Hard work ain't easy

My husband's Uncle John used to say...

Gregory (pronounced Gregree) "hard work ain't easy"

It's a favorite phrase around our house....and

as I was stepping over my son's floordrobe and thinking how I need to order buttons for this almost finished headboard

I smiled thinking of Uncle John and his great smile...

 

It's hard to see how great the grain looks with the dark walnut stain

 This dresser came a long way

I love the it's retro look and would love to find a retro wall clock

It warms my heart that my son tinkers like I do.  He knew all he had to say was "mmmm, Mom, ya know what I could use...A lacrosse stringing station"

Here's the mate sitting in the garage waiting for some elbow grease.

I love the lines and Mad Men legs.  I was with my mom when we bought this at a garage sale so many years ago...

Good things, classic style, tres cool.... love it

 I can't wait to finish this room

and do the big reveal....

For now I'm linking up with Miss Mustard Seed Furniture Feature Friday

I followed her instructions for using rub on stain

Budget Window Treatments

 I'm not one of those people who say....

 "I don't like anything on my windows....."

I don't have stunning windows like these

 that don't need a stitch on them.

 

 If I had these gorgeous windows I wouldn't do a thing

 

I live in an average suburban center hall colonial fake tudor

which is why I have this sign hanging in my foyer

I've made my fair share of window treatments over the years...

Ah remember the 90's?  I remember when I made this roman shade and lined it with white lining.  It looked like a big sheet from the outside. For the swag I took ten yards of silk and stuffed it and poofed it.

 Tres chic at the time...

 This was my dining room also very 90s'

I've built cornices, stained closet poles, you name it to save money I've changed my kitchen windows so many times I can't even count!

This was my kitchen when I was still doing the gold and red thing..
I've had swags, and curved shaped valances, and even a kingston in here.  I don't even want to tell you how many paint colors I've had.  My rooms are all an inch smaller!

If there's one thing I've learned when planning window treatments it would be....Don't skimp on width!

I would rather by a less expensive fabric constructed at the proper width than an expensive fabric with a single width.

 

These drapes are double width on cheap ikea rings.  

I've got enough yardage leftover for drapes on my french doors and a box pleated valance over the top of these. 

 

 It's hard to see the stripe and woven yarn/threads.

This fabric was a steal at Fabric.com

It think it was $5-6 per yard with a 25% off coupon for 25 yards.

I love this fabric.  It's a nice cotton blend, very neutral.

 

Jeffers Design Group

 Where am I going with all this...

All of these gorgeous drapes are very neutral, classic, and elegant.  Love these generous oversized pleats.

All are generously sized and proportional to the windows.

 These are most definitely Double Width, could even be two and a half width

via Cote de Texas

 Love the bottom detail on the shades.  A very couture detail.

 

I really wanted to do a linen in my bedroom, but the budget girl in me just couldn't spend the $500+ it would have cost to get the fabric (and that doesn't include lining).

Phoebe Howard

I really love all of these soft, neutral draperies.  The way I change things up I think a neutral drape in the bedroom is the perfect thing.

Phoebe Howard

Phoebe Howard

 Although I love the resourceful use of drop cloths for draperies, I wanted a slightly less grey neutral.  Drop cloths tend to have a greyish cast even after bleaching.

Cote de Texas

I have the same style natural roman shades on my windows.

  With a nice neutral cotton I know I can get a similar look to the draperies in all of these gorgeous rooms.

 

via niagranovice.blogspot.com

 I still love a good break/puddle

 

Fabric.com has extended their labor day coupon until tonight at midnight!  I am now anxiously awaiting 30 yards of 8 oz. cotton duck in natural.

I really like the relaxed rumpled look of this pleated valance.

 

At $5.98 a yard (you do the math) and a coupon, there's no need to use drop cloths.  I did purchase a trial yard last week and it doesn't have a grey undertone.  I'd say it's more of a brown undertone.  I've tried a lot of duck samples, some are yellowish, some are pinky beige.  This one has a beige but not too pinky beige undertone.

 

  The color is very similar to this traditional home picture

I plan on washing the heck out this duck (maybe 2-3 times), and then ironing like crazy.  I don't want it to be stiff so I'll have some work to do.

I can't wait for my delivery!