I’m at war… with the sun! I love you shiny sun. I love how you brighten my life and my home… but you’re starting to get me HOT…. and not in a way my husband would enjoy.
What I’m about to say is NOT a complaint because having a home with floor to ceiling windows is really special, but it has and continues to be a real challenge. You have this amazing view to the outside world that makes you feel like you’re never “stuck inside”. You watch the birds, the rain, the squirrels (who eat your tomatoes out of the garden). You get to enjoy all the action that takes place outside and believe me… its AWESOME. Then you realize you’re sweating, wearing sunglasses at the breakfast table, your furniture upholstery is fading, you’re applying sunscreen to watch TV and your paintings on the wall could be in danger ….. the panic sets in.
BUT NO, I CAN’T COVER THE WINDOWS!!!! What about the outside world? NOOOOOOOOOO!
So we started with solar shades for the living area. They keep the heat and UV out but you can actually see the view outside through them. YES! Great solution. It’s working. My bills are down, and so is my body temperature. I think the couch is even beginning to get it’s color back. Okay, that’s a bit of wishful thinking!
The dining room had the same problem except I wanted a softer look in that room and Richie really pushed for light sheers. Okay, cool. But where the heck do we hang a curtain rod? The solution was a trip to Ikea and a few packs of their cable rods. We attached them from beam to beam, clipped on some extra long sheers and it was all good. SUPER!
But then came the windows in the bedroom. Hummmm. Shades are out but curtains made sense so we bought more cable. Maybe it was just too good to be true. Or maybe the dining room curtains just aren’t used as much as the bedroom, or aren’t as heavy … but things were getting really saggy on me. Every time I would open or close them the cord would begin to slip and make the curtains droop in the middle (I can relate to that!). Okay, I know this isn’t the end of the world but it’s quite annoying.
For years I had wanted to do a curtain rod made out of pipe. I could attach the flanges to the ceiling and hang it upside down. I love how so many DIY’ers were doing it and it looks super cool and industrial. Check out my fellow blogger, Brittney’s (younganddometic.com) DIY pipe rods. They’re awesome.
Then I realized that since the curtains were being placed from beam to beam there would be a gap on each end and wouldn’t fully close. Not necessarily a good idea when you’re in your undies at night. I need the curtains to shut! So I decided to install some curtain tracks. You know, like the kind you see in hospitals and doctors offices. Those would be perfect!
A quick online visit to curtain-tracks.com and my order arrived the next day. They’re based in Houston so it was delivered really fast. Down came the metal cord and up went the metal track. We seem to love metal.
They come in 8 feet pieces so you have to cut them down, which is no big deal. Richie LOVES to cut metal and make sparks fly. (grunt!) So he cut the pieces to size.
I then drilled holes for the screws and attached them to the ceiling. You buy the little buttons separately and they slide into the channel. I had the clips already so I just hooked them into the bottom loop. Ready!
Now the curtains go all the way to the ceiling and all the way to the wall and each beam. No gaps, no sagging. They’re super easy to slide back and forth, they’re very thin and unobtrusive and best of all… the channels are SO affordable. Each 8ft piece is only $20.00. If you’ve ever shopped for curtain rods you know they can be outrageous!
So now I just need to find some really nice curtains for this room. It takes me a while to find what I want so I hung some plain linen ones until that perfect panel crosses my path. The window war is over and I WON!
Does anyone else have trouble with windows? What creative solutions did you come up with?
For me they are the hardest to decide on and cost way more than I want to spend. Do you prefer curtains, shades, or to go naked? And last but not least…. does anyone have a place they love to buy modern textiles or curtain panels.
I usually prefer no window treatment at all, but I put track curtains up across the sliding glass door in my bedroom for privacy. My living room faces due west, and I think I’m going to have to put shades on the sidelites, because it gets warm in here in the afternoon.
Yours look fabulous. I think they’re the perfect solution for you.
Thanks, Dana! I really love those curtain tracks because they’re so clean and compact… no frills, ya know. They just slide so easy and with the speed I need, too. Sounds like you’re feeling the heat like I was. Texas summers are brutal and I actually think it’s hotter where you are then where we are. If I had my way there would be NOTHING on the windows, though. I would love to get all new windows for the house. CHA-CHING! Never gonna happen. :-)
wow. i love the solar shades. the track curtains are awesome and would probably be a better solution for a shower curtain in my set up!! seems like they aren’t too noticeable, which is nice, too! plus the fabric is perfect because it still lets some filtered light in. well done!
i forget if this has been a post before, but i’m dying to know what art you have above your bed :)
Yes, they show those curtain tracks in their “picture gallery” of people who use them in their bathrooms, as room dividers, and in campers, etc. I think they’re a great solution for weird spaces. And like you said… hardly noticeable!
