Hello my friends!
It’s just a few days before Christmas and today I want to share with you some of the plans we have for the house and what else is going on home décor-wise in our new home. You may remember that 5 years ago when I moved in my previous fixer-upper house, I worked with a great company here in Atlanta called Payless Décor in adding bamboo Roman shades in my house.
When I think back on all the window treatments I’ve had in all my houses, it makes me chuckle a little. We all remember the metal mini-blinds, right? I had those in my first house in 1985 and I thought they were the coolest things ever! That trend lasted for several years and then everyone started doing the white wooden blinds which are still popular today, although there are so many newer choices now.
I haven’t changed much at all in my love of Roman bamboo shades and that’s the choice once again for most of the windows in our new house. I still love their warmth, their texture and their versatility in creating a relaxed casual look in a home, but also dressy enough for even more formal spaces.
Here are a few examples I found of some beautiful windows dressed in bamboo shades and you can see for yourself how textured and warm they look. I think what I like about them the most is the fact that they can be used in so many settings. From casual, to more formal settings, they add texture and an organic feel to the windows that you don’t get with plain white blinds.
Don’t they look great in this little bathroom with the board and batten walls and all that white tile? With just a little bit of natural wood in that side table and shelf on the wall, the bamboo adds just the right touch of casual texture to the window.
Nice look. I think the white privacy liners are a must, unless you are ordering white blinds.
We ordered brown blinds when we moved into our home and didn’t know about white liners. While we loved the blinds, we couldn’t stand the way the home looked from the outside with brown blinds. White is much better for curb appeal.
I agree, I do love the white liners showing from the backside.
Here’s a question for you: I have black window frames and muntons and want to maintain a black apprearance from outside on some windows: should I get a black liner? Also: I love the burnt bamboo look but I can’t seem to locate it anywhere, YET I see it on so many design blogs’ photos…any ideas?
HI, Gilda, I love those black window frames, those look so good. I would probably go with the black liner on the back, I think that’s an option. I think many of the blinds on Payless have that burnt look if you look through all the colors.
I think a black liner would make the windows look like black holes. I have these blinds and love them, in another house I have the honeycomb shades, for different reasons, I like the convenience but not the look
That’s a thought too, Gayle. I’ve never had black liners or black windows so it’s hard to picture the two.
Rhoda, the white liners will show up white from the outside? I have a huge window on the front of my house and am trying to figure out what is going to look best from the outside.. Thanks for your help! Very timely post as I am trying to figure out what to do with my windows!
Also, I really need these to be functional and will actually need to put the blinds all of the way down at night. I am wondering how a huge swath of bamboo is going to look in my living room which already has wood paneling. Do you think it will be too much brown?
HI, Sally, if you have so much wood, the wood blinds might be too much. They also have white-ish and gray blinds now too or a fabric blind might look best with your wood paneling. It’s a tough decision to figure these things out. And yes, the white liners do show from the outside when the blinds are all pulled down.
Oh I wish I could post pics because I’ve seen many wooden paneled rooms in Architectural Digest with bamboo blinds and drapes over the years. I think it really depends on the contrast of the bamboo with the wood and depending on the colour and grain, I might avoid a busy look in the blind. I find matchstick blinds particularly attractive in a library.
Rhoda, I think they are a classic choice and have remained so for years. I’ve never tired of them as they can be dressed up or down, look good on their own or paired with drapes. Thanks for the wonderful eye-candy.
We had these blinds in our lake home and chose the white privacy version. We loved them! They were 7 years old when we sold our home and the blinds still looked brand new! The only negative was the cords deteriorated and had to be replaced at least twice during this time. Payless Decor provided great customer service when we needed new cord.
Love the shades and loved using Payless Decor. So easy to install and great quality!
So pretty! I love shades like these and enjoy them in my home. NO idea why I have thought of this but what has ever happened to your friend who was doing such GREAT work on a couple of flip homes in NW Atlanta? What about the long time friends who downsized to a house on the lake – can’t recall we ever saw their finished, fully decorated home and finally, what about the couple in what I think was her childhood home – they were working along. I think on all of these you were helping them; your great talents certainly shone! As I said, no idea why I thought of these. Merry Christmas to you and that lucky man!
HI Virginia, thank you and Merry Christmas to you! So, my friend Buck is still around and busy. I don’t talk to him that often, but we are friends on Facebook so I’m not sure he’s working on any other house projects. Very talented guy! My friend, Ruby, is the one in the lake house. I did show their house all decorated and they really haven’t done much else in there since then, so it was pretty much decorated and finished. I just don’t get to see those friends that much, they travel a lot. Andrea and David are getting back to working on their 60’s ranch house after Christmas. Just had dinner with them last weekend and they want to continue on in the house and I’ll be helping more along the way with their decisions going forward. They had to slow down due to several issues they had, but ready to get started again.
How do you take care of them? Do you use your vacuum or a dust cloth?
Hey, Nancy, you can easily use a brush attachment from the vacuum cleaner on them or a soft dusting wand.
Thanks Rhoda for sharing this is just what I been looking for! They will do great in bathroom!
Merry Christmas
Drapery return — I am not trying to be critical! Just a hint, with pleated drapes the area between the last pleat and the edge is supposed to return to the wall. Usually you have the last pleat just beyond the bracket and all other pleats inside the bracket. You may have something on the bracket to attach a drapery hook to the pleat. With wood brackets, you can always screw in a little eye — or you can put a cup hook in the wall. Pros have a little thing (can’t remember the name at the moment) that goes into the wall or it can go through the edge of the drape and into the wall. If you want to email me, I can send you a picture.
Hi, Judy, thanks I do know what you mean and I don’t usually add that return on the end. I do have the last pleat on the outside of the bracket but it’s not returned to the wall. I don’t mind it in my casual spaces like this. I guess it shows when you look at windows from the side, but not straight on.
Hi Rhoda, I’m trying to choose bamboo shades for my recently remodeled home. I got an outrageous quote from a local store so I’m eager to check out Payless Decor! I’m wondering what works works on a sliding glass door? A vertical sliding bamboo shade or two horizontal shades with vertical pulleys? Also, I have an open floor plan and two large windows would have inset shades but for the slider they would have to be above the door frame and so not line up with the shades on the windows. Would that still work? Thanks!!
HI, Karen, I’m not an expert on sliding glass door coverings. I’ve left mine bare except for panels on either side in my old house. I’d look around for some inspiration pics and see if you can find something similar to what you have. Payless might have some pics on their site too, but I really do love their products.