Roman Shades Give Old House A Rich Look

Roman Shades Give Old House A Rich Look

Discovering the Charm of Age and Character

It all began when we stumbled upon a 150-year-old farmhouse that seemed to have been waiting for us. This home, steeped in history and character, differed starkly from the modernity encroaching upon its solitude. Its aged charm, nestled within a two-story stone and frame structure, captivated us instantly, setting the stage for a journey of transformation.

The Journey from Basic to Timelessly Elegant

Admittedly, my home decorating skills hovered around the placement of an orange bean bag chair in the living room—a choice my wife quickly vetoed. Thankfully, our home decorating savant friend, with her knack for transforming the mundane into magazine-worthy decor, came to our rescue.

A Vision for the Dining Room

The transformation our friend envisioned centered significantly around the dining room, where she proposed the introduction of Roman shades. These elegantly simple window treatments promised not just aesthetic enhancement but practical benefits:

• Uniquely Stylish: The possibility of matching the shades with the dining table cloth was too good an opportunity to miss, promising a cohesive elegance that complemented our antique dining set.
• Custom-Fit Solution: Our home's non-standard sized windows posed a challenge that Roman shades, with their customizable nature, easily overcame.
• Highlighting Craftsmanship: Our painstakingly restored native oak woodwork deserved to shine, unobscured by bulky curtains or drapes.
• Cost Efficiency: With our friend's talent in making curtains and shades, opting for DIY Roman shades was both a budget-friendly and personalized choice.

The Essence of Roman Shades

Roman shades combine functionality with aesthetics in a design that's both practical and visually appealing. Capable of fitting within the frames of non-standard windows, these shades rise in even folds, thanks to a system of rings, cords, and horizontal battens. Opting to line the shades, our friend added an extra layer of insulation against the cold, turning these window treatments into guardians against winter's chill.

Where Roman Shades Shine

These versatile shades find their place in any room, offering privacy, light control, and a dash of elegance. Whether used in a bedroom for a restful ambiance or paired with drapes in a dining room for formal sophistication, Roman shades adapt seamlessly to their surroundings.

Crafting the Shades

Despite my initial lack of knowledge on Roman shades, the discovery of their diverse patterns and the freedom to tailor them bespoke to our home was enlightening. While my pattern suggestions might not have made the cut, the collaborative effort in choosing the perfect design added to the shared enjoyment of decorating our home.

The Result: A Harmonious Blend

With the shades installed, our dining room transformed into a space that breathed both richness and history, echoing the essence of our old farmhouse. The Roman shades, with their distinctive folds and elegance, became a focal point, earning admiration and compliments from first-time visitors.

The Humble Bean Bag's Fate

As for the bean bag chair? It found a temporary home in the old barn. Its absence from our newly decorated living space served as a reminder of our journey from simple living to embracing the timeless elegance of our farmhouse, thanks to the thoughtful incorporation of Roman shades.

In embracing the charm of our farmhouse's past, we've woven a new thread into its tapestry of history—one that speaks of warmth, elegance, and a newfound appreciation for the beauty of subtlety and tradition.