The art above the bed is Richie’s. He did this whole serious of what he called “postcards from the future”. (don’t ask.. the guys is one of those crazy creative types) But yes, they’re collage and paint with cryptic messages. I have always thought they were cool and he had them all framed up from an exhibit he did and they were stacked up in a closet. SHAME! So I took them out and hung a few in a group. I’ll take some closer pics for you. Thanks for asking. I know he’d rather be doing that than painting the outside of the house right now. ANYDAY!
I actually wrote a post about this recently. I too was disgusted with having to cover our windows. I took the easy way out. I like your ideas much better. MUCH better. The sheers look great
Thanks Rebecca! I visited you and commented on your post. Seems us mid-century owners all feel the same. We love the windows, don’t want them covered, but end up finding a solution out of necessity.
It’s so funny about your bathroom window. That would NEVER bother me. People are always freaked out about how we live with all those windows… “Aren’t we worried someone will SEE us?”
I just burst out laughing. Ahhh… no…. that never crosses my mind.
We moved into the house with cheap mini blinds galore. I took almost all of them down when we first moved in and have slowly been finding creative solutions for each window ever since. It looks like you found some great options that suit the need of each space.
And I LOVE the idea of making curtain rods our of pipes. I have the perfect spot in our home for it… it’s just way down on the “to-do” list. *sigh*
I know exactly the kind of blinds you mean. EEEK! Love how you dressed up Tessa’s room with those window panels. I love seeing how people figure it all out. My problem is I always want something that doesn’t exist. (We may have had this conversation before… I’m having deja vu) Then I get paralyzed because they don’t make curtains that are see though but not, can be lowered or raised, can have invisible rods, or can just disappear all together. See… windows drive me nuts! HA HA! Thanks, D.
I love the solar shades in your living area! I also love the look of light filtering through thin curtains. I have ivory shadow-striped lightweight cotton curtains in our living and dining rooms. Our house is on a corner so we’re rather exposed, but somehow I hardly ever draw those curtains! (I once drove down a street of grand old mansions in Seattle at dusk, and noticed no one drew their curtains. Is exhibitionism a trait of historic house owners??) I’m now considering curtain options for the breakfast room. We do need some privacy in there. I feel a blog post coming on–thanks for the idea! :)
D’Arcy,
Sometimes they’re just a necessity aren’t they and then other times I just don’t care who sees me. I mostly use them for heat and light control.
Ooooooo, I know what you mean about “looking”. When we were in New York City we loved to walk up and down the streets and peek in on all the beautiful
homes. So much gorgeous furniture and art work. It was fun being a peeping tom (or sally). My guess is they could care less who looks. I guess with gorgeous homes like that you
don’t mind sharing. HA! :-) Have a great weekend. Don’t work too hard on that kitchen!
I’ve installed solar screening on two west facing windows. Replaced the standard screening with a heavier screen that reduces the sun penetration but still allows light. I remove them in the winter to get more sunshine. No need for awnings, louvers or folding shutters and cheaper.
Hey John! Yes, I’m so happy with the solar screens. I actually ordered a huge roll of it from a company in Florida and cut some panels for the windows in my den. I think they’re fantastic because the do let in the light and a bit of a view. I’ve definitely noticed a decrease in energy consumption and the house just feels “cooler”. Are yours on the outside of the widows or are they rollers, too? We’ve considered doing some on the outside. Thanks for visiting. Loved hearing from you.
Great solutions for all the windows! I love the solar shades. But the gauzy white curtains are beautiful, too. And the track is a great solution where a rod wouldn’t work.
Okay, this comment is coming off too gushy. I dislike comments that are bloggy butt-kissing but then I make comments on some of my favourite blogs and realize sometimes I sound the same (perhaps that’s the same for others & I’m just being little miss bitchy-pants).
So, don’t read this as insincere ass-smooching; it’s intended as genuine positive feedback.
