Uncategorized

Curtain Con Artist

February 3, 2011

We believe we should all love where we live.

We’re a couple of homebodies, working to uncover the home our home wants to be. And we’re so happy to have you here. 

Portfolio

Projects

Design

We're Chris + Julia

read more

What we're                   right now

Loving

browse the shop

Befores, afters, mood boards, plans, failures, wins. We’ve done a lot of projects, and they’re all here. 

We have a long-standing relationship with DIY, and love rolling our sleeves up and making it happen. 

Even when you don’t want to rip down a wall, you can make that space in your home better. Right now.

browse all

browse all

browse all

02

01

03

Popular Posts

1.

2.

3.

Top Categories

I returned curtains to Walmart yesterday.  You know, the ones that have been hanging in my living room and dining room area.  4 sets totaling just under $80!  I couldn’t possibly keep them with the new paint color:

See?  They are almost looking green, here.  They are RADIATING!  Ugh.  It was, honestly, keeping me up at night.  I just couldn’t stop thinking how bad they looked and how I could get around them without forking out another $80 for curtains….because, I just KNEW Chris wouldn’t go for that one.  So, I thought…well, I cooouuulllddd try to return them.  (And no, I am not telling you how many years long I have had them.)  Walmart accepted them, once I found the exact set in the store.  They refunded me store credit…just under $80. (!!!)  At this point I was already feeling victorious!

So now, with funds to buy new curtains–I checked out their selection.  Yawn-inspiring, let me tell you.  Nothing seemed to stand out to me.  In my mind, I wanted some long, rich, charcoal curtains and the closest thing they had was stark black.  And then I remembered I am now the proud owner of a sewing machine and this particular Walmart still had a fabric section (I hear some don’t anymore).  I started doing some mental math–errr opened up the calculator on my phone (who am I kidding?) and decided after converting the dimensions of my former curtains to yardage, I would need about 22 yards of fabric. Ouch.  That is a lot of fabric, right?  Especially for me, a pre-beginner seamstress.  However.  HOWEVER!  I found three bolts of the same fabric in the clearance section for $1.50 a yard.  And it is a beautiful, thick, wrinkle-free fabric!  I definitely felt the love from the fabric gods.  I also took this as a sign that I wasn’t going to H for returning those curtains.   The sweet lady working at the fabric counter even offered to cut the fabric into 8—2 5/8 yards panels for me.  This all got even sweeter when the price for all 22 yards was $31.52.  Basically, I made a hefty profit getting new curtains.




This morning, I broke out my machine and my rich, charcoal fabric and was rip-roarin’ to sew.  I tied the fabric in a big knot at the top and hung it over the curtain rod, just to see what it would look like:

My heart sank.  I REALLY didn’t like it.  The one panel would be multiplied by 4 on each window and the darkness was sucking life out of the decor.  It was just too dark for the space.  There was no way of getting out of this one.  I started hemming the sides and brainstorming what I was gonna do with all of this fabric.  And then I tried to convince myself that I could like it.  Or maybe I can change all our colorful pillows and painting and mirror to more a black and white scheme.  No.  No, that wouldn’t work.  I like color.  I started sewing up the other side, when I realized what I was looking at on the reverse of this dark, charcoal, life-sucking fabric:

The same heavy, rich, designed fabric–except lighter.  A LOT lighter.  I quickly slung it over the rod to see if my prayers had once again been answered:

And they were.  Of course.  It couldn’t be more perfect.  Subtle and soft.  Slightly darker than the walls.  A wave of relief swept over me because I knew I didn’t have to live in dark agony.  I conned that fabric twice!  Once into fabric and then again into the right color of fabric.  Stay tuned for some seriously amazing curtains.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

What do you think?

  1. i’m with andi on this one! woo hoo!

  2. Sadie Jane says:

    Your blog is so super cute! I was in your ward when you lived in the village…remember? Anyways love the curtains and the decorating….we just moved into a home and we are working on painting and things as well! Anyways it was fun to find you! I am your new stalker!:)
    Check out my blog at jeffandsadiesabin.blogspot.com

  3. Hey you’re like a wizard. WOW

  4. Meg says:

    YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!!

    Making curtains can be REALLY expensive. It is SO much cheaper buying them. BUUUUUT when you find amazing fabric for 1.50 a YARD, you struck GOLD girl.

    So, I am so proud of you!!!! Did you decide how you are wanting to sew them? If you wanna do that tube and just slide the rod through, it is SO easy.

  5. kbclogger says:

    you are absolutely AMAZING!! will you come help me re-decorate my house please?
    KBeckett

all the latest

We believe we should all love where we live.

We’re a couple of homebodies, working to uncover the home our home wants to be. And we’re so happy to have you here. 

HI! We're Chris + Julia

read more

Load More

Reader Faves

SHop all

What We're                     Right Now

What We're                 Right Now

Looking for our favorite things? A place to shop our home room by room, or just catch up on what Julia's wearing / loving right now? Browse the CLJ shop. 

Loving

looking for inspiration? 

A reader recently asked me if I’m starting to fully embrace traditional style and whether we still consider our house to be a “modern Colonial” and why. It was a really great question and so timely — I had really just been thinking about my approach to this home and how my style has changed […]

Can We Send You Our Love Letter?

Another way for us to stay in touch! Joining our weekly newsletter gives you access to exclusive content, never-before-seen photos, your questions answered, and our favorite DIYs. Sign up below!

Follow Along on Instagram

Welcome to our online community where we've posted home, DIY, style, renovations, and family since '09. Renovating our #cljmoderncottage in Idaho and headed for new adventures in Raleigh, NC. #cljfam #cljtransformations

@chrislovesjulia