New Living Room Drapes

After living in our new home for 8 moths, we finally have added drapes to the living room and breakfast room!   It was one of those things that has taken a while to get to!  (A few stealthy readers cracked me up by spotting the drapes in the photos of James’ party!) The new addition has really changed the way the rooms look and feel and I couldn’t be more pleased with the outcome. 
image
The wall housing our living room windows was way too long for even an extended drapery rod, so I purchased two short rods (24-48 inches) for the far ends.  I refrained from adding drapes in the middle because there is only about four inches of wall space between the windows and I didn’t want to block the natural light.

image
Adding the drapery rods about two inches below the crown molding meant loooong drapes- 111 inches to skim the floor.  The living room drapes were done first and are 113 inches, which puddle a bit, so they need to be hemmed.
image
Also, my seamstress (also known as my babysitter’s mother!) sewed the lining separate from the actual drapes, so plan to use some stitch witchery to hold them together where they are gaping.  She made rod pockets for the top at 4 1/2 inches.  The drapery rods are from West Elm.  I love the sleek look.  
image
I purchased the drapery fabric (Windsor Smith Pelagos Fabric in Mist) at High Fashion Home for about $15 per yard.  I purchased their entire inventory (15 yards) and was then told that the fabric was being discontinued.  I don’t know if that’s true, but since I didn’t want to pay the big dollars I saw it selling for elsewhere, we cut the width in half for the drapes for the two breakfast room windows (otherwise, we wouldn’t have had enough fabric).   
image
I even made a small lumbar pillow, but am searching now for coordinating fabrics to make some new sofa pillows.
image
Living Room-  BEFORE

image

Living Room- AFTER (p.s. I think I’m going to relocate those round mirrors)

Let's be friends!

Subscribe and enjoy exclusive content delivered directly to your inbox!

image

Breakfast Room- BEFORE
image
Breakfast Room- AFTER (really draws the eye up:)

image

I am so thankful to my seamstress for sewing these for me!!!  I think she did an awesome job.  And it only took her a few days!

Update: We’ve made lots of improvements to our home since this post was published!  It’s crazy to look back and see how far I’ve come with my photography too.  I’d consider deleting this post because the pictures are so bad, but this is really where I started and it’s real life, so it stays.  And it makes the progress look that much better! 

__________________
keep in touch! 

subscribe  | instagram | pinterest | facebook | twitter | bloglovin 
affiliate links used
Share:

75 Comments

  1. March 8, 2011 / 3:39 am

    The curtains are beautiful! Happy belated B-day to the little guy!

  2. March 8, 2011 / 3:41 am

    Love that fabric!!!!!!

  3. March 8, 2011 / 3:41 am

    great idea with the shorter rods. great fabric. great room.

  4. March 8, 2011 / 3:46 am

    wow those drapes at SO much character to the room and really draws it all together!

    love the fabric you chose!

  5. March 8, 2011 / 4:05 am

    Amazing how drapes finish a room! I love the fabric – beautiful look!

  6. March 8, 2011 / 4:53 am

    They look lovely! Before you go ahead with stitch witchering, have you considered stick on velcro instead? If you attach on the back of the curtain and the front of the lining, then you can just pull the 2 apart when it comes to washing. Means you don't have to do both together all the time. Just a thought.

  7. March 8, 2011 / 8:20 am

    Beautiful drapes!… The fabric goes perfectly with the rest of the house 🙂

    xoxo
    Jenna

  8. Lili
    March 8, 2011 / 3:49 am

    oooh i may need her #! your drapes are lovely!

  9. Shelia
    March 8, 2011 / 4:13 am

    Your new drapes are gorgeous and just make your room! Love the fabric!
    Be a sweetie,
    shelia 😉

  10. Elsa
    March 8, 2011 / 4:18 am

    WOW! They look SO good!! Sounds like you scored a great deal.

  11. Emily
    March 8, 2011 / 4:43 am

    I love, love , love!! They look beautiful!

    Emily Hewett
    A Well Dressed Home
    awelldressedhome.com/blog

  12. Michaela
    March 8, 2011 / 4:49 am

    Looks great, girl! I love the simple texture it gives the room. The pattern is so cute!

  13. Sixty-Fifth Avenue
    March 8, 2011 / 4:59 am

    Wow Megan, they really make the room! Great choice, I love the fabric.

    Happy Birthday to your one year old…the party was adorable.

  14. Kristin @ My Uncommon Slice of Suburbia
    March 8, 2011 / 5:09 am

    It's so pretty!
    I love the fabric, they add so much to the room!
    XO
    Kristin

  15. Anna White
    March 8, 2011 / 5:20 am

    Megan…love it..it really lifts that space so much..and great choice of fabric..good skills lovely x

  16. March 8, 2011 / 11:26 am

    Love them! The pattern is awesome. Really completes the room.

