Hi,

Check out the website patemeadows.com. They have great ideas and lots of pictures.

Your kitchen is lovely! I love the herringbone pattern on the BS! Are you happy with your butcherblock? How did you treat it?

I've been told roman shades are easy to sew yourself. Would you consider sewing them yourself? That would widen your options considerably as far as fabric choices. Also, what colors are you thinking of using? It sounds like you might want something light blocking so people outside can't see shadows of people moving about inside at night. That will probably involve lining the shades or curtains.

If you can give us a little more direction, it will help us find options for you. :)

Off the top of my head, I know Smith and Noble offers over 1000 fabric options. It might help you figure out what size of pattern repeat you like, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Smith and Noble

What color? Modern look or traditional? What climate? Can you sew?

Your cabs, paint, and metals are all "cool" colors on my monitor but countertops and tiles are warm colors. Which direction do you want to go?

For what it's worth, the SelectBlinds.com website often has a 30% off + 4th free special, including wood blinds, honeycombs, and some very thermal options. Usually at the time of a holiday--4th of July is very likely.

For me I would go for a woven bamboo roman shade.

How about Bamboo Roman Shades, planation shutters or a valance with roller shade:

I have had pleated ballon shades in the kitchen and the down side is they are a dust and dirt magnet and hard to clean. I am taking them down. With these bamboo shades you could just wipe them off. Plus thy are not that expensive. I also love platation shutters cute, but expensive:

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.islandblinds.com/images/plantation-shutters/Comfortex-Shutter-Kitchen-small.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.islandblinds.com/product-Woodwinds-Plantation-Shutters.html&h=198&w=250&sz=79&tbnid=kNoKSnaxi_1m3M:&tbnh=94&tbnw=119&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dplantation%2Bshutter%2Bin%2Bkitchen%2Bpicture%26tbm%3Disch%26tbo%3Du&zoom=1&q=plantation+shutter+in+kitchen+picture&usg=__7Y8PaW4Gb4_FZT_-DBTxCFD2QcM=&sa=X&ei=cMXrTbKPAsz0gAf737jhCQ&ved=0CGEQ9QEwBA&dur=2793

If your house is traditional, you might want to think about doing a sheffield pleated valance with a matching fabic roller shade. Very cute.
http://www.susandorbeck.com/2010/05/page/2/

Here is a link that might be useful: bamboo shade

Hmmm. . . so many questions. I would say my style is transitional. As far as color scheme, I probably want to go cool. Plantation shutters are out for budgetary reasons. We purchased ONE for our bathroom and while beautiful, it was crazy expensive. I would be open to roman shades or maybe a valance with roller shade. I've avoided the idea bamboo shades because I feel like I need a pattern of some kind. I love my kitchen, but it's got no pop.

Flowersnco: I love the herringbone too. DH and friend didn't love it when they were cutting and laying it though. Apparently it's a more labor intensive pattern. We oiled the counters but when they were installed one was slightly thicker than the other and had to be sanded down so they have to be redone. I don't care. I love them. I think stone counters would have been too much stone in my kitchen. I needed that 'soft' element.

I can sew a little. I would be willing to sew something or have something sewn.

I have to get ready for a wedding so I don't have time to check out the links you all have generously provided.

Here are a couple pictures of window treatments that caught my eye here. To give you an idea of what I like.

Thanks!

summerfan, I really love the top pic you posted. Those are pretty! Making real roman shades, ones that will cover the whole window (when wanted) might be a chore. Can't wait to see which way you go with this though!!

I've saved this link because it looks so do-able and nice!

I remember your search for your counters, where did you end up getting them? I got mine from LL after reading about the trouble you ran into finding them from Ikea.

Here is a link that might be useful: Great idea for DIY Roman shades

never_ending
Pardon my french but that is effing amazing! I am going to try that!!!

I know isn't it!!! =)

You have no pop???!!!! Your black splash is the pop coupled with the wooden counter tops. I think that the texture of bamboo shades would be great in your rooms.
If you're looking for colour to complement the pop that is a different question and problem.
Be careful with the size of pattern as the herringbone layout of your BS already creates a pattern as does your board walls. Perhaps a pattern utilizing curves or circles to bring a new shape into the space using blues, yellows or greens.
My monitor is showing your room tending to orangey tones (wooden counter and BS) so avoid reds.

Gosh, I really like your space and what is kind of neat that I like, is the hinges on your door. They bring a hint of rustic into the room combined with your walls.

Unless you need a treatment over the sink (to keep the sun out of your eyes when working at a certain time of day), I'd leave that one be. It really looks fine as is. (I'm assuming that's the back yard, so privacy isn't an issue, but correct me if I'm wrong.)

