Consitency, Commitment, and Considering

Hello Christine,

I found your blog while looking for window treatment ideas. I am sending you a picture of my windows to see if you have any ideas. I love dupioni silk - all I know:) Seriously - I need help with how many panels to hang on the 3 windows. Any ideas appreciated!

Thanks Laura

Hi Laura,

I love window treatment questions- thanks for writing in. I want you to keep a few things in mind with yours.

1. Consistency of Formality.

That sounds like such an official term- consistency of formality. That is my way of saying that white wood blinds are too informal for Duioni Silk. I would combine silk with a nice woven shade, Roman shades, or perhaps shutters- something more formal- but there is such a low level of formality to a two inch wood blind- I would not pair it with silk. Keep the wood blinds and use a less formal fabric, or pair the silk with a more formal shade.

2. Tell me Laura- if someone asked you what color your room is- how would you answer? It can be shades of neutral- you don't have to have rainbow colors- but I am only seeing one shade- dark brown- and I spied a little red on a pillow. You need more of a commitment to a color pallet. Adding drapes is a good place to solidify this. Consider a pattern that will bring in the different colors you want to use. Even if these colors are shades of neutral that vary from the light in your walls to the dark in your furniture- great- but let's pull them together. It looks to me like you are afraid of commitment. Not entirely- I do see a husband in there on the sofa- but afraid of color commitment.

3. You will notice that the photos I included in this post have rows of windows close together. The question becomes- "Do I add panels between each window- or just on the sides? How many? How high?" To which I answer- there is more than one good way to dress the windows. If you have a horrible view- an ugly neighbor's RV- a swamp- something you don't really want to see- add panels between each window. Make it more about the window treatments and less about the view. Most of the time- that is more panels than I would do when the windows are so very close together- add eight more inches between windows- and my advice changes- but I would use either two or four panels. Four panels would be hung like you see below. Nice and high- on the ends of the collections of windows.

Two panels would be hung more like you see in the photo below. More of a tie back - framing the windows one on the far left and another on the far right.

So there you go- remember

1. Consistency of formality
2. Commit to a color pallet
3. Consider two or four panels-

(hang them high. When they are hung lower- they are really more for just the window they are next to- we want these treatments to say- "I am framing all of the windows.")

Color in Your Walls

After a post last week where I explained that the trend was to have light neutral walls- Jen (and her men) asked: "Will you show me some good exceptions please?"

So- Jen - Of course- there are always exceptions- and MANY wonderful ways to decorate a home with colorful walls.

Exception #1- Wallpaper. Bold wonderful patterns. I love it!

Green

Gold

Red

Yellow

The trend is the trend- but that certainly is not what you should always be following. See this post for a good example of outdated trends. Decide what it is that you really love. Then your home will be an extension of yourself. It won't be so likely to date itself so quickly. If you love colorful walls- you should have them. A note with colorful walls. Look at the photo with the red walls. The crisp white wood trim everywhere helps the red to really look great. If you have color in your walls- and although the color is great- you feel like something is still missing- look at your trim. Is your baseboard only 3 inches high- and your windows are un-cased? That is why the red in the magazine looks so great- and your walls.... well- you know what I mean. It is the contrast of trim and walls that really help the walls to look wonderful.

Color for Amira

This is a continuation of Thursday's post. In it, Amira had questions on how to choose a color pallet- working with the existing materials above. To begin with- you can check out this post and also this post on selecting colors. Also- look at this post and ask yourself if you really want more color- or simply more interest, and more beauty.

Where do you start? The colors above are very neutral. You can go in many different directions with color. I selected five different looks for you below- four of them have a good look that would go great with your materials- one of them- I don't think would go as well. So- what do you think? Anyone have a guess? Which look do you think would be the best for her materials- which would be the worst?

1. Reds, blues and greens.

2. Greens, neutrals, and a pop of orange.

3. Salmon, crisp white and fresh green.

4. Grayish greens with neutrals and subtle red.

5. The all neutral pallet

There you go- what do you think? Anyone venture to take a guess? My opinion- four would work great- one would not.

Color Repetition

I suppose it is easiest if I am just honest. I am a bad shopper. In fact people like me, should not be allowed to shop without bringing people like you along.

Item to be shopped for today: Bar stools. Sturdy ones. The last set my children have managed to…. destroy. So, I don’t want to go overboard on price, as they may just destroy these – but I will pay enough to buy sturdy ones.

The trick is… this room is boring!! No color! Sometimes I introduce color into my kitchen simply with placemats, etc. But, do you have a better idea? Maybe some fun RED bar stools? Or blue, or anything fun that can bring in some style / color? Or should I keep it simple (and inexpensive) and bring in color and style another way?

Attached are photos of the table as is, as well as a few other of my house, to get you an idea of what my current color palate is, etc. The walls are a very light blue with dark wood.

- Kim

Dear Kim,

And I say this for everyone- your photos need to be in a jpeg format for me to post them. ;) Please re-send.

For the benefit of everyone- her kitchen was all dark espresso cabinets- with a dark table- and light blue walls. She had dark brown woven wood shades.

Yes- Kim- you are right- you do need some color. The blue has to be repeated- you can't just have it on the wall- and nowhere else- it is too detached. These barstools are on sale from Pottery Barn right now. I would get some fabric- have some cafe curtains made- and use a color from the fabric in the stools. I think I would use a pattern like green one- and then trim it in a pattern like the small print at the top- to add more pattern and color in the area. Then I would use the green barstools.

Repeat your colors again with table linens and accessories. Also add a rug or runner in front of your sink area- like the one in the post from Dash and Albert. This repeats your blue and green- as well as some red- repeating your sofa color in the next room.

The top pattern is from Amy Butler- and the stripe is Waverly.

Thanks for writing in!

Christine

The Brown Kitchen

As a follow up to the Blue Kitchen and the Green Kitchen- now presenting- the Brown Kitchen... Many kitchens start brown- simply because of wood cabinets- but these kitchens took a step further- making brown not just the natural shade of wood- but their focal color. Above- it is the brown chairs that seal the deal.

OK- so this is a stretch to put this kitchen in a blog for "brown kitchens"- but I just liked it so much- so I'm stretching... Here- the focal point of the room is the fabulous built- in display - which really pops in brown with the other cabinets in white. Check out the cool ceiling also. I want to move into that house....

This contemporary chocolate cabinet is kept consistent with chocolate barstools- and ceiling.

Here is a painted brown cabinet. I don't know about this one- I feel like painted brown usually looks better if stained...

And I finish it off with brown walls, and accents in this great kitchen. Keep in mind that these brown walls look great because the cabinets are white- and the room is large. Small- or even medium sized kitchens with painted cabinets are not the place for brown walls. Raise your hand if you have seen some brown walls that didn't really work. It takes a large space- and some good contrast.

So- what do you think? Do you prefer blues and greens-... Anyone love the brown?

Photos from House Beautiful.