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

Many moons ago in an apartment I was renting, I hung lace curtains with roller shades behind them. I let the lace cover the windows completely - there was a wall full of narrow windows and I hung one panel on each window - there was some shirring across the top, but not much (which was good, since it didn't obscure the lace). I used the roller shades behind and only pulled them down at night - the rest of the time, they were rolled to the top and very unobtrusive. So in your case, I'd do the same thing - leave the lace all the way across the window (no need for a valance then) and put roller shades beneath. I'd vote roller shades over the blinds becuase: a) they look like they fit the style of the kitchen better b) they can roll up farther than faux wood blinds - usually teh blinds take a good bit of stacking room c) the horizontal lines of the blinds (if you leave them down but open for sun) will compete with and obscure the lace pattern. JMHO! Good luck!

Hey There: Please don't choose the fabrics for your blinds just from any color swatches. I suggest that you finish painting your rooms first and then start all over with the colors of your window treatment. Keep in mind, that the wall color reflects and play with the window treatment fabric as well as different light.

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.