Living Room Roman Shades + Art + Den Shade Parts 1 & 2

Hi Everyone,

This is a continuation of what is going on with the living room Roman Shades, and the one in the den that I need to get on order asap. However, there’s been a change of plans. So, if you’ve already read part 1 please click the link below to read part 2.

Otherwise, please keep reading from the top.

 

Part 2 Begins Here

 

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for your kind comments regarding the den window treatment design.

Perhaps I should’ve done the living room Roman shades first. However, the living room was all figured out four years ago.

Below is a rendering I did shortly after I closed on the apartment in November 2020.

 

Oh, I love the white floors, but wisely confined them to the lower bedroom level. However, there are the Roman shades I want to have.

 

Sure, many of you will remember this elegant rendering that had these dramatic white-on-white linen drapes.

 

This is a lovely look and I could always add a large panel on each of the far ends of the windows. However, I would be covering up two of the historic window casings. Plus, I would need an expensive curved iron rod. Then, the drapes themselves, with installation, will run me at least another $3,000, and probably more.

 

So, how did I come up with this design?

 

Well, like most of my best ideas, I stole it. ;]  I found the image a while back but had no idea who it belonged to until today.

 

 

I took another Google search stab at it, and of course! It’s the work of the fantastic Meg Braff, whom I’ve long admired. I found it because I found a much better image of it below from Meg’s portfolio.

Photo by Nick Mele

It’s interesting because the sofa, rug, and lamp are different in the better photo. My guess is that this is a more recent iteration of this room.

 

Anyway, I’ve known for over four years that I wanted to do these Greek Key Roman Shades in the living room.

 

Okay, now here’s where it gets interesting.

This is close to the den, but not obnoxiously close. Still, close enough that you can see both windows if you’re standing in the right spot. If you missed that post, please check it out here.

I’ll post a new image of the proposed den Roman Shade, which hopefully will be out of Brunschwig and Fils Le Lac. Incidentally, we did that fabric on some kitchen chairs over a decade ago! 

Yes, it’s the same fabric and the same colorway. We used a different portion of the fabric on each chair.

 

Okay, GL wanted to see me standing in front of the window to better understand the scale.

 

That’s a great idea!

But drat, I live alone and don’t have many full-length shots of myself. However, I only needed one. And then I remembered the perfect shot to use.

However, a little warning. Please put your drink down first unless it’s plain water.

Thank you.

.

.

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Are you ready?

 

 

Laurel? Who the hell is that?

 

That’s me, silly! (Please read the headlines.) ;]

No way!!!

 

Yes, way. Well, not the Elle Decor cover part. But, that chick in the bikini and weirdtastic getup is me when I was a 24-year-old spring chick. I was a dancer in a cheesy (ya think?) floor show in a hotel near the Egyptian pyramids– for SIX months. If you missed or want to reread my autobiographical post I wrote nearly ten years ago, please check it out here. There are additional Cairo pics and much more.

You were smokin’, Laurel!!!

 

Thanks. I still am. haha

 

I will be continuing this post on Wednesday.

 

Then, I will share more details about the living room Roman Shades, including a template for the trim you can use for your shades! We’ll also discuss what fabric I’ll be doing. I can see that it’s a taffeta, either synthetic or a blend of poly and cotton. Why not silk? Ahhhh. There is no way on God’s good earth that I will ever do silk in a south-facing window. Well, you can, but you better have solar protection and have that baby line and interlined! Please read about some of the fabric nightmares I’ve had over the years.

To be continued…

xo,

 

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Part 2 Begins Here

 

Thursday, January 9, 2025

Hi Everyone,

Alright, now that we have had our fun, it’s time to get serious.

First of all, my thoughts are with the poor people in LA who are suffering through one of the worst disasters our nation has ever seen. I can’t imagine.

On Tuesday, I spoke to Dianne, the owner of By Harrington Window treatments. She does pretty much anything but specializes in Roman Shades.

 

But then, I fell down several rabbit holes.

