I have always had a love affair with cafe curtains. Having never actually had any, I guess it was an unrequited love. I knew from the moment we said yes to this house that I would hang some in my kitchen but it wasn't until the other day that it occurred to me to use them in my family room.
I've decided to make them in a white linen with a ruffle at the bottom of a contrasting material and now the only hard decision left to be made is inside mount or outside? I'm drawn to the inside but I already have some rods that I think might work if I go outside mount. Since that saves me $45 per window x 3, it is something to consider. Always keeping the budget in mind, you know! Speaking of budgets...we already had our first house repair! We had a roof leak that was letting in water on our front porch and which was keeping me from starting my big front porch makeover. Unacceptable, right? Yay for old houses, right? I'm pretty sure, with that repair, we just scratched the surface!
Sources (My Home Ideas, Pottery Barn, Rejuventation)
I love them! We have them in our master bath. They will look awesome in your family room!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cutains and doors, the charm is oozing. I can't wait to see more of the cottage.
ReplyDeleteThose will be great on your windows! I can just tell you are having a blast!
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Penny
I love cafe curtains. I think dressing a house is so fun. Enjoy these days! Oh, and I love old houses so much too.
ReplyDeleteLove the look of cafe curtains. We, however, don't have any. I guess we like being on display. Of course we don't have any neighbors, nor hardly any traffic on our road so the privacy thing isn't necessary.
ReplyDeleteI like the idea of 3/4 up instead of half way, much more modern. I also like the inside mount but if you have some that would already work I'd probably go with them for the money savings alone.
Can't wait to see the cafe curtains and all of the other fabulous things you will be doing in your new home (including the porch of course!)
~Chris
Thanks, Jen, for commenting on my blog! I appreciate your kind words. It sounds like you are having fun in your new home (despite the pesky rain issues) and I hope that you enjoy every minute of making this new house a home!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Cafe curtains are awesome!
I love em as well. My drapery workroom has an old photo from a kitchen Charles Faudree did in Traditional homes long ago that I have ordered for my kitchen love the 3/4 idea. Nesting is the best so happy for you.
ReplyDeleteI used a sheer curtain in our living room as a cafe curtain. It was an accident that I ended up loving. (Too short to hang the right way )- but hanging this way they show off the detail at the top of our old windows and let more light in.
ReplyDeleteCafe curtains are beautiful and either mount is perfect. Can't wait to see what you decide and where your sweet Anniversary present goes! Warmer weather is coming, get those curtains up so they can blow in the breeze! :)
ReplyDeleteI love them! I have had them in a couple of my homes. Yours are perfect for your home! xxoo Diana
ReplyDeletethey will look wonderful. i can't wait to see them.
ReplyDeletei (personally) prefer the inside mount. (and it sounds like you do too.) i think i would consider...since you're in this house for the "long haul" as far as you know, that i'd want to make sure i will love what i decide to do. i think mounting them on the outside would be a bit unchangeable without some repair-work...so make sure that you love that look first. otherwise you might wish you'd spent the money all along. (and can you use the current rods somewhere else in the house?)
I've been doing cafe curtains for years and years, and like you, I prefer them 2/3 to 3/4 of the way up. If you use the inside mount, which I much prefer, you can use tension rods that are like your shower curtain rod. And since they are inside; none of the hardware will show at all. I found some stunning curtains at www.heritagelace.com. Be sure to look at 'woodland' and 'roosters'!
ReplyDeleteThey look beautiful! Oh how I wish I could sew...
ReplyDelete~Tara
I think the cafe curtains are going to look great, Jen! I can't wait to see how yours turn out!!
ReplyDeleteHope you have a wonderful Friday.
Beth.
Congratualtions on your new/old home...it sounds lovely already!
ReplyDeleteI too have been wanting cafe curtains for a long while now and also 3/4 ones at that! Our window detailing would allow for them very nicely but I just have to take the plunge.
Best with yours and please do show them when they'e up...I'm sure they'll be perfect!
xo J~
i don't see a lot of difference between ways to mount the curtains..i say go for the savings (you'll need to spend it somewhere else eventually)!!
ReplyDeleteon the old house repairs thing...it's kind of constant. we're living in our second old house (1935) and besides the repair work from the car that crashed into our house a couple of days after christmas (that's another story!), there is always a little bit of maintenance. a little paint here, a clogged drain there...but it is so worth it.
and besides all of the great details & character, old houses just have a great feel!
nanne in columbus, indiana
Oh Jen, I am glad things are moving along so well. You made it to your house! It is looking so charming,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for stopping by my blog. You really made my heart sing!
Hugs,
Suz
Brace yourself, . . . . . I live in an old house (1760) it's a gorgeous money pit!!!
ReplyDeleteHelen xx
me want to see more!
ReplyDelete(that didn't sound too "creative and brilliant" did it?)
xo
elyse
I think they are charming! I really like the 3/4 hanging. I meant to make some 1/2 one's for the downstairs for the winter, but never got to it. My favorite source for linen for projects like this is JoAnn's. With a 50% off coupon it makes the linen about $4 a yard!!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE cafe curtains and LOVE having them either half or 3/4's up!!! I have them in my closet window and LOOVEEE them! I have inside mount (tension) that doesn't "look" like tension, but it's a small window!
ReplyDelete