Creative Curtain Alternatives
Featured pro: Carter Oosterhouse
Category: Home Decor, Design Inspiration
When ordinary curtains just won't cut it, Carter Oosterhouse shares his trade secrets for curtain alternatives that will solve your decor dilemmas. Screens, window films, different styles of shades and even valances can all add design flair to your windows without using traditional curtains. Experiment with Carter's ideas, and combine them with your own personal style, to create window treatments you'll want to show off.
Step 1: Screen Play
Screens are a very simple way to dress a window. Screens are easy to move, add dimension to wall and offer a lot of privacy.
Step 2: Films
There are a number of different films that you can adhere right onto your windows to make them opaque. This will obscure the glass but still allow the light to come through what's more they block heat not only light.
Step 3: Go Blind
It does not have to be Venetian, Roman shades are elegant, they are great for noise and heat insulation and of course room darkening.
Step 4: Valancing Act
Valances are great because they can be modified to fit the look of any room. They frame a window elegantly and will help marry the window covering with the rest of your interior.
Items You'll Need for this GMC Trade Secret
- Screens
- Film
- Valances
- Exacto Knife
More Trade Secrets
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I like this concept. I visited your blog for the first time and became your fan. Keep posting as I am going to read it everyday.
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PEOPLE...IT'S NOT POLITICS! I CAN'T IMAGINE WHY SOME OF YOU ARE BEING SO NASTY. SO YOU DON'T LIKE THE IDEAS...THAT'S FINE (I'M NOT THAT EXCITED EITHER) BUT WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO BE SO CRABBY?
January 30 2012 at 7:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyhe forgot to demo modified towel and bedsheets!!! Venetian blinds - agggh a nightmare to clean, and tacky when they start getting worn and falling apart!! Been there, done that! (blinds I mean!))
January 30 2012 at 6:03 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replythe screens are a mahvelous idea dahling! ;-D
January 30 2012 at 3:35 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyYeah, sounds great BUT. Let's face it. Right now it is 17 degrees out there and by dawn it will be about 14. Currently I have blinds, shades, quilted tapestries, and dividers to keep the heat in and cold out. I don't want to pay excessive amounts in heating when layering does the trick. Same in the summer, minus the fabric, I have shades and blinds. They alwas show these glam homes with windows all over. I don't know where they live that the don't have to be concerned about concerving energy. I can think of 2 months that it might be appropriate for any of this stuff. Although rather than glazing over the window with transperancies, th kind of blinds that I use and they way they are used allows complete privacy and lets sunlight in when and if it is wanted. When looking at making a video for window coverings, perhaps an investment in an iron would make the valance look video-worthy.
January 30 2012 at 3:35 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyYou have some valid points but why so negative?
January 30 2012 at 7:07 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyWho cares about curtains? That guy is hot!!
January 30 2012 at 2:06 AM Report abuse Permalink +1 rate up rate down ReplyI like some of the ideas however the best part of the video is Mr. Dreamy. Mmmmm! I'm going to have to look for more of him.
January 30 2012 at 7:10 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyThe best thing to use on windows is venetian blinds and shear curtains. Shear curtains are light and very easy to put up. They let you see out the window and no one can see in. The way I put up my shear curtains makes them look like I spent hundreds of dollars on them. I got mine from the dollar store at five dollars a panel. They come in different colors and some have different patterns on them. On my single windows I have five panels and on my double window and glass sliding door I have six panels. The tops of the curtains are squeezed together and they look really fancy and expensive. On one of my single windows I have pink, white, pink, white, pink. On my glass sliding door I have dark brown, tan, dark brown, dark brown, tan, dark brown, they look really cool. You can mix and match the colors and patterns of the shear panels. When hanging a curtain rod hang it just above the window frame, not even with it, that way the curtains won't look like they're dragging on the floor. If you're going to cover up your windows and don't want to spend a lot of time doing it, than this is the fastest and easiest way to do it, and it makes the windows look elegant.
January 30 2012 at 1:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replysounds as if you were going for the CIRCUS look
January 30 2012 at 6:53 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down ReplyUgly and not helpful at all!
January 30 2012 at 12:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Replyheres my trade secret, iron out your fabric for the valance before you hang it so it doesnt look like **** : )
January 30 2012 at 12:22 AM Report abuse Permalink +3 rate up rate down ReplyGet our latest tips in your inbox
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