Modern Family Roman Shades

Hi Christine,

I am a huge fan of Modern Family, especially the interior design of Phil and Claire's house.  I have been trying to find Roman shades like the red striped ones in their kitchen/dining area.  I've looked all over, but can't find that pattern (or anything similar).  Any suggestions?

Thank you!

Rachel

Hi Rachel,

They are probably an old color of Pottery Barn.  It is not current- today they are doing grays, but when the show started, it very likely was available.  I think the entire home came out of one shopping trip to Pottery Barn.

With that said, I found you something very similar:

This Roman shade above is available through Smith and Noble.  You can also get any Robert Allen fabric (like the stripe below) made into a Roman Shade through The Shade Store, or any shop that sells Robert Allen.

There are not a lot of printed Roman Shade fabrics out there that aren't custom made.  For fabric selections and size options, I almost always end up with custom made, then your options are nearly limitless.  Our windows in California are generally too large for pre-made shades.

I would love to hear of any sources that the rest of you know of.  If you wanted to order fabric Roman shades, where would you go?

Townhouse Kitchen Make-Over

Hi Christine,

I discovered your site last night before bed while frantically searching for a paint color for my kitchen. My husband finally forced me to go to bed at 1 am. I woke up at 7 and got right back on! I realize now I should have waited to paint until I chose window treatments but I discovered your site too late for that!

We just spent thousands of dollars remodeling our townhouse. We bought new cabinets, put in new flooring, new lighting, beadboard and invested a small fortune in paint. I have no idea what to do now. I love my dining room beadboard and the farmhouse look it is inspired by. I hate the red paint my husband picked out for the kitchen. Yes- let's ditch the red! It's jarring to see from the dining room. The look is more coffeehouse than farmhouse. The cabinets going up are Ikea Stat

Most of the kitchen is going to be covered by cabinets, but the wall above the sink (an apron front, farmhouse style one) I love farmhouse sinks! will be bare with the exception of a 15" wide, 88" tall pull out pantry and two long white shelves.

My questions are:

1) What color should I paint my kitchen (or should I paper the whole thing?) I always love the idea of papering the whole thing! Very little of the walls are going to show. Basically the wall with the window and above and below the wall cabinets. (A 15" deep butcher block counter will go between the pass through to make a bar in the kitchen.) The color in the living and dining room (above the beadboard) is Sherwin Williams lemongrass. If I tell my husband he has to repaint that he will divorce me. I hate it when husbands get in the way of good design... I will try to work with the lemongrass ;)

2) What color counter should we go with? We can't afford to put in anything expensive like granite. We can't even afford a solid countertop like silestone or Corian. We've pretty much exhausted our budget so it will have to be laminate. Not my favorite, but I can't go over budget much more than I already have. Your order of questions is off- select your counters after you have selected your fabric and wall decor. I would look around and compare pricing on dark wood counters- wood is not as expensive as other surfaces and really is the perfect look for a farmhouse feel.

3) What type of window treatments should I use in the dining and kitchen? I was looking at some antique exterior shutters to use in the dining room, but I couldn't put them in the kitchen because there won't be enough space around the window and I think it may be best to keep the window treatments the same. I would do some fabric Roman shades. At the bottom of the post I selected a fabric for you- however- since your paint is already up- and I am just looking at a computer monitor- I don't really know if it will work- but this can give you an idea- and then you can find a fabric that matches your paint. Know this everyone!!! It is much easier to match paint to fabric than fabric to paint!!!! I selected a fabric that had a little bit of white in it. With all of your white cabinets- don't ignore white as a color in your decor- invite it in- and it will all flow together better.

4) Artwork! I have no idea what to put in the dining room. I bought a beautiful painting, but it is too small for the space and will be going in the living room. I found some cool pears for you - you can see them below. This was actually the first thing I found- then the fabric. From the fabric I would pull out colors for counters and paint. The wainscoting makes for a long narrow area for wall decor. Add two sconces on either side of your art work to better fill the space. Notice how I kept the wall decor horizontal- a vertical arrangement would fight with your space. Even the sconces are horizontal in shape.

5) I can't change the lighting fixtures, but I was wondering if I should spray paint them black or white...or should I just leave them the oiled bronze color they are? I will buy some new globes for the fixture in the dining room. Should I just buy white to match the pendants and the fixture (which is also oil rubbed bronze) we will put on the kitchen ceiling? I would keep the oil rubbed bronze. It is not bad- and not worth the risk that the paint job won't look perfect. Go with neutral globes. Your light over the table is hung way too high- I would drop it down to about 36 inches over the table.

6) I have no idea what to do for a backsplash behind my stove. I have considered those faux-tin backsplashes but our contractor said they look cheap. I've also considered tile, beadboard and nothing at all. Whatever it is, it has to be easy to install because I've never done any "handyman" type stuff and my husband is "handyman" challenged. I selected a multi-color travertine and put it at the top of the post. I don't install tile- but I have heard that glass requires some real expertise- and I assumed that the smaller pieces were such that perhaps you could install it without a lot of cuts that you would more likely have with large pieces. Beadboard is inexpensive- but with all of the beadboard in your cabinets- I think it would be too much.

7) I have a dark cherry buffet I was going to put back under the dining window (I was going to stain the tabletop to match) but now I wonder if it will be too crowded with it. Are there any other options that would work under that window? I'm not married to the buffet since it was given to us. Don't overcrowd your space- from what I can see- it looks like a good space plan right now- without it. I would add a great plant to the corner and leave out more furniture.

I appreciate any advice!

Kim

Good luck Kim! I hope you can see my vision for your space- Notice how there is a touch of blue in the art work and fabric- if paint were selected last- I would have gone blue on the walls. Yellow makes you eat more. :)

Thanks for writing in-

Christine

The fabric in today's post is from Robert Allen- and the art and sconces are from Uttermost.