  17. Kate
    March 8, 2011 / 5:37 am

    I noticed those drapes too but I KNEW you must be blogging about them soon. I'm a homebuilder's wife so I notice the most minute changes. Wait, is that spelled correct? Minute but it sounds like minooot…

    BEDTIME!!!!

    I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  18. March 8, 2011 / 12:25 pm

    I love it! Also…where did you get your sectional? I live in Richmond/Sugar Land area…so hoping it's a local source!

  19. March 8, 2011 / 12:36 pm

    Where did you get your table & benches? I love it and am in the market for a new one!

  20. emily
    March 8, 2011 / 6:56 am

    Those turned out great! That fabric is perfection. And I love the idea of the two shorter rods for the living room window. Fabulous!

  21. March 8, 2011 / 1:24 pm

    They look great, Megan! Those are pretty much spot on what I'm looking for…she did a great job with the fabric!

  22. March 8, 2011 / 1:36 pm

    Your house is beautiful! I love the colors!

  23. March 8, 2011 / 2:08 pm

    I did totally notice those drapes in the birthday picture but forgot to ask about them so I am glad other readers did. I love the design and color!

  24. March 8, 2011 / 4:22 pm

    The drapes definitly add a punch to the room! Love them! Happy Belated Birthday to James! 🙂

  25. Bernadette {Chic Spaces for Little Faces}
    March 8, 2011 / 10:44 am

    They look great.

  26. Julia
    March 8, 2011 / 4:49 pm

    Hi Megan,

    I have similiar windows in my family room and love how you did not extend a rod all the way across. Love the fabric and just wondering how many inches wide are the panels? Thanks!
    Julia

  27. March 8, 2011 / 5:20 pm

    The curtains look great! Love that pattern. Amazing how 'finished' your rooms look now! 🙂

  28. Emily A. Clark
    March 8, 2011 / 1:09 pm

    Amazing what a difference (good) window treatments make! Looks beautiful.

  29. Kelly
    March 8, 2011 / 1:41 pm

    Those curtains make SUCH a difference! I bet you're loving it every day. Gorgeous!

  30. March 8, 2011 / 8:47 pm

    wait !! You're in HOUSTON! I'm delurking so I can scream out loud that I'm in houston! wow! I read your blog all the time! Small world!

    Love them!

  31. March 8, 2011 / 8:59 pm

    Beautiful! They look so lovely! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  32. Ashly@Moon Walk
    March 8, 2011 / 3:35 pm

    I love the pattern! Great work.

  33. Courtney {a thoughtful place}
    March 8, 2011 / 3:46 pm

    They make such a huge difference. They turned out beautifully. You must be thrilled!

  34. Courtney {a thoughtful place}
    March 8, 2011 / 3:47 pm

    PS. . .I love that it's the fabric from so me of your inspiration photos for your family room back in July! That's awesome.

  35. Stephanie
    March 8, 2011 / 3:49 pm

    They look awesome Megan. Love your solution for the long window. Your seamstress did a wonderful job, too bad I don't live in the area!

  36. March 8, 2011 / 10:18 pm

    Oh Megan it turned out so nice! It's always amazing how a little fabric softens and completes a room!

  37. March 8, 2011 / 10:20 pm

    They are wonderful… adding quite a bit of warmth to the room. As for the linning. Proper drapes have the lining fabric attached at the sides but are open at the bottom so that as they fall out they may be adjusted. Some fabrics will grow up to an inch or more over the first month that you have them hanging! So before you go to using the ~witch to stitch~ you might give them some time to hang out 🙂

    Maddie- former drape sewing wench

    http://www.onehundredsouth.blogspot.com

  38. Beth at southernfriedliving
    March 8, 2011 / 4:27 pm

    They look amazing! It really makes the room!

  39. March 8, 2011 / 10:48 pm

    Beautiful, am loving graphic fabrics. These are the icing on the cake of your lovely room!

  40. Allison
    March 8, 2011 / 5:12 pm

    It looks beautiful! Great fabric! I wish I was in the Houston area to be able to hire your seamstress. We are in need of some drapes and window seat cushions. I am not ready to tackle the big sewing projects quite yet.

  41. Mom of 2 Cuties @ Sprinkles of Joy and Laughter
    March 8, 2011 / 5:15 pm

    Love the fabric! It is amazing how window treatments really finish a room. Enjoy your day!
    Maureen

  42. Wendy
    March 8, 2011 / 5:26 pm

    they look fabulous! nice choice!

  43. Allison {Live Love Small}
    March 8, 2011 / 6:27 pm

    they look great!

