Always Look a Step Ahead
Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 12:40PM
Today's post is a continuation of yesterday's. I wanted to explain HOW I would select a fabric for the kitchen windows.
1. Because white blinds are on the windows, if a fabric selection is made like the one above- it will look a little "dingy." I would use the white. Selecting a fabric that has white in it will help to pull the room together. (even if just a little white)
2. Most of the guesses were for this fabric above. However- this would not be my selection for a pretty important reason. This is a kitchen. There are not a lot of other opportunities to add a unifier of your colors. If this fabric above were your window treatment color- what would you use on your walls for a paint color? You have painted yourself into an interior design corner. We all know the bright orange would be hideous on the walls. The white would offer absolutely no contrast to the baseboards or blinds. There are no other colors to pull from. Using an additional color would be your only real option, but the result is a room that is a bit disconnected. This is a perfect example of why you should make all of your decisions before purchasing anything.
My selection was #3. Is the pattern too large? No. In upholstery you see a pattern, but window treatment fabric is best looked at by bunching the fabric up, how most treatments show the material. I really appreciate large patterns. If you were to use this material in a flat fold Roman shade- railroading the material would be perfect- creating a very interesting feel. Look at what the fabric offers as far as wall color options. There are nice lighter shades of greens and blues. There is also a lovely linen color that would be a perfect wall color. I also like how this fabric pulls in a little of the cabinet color.
Yesterday Cheryl e-mailed me and let me know what the granite selection was. It is Giallo Veneziano.
This new information changed my mind altogether on the fabric. I selected a new one- the Waverly piece below. It has white in it, as well as some great options for paint selections. A material as colorful as Giallo Veneziano needs to be treated as part of the color pallet in most cases. Be sure to look at the actual slab. Colors vary widely.
With the dark cabinets- a light paint selection - like pulling the color from the plant with the roots above- would be a very nice selection. This fabric also brings together the existing disconnect that is found with the cabinets and granite- not really going with "white" blinds. Add this fabric as a unifier- and it will go beautifully. Have your parents use the fabric on ALL of the windows- not just the windows over the sink. Window treatments should be layered. I am not a big fan of most valances- instead I would use Roman shades or cafe curtains, or panels.
You will have other ways to bring it all together. This color pallet reminded me of a post I did in January of 2010. Some of the selctions I made for Kathy would also be good for your parents. For example- art work.
Perhaps a runner or rug:
Good luck to your parents. I hope they take your (my) advice. :)
fabric: Waverly, fabric.com; art: Uttermost; Rug: Capel