This week I'm not feeling great — just a cold, brought on, no doubt, by my ill-advised comment to a friend that we hadn't been sick so far this winter. Challenge the gods, why don't you. Call down the jinx. Ugh.
So I'm not up to fixing the world's problems right now, but I though you might like to see my new valance over the sink.
I was telling you about changing the curtains in my kitchen. It's a funny room. There are a million things to deal with in this room: Doorways, stairs, fireplace, windows, traffic patterns. There's hardly any place to put the appliances and some counters, which is why I have so few. And before you drool over my pantry, remember that it's a necessity brought on by utterly inadequate storage in the main room.
The kitchen is built onto the squareness of the main house as a sort of large extension. It's exposed on opposite sides (though, not to the south, which is a source of real sadness to me) (when you build your house, make sure that parts of it open to the south, preferably the parts where the mother spends a lot of her time) (we didn't build this house, though).
And that means that it gets cold in the winter. So I came up with the quilt idea for the slider (wouldn't French doors be lovely?). I really like how it works.
And the linen tablecloth lined with the old poly curtain for above the radiator, so that the lovely heat doesn't fly right out the window. (In summer we can open the window right up and get a cool breeze from the shaded part of the deck, so that is, I won't say well planned, but serendipitous).
After these changes, I still had the old blue and white valance over the sink window. You can see the “before” of my valance and the “mistreatment” I use in summertime to block the eastern sun here. I thought it was pretty. Bridget still does — she does not suffer change lightly, that girl. But I wanted to move on. Eleven years or more is a long time to look at the same thing. And I can still use the “mistreatment” with things this new way.
What I did was visit Rosie, who had found two Battenburg lace runners of different lengths at a thrift store. I told her my plans — I had been looking for just such a piece of lace! Really and truly! And she kindly offered me one. She's so generous.
So I put some little tabs on the back for the rod and popped it up there.
Of course, as others have rightly observed, it's as difficult to take flattering pictures of window treatments as of one's own figure! But I did my best. I love my new lace valance!
Claire says
It looks great! (Although, I agree with Bridget that the blue and white one was lovely, too.)
Deirdre says
I like it a lot! Very pretty and it fits right in!
Colleen says
A runner as a valance in the kitchen: brilliant! I like that it's very pretty, but not fussy.
ayearinskirts says
It must be the weather/time of year. I haven't posted in over a week. I'm just sort of blah. No skirts for me! It's 9:30am and I'm still in jammies. By the time I finally do drag myself into real clothes I know it won't be a skirt.
Nice valance!
FAith says
Beautiful!! Prayers for a speedy recovery! (and don't worry about changing the world just now- your husband tag teams so nicely!) 🙂
Lisa G. says
It looks very pretty. Just right!
Donna L. says
I hope you feel much better soon!
I love your taste in Sunshine yellow in your kitchen-I have the identical color and it is JUST what I need in the grayness that is February….
Love the valance idea…such a gorgeous window treatment!
justamouse says
I totally sympathize with your sickness. I called down the jinx, too. Your curtain is gorgeous, though. Thank you, Rosie.
RubberChickenGirl says
Love lacey curtains! I didn't think of battenburg (Is it a place? I noticed you capitalized it.) I just put up some eyelet lace napkins from Pier 1 in my bathroom window. http://www.pier1.com/Catalog/Dining/tabid/977/Lis…
RCG
Laura Jeanne says
Oh no, I'm sorry to hear you're not feeling well…now I feel like a jerk for sending you an email question yesterday…please ignore it! And I hope you're feeling better soon. I definitely understand what it's like to feel under the weather – I've been sick to some degree almost all winter. I am sending up healing prayers for you. 🙂
Your valance is indeed pretty, by the way!
Anitra says
I can tell your kitchen still has at least as much counter space and storage as mine – and the only window in my kitchen is one of those 1/4 height type things that is probably about the size of your valance. (And north-facing. What's the point?)
So I'll continue to be jealous of your pantry, and your window treatments!
Mary says
I love battenburg lace. It's just beautiful in it's simplicity. I also love your kitchen window. I wish I had one with such depth.
nancy says
Love it!
GentlyLed says
Loved the old valance, love the new. I need a valance in my kitchen, too, so pls tell me, how did you hang it up? What are these “little tabs” you put on the back for the rod?
I LOVE your blog. Thank you for helping me to make my house prettier, too! You're one of my “Titus 2” mamas.
_Leila says
Gently Led, I literally just sewed small sections of seam binding (you know, cotton twill tape that comes on a card for finishing off seams — but any ribbon or tape will do, it's just easier if you don't have to finish the sides) onto the back of the runner at intervals. I increased the intervals (sewed on more) after trying it on the rod, so that it wouldn't sag.
The rod is just the same extension rod that I had up there for the other valance, which had a pocket that the rod went through. It's not decorative. But the runner stands up and covers it (thanks to the extra bits of tape that I sewed onto it).
So it's like I made a pocket for the rod to go into on the back of the runner, only it doesn't extend along the length, it's in sections. Does that make sense? You just do what it takes to get the thing up there 🙂 No one will see! Even in the photos you see the whole valance, but in real life the wooden piece that connects the cabinets sort of covers the top of the runner.
GentlyLed says
Thank you, Leila! (I didn't know what seam binding is, so thx for explaining that too!)
Sounds easy! I'm going to try it when I find the right fabric.
Mrs. Pickles says
soooo pwettyyyy…
I need to find me a good thrift store.