Roman Shades 101

Hello Christine
I am new to google. But I am trying to find out how I can get information from you, if you do that, to tell me how the relaxed Roman valance is made. I am in the sewing business and need to make these valances. Since I have never made one of these and I am stumped, I made a mock up but it is not looking like the picture.

What do you charge and how can I get that to you? I have never paid anything over the Internet. This is all new to me. Thank you.

Ann

Dear Ann,

I do not sew. I really stink at sewing. With my first house- down in LA- I thought I would sew myself some Roman shades. I bought a book on it, and gave it a try. They were so bad they did not get installed. Today I work with a fantastic workroom in Sacramento- and I no longer consider sewing myself at all. In fact- I gave the book away- knowing that I would never use it again. And so- with that huge disclaimer- I will explain to you the differences between the popular styles of Roman shades. In this tutorial- I am only including styles that I like- so I will be leaving out the Austrian, balloon, and front fold styles- as I not a big fan of those. So- Here goes-

The photo above is a flat Roman shade with dowels. Different brands have different names for this. I have these in my home, and really like them. They pull up very nicely- with clean folds, and have a straight flat look. These are a perfect for a contemporary, transitional or modern feel. The type of fabric used will make all the difference in using them.

OK- now look at the photo above- these are what I would call a London shade. I have also seen them referred to as a tulip shade. Whereas a flat Roman shade has a dowel across the bottom, keeping it smooth and straight- these do not- giving it a more relaxed feel. The strings, pulling up the shade area are brought in a few inches, not on the outside edges, giving the shade a bit of a flap, or tail on the ends. Notice too- the pleats at the top of the shade- adding to its fullness. These are a more traditional look- perfect in a provincial setting, or perhaps shabby chic. They can go quite formal to informal depending on the materials used.

OK- here's another flat fold with dowels... I thought I would throw another in so you wouldn't forget...

Above is a simple flat Roman shade- only one dowel across the bottom- no pleats. These can be made with or without fabric below the bottom dowel- depending on the look you want when raised.

The drawing above is a relaxed Roman shade with a pleat. Compare this option to the shade at the top of the post- which is also a relaxed Roman shade. This second one, with the center pleat, will add more fullness, of course, and change your look a bit from the first relaxed shade at the top of the post. Again- no dowel on the bottom, a relaxed smile instead. In very large windows- you can make this look with two smiles, pulling up the material in the center.

Here, again, is a relaxed Roman shade with no pleat- see the difference? Some fabrics will lend themselves nicely to the pleat- whereas others (thicker fabrics)- would lay nicer without the pleat.

OK- now here's the test- what kind of shade is this one above? .....

Yes- that's right- it is a London Shade- or tulip style.

Now- look at the one above- can you tell what is different between this one and the London shade? I would call this a relaxed Roman with tails. What is the difference between this one and the London shade? No pleats and smaller tails. See the flat look at the top. This is a less formal look- more casual. I find that the lingo is different with different places I go- this can also be called a casual Roman shade. Make sure that you are on the same page with whomever you are working with as far as the different styles go.

I don't remember which book it was that I had. I found it a little frustrating that it used words that I did not understand- like thread- and needles. But- being in the business, I am sure you will understand the lingo great- and a good how to book can teach you what you need to know.

Thanks to The Shade Store, Casual Corners, and the Foam and Home Decor Store for the photos used in today's post.

The Tricky Bay Window

Hi....

I have bay windows in my living room and kitchen. There are several problems in trying to find window treatments for them. Right now, there are these awful vinyl vertical blinds.First problem, is the windows are old and can only have blinds, etc. outside mounted. Secondly, the windows are so close together that it is difficult to have two outside mounted items end to end. Thirdly, there is an "overhang" that the windows are tucked under.I'm open to pretty much anything at this point.

Thanks so much :)

Amy

Dear Amy,

You have a number of different options.

1. You can add a cornice to the bay windows- I like the look of a wood crown molding- I am not a big fan of the upholstered ones most of the time. With the crown hiding your top- you can add whatever blinds you like. You can also "dry-wall" a sofit in that would act as a crown in this way- without photos of your place it is hard for me to tell you what would work best. (see the last picture in the post)


2. Eliminate the entire idea of "blinds" or shades and just use drapery panels and sheers. Hang them as high as you can- and take them to the floor.


3. The smallest, least intrusive blinds are roller shades. Use roller shades and add drapery panels on top to cover outside mounts.


4. Use a cafe curtain in the kitchen area. (like shown in this post.) No matter how awkward the top of your window is, this won't go near it.


5. Use Roman shades- have them outside mounted- butted right next to one another.- A fabric valance like the one at the top of the post would give a similar look.

Notice the pictures in this post, and in most nicer design magazines. (these are from House Beautiful) I know that blinds are very functional- but they are definitely not the design ideal in window treatments. You will more often see no blinds at all in nicer homes. So- if you are unable to have blinds- you are in good company.

Hannah's Window Treatments Take 3

Dear Hannah,

Here is another option to consider. I got these for my children's playroom and I have been super happy with them. Elizabeth's comment yesterday mentioned the cords- which , personally I don't think are a design issue, becasue you will have drapes covering them, however, this option is cordless. (cordless is a good safety feature)

These are Roman Shades from JC Penny. They are limited in sizes, at least in their less- expensive pre-made form- but they can come custom made as well. These are on sale right now- from 18.99 to 32.99 each. Such a great price, for a really nice looking shade. Forget the other options- go with these- they look nice up or down.

Puchase and report back. ;)

XOXO

Christine