Comments on: 10 ideas for cheery 40s or 50s kitchen curtains

By: Alison Marie

Alison Marie — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:43:38 +0000

I second the gingham option for kitchens. It looks great trimmed with rickrack (that flat zig-zag trim often used on children’s clothes). That’s what I went for…but finding blue and white to match my blue&white checkerboard linoleum was a bear! So my 2nd suggestion: Kmart. I got mine years ago, but I believe they still have some retro-looking options in good cafe curtain shapes. I’m pretty sure they still have red.

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:14:59 +0000

Hi, Stephan, I know EXACTLY the barkcloth pinch pleats that you are talking aboug. I’ll keep my eye out for you, for similar fabric. You are surely one of the retro decorating gods’ favorites, they will send you what you need.

By: Palm Springs Stephan

Palm Springs Stephan — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 22:24:35 +0000

No, Pam, you were not “too pushy.” I was simply offering one reader’s opinion on why it can take so long to dress a window. To expland on my opinion, I actually found the absolutely perfect fabric through a posting here on this site … a link to an eBay auction. Sadly, I did not win the auction because the price got well out of reach. But now I have that specific pattern in my mind’s eye and am finding it extremely difficult to “settle” for anything else. And it is a very rare pattern … large yucca plants and some other unidentified plant on a cream barkcloth background. (If any of your readers know of a resource for this pattern, I’d be ecstatic!) Once I find the fabric, it just becomes an issue of finding someone to make the pinch pleats at an affordable cost.

Nina462 – I assume you have tried eBay for chalkware cherries? I’ve seen lots of them over the past couple of years.

By: Nina462

Nina462 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:48:48 +0000

Sorry, I didn’t look at the all the pictures…I have Cherries in my kitchen too! (Not apples, but Cherries!). I’m desperatly trying to find cherry themed chalkware for the walls. I have one piece. In the meantime, I’ve framed vintage cherry labels in red frames to hang on the wall.

By: Nina462

Nina462 — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 19:46:29 +0000

I just put up pom pom curtains (white) in my blue tiled bathroom. They are fab! Bought them at a yard sale for $3.

By: sablemable

sablemable — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:07:20 +0000

Palm Springs Stephen-you are so right in regards of the high cost of window treatments. I’d like to get the interior wooden plantation shutters for my picture window, but, it would be expensive. I might take a whack at making pinch-pleated drapes, or just go ahead and hang up the unopened white p-p drapes I had bought for a song a while back.

Decisions, decisions!

By: pam kueber

pam kueber — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:06:06 +0000

Hi Palm Springs Stephan, did I sound pushy on the post? I am sorry. I have edited the post. You are completely right in that well-made, lined pinch pleats cost a bundle, and that it is well worth taking the time to think this investment through to make sure you get what you want. I actually should do more research on the topic of where / how to find resources to have pinch pleats made *affordably.* For example, there used to be a big Waverly outlet about an hour from where I live. About 4 years into living in my house … and yes, it took me this long to make some decisions on the pinch pleats I ultimately purchased … I found fabric there that I liked. They also had a sewing area upstairs and could custom make the drapes for me. They also made me slipcovers and bolster covers for two daybeds. Their costs were amazingly affordable compared to quotes that I had received from shops that specialized in window treatments — and because I was able to buy the fabric at discount prices as well, the curtains added up to lots lots less than “normal prices.” I think there are ways around the huge prices for pinch pleats – but like most renovation projects, it’s a trade of time for money to find those solutions. Alas, the Waverly store went out of business about two years ago. I would love to have custom sheers made – to go under my $20 vintage wall of curtains … but now I am back to square one in terms of finding someone to do this for me. I am pretty sure I can find inexpensive yet good quality material at Osgood’s.

By: Sara in WA

Sara in WA — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 22:00:24 +0000

LOVE pom-poms! Don’t forget, there’s always gingham check. And line the valances with an inexpensive white fabric so it will look nice from the outside. So satisfying to look up and know you made them yourself. I like the discontinued fabric and the cherry fabric (add the white pom-poms); the lighter one is just not the right shade but is sure cute.

By: Palm Springs Stephan

Palm Springs Stephan — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:36:13 +0000

Yes, we often do belabor window treatments for years before moving forward. For myself, cost is the primary reason. Blinds are easy and usually relatively inexpensive. I did my living room … 16 linear feet of window space … in 2″ white traditional horizontal blinds for under $500. Pinch-pleated fabric drapes for the same windows would have easily cost three times that. And if the fabric happens to be unusual, and thus pricey, the cost only soars. And unlike blinds, if you discover you do not like the way the fabric drapes look for some reason once you’ve put them up, they are non-returnable. So we do indeed labor for years, saving money and making sure that we’ve made exactly the correct choice before plunging in and spending $1500 or more on custom window treatments.

By: MrsErinD

MrsErinD — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 20:20:40 +0000

Oh my do I love pom-pom fringe!! :O)

When I bought my unused vintage shower curtain (pink daisies 60s) I found a window curtain from the 50s (new unused too!) in bright bubblegum pink with white pom pom fringe that is so cheery. I thought Hubby would hate it but he loves it, he says they are cheerful. It balances the blue tile. Plus when the sun shines in the pink makes the bathroom glow!

I am making drapes for my living room from vintage reproduction atomic barkcloth.

I know, gotta get pics to you, as soon as I get the drapes done and my corona couch. ;O)

And thanks Pam for the links, especially the pom pom fringe, it’s hard to find the bigger pom poms now!