 

It has to do with the art which a few of you mentioned. I do listen to your suggestions and sometimes I follow them. Nothing’s been ordered, and I really would love to see the entry ordered so I can get the Gracie panels up. I’m having a party in six weeks, which is the flame under me butt to get things done. However, I’m not going to sweat it. There will be other parties.

The entry has to coordinate with the art going over the guard rail, and both have to coordinate with the Gracie panels I’m dying to have up. So, it must have interest and beautiful colors without overwhelming the huge panels flanking the fireplace.

One of those rabbit holes was the gorgeous Romantic English website.

 

Last summer, David, the owner of Romantic English saw one of my blog posts and said, “I can have whatever I want—for free.”

 

Oh, that is so rare, except for Paul Montgomery. The other folks I’ve been trying to work with were snobs not my cup of tea. I don’t expect free, but it was more like, “Well, you can’t just do one piece.” Okay, fine. I’ll take my business elsewhere.

Anyway, Romantic English used to be on Etsy, then eBay, and now David’s only doing his own website. I very much enjoyed looking through it and love the tapestries. Please check out the gorgeous Romantic English website here. He keeps adding to his collection, and he’s added paintings, too.

He sells hundreds of beautiful tapestries. I think most are printed on canvas and other substrates.

 

I found a piece I like for over the stairwell, and maybe one for the entry.

 

The linen tapestry art can be stretched over an artist’s canvas frame. Most of the tapestries have borders, but if you want to use a tapestry like a painting I see no reason why it’s necessary to keep the border.

The entry tapestry print is going inside panels like wallpaper and will need a paper backing.

 

What on earth are you talking about, Laurel?

 

If you want to hang fabric on the wall as if it’s wallpaper, the fabric must be backed with paper. I know of two companies that do this:

Custom Laminations in New Jersey and Schneider-Banks (SBI) in Texas.

Once the fabric is paper-backed, it’s stable and easy to hang, but I always recommend a professional paper hanger.

 

What happened to the painting you wanted to do over the staircase?

 

Well, I still love it and have a good image but it’s not a great one. I was going to go back to the Otis House to take a new image, but they are closed for the winter.

 

Does the art go with the Brunschwig Le Lac?

 

Well, it depends on what your definition of “go” is. haha

They’re not super close to each other.

Anyway, I did a new mockup.

This is the piece I like. But then I found another piece that I love! However, before I share that story, the entire tapestry at Romantic English is below.

 

Oh, the colors are exquisite!

 

This approximates what the art would look like, reflected in the mirror.

 

Please note that I have another piece of art, but it will have to wait.

 

But, you know, I had the Le Lac fabric draped over a pillow in the den and I have to say I rather love it.

Okay, there is quite enough going on the vertical plane, so I have decided not to do the Le Lac print for the den Roman Shade.

 

So what will we do for the den Roman Shade?

 

Although I initially rejected it, the sensible me thinks it’ll be beautiful to do the same shade on all three windows. It’s a mistake to make too many statements and even though it’s another room, the window is highly visible.

 

Sheree asked in the comments what color for the decorative tape.

 

It could be black, except Meg’s is not black. It’s a very dark gray. On the window, it will also go darker, so a dark gray will appear to be a soft black. Pure black isn’t wrong, but a slightly softer shade, I think, might be better. I would not do wider than 1/2″. Seam binding might work, and it comes in zillions of colors. However, I can discuss what will be best with Dianne.

 

Laurel, what’s happening with your sofa? I’m getting nervous about it.

 

Oh, it’s here!

Please forgive me as so much has happened. I did hear from David Harrison the owner of Romantic English. My sofa came, waaay too early for me and I need sleep.

 

Wait, Laurel! Your sofa came? Where is it?

 

It’s in the living room. :]

 

Duh, Laurel.

 

I took a few photos and they didn’t turn out well. Plus, I need pillows. And, I’m still getting used to having a sofa in the living room, however, it’s very beautiful.

Okay, I need to wrap this up, as this was supposed to go out two nights ago!

xo,

 

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