Sunday, January 13, 2008

Grading on Participation

My brother gets irrationally mad at me when I post stuff about decorating. It must just be too painful to picture his awesomely RAD sister turned into freaky suburban housewife. I mean, it is hard to picture me caring about such dumb stuff that isn't, like, cool, or something, because I am so incredibly awesome. So, David? If you're reading, just turn away now and come back another day, because I am about to go over the abyss into Crazy Decorating Woman on Uppers mode.

This is for all my friends and readers who are not irrationally angry at me for posting such ridiculous queries.

Anyone still here? Hellllooooooo? If you are, then you, my friends, are required to vote. I don't care if I know you, if I ever heard of you, or if you have ever commented on my blog before. I don't care if you have a blog, or don't. You can just leave an anonymous comment, but I want your vote. So, speak up! Because I am conflicted, befuddled and confused. And I definitely need some helpful input!

The Story and The Dilemma:

There are three windows in the family room. (I have just crammed the khaki roll up shades up on the blinds to see what kind of effect they give it! Just ignore them for now). The couches are a dark sage green with red (cranberry) throw pillows.
That room runs into the eating area with the sliding doors and beyond that is the kitchen with two windows in a corner.
I am going to put khaki panels up over the sliding door and am happy with the red valances over the kitchen sink (although Tracy may help me hem them to a shorter length!)

Here is where you come in. These are the choices:

1. Nothing on the family room windows

2. Khaki roll up shades on family room windows. Once they are hung on rods and fussed with, they won't look as crappy as I have them here. I just jammed the ties on for the photo!

3. Red valances on family room windows
TOLD YOU! I AM A FREAK! These red valances will be cut to the exact length of the window and hung on black wrought iron rods with no ruffles, or wrinkles or pleats. Just straight. I know you can't see the colors very well, but they match the red on the pillows on the couch.Even my husband is tuning me out at this point (witness below photo), though I can't imagine why. So I NEED your input. Thank you!
I haven't put photos in the frames yet, so eventually there will be some black and white photos in there. You are now fully briefed. NOW VOTE!!
(Thank you!)

31 comments:

justme said...

i suck at decorating BUT i saw the red.

Jenn said...

I'm with Feener - I like the red curtains. I think they tie the rooms together nicely. Have you thought about red valances with khaki accents within them? (something like this maybe http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p8566/index.cfm?pkey=cprwwinall)
I noticed too that you all were watching a great football game! We were disappointed that Peyton lost!

Anonymous said...

Red is my first choice, followed by nothing... your house is adorable!

Jen said...

I like the red ones.

Anonymous said...

red valences

Anonymous said...

Nothing is first, followed by red.

Don't cover up much of the window with the valances. Good idea to have Tracy hem the red valance in the kitchen. (Tracy, do you hem pants, too?)

Khaki is out.

joanna said...

I like the red valance - I like the tailored look and think it would tie into the kitchen... plus I hung tie up shades on my window and thought they looked funny on a rod not hung flush up against the window sill like a Roman shade. That might be my own eccentricity.

Anonymous said...

Katie you have way too much time on your hands, Your home looks way to clean,& you have a 2yr old to look after.Your home needs to looked lived in.

Tracy said...

So obviously I am the only one who is going to tell you that I like the Khaki roman type shades. I still say, we could probably find a great red ribbon and replace the existing ribbon. That would add that little bit of color. I think after seeing it, there will be too much red with the three family room windows, the big kitchen door and the kitchen two windows. Of course, I am sure I will probably change my mind if you choose the red and they actually all get up and all situated. (so actually I am not much help!

Anonymous said...

The red! They help tie the kitchen and family room tie together nicely. The red valances give a POP off the khaki walls.

MaryB said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
MaryB said...

I second Tracy. Too many red valances is too contrived I think. I like symmetry and structure, and all that, but at some point it becomes, well, like I said contrived, expected, and boring.
Optimal would be a valance or shade or something mostly khaki with some red.

And, BTW, obsessing about interior design does not make you a boringsuburban housewife. Ask anyone who knows me and they will confirm this for you. Oh, heck, now Im goign to have to write a whole post about this...

Anonymous said...

another vote for red here, but i think the khaki is very pretty, too.

Anonymous said...

