Curtain Time, and Adventures in Extreme Puddling!

So, I FINALLY purchased updated curtains yesterday.  Is this my little project I hinted at near the end of yesterday's post??  No.  That one involved spray paint and the wind blew like heck here yesterday, so that was a no go.  But it was still 114 degrees - it was like being in a windy oven. *insert whining here*

I've been wanting to purchase new curtains for a while, but they are soooo expensive!!  It's expensive to buy them, make then, look at them, wish for them... everything about curtains is expensive.  Boo.  I had looked at IKEA for a while (this was about 6ish months ago?), but couldn't really find anything that didn't remind me of a dormitory (or didn't need extensive altering, sewing makes me swear).  I mostly found panels like this:

Graphic? Yes.  In a good way for my home? No.  I also found panels like this...

Nice neutral color?  Yes.  But those loops at the top, I've tried to love them, but I jut can't do it, sorry loopy thingys.  I also found panels like this...

I really like the print, but the grommets just aren't my style.  I couldn't figure out why until a dear friend pointed out that they may remind me of a shower curtain (you're a genius, Meaghan!).  Bingo.  No shower curtains for this living room!   So, what to do?

I finally ran across a set of curtains I liked in a friend's home recently, and she mentioned they were from IKEA.  I practically RAN there to look at them.  I really liked them, a LOT - but I am indecisive, especially about things that are going to be so permanent in my home.  You don't just up and replace window treatments every year like you can do with pillows or throws or something less expensive.  I decided to wait and shop around, my usual M.O.  This was April-ish, I think?  Enter the end of the school year (muy muy muy grading!), my sister's graduation, two weekend trips, 3 family birthdays, Eric's and my anniversary, and a de-popcorning project!  Needless to say, when I finally got a free hour yesterday evening to sneak off to IKEA,  I was thrilled.  When I finally got to the curtain section, I found the RITVA design from my friend's home, seen here:

Nice, right?  They're a little plain, but the texture is great and I can add some trim myself, if I want to.  Plus, they're $20 for a set of two 57"x98" panels!  Wahoo!  Only problem is??  They are Completely. Out. Of. Stock. In the color I want.  *tears begin to flow* <-not really, but I was crying on the inside...

They have the chocolate brown color (way too dark) and a maroon (SO not happening again - our current curtains are wine red), but no nice, neutral tan.  WHY did I wait so long??  And then a sales lady comes to the rescue.  She points out that I could buy the extra long panels (like 3 feet extra long!), and just hem them.  Lazy me is annoyed at the extra work, but frugal me (the one who waited so long) is excited.  The extra long panels are $30 for two, but still a great deal!  As I'm walking over to the extra long panels, led by a shining light from heaven, I stumble across these...

Oh, hey pretty blue curtains, how you doin'?  I knew I liked the color, but wasn't sold on the design.  Normally I would take pictures of both the tan panels and the blue panels and go home to think it over.  But NO, I was not going to make that mistake AGAIN!  So, I did what any good shopper does.  I bought both sets (gave my husband a heart attack when he saw the final amount, but reassured him I'd be returning at least half of the bill) and saved the receipt.  I also bought  double curtain rod, as the current curtains we have are "black out" and we'll probably need an extra sheer to give us the same light-blocking coverage (gotta keep the 114 degrees outside and keep it below 82 inside. Yes, 82.  I told you I was frugal).  So, I took down our old curtains (here they are crumpled into a pile)...

Have I mentioned why they needed to be replaced?  It's a bit of a bunny trail, but go with me here...  Anyone out there watch Arrested Development?  If not, you should, it's best show that was ever canceled - it's only 3 seasons, go watch it.  Now.  Netflix has it on instant streaming.  Remember when Tobias is waiting to be an extra in the Blue Man Group?  Go watch this video.  This is what happened to my curtains, but with white.  From the drywall and ceiling re-vamp.  All over.  Needless to say, they need to be replaced.  And it's probably for the best, as the red was making the giant window look a little like a stage curtain.  Anyway....

I took down the curtains and replaced one side of the window with the blue and white curtains, and one side with the tan curtains...

Check out the MASSIVE amount of extra fabric on the tan ones!  As a funny joke I told Eric it was on purpose and a fashion statement.  I called it Extreme Puddling...

He bought it, looking baffled by my choices, but nicely trying to be sort-of OK with it... until I started to snicker... teeheehee!  The curtain rod will be replaced by a "beefier" one, and moved MUCH closer to our ceilings.  Oy, the mistakes I made with these the first time around.  Here's a close up of each curtain.

See the nasty popcorn ceiling yet to be removed?  And see how much the rod needs to be larger and closer to the ceiling?  Here's the tan ones:

So, do you have a clear favorite?  We did.  We chose.......  the Tan!  The blue ones were pretty in the store, but in our living room they were just too much.  We had that experience before with our red curtains, and we weren't looking for a repeat.  The curtains were the first thing people looked at when they walked in the door, and while we want the curtains to add to the space, we don't want them to be the main attraction, ya know?  Here's a close up of the yummy texture...

Can you see the great woven look?  I love it.  I'm even thrilled at how the light is coming in this morning.  I may not need the double rod and black out fabric after all (another $25 worth of things to return to IKEA, hurrah!).   I'll have to hem them (lazy me is not thrilled), and I'll probably end up adding some sort of no-sew trim (crafty me is getting excited!), but all of this will have to come gradually.  Except it all has to be done by July 30, when I'm hosting a baby shower here! Sew, I'll keep you posted (get it?? lame-o joke alert!).  Meanwhile, I hung the rest of the panels just to get an idea of what things will look like...

Not bad... after I take care of the Extreme Puddling issue ;)  Ted, however, is the worlds #1 fan of Extreme puddling...

 

I think he'll be sad when I remove them for hemming.  Well, ladies and gents, I've got to run and bake Strawberry Shortcake for a dinner tonight, collect some items for a charity silent auction, pick up around here (did you notice the Easter basket on my table, lol!), drop off some things at Goodwill, sell some clothing at Buffalo Exchange, clean out two closets, and return the blue curtains to IKEA.  All before 4:30PM.  I'll just go fasten my super woman cape now, thankyouverymuch.  I hope you all are having a great day - I'm going to try to have a great day, and also try not to melt into a puddle in my car (another scorcher here today at 110 degrees in good old Tempe!).  Happy Wednesday, friends!