CasaSugar

Do You Use Curtain Tassel Tiebacks?

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 14:00:33 -0700

Curtain tassel tiebacks aren't really necessary unless you have pretty heavy or thick drapes. But they are quite utterly chic, so I definitely advocate trying them! Do you use tassel tiebacks?

Get the Look: Red Gossip Girl Room

CasaSugar — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 05:30:11 -0700

In last night's episode of Gossip Girl, Blake Lively and Tyra Banks got cozy in their silk robes on a red velvet settee. The showstopping piece certainly makes the room, but the matching red damask wallpaper and blue velvet curtains continue the baroque theme throughout the room. Then, accents like the black and white embroidered pillows, brass bird wall sculpture, and rope tassels add another element of luxurious detailing. To get the look in your home, read more.

Start with the Ballard Designs Sofia Settee ($1,159) as a base. You can have it upholstered in red velvet. Or, search 1st Dibs for "red velvet settee" to find something more precise.

For the rest of the look, read more.

Photo courtesy of The CW

Cool Idea: Disguise an Ugly Rental Wall

CasaSugar — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 06:15:36 -0700

When you live in a rental, you often have to deal with some less-than-ideal features, such as ugly linoleum and mirrored closet doors. Canadian House and Home magazine recently offered a reader advice on hiding an ugly mirrored wall, and the tip is perfect for renters dealing with an ugly wall or closet door in their own home. Simply use inexpensive fabric curtain panels and a pretty curtain rod to improve that less-than-ideal feature in your rental. Want all of the details on how to do it? Head over to Canadian House and Home.

Cool Idea: Fabric-Painted Curtain Panels

CasaSugar — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 08:00:15 -0700

For an accent that's often merely decorative, curtain panels are expensive. You can buy affordable ones from shops like IKEA, but that means you only get the pick of the rather generic litter - and the same ones as every other penny-pinched decorator in the world.

So I was excited to see how High-Heeled Foot in the Door personalized a set of solid white IKEA panels using fabric spray paint. Inspired by a sunny yellow skirt she'd seen at Kate Spade, this resourceful lady painted 7" wide horizontal stripes on her basic panels. Want to get a peek at the project in action and learn how to do it yourself? Then read more.

She first taped off the stripes before painting, but all the project really requires is paint, tape, a tape measure, construction paper, and scissors. Learn the steps here.

Casa Quickie: Try Curtains Outdoors

CasaSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 08:00:16 -0700

With so many great outdoor fabrics on the market (including Trina Turk's), there's no reason not to bring textiles into your outdoor space. I think outdoor curtains are supremely chic. More importantly, they offer shade, as well as protection from breeze. There are plenty of colors and patterns to choose from for your outdoor space. I think there's something really regal and sophisticated about solid white, though. It's so ethereal, and it's definitely a classic. Have you considered hanging curtains outdoors?

Guess What This Curtain Is Inspired By?

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:00:00 -0700

The delicate, feminine ruffles of this curtain are actually inspired by something a man would wear! Can you guess what it is?

Casa Quickie: Check In to the Hospital

CasaSugar — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 06:15:28 -0700

More and more homes these days are designed with an open plan layout, especially as developers swoop up old warehouses and factories and transform them into condos and private homes. For those with an innate need to separate your various living areas, this can be troublesome. But installing a hefty, costly wall isn't your only option. Consider, instead, hanging a floor-to-ceiling curtain on hospital tracking. The curtain can easily be slid open and closed for full privacy, but it offers more versatility and softness than a wall or room divider. And when you come down with the redecorating bug, you can always medicate your mood with a different fabric.

Source

Cool Idea: Dish Towel Curtain

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 12:00:52 -0700

I spotted this image in the portfolio of British photographer Polly Wreford and am utterly charmed. Some clever crafter has created a curtain from a hodgepodge of white or white and blue dish towels. Of course, this idea won't work in all homes, but I think it has a quaint country cottage look that would be endearing in a kitchen. Even the most amateur sewers can figure this one out, and dish towels sell for practically pennies so it's also quite the economical solution. And, the thick, absorptive textiles do a great job of keeping out glare without blocking your natural light.
Source

Cool Idea: Curtains to Improve the View

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 05:30:56 -0700

Missing pretty foliage outside your window? Just because you live in a city flat with a window facing a next-door brick wall doesn't mean you have to suffer. You can let these Chair Couture Green Collection Curtains (inquire for price) compensate for your landscape loss. These unique, opaque drapery panels are made to order, and all feature the "sunlight through the leaves" look of the fabric shown in the photo.

Need some other leafy curtain options? Take your pick when you read more.

Cordelia Curtain - $78.00	Mantadia Curtain - $228.00
Jungle View Curtain - $108.00	Jungle Curtain Panel - $169.00
Botanist Curtain - $48.00	Antique Floral Curtain Panel - $29.99
Medallion Panel - $69.00	Brightbranch Curtain - $278.00

DIY: Simple Panel Curtains (in Four Hours or Less)

CasaSugar — Tue, 12 May 2009 10:00:00 -0700

Our living room features large deck doors that look out over the San Francisco Bay - a beautiful view, no doubt, but one that was previously obscured by some boring, less-than-aesthetically-pleasing vertical shades. Intent on making a Spring change, I decided to whip up some simple panel curtains to improve the view both inside and out. I chose a pretty, patterned Amy Butler fabric, which added a textile highlight to the room, and with a few simple but smart techniques, I managed to get these off my ironing board and onto curtain rods in about three hours.

Want to learn how to make these curtains? Then read more.
What You'll Need

2 to 4 panels of fabric (cotton is easy to work with, and seasonally appropriate), cut to the correct window length, plus about 1/3 of a yard extra to allow for shrinkage and seams
Sewing machine
Matching thread
Iron and ironing board
Pins
Scissors
Curtain rods

How to Do It

The first time-saving technique begins before you even step into the fabric store. Measure the length of the window/wall you want your panel to cover. Add 1/3 of a yard to this number. (For instance, if your window/wall is six feet, you want seven feet of fabric cut, and would ask for 2 and 1/3 yards cut.) Now, decide how many panels you need. Two? Four?
At the fabric store, ask (nicely!) the fabric store employee to cut your fabric out in panels, instead of in one long piece. This will save you a lot of time measuring and cutting at home. Just remember to measure very carefully before jotting down your needed lengths.
At home, toss the fabric in the laundry, as it will definitely shrink.
Iron your fabric panels. Look at the long sides of the fabric. The edges are already semi-finished (no raw edges), but the name of the fabric designer, as well as the color stamp, are visible. Iron this edge over, and then sew the sides first with a straight stitch. You won't have to double the edges over, since the edge is semi-finished to start with.
Next, fold over about half an inch of fabric for the bottom hem. Iron this hem over, onto the wrong side (the side with the lighter fabric pattern). Now, fold that hem over and iron it again. This will hide the raw edges. Sew this bottom hem with a straight stitch.
Now, start on the top of the curtain. Fold over about half an inch of fabric onto the wrong side. Iron, then sew. Then, fold the top of the curtain over so there is enough room to slide the curtain rod through. Iron, then sew with a straight stitch.
Your first panel is done! Now, repeat these techniques with the remaining panels. If you're using a pattern like I did, you may want to check to make sure your patterns match on each panel. You can easily do this by pinning the unfinished panel next to the finished (hung) panel, and then adjusting to line up the patterns.

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