For the other one, a fabric shade would be lovely. Because your window trip goes to the ceiling, it would have to be inside mounted, I think.

Fabric shopping is torture, especially if you want something bold. Just keep bringing home swatches and eventually something will work!

I found another DIY idea. Instead of using mini-blinds, this uses a bamboo shade. In the comments the author says to make sure to use a substantial (i.e. thick) fabric so that the bamboo doesn't show through. Looks super easy. HTH!

Here is a link that might be useful: DIY roman shade using bamboo shade

I'd hate to cover up the pretty detailing above your kitchen sink. If you sometimes need privacy at that window, perhaps you could mount a duette shade high up against the wall inside the valance (I know that's the wrong word, but you know what I mean) so it would disappear when you're not using it. You could make it a top-down-bottom-up type so even when it's down you can drop the top portion if you like, and still get a glimpse of the sky (and your pretty details) while maintaining privacy.

Your kitchen is lovely! I especially love the wall color by the back door...would you mind sharing the name of it? We are currently trying to pick out paint and The hubs and I can't agree....go figure! lol

try this link

Here is a link that might be useful: Premium Woven Wood & Bamboo Shades

Not liking the plain bamboo/natural woven idea for this room at all. They have no pattern, which sumnerfan wants, and seem to be just a conventional treatment plopped into an inappropriate space.

First, I would treat the entire area under the valance as one unit. It'll be too chopped up otherwise and make the windows look small. Frankly, in your space I'd go vintage-y. It would be very cute to have an old fashioned fabric valance over the window and curtains on the other windows. Think Anthropologie--they have curtains in this style. Neisha Crosland would be great, too, but she's pretty spendy unless you find a deal online.

Thanks for all your replies and ideas. Yesterday was crazy, but I'm here now and you have my full attention.

Florantha: I'm not sure what color. I would love your opinion. I will say I lean toward blues and greens in the rest of my house with some khaki mixed in. My friend says my house reminds her of the beach. lol. My climate in the South. Hot summers and mostly mild winters.

Flowersnco: You also asked how we treated the counters. We oiled them on the advice of Pirulla. Her counters were my inspiration. The link you shared is great, but I hate to buy bamboo shades and then cover them with fabric. I will definitely keep that in mind for future endeavors.

Neverending: That is a great project. If I don't use that one in my kitchen I am definitely stealing it for my sunroom.

BLFenton: lol Thanks for the reality check. You articulated my question better than I did. I looking to bring some complimentary color and pattern into the room. I really do love my new kitchen. It's so better than my old one and I love that we were able to keep some of the details that make this house so special. This was the first house we looked at when we started house shopping. We looked for another year, but finally came back to this one. I loved it for the getgo.

Janet_425: The sun does get in my eyes at the sink in the late afternoon. I don't want to cover that window completely because, as some of you have pointed out, I don't need privacy there. I might do some kind of tailored valance there and roman shades on the other two windows.

boylanite2: Thanks for the compliment. The paint came from Lowes and the color is Thunderstorm. I don't think it looks at all like the chip I brought home, but that's ok because I actually like it better than the chip. Good luck!

Tony: thanks for the link. I will check it out.

Marcolo: I think you get me. I definitely think the sink window should get one treatment (not treat the two windows individually). I do like the large graphic patterns at Anthropologie, wish they offered them in more than a panel.

Oh and someone said to avoid reds and oranges. I totally agree. I know this will shock many of you who love it, but I'm just not a red person.

I am considering bamboo shades, but I'm just not sold on the idea. I really think the room needs some life. Maybe I should wait until I get my accessories in the room. What do you think?

I would love, love, love some specific fabric suggestions. Thanks for everything!

Do you like any of them?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=380332515586&var=650016258909&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_1918wt_879

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310314605874&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ht_918wt_867

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/fabrics_top.php?fabric=daisy-chain&flid=14 (I like all color combos but blush).

I think the bamboo shades will add too much brown and another competing "geometric" pattern (horizontal lines).
I vote 100% with Marcolo.
I hope this does not come across wrong, but I'd make sure the wt hides the beadboard over the sink window. I think it would have looked better with more tile there and the bb looks a little off on that wall. It is fabulous on the ceiling and other walls, btw, but I just think you would need more bb on the walls in that area to justify that spot. A wt will correct that as well as be functional and pretty on its own.
I picture some quirky/fun fabric for the wts.

I agree about the paneling above the window. My sweet DH did that while I was gone on the senior trip. I agree it would have looked better to have tile all the way up.