Upcycled Curtains & Moving Update
It came to my attention last week that I never posted a moving update. As you know, the Cottage was sold - read that funny story HERE and we had to decide what we were going to do next.
About 5 weeks ago we moved into a small apartment in a turn-of-the-century house. Although much of the original woodwork, etc is gone, it does have new windows, insulation, and hardwood floors.
'Small' is the operative word here - the apartment is about 550 square feet. I know what you're thinking, and no, we haven't lost our minds. We really are working on down-sizing, because, let's face it, how much 'stuff' do you really need? Since it's just the two of us and we've already done the 4 bdr, 3 bath house, it was time to try something new.
Since the woman who bought our house also bought most of our furniture, we were starting with a pretty clean slate. This is not our forever home, so we have a storage unit for those things that just don't have a place right now.
That being said, we are getting settled and actually loving it. Our landlord has given me permission to use space behind the house to run my power tools and he's even bringing me a pallet later this week!
So, please join us on this down-sizing journey...who knows where it will take us next! We are being LOBSTERS....don't know that story? Come back for my next post!
On to the curtains.....I had lace panels on the living room windows in the Cottage, since the new owner didn't want them, they came with me. This apartment has beautiful, large windows that make it nice and bright- even on cloudy days. I didn't want to cover them up, so I decided to hang the panels on the bottom half of the windows with tension rods. The first step? Cut those panels in half.
About 5 weeks ago we moved into a small apartment in a turn-of-the-century house. Although much of the original woodwork, etc is gone, it does have new windows, insulation, and hardwood floors.
'Small' is the operative word here - the apartment is about 550 square feet. I know what you're thinking, and no, we haven't lost our minds. We really are working on down-sizing, because, let's face it, how much 'stuff' do you really need? Since it's just the two of us and we've already done the 4 bdr, 3 bath house, it was time to try something new.
Since the woman who bought our house also bought most of our furniture, we were starting with a pretty clean slate. This is not our forever home, so we have a storage unit for those things that just don't have a place right now.
That being said, we are getting settled and actually loving it. Our landlord has given me permission to use space behind the house to run my power tools and he's even bringing me a pallet later this week!
So, please join us on this down-sizing journey...who knows where it will take us next! We are being LOBSTERS....don't know that story? Come back for my next post!
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On to the curtains.....I had lace panels on the living room windows in the Cottage, since the new owner didn't want them, they came with me. This apartment has beautiful, large windows that make it nice and bright- even on cloudy days. I didn't want to cover them up, so I decided to hang the panels on the bottom half of the windows with tension rods. The first step? Cut those panels in half.
Using the top half, I put them on the rods and placed them on the windows. After measuring, pressing, and pinning, I sewed a new hem.
It doesn't get any easier than that!
Rod pocket already in place - just add hem.
There were no power tools involved to hang them either, since I used tension rods.
My goal was to let the light in without feeling like I'm living in a fishbowl. We are on the second floor and this was the perfect solution.
Please forgive the dark pictures. It's hard enough to take window pictures and it's been raining for, what seems like, weeks - I'm starting to feel like a duck!
Have a wonderful week and do come back again soon. I have so much to share with you, from the lobster story to all of our down-sizing adventures!
I really like the look of lace panels. I had them in my previous house, but we have plantation shutters throughout our current house. I also really like the look of hanging the panel at the halfway point of the window. You get a bit of privacy, but you also get all that wonderful sunlight!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mimi. There was no way I was going to throw them out, so I thought this was the best solution!
DeleteSo glad you stopped by - come back again soon.
Beautiful job!! They are simply lovely! Thanks for sharing on the Pleasures of the NW's DIY link up!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Helen. You know me...always trying to re-use something!
DeleteHave a great week.
That was a good idea and it turned out great. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, I love all the light! Please stop by again soon.
DeleteThose lace curtains are perfect! The give a bit of light, as well as privacy. We moved from our older home to a new-build. I miss the special times we had in our old home and my garden but am loving this new adventure! It's certainly keeping us busy.
ReplyDeleteI miss things about the Cottage too, especially the gardens. But, I do love adventure...you never know what will happen next!
DeleteThank you so much for stopping by. I hope you'll come back again soon!
I love having lots of light in my rooms but also wanting a little privacy.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Carol. So far, this is working out great.
DeleteThank you for stopping by - come back again soon, won't you?
The lace curtains look great and I agree perfect for the 2nd floor. Looking forward to hearing more about your down-sizing journey too. Thanks for sharing with us this week at Brag About It!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laurie. Down-sizing is certainly an adventure! Stay tuned.
DeleteSo glad you stopped by!
Looking forward to keeping up with your new adventures as you look for your new forever home.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Sugar. I can't wait to see where all this takes us either!
DeleteI'm so glad you stopped by.
Thank you, Marilyn. I'll be back - there's always something going on around here!
ReplyDeleteWow, that is small! I've been really enamored with small space living lately too. My home is 1200 square feet and for just me feels a little big so I'd love too get something around 800-900 some day.
ReplyDeleteFor some reason I love repurposing stories like this... I love it when you take something that was used one place and make it work for another. So many people just buy new stuff but I would rather make it work like you've done with your curtains :o)
Tania
It really is, Tania, but we're finding it's VERY doable! Since we're renting, we can move on to something bigger when (if) we're ready. Repurposing has always been a way of life for me, it started when I was a teenager when I discovered antiques!
DeleteHave a great weekend and thank you for stopping by. I hope you'll be back again soon!
I think the panels look lovely. We've adapted to apartment living, too, and nothing makes a small place seem even closer than dim light. Thanks for sharing with us at Creatively Crafty #ccbg :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a clever way to upcycle curtains! Thanks for sharing @Vintage Charm!
ReplyDeleteThe lace curtains are the perfect solution. They are very pretty and will also let the sunlight in. And good for you to reuse what you have instead of just getting rid of it.
ReplyDelete