  44. Mr. Goodwill Hunting
    March 8, 2011 / 7:43 pm

    Excited for this new addition to your spaces. Drapes can certainly make or break a space. It all flows so well. She certainly did a wonderful job.

    Mr. Goodwill Hunting

  45. March 9, 2011 / 1:57 am

    Megan! They totally transformed your living area.. I can't believe how much cozier it looks. You must be so happy with the result!

  46. Lauren
    March 8, 2011 / 8:01 pm

    I LOVE these! I have been in my house for over a year now and don't have drapes up yet :/
    I love how unafraid you are of prints and patterns too. I am also a lover of prints, so I love how you always find the most modern, sleek ones. 🙂

  47. March 9, 2011 / 2:26 am

    What a huge difference. Great pattern. I love wandering around HIgh Fashion, I could just look at all the fabrics for days.

  48. Traci
    March 8, 2011 / 9:04 pm

    They turned out great! Isn't it amazing what a dramatic change window treatmens make to a room??

  49. Megandvd@Beauty in the Attempt
    March 9, 2011 / 2:02 am

    The rooms LOOKS amazing! Those drapes add such depth. I love the color and pattern. You have such fabulous taste. 🙂

    Cheers~
    e

  50. Michelle @ Ten June
    March 9, 2011 / 4:17 am

    Amazing what the difference a fabulous window treatment makes!! Great job 🙂

  51. Cassie {Hi Sugarplum!}
    March 9, 2011 / 4:45 am

    wow!!! i love the fabric choice, love how high you hung them…and love the new angles of the house I'm seeing! I think the round mirrors would look great stacked vertically!

    I can't believe the difference drapes make…especially in your breakfast room!! And you sure got your house cleaned up quickly after the party! Isn't it 'new toy' central right now?!?!!?

  52. natasha {schue love}
    March 9, 2011 / 7:47 am

    Lovey love love these drapes! They make this space look so warm and inviting too! Now I think I need to do the same!

  53. March 9, 2011 / 3:32 pm

    Just stumbled across your beautiful blog and I am LOVING it:) Thanks for sharing your creativity in your home and Jame's birthday… WOW!

    Looking forward to being your newest follower x

  54. Elizabeth {Pretty Smitten}
    March 9, 2011 / 1:14 pm

    They look fantastic!

  55. Rachie @ A Chi Chi Affair
    March 9, 2011 / 2:02 pm

    Stunning fabric -looks so good! xo

  56. Carissa @ the Fabulous Design File
    March 9, 2011 / 2:26 pm

    Eeeek! That fabric is discontinued??? It's one of my favorites! Crap!

  57. March 10, 2011 / 12:33 am

    Wow! They look fantastic – what a difference. The material is gorgeous (love the pillow). Your living room looks so comfy.

  58. March 10, 2011 / 12:53 am

    Mm, lovin' the drapes!!

    Found your blog via YummyMummy… I'm a sucker for home blogs! And it all started with YoungHouseLove *sigh* You got a new follower in me! Now to read through archives – my favourite 😀

    I'm an aspiring home decorator – on a budget with no major reno's allowed! Check out my Valentine's Day bedroom makeover present 🙂 http://blossom-heart.blogspot.com/2011/02/valentines-day-bedroom-makeover.html

  59. Aubrey {All Things Bright and Beautiful}
    March 9, 2011 / 9:25 pm

    Gorgeous as always…I am just so in love with that fabric, subtle yet FABULOUS!!! And how adorable was baby James' B-day?!? So, so darling, especially the sweet pictures of the little man and his cake (c;

  60. br
    March 14, 2011 / 3:54 am

    I loooove that fabric! gorgeous!! It's so crazy how much drapes transform a room, isn't it? I'm stuck in a rental right now so I don't want to waste the money on fabric, but the stark windows are so depressing.

  61. March 16, 2011 / 4:29 pm

    I do love the drapes! I really LOVE your kitchen table. Can you please tell me where you puchased your table? Thanks!

  62. May 8, 2011 / 12:40 am

    Question – did you get the thin or oversized curtain rods from west elm?

  63. July 17, 2012 / 1:10 pm

    Love your home!
    Where is your couch from? Looks very cozy!!

    ~Lisa

  64. October 3, 2013 / 2:38 pm

    I would like info on your seamstress, please! We are fixing to move soon, and I'm so excited to get started, especially with drapes, they totally make the room! I'm located in spring/the woodlands area

  65. October 3, 2013 / 2:39 pm

    I would like info on your seamstress, please! We are fixing to move soon, and I'm so excited to get started, especially with drapes, they totally make the room! I'm located in spring/the woodlands area

  66. December 2, 2014 / 2:54 pm

    Can you please give info on your seamstress. I am in the Heights.

Leave a Reply

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

Shop My Instagram