I love how you’ve put together your bedroom- really lovely. I had to pin your built-in desk/dresser- would love to have something like this in our new place. Although, I think it looks especially nice with the full wall of windows- not sure it would work as well in a room without. Oh well, I still can take inspiration from the overall feel of the room. Nicely done!
HA HA HA! You crack me up! Yes, that’s the first thing I would think… “What an ass-kisser”! (I can’t quit laughing). NEVER NEVER NEVER! Oh Cindy, I realize we are internet friends but I get the impression you are NOT the ass kisser type. I love your sweet comments and since we’re being so honest here… You should know that I take your compliments with humility. It’s not easy to put your entire house out there for others to see and judge. So when you say something nice I truly appreciate it.
My bedroom is simple, really. Basically I realized the other day that I have a bed and a bench and that’s about it. Makes it really easy to clean! HA HA! But I guess those built-ins are what make it feel like there’s not a lot in there. There was no way I was going to rip those out. The storage is amazing! I love that they’re there. I actually sold my dresser after we moved in. :-) I’m flattered that you pinned. So nice!
Wait, wait, wait… so did you sell the other place? You said NEW place. ?? Do tell! (how exciting!)
No, just dreaming at this point. We’ve been looking at places in the area we hope to move to BUT it all hinges on my husband finding work in his field first.
I love simplicity- but I have to work hard to edit my space but admittedly my motivation is to reduce dusting : )
But I do love the whole bedroom- I’ve commented in the past on your bedside tables Richie made… also love the platform bed, the bench… really the whole shebang- the artwork, cushions, well-chosen tchotchkes- looks very calming- what more could one want for a bedroom?
You made such beautiful choices with your shades and curtains, they are perfect for your house! Which, by the way, I absolutely adore!!! The desk/ drawers in your bedroom are to die for, an original feature?
Hi Tove! Thanks for the visit. Yes, the built-in drawers are an original feature. They actually wrapped around the wall to the right about half way down but we removed that part. It was eating up space.
I LOVE what we did keep, however. So much storage and they look better since I refinished them. I’m super proud to have them. THANK YOU!
I think you have chosen the best idea, especially for your roof line…..and what an amazing space and light you have too! x
How nice, Pippa. Thank you! I do love the roof line. I sometimes forget how nice it is until someone mentions it. :-)
Well done you. I personally have a love hate relationship with curtains. We went for blockout blinds, a necessary evil in our house but I am not so crazy about the rollers at the top. Thinking they need pelmets. Have come around to the idea of some sheers to soften it off but so far, they are still as semi-nude as the day installed. I like the idea of the tracks. very minimal. Nice one.
Hey Sandy! Boy do I feel your pane! (yes, pun intended!) Windows really are irritating when it comes to figuring out light vs heat vs privacy vs affordability. It’s maddening but eventually I choose something and then later realize that it hardly mattered. I think you just get use to whatever you have to get use to. I hate the roller tops, too. Again, I’m ignoring them… they just don’t exist. LOOK THE OTHER WAY! Thanks for being here!
No word of a lie James and me are having the same issues with the patio doors in our basement. I am not a big curtain person which is why my heart now belongs to not only my fav bed in the photo above but to those solar shades. But back to your curtain issue, we had the sagging thing with the wire ones and while a temp solution was to put a hook from the wall in the center of the spread to keep them up, it still drove me insane b/c you’d constantly have to tighten the tension.
So as soon as I saw your curtain tracks I laughed b/c that is exactly what we’re considering using to hang it all in both the kitchen and the basement. Yours look amazing!
And yes I know the sunlight thing. It’s amazing in a cold Canadian winter to have that kind of light but in the summer. Oh man, thank God for UV Cellular shades.
Okay, that is so comforting since you are the queen of all things Ikea. At least I’m not the only one with saggy parts. hummmm… that did NOT come out right and is more true than should be told. HA HA HA!
I guess the weight of those curtains is too much for the tension require to keep them taut. I hope you DO the curtain tracks. I think you’ll love them and they were super simple to install.
I have serious mental issues if I don’t get enough light in the house… but also have serious issues when the electric bills come. I struggle to find a balance. Like most things in life, I guess.
Glad you won the war! I had a similar problem with my windows a while back too much light. I too found that the soft white curtains went well and diffused the light. It’s perfect now. I loved that you got a deal on those rods. I know all too well about paying double that amount for just one!