Leopard Print Curtains - Part 1

Once upon a time, I didn't consider myself an animal prints-type of person.  Then I started contemplating zebra print curtains for the living room.  But the zebra print fabric I could afford was too repetitive for my taste, losing the organic quality that drew me to using an animal print in the first place.

Since leopard is so hot right now it was hard not to think of it as an alternative.  What is so ironic about this entire situation is that of all the animal prints, leopard is probably my least favorite.  I consider it a difficult print because it can so easily go from classic to trashy.  And the quality (usually determined by money - of which I have none) has a big factor on which side of the spectrum you're going to find yourself.

The last thing I want happening in my living room is this:

From Amazon, but thankfully unavailable.

Eventually, I found this fabric by Premier Prints that I actually liked - a lot.  Enough to think about it for four months and still like it.


Premier Prints Amazon Wheat

It's called "Amazon" in the Wheat color.  I was drawn to it because of the color palette (not your traditional leopard print) and the hope of it reading as a soft, organic pattern.  After months (literally - I picked it out in November) I finally decided it was worth the risk and bought 3 yards to try out.

They arrived last night and I couldn't wait to tack them up to see how it looked.  Hot or hoochie mama?


Ignore the chair, it's not stylish but does a great job of camouflaging our Wii Rock Band equipment.

What do you think?

Okay, I don't really care, because I'm digging it.  Although I did call my neighbor over just in case I was wearing the "been thinking about this possibility for four months and don't want to start all over from scratch" blinders.  She liked it and totally got the textural look I was going for and the boyfriend even approved.  Shocker, I know.  Although I did have to give him several stern warnings that this means absolutely no other "jungle" related decor because there's possibly nothing I hate more than a themed room (unless it's on Disney property).

Here's a close-up.  It's a bit thicker than I was hoping for (I was hoping for more of a linen feel and this is more of a canvas texture).  But I feel like the online sample pics were very accurate to the real thing.  And for $7.75 a yard, it's a pretty good deal for this much impact.

I'll be adding a wide black border to polish them off (and of course sewing them into proper panels, not just tacking them up with pushpins).  I'm so excited about the outcome, I'm even excited about buying the other 21 yards and sewing (or, let's be honest, probably hem taping and fabric gluing).  So I give you permission to give me hell if you check back in April and I'm still not finished.  Okay, maybe May, depending on whether or not my son does soccer this spring.

Pelmet Boxes

I've decided the next area of concentration in the house is drapery.  Even if the rest of the room is hardly what I call presentable, curtains will hopefully make it look like we're at least trying.

We're very lucky as duplex renters that we have big windows that let in lots of light.  Unfortunately, they also present some challenges.

Let me illustrate with some old pictures (before we moved in - notice the lack of junk):

The living room has two windows in the corner that are too close together for two separate rods, so they need a corner rod.  I love the idea of patterened  mustard yellow curtains with brass rods and rings, like this picture:

Debbie Basnett via Houzz

 However, our living room flows into the dining room, where we have our sliding glass doors.

Notice the lovely vertical blinds.  Despite their complete ugliness, they are very necessary.  At dusk the sun lines up perfectly with our window, making it impossible to sit on our couch without getting broiled unless the blinds are closed.  As renters, we can either take the blinds down, store them, and then re-install them before we leave - or find a way to camouflage them.  Which made me think of pelmet boxes.

Pelmet boxes can go ugly real fast, but there's lots of cute ones out in blogland:

From Cozy Little Cave



Both via Katie Rosenfeld

I've posted this one before and really love the trim detail.  Look how nice pelmet boxes work on corner windows - and then you don't have to buy special corner hardware.  They'll even camouflage our venetian blinds.

I was really sold on the idea... until I came across this picture on Houzz:


Marcelo Brito via Houzz

I think this might be the coolest take on pelmet boxes I've ever seen.  I don't know if it's even considered pelmet boxes anymore - or just really cool moulding.  (Did you know there's a "u" in moulding - I literally just found out.)

I'm dying to DIY my own version.  They'll either look super crazy awesome, or really really dumb.  Especially on the corner windows.  So I'm torn.

What do you vote?

A

  

B

 

C

Leave a comment and tell me what you think!

Help Please

A couple of days ago, Reichel at Copy Cat Chic posted this curtain from Urban Outfitters and I'm obssessed.

It's called the Antoinette Damask Curtain in Purple, and unfortunately, this is the cheap version.  (In case you've never visited - which I suggest you do - Copy Cat Chic finds high end looks for less.) 

At $38 a panel, there's no way I can afford these curtains for the master bedroom (where I need at least 4 panels, but maybe up to 6).  So I've been on the lookout for a copycat of the copycat - or more likely - fabric that is very similar.

So far I haven't turned up anything - so I'm asking for help from my reader(s?).  If you come across anything strikingly similar - could you please let me know?

Thanks a million!