for a couple more window treatments at some point, & for an upholstered headboard (simple, white) for the master BR. TMI? Just had to share the hauntingly similar parallels.

Stinky, that's so funny! I thought my post would die with the ranting of a mad woman,lol. Are these people from Pennys real designers? When she says she's a decorator, can I ask for credentials? That wouldn't bring us any closer now, would it?

I really miss the ASID? that did the living room windows in my last house and would hire her in a minute. We really hit it off and she always let me snoop around the back of her studio where she kept all the samples. Sadly, she moved to Florida.

I'm just in such a hurry now and have so much money to spend on the front treatments that I don't know if I could trust her or myself to do an expensive job correctly.

DH isn't much help as I think he's feeling a twinge of guilt for putting me in a house that he knows really isn't my favorite style. He just tells me to go for custom and d*mn the price. Well, we don't have an unlimited budget and I want to make sure that the money I've set aside for these projects doesn't run out.

One a good note, it's cloudy and raining today so the floors will get a break.

Your are wise to establish priorities, & I know what it's like to have a DH who just wants you to "be happy" & thinks that the more expensive option surely will guarantee that. We know that's not necessarily so, because we're looking at the big picture & considering ALL the things we want to do. You'll find something ready made that will look nice & protect your gorgeous floors, & as you pointed out, it will probably not be the permanent selection. I have faith in you, Parma! The Ballard curtains are adorable, I love Ballard. You mention your DH knows this house isn't your favorite style. What would your preference be?

parma...I love, love, love your color selections. Please post when you get everything done. Are you using in your great room (or whatever you have) also?

I also would like to know your preference in homes if this is not your favorite style....'cause I sure do like it~~

Stinky, I've mentioned it so many times on this forum that people are probably getting sick of me, lol.

I can't stand decorating the rooms with 18' ceilings. My last house only had one of them, but here it's the foyer, living room and great room. Did you see my recent post about the different color moldings? That shows the decorated model of our house.

While I think I've come up with some inexpensive ideas for wall art, it's a shame to me to have to buy something large to 'fit a space' rather than something smaller that I truly love. My dream home would have 10', at the most, 12' ceilings.

I am getting quite anal about decorating my dining room. Bought an expensive French Heritage table and want to splurge on window treatments. This is because it's the only 'normal' size room on the first floor. I'm not counting the kitchen because as nice as it is, they crammed so many cabinets in it that there is no room for art. No wall space at all. Les had a great idea to take the
"odd little corner cabinet" (her words, lol) down as it is off center and really serves no purpose. DH was amenable to that.

It's one area that I compromised on because DH just loves the high ceilings, maybe because he's 6'4", but I couldn't do it again. We'll be staying here until we retire.

Oh, I see, it's the ulta-high ceilings that are the main concern. I have the opposite prob. At my previous house, which was 100 yrs. old, had 10ft. ceilings, 8" baseboards, wide window sills, etc. Here, house was built in 1987, has 8ft. ceilings, skimpy sills, etc...just not much character. Everything I do here is in an effort to infuse this house w/ character. Fortunately, we do have wood floors throughout & a brick floor in the sunroom which overlooks a koi pond, & mature landscaping, all elements that I feel do add character & quality. This house was not cheap. Guess none were 2 yrs ago, especially in this area which was really booming like mad. I like a lot about the house, but have wondered a lot-did I do the best thing at the right time. My conclusion lately is that it isn't all in our hands. Not to sound too airy-fairy here, but maybe we end up w/ the houses we do for reasons beyond our own reasoning? Maybe You're meant to be caretaker of those tall ceilings & I'm meant to set about adding some character to mine. I tend to look at everything through a spiritual/touchy-feely filter, so if I'm being too heavy & oh so off-topic, I apologize. These houses really can grab us on such an emotional level though, yes?

Yes indeed.

We also bought 'at the top' and are now seeing houses next to ours being sold for $100,000 less. Because of my driving fears, I couldn't do that much up-close research in the area we were moving to, even though it's only an hour away from where we used to live.

Our old house had beautiful gardens that we had worked on for years. Now we have grass because my father got ill and I've been too busy to start on the outside.

Your last house sounds gorgeous and aspects of your new one do, too. I love brick floors and you yard sounds to die for. This forum has been both a blessing and a curse for me. While I like talking about decorating and a lot of the people here, it doesn't help when I hear all the bashing about new construction, Mcmansions, etc. It is what it is, and I'm here for a while and have to make the best of it.

The good thing is that DH doesn't have a three hour commute anymore and he's really more important to me than a house anyway.

Parma, I not getting sick of you!! I just LOVE your home and all the S&N fabrics.. beautiful! Definitely try the curtains (I am giving expert advise here - LOL) especially if you can use them in another room.

Thanks tinker, you're so sweet.

phoggie, sorry I missed your post between stinky's and mine. I was waiting for someone to tell us to "go get a room" lol. If you've kept reading them, you know what my problem is with the house...the ceiling height.

No, the panels would not go in the great room. We have double sets (ten total) of inside mount, woven blinds in there. They are a rusty color and textured.

Sorry for hogging & digressing from your intended subject, but I have to respond to the last post sent to me, if that's o.k. Your candor just impressed me so much when you opened up regarding remarks made about McMansions, etc. That was just a really open, honest reflection that drove home how callous phrases like that conjured up by the media are so shallow. Also... "It is what it is..." Truer & wiser words have never been spoken! Finally, your DH's commute, bless his heart. My DH drove 96 miles each way for 3 yrs. & then did 50 mi. ea. way for 3 yrs. Believe me, I know the value of having that over with! Furthermore, I sense that you are a truly grateful person & appreciate & love a lot about your house. You're an artist at this sort of thing, so there will always be some tweaking to do!

MMm . . .since you are in Chicagoland and considering a designer, maybe you could give Magnaverde a ring?

And while you find the right WTs, maybe just hang up something temporary? Then you won't feel as rushed to get just what you want, but the floors will stay safe.

I hope your father is doing well-- hugs to you all.

Thanks again for all your responses.

I got an email back from Ballards and they said there was no blue in the backround of the panels and the white was indeed a cream color instead of a stark white.

Magnaverde...hmmm...that would be a dream, but I doubt if he would want to travel from downtown to the far west burbs to do a couple of windows *sigh*.

I really like the S&N grouping too. I think the checks would be fine for a temp fix but I like the other colors so much better. I'm sorry to hear all the poor reviews of Penney's since I just had a fabulous experience with them. She came out to my house 4 times, I was in the studio several times, she let me keep samples as long as I wanted and let me take my time until I was sure. We only did two windows too and she was so accomodating. I love how they turned out. I guess each Penney's consultant is different. I don't know why they wouldn't let you see fabrics, I'm confused? Anyway, I love your house Parma and think you're doing a great job with it so far! You have a good eye!

P.S. Cringing at the McMansion comments too....grrrr!

OK, Ballards is having a 20% off sale for the next two days. Things are so nuts around here now and with the Penny's lady being such a whack job, I'm thinking about just getting the checked panels for now and moving them later.

Problem is, there's only 2 1/2" wall space where the side windows meet the slider wall. Slider wall has 5 1/4" space where it meets the side window wall. Does anyone have a suggestion for hardware?

Lindybarts, I would love to have the gal that worked with you. I tried to copy your response and print it out but the whole darn post was printing. I'd love to show it to my local Penny's window consultant.

Stinky, you may 'digress' any time you'd like. :)