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It might be hard to tell from this photo but my intention is to discuss the Austrian shade at the window. This was a properly constructed shade with the rings, cording etc. It could be raised or lowered to completely cover the window and still look gathered.

Probably about 20 years old and when I washed it recently the bottom of it totally fell apart, shredded including the cotton and the lace.

For various reasons I did not want to contrive a new covering for this window which does need to be covered in a Maine winter. So came up with this solution. . . .

I just cut off the ripped stuff sort of fudged the hem and added longer lace, but this will no longer cover the window. We have hung a regular window shade under it to pull down in cold weather.

Do you think I can get away with this, for awhile?

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

quote:

Originally posted by lady of shallot:
I just cut off the ripped stuff sort of fudged the hem and added longer lace, but this will no longer cover the window. We have hung a regular window shade under it to pull down in cold weather.

Do you think I can get away with this, for awhile?

Would I do it? No. But it's not my house or my style of decor. If you want to get away with it, go ahead. Who's gonna stop you, anyway.

It is exactly what I do now. My shades are hidden when not needed and pulled down when they are needed.

Seems like a great fix!

It looks fine to me. It now looks like it is meant to be a valance, not a full shade, and I see nothing wrong with having a pull-down shade behind it.

Looks good from the pic's.

It's a good save for someone who just can't give that curtain up! I think viewing it as a valance now is the way to go.

I grew up where the drapery didn't move, we just pulled down the roller shade at night. My mother would pull them down in the bedroom when she took her naps in the afternoons.

Funny how that style of using that type of shade all changed.

quote:

It's a good save for someone who just can't give that curtain up!

It's not that I can't give the curtain up Mary Ruth. I would, gladly. I just can not get involved in making or otherwise coming up with another window treatment. As you know there is a wooden ledge over the window with velcro on it and then eye hooks under it to correspond with the rings on the curtain. Don't want to deal with anything like that again or any close relative to it!

I am window treatmentedout LOL

Our local hardware store carries window shades, don't think they have gone out here in Maine. We have them in the kitchen and all bedrooms. Actually I think all windows have more than one covering or anyway most of them.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: lady of shallot,

I think it looks totally fine and if its functional for you at the moment that's the added bonus.

Lady...I think it looks good. Can't really tell that anything is different than it should be from the pic. The shade to pull down is a good solution to covering the window when needed.

I agree with the others in terms of the asthetic appearance of the cut down shade. It looks fine.

I must say tho that that first thumbnail pic w/ the window in the distance looks like a charming painting with the blue and white china, the lamp, the vase composition in that particular lighting. Lovely perspective shot.

It is a great solution. You still have a window treatment you like, you can leave the rings, cords, boards in place, and you can still cover your window. Sounds like a good idea to me!

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Lovely perspective shot.

Thanks, Froo. The purpose of taking the long shot was to show the different window treatments on the two different windows. but actually the big window curtains don't show much do they.

When I say "get away with it" what I mean is that now I have a faux version of what I orig had. Can't be helped though!

BTW and totally off the curtain. The other day I ran into the friend that made this curtain for me (she is a Jill of all trades!) which was done when I still had my shop. She used to come into my shop all the time and her little boy sometimes fell asleep on the floor!?! He was married this summer and I asked her how old he is? 27! My how time flies!

Of course you can get away with it!! Sheesh, anyone who suggests it's not their taste is offering something totally uncalled for, IMO. I certainly don't want to "start something", but come on...stay on topic here.

If it works for you, it's a perfect solution.

Emily, looks fine to me. I never close my curtains and the only blinds I have are in the bathroom and bedroom. I could care less if my wt's are functional as long as they look good. They all "appear" as though they could be functional though and that is what counts. Yours looks simply like a valance now versus a shade.