An update from Troy:
Hi Pam! Hope all is well.
Have been thinking of you… I’m in the midst of getting some stuff *finally* done around the house and I consulted RR for some master bedroom drapery ideas and found your post about JCPenney Supreme pinch pleats so I ordered a “patio door width” in ivory.
Ended up being the perfect width to cut into the two panels needed to fit the slider and side window. They’re now just pinned and awaiting finishing but I got them hung to see how they look… love them! I found a ceiling-mounted I-Beam track system at my local hardware store which seems to work well. All for under $350. Big sale at JCP. Score! 😉
[Note: All our research to date about window treatments are archived in the Decorate / Window Treatments subcategory.]
And I found a Drexel Declaration queen headboard on chairish.com – are you familiar with this website? It wasn’t *cheap* but the purchase process was easy and it arrived within a week. Now my Drexel Declaration bedside tables have some good company.
I saw your uploader this past weekend but didn’t get anything up – always love seeing what your readers post.
All’s well here. Numerous other little projects going on around the house. Never a dull moment!
What’s up in your world? Still think you need a TV show. Later – Troy
It’s SO GREAT to hear from you, Troy! Thanks for the update. Readers, you can read and see more about Troy’s work on his website, Troyland.
More stories about Troy and his Eichler — which we’ve been writing about since 2008!:
Troy rearranges his collections – in his new Eichler ranch house- Use a decorative, mid-century living room screen as a headboard
- Bargello needlepoint pillows: Troy gets crafty
- Polished concrete floors for Troy’s Eichler house – new radiant heating system, too
- Troy’s fabulous, like I mean fabulous, collection of vintage airline travel bags
- Retro house plants – ideas from Troy
P.S. I’m never gonna get a TV show. But that’s a story for another day.
Hey Paul,
Just by chance, are those the Jens Risom Playboy dining chairs?
I am having a hard time finding curtain panels for my 1959 ranch. It has those Anderson awning windows that are short and wide. I have mini-blinds up but need panels to add a little more light control. I can’t pay for custom made after having the blinds made. Anyone have a source?
Pinch pleat CAFE curtains might fit … you’d have to find them though.
Hi Greg,
I’m sorry it took so long to get back to you as I just happened to see your reply. Yes, those are the very famous Jens Risom Playboy arm chairs! The dining room table is also Jens Risom and it came with 4 armless cane back chairs. The club chair in the foreground is also Jens Risom, made in 1959! My Mom left me some wonderful Risom furniture.
Almost exactly 4 years ago to the day (July 10th, 2012) I was able to get my hands on, get this, two Risom Playboy chairs and eight club chairs as shown in the foreground! The office where I work had them in an old conference room and they were going to be thrown out!!! They had no idea what this furniture was. The Playboy chairs were reupholstered with the dining room chairs and the club chairs were all reupholstered too and look gorgeous!
One cannot speak of mid-century design without mentioning Jens Risom. He is alive and well and living in Connecticut, I believe 96+ years old. I would love to see Pam do a feature article on him (and interview, too!) and his effect on mid-century design!
Thanks for noticing!
Paul
I love pinch pleats! I bought the JC Penney drapes in my 1st house. I have odd sized windows in my current home. I got a quote from a local seamstress. $800!!!! I collect old sewing books and have a few machines, but I really can’t sew. I looked at some tutorials on the Internet, and whipped out a vintage time life book called “the art of sewing- making home furnishings.” This book was invaluable. Very clear and concise with lots of drawings. Instead of using buckram in the top where you place your pleats, I just used stiff interfacing from WalMart cut to size (too impatient to order the correct supplies) I have made 4 sets of pinch pleat drapes now. They are totally washable as well. They really are super easy to make. if you don’t need blackout curtains, white bedsheets make great liners. Also, when looking at fabric, I found indoor/outdoor fabric to be both less expensive than drapery fabric, and the prints are much more fun. Also, a great place to look for fabric is at Old Time Pottery, if you are close to one. I found Jonathan Adler fabric there for $5.00 a yard and made a great set of floor to ceiling drapes for my back porch. If any of you have access to a sewing machine I strongly encourage you to try sewing them yourself! If I did it, literally anyone could do it.