I like the khaki, but what do I know I am alaskan, and not a whole lot of decorating here. ha ha. Glad to see becca is doing well. Sorry you are missing out on the -40 below. Miss you guys

Unknown said...

I know this was a previous post and since I haven't read the comments, I may be way in the minority here. Not a huge fan of valances. Not sure why but there you go. I think the red looks good but have to agree that too much red that close together could be a bit too matchy. The khaki was ok but the bows are a bit cute. Maybe the red ribbon minus the bow part? That's just one gal's opinion. Good luck decorating! The details get you, don't they?

Andrea and Ben said...

I am going to say find some curtains you like. i don't understand valances. So if I had to pick it would be the roll up shades because at least they would cover the whole window if you needed/wanted to.

Smitty 1, 2 , 3 and 4 said...

Khaki

Angie said...

I like the red. The khaki doesn't seem to add anything since there isn't much contrast with your walls. I have a tendency to end up with neutral window coverings, though, because I have a hard time finding the right shade or the right style of the color that I want.

Ok, now I've read Tracy's comment, I like the idea of the red ribbon on the khaki. Or maybe leave it alone until you find something you like. You aren't moving anytime soon, so no rush.

Unknown said...

I lack decorating creativity. But, I like the red.

Anonymous said...

RED - but not with the floofy rolled crap at the end. keep 'em straight and simple.

and although we're talking home decorating now... your bother shouldn't be too surpised - you've always been a freak when you obsess about something!!!

of course, by that i mean the sweetest, nicest, funniest freak i know.

love you, nk

Anonymous said...

ANXIETY! I never know!

First I thought the khaki were best, then red, but NOT nothing.

Then I looked again and thought, No, the red were best.

Then I looked again and thought nothing was best.

Unknown said...

Another thought. Think you're trying to be cost effective in which case, just ignore this. Have you considered plantation shutters?

joanna said...

I like the idea of plantation shutters, too... or maybe a cafe curtain hung on the bottom of the window - but maybe that's too "country" a look for you. How about Tracy turning those khaki tie ups into a neat clean khaki Roman Shade with red ribbon? Then you've got a clean look, valance-type shade that will cover the whole window when you want to.

Anonymous said...

I like the red, too.
I think it would also look good with red panels (or a red pattern with khaki) to really add some punch to the living room windows and compliment the kitchen valance.

Laura said...

Okay, seriously, I let dinner burn on the stove last night when I popped on over to check out what's new here. Time got away from me too quickly as I got too caught up in your curtain decisions. Aack!

Curtains are the biggest P.I.T.A. if you ask me. And so expensive too. So far, I've loved the red and even more, the suggestion of red accented and layered with khaki. That's a whole other shopping trip though. Shutters would be stunning too. I can't wait to see what you end up with! Good luck!

Katie said...

The windows are already covered in white wood blinds--not plantation, but close. So, I don't need anything to cover the windows, and in fact, I don't WANT to cover the windows. I just want to finish off the room, visually!

So, now I'm even more confused. I must tally the votes!

Jen said...

Wow. There are a lot of Jens out there.

Red is good.

Jen said...

After reading the comments, I need to revise my vote. I love the idea of Khaki with red. I bet it would be beautiful if you found the right set of curtains/valance/whatever. And whoever said it is right: you aren't moving soon, so maybe wait to find something you love?

artemisia said...

Red! I like the red, straight curtains. Lovely home!

Joel and Angela said...

mkkk...I am with Tracy! I like the khaki with red ribbon ties.
Are panels totally out????

renee said...

I truely believe that you have to put up in your house what you love to look at. As a stay at home mom, you are the one who has to look at them 24/7 and like what you are looking at. I started out with a lot of red in my house and have finally just gotten rid of the last bit of it. The thing that I learned with red is that it is hard to change things up when you get bored with something because reds are difficult to match. I think that the khaki looks much more relaxed with a casual elegance and the red a bit more stiff. I think, though I am no decorator, that the khaki or white would give you more options to have fun with accessories and pillows and to change things up when you get bored. You can put any color you want with Khaki or white. I happen to have the tie up shades in my house here in several rooms and at the beach. They are the same shades that give 2 totally different looks and they are easy to clean if they get dirty. Put up what makes you feel good when you walk in the room.