Dressing Young (Part 1)

Parent Cafe
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<p>I do love to sew and am excited to have a small room all to myself now with just that theme to it. Have my mom’s sixty-year-old Singer and my own all set up and am getting to know the fabric stores in this area. Found a really pretty wool with lycra plaid the other day. The juices are starting to flow again.</p>

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<p>

It’s a 1927 home. This is the dining room, with an oriental rug and leaded glass windows, but the furniture is more transitional.</p>

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<p>Pinch pleat curtains are fine, as long as they are not on an old-fashioned metal traverse rod. I just redecorated and used beautiful wood traverse rods - very elegant and sophisticated, and I can still open and close the curtains with ease. I don’t like rod pocket or grommet styles that have to be tugged at and adjusted. I also don’t like to handle the delicate fabric - over the years it will become soiled and stretched from all of that opening and closing. </p>

<p>This is the look"
[Image</a> Detail for - <a href=“http://storageorganizationshop.com/images/misanosy.jpg[/url]”>http://storageorganizationshop.com/images/misanosy.jpg](<a href=“http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoTA05dpONT8A.xqJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dkirsch%2Bwood%2Btraverse%2Brods%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D105&w=750&h=886&imgurl=storageorganizationshop.com%2Fimages%2Fmisanosy.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fstorageorganizationshop.com%2FKirsch-Buckingham-Decorative-Rope-SconceAged-Gold&size=412+KB&name=&p=kirsch+wood+traverse+rods&oid=c70d448d605ebd864e77f0721eca14ea&fr2=piv-web&fr=&tt=&b=91&ni=120&no=105&tab=organic&ts=&sigr=12krd3mgs&sigb=137fu9t7e&sigi=11fjuog1h&.crumb=ljA/DSaLVvF]Image”>http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoTA05dpONT8A.xqJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTBlMTQ4cGxyBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Dkirsch%2Bwood%2Btraverse%2Brods%26fr2%3Dpiv-web%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D105&w=750&h=886&imgurl=storageorganizationshop.com%2Fimages%2Fmisanosy.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fstorageorganizationshop.com%2FKirsch-Buckingham-Decorative-Rope-