Curtain Challenge

So you've seen the dining room after pictures, now let me tell you about my minor challenge with the curtains for the big window.  If you recall, there are 2 big windows in the dining room that sit side by side.  My goal with the curtains were to make those 2 windows appear as 1 big window.  BUT, the curtain rod holder prevented me from placing a curtain panel in the middle.

See the little black rod in the middle over the wood panel?  Well it prevented me from hanging a curtain panel right down the middle to cover the wood that divides the windows.  So, here's what my dilemma looked like:

My Goal: 

make the 2 windows appear as on large window. 

My Plan:
3 panels, one to left, one to right, and one in the middle to
hide the wood plank. 

PROBLEM:
the middle rod holder prevents me from hanging a panel directly in the middle.

My Solution!:
cut the panel down the middle and put half on each side of the rod
to make it appear as one.

So, on Monday I took one curtain panel to Hancock Fabric and the kind people there let me use their back cutting station to cut my panel in half!! 

(if you're wondering, yes, I was mistaken for an employee while at the store!)

After cutting the fabric I placed one half of the panel to the left of the middle rod holder and the other half to the right of the rod holder.  I then brought the two together to appear as though it was one panel hanging in the middle.  I bet you couldn't even tell! 

But see the difference between 2 panels vs. 3 panels?

I like the illusion of one large window. So there ya have it.  An inside view at a small challenge and how I overcame it by posing as an employee of Hancock Fabrics!  LOL!!

3 is better than 2,

SG

Dining Room Do-Over: Part II

If you recall, we recently painted our dining room.  Well, I'm happy to finally reveal the AFTER pictures!! But first, let's remember the picture that inspired our paint color & curtain choices:

and here's our dining room's BEFORE!  When we moved into our house, our dining room looked like this:

Beautiful as she was, here's what she looks like now (drum roll please)....

Dining Room Do-Over: Part I

Our latest project has been in the dining room.  We started by purchasing a new table, Suki, her picture will be revealed in part II (if you watch Gilmore Girls you'll know where the name comes from!!).  After saying goodbye to my law school dining table, we let Suki (she's a black table) inspire the new color or colors that would go on our wall. 

I searched and searched and tried my best to stay away from my favorite color (GREEN!) because it's heavily used in the guest bedroom, the kitchen, and the library (and the living room for now!)... You get the picture.  No green on wall.  Although, I almost broke my rule when I saw this picture!!  Sooo pretty!!

Anyhow, I stumbled upon this dining room and I was INSPIRED by the paint color on the walls!!!

I really like the neutral but non-boring wall color and the light and airy curtains!  And, just my luck, the website told me the exact paint color that was on the wall! 

Here's how the painting project went down...

Day 1:  Paint tape room, spackle few holes, sandpaper walls.

Day 2: Clean Walls (morning); remove pedestal from dining room; put drop cloth on the floor; primer on walls (afternoon) Thanks Sonja!! LOVE YOU TONS!

Day 3: First coat of paint!!

Day 4: Second coat!  Take tape down.

Day 5: Touch-up painting.

Day 6: Clean up!

By the end of the week my painting outfit looked like this-- 

But all of the work, mess, and mishaps that occurred along the way were SO worth it!  I really like the color and the table looks great against it!  This week's project is to find curtains.  I've been on the curtain hunt now for two weeks so the sooner we find them, the sooner Part II will post! Stay tuned for "after" pictures in Part II!.... YAY!

Excited,

SG