No more flashing the neighbors

For so many reasons, we put up curtains in the living room:

1. We have company coming this weekend, and since the love seat is actually a hide-a-bed, the living room has to double as an extra guest room.

2. As mentioned during our energy audit, curtains can help cut heating and cooling costs.

3. Via an anonymous note, one of our neighbors indicated that they were tired of seeing me walk around the house in my underpants, so could we please put up some curtains already?!?

That last one isn't really true, but it could be. I do occasionally walk around in my underpants, and the neighbors across the street have been avoiding me. Coincidence? Hmmmm.

Here's the living room before curtains:

The living room doubles as the Little Guy's playroom. Why yes, that IS a covered wagon in our living room. Why do you ask?

The Big Guy hangs the hardware. The curtain rod is Umbra Serif from Bed Bath & Beyond. Why yes, my husband IS wearing his pajamas even though bedtime is hours away. Why do you ask?

The sheers go up first. In theory, this will blur the view of me walking about in my underpants.

The curtains are Linden Street Back-Tab Thermal Drapes from JC Penny. They have substantial lining on the back, and according to the advertising, they can cut energy costs up to 30%.

The curtains are up, which means that our living room can now officially serve as a second guest bedroom.

I'll keep you posted on whether or not this helps my relationship with neighbors.

Office curtains

Another day, another set of curtains to be hung. This time, we targeted the office.

At this point, I must warn you: please, please, please ignore the paper mess and boxes. We just moved in (okay, it was over seven months ago) and we still have some unpacking and organization to do.

That "we just moved in" excuse is good for two solid years, right? Good. Just checking.

Before we could put the new curtains up, we had to take the old damaged blinds and hardware down. Thanks, previous homeowners, for installing the blind hardware directly into the window casing.

Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.

In happier news, these gorgeous curtains were a steal from Ikea: "As is" for $10.00. There are a few small spots (rust stains) but I am confident that a washing will get it out. Or I can convince myself that it did, and happily ignore any imperfections for the next 20 years. Either way works for me.

I am really loving the big silver grommets on these drapes.

The fabric is too long for the space, but I'll save hemming them for another day. Along with the washing and ironing of these gorgeous drapes. Which will be in the far off future. I think I have an opening in April 2011. Maybe.

Family room curtains

Our family room is huge--18+ foot ceilings and 11 windows. For better energy conservation and privacy, we put up curtains.

Before:




Please ignore all the random stuff (step stools, VHS tapes, etc.) laying around. Our housekeeper has really been slacking off lately. Apparently, she'd rather write on her silly blog and tweet all day rather than clean house. I should really have a talk with her.




My wonderful husband occasionally helps me with TMI by taking action shots. When I saw him reaching for the camera, I told him to get a shot that made me look like a supermodel. This is what he came up with:






Thanks, honey!



The curtains rods are Gangbar from Ikea. The anchor is screwed to the wall, and the top part slides right over it. Very handy. The curtains are Stockholm Blad, also from Ikea. I don't know what Gangbar or Blad mean in Swedish. I certainly hope they mean curtain rod and curtain, because I really don't want to be saying something vulgar on my blog, you know?




And after:





Better energy conservation? You bet!
More privacy? Absolutely!
Am I feeling more and more like Martha?
You bet your Gangbar I am!

Home Improvement: Curtains

Even with all of our preparation for guests, the guest room was missing something. A big something. Curtains.

We've had two overnight guests since we moved in last fall, and both of them suffered through their stay in a curtain-less guest room. However, Mom and Laura were good sports and didn't complain. Plus, they were only here for one night each. Now, our incoming guest will be here for 4 nights, and that's too long of a stay to go curtain-less. Something had to be done.

Sheers go up first.

The Little Guy helps out. By playing with a tin of drink coasters. Naturally.

Now, for actual curtains.

At this point, I must tell you to ignore both the paint color (it was like that when we moved in) and the particular choice of curtains (I just used what we had on hand). The curtains don't match the decor very well, and the sheers and curtains are different lengths, but they get the job done.

Guest room: complete! Well, almost. Tune in tomorrow for those special touches that will make a guest feel extra welcome.

But not too welcome. Like, stay-for-an-indefinite-period-of-time-even-though-they-said-they-would-only-be-here-for-four-days-and-why-do-they-keep-eating-all-of-my-favorite-cereal-you'd-better-tell-your-friend-that-his-welcome-has-officially-worn-out-welcome.

There's a fine line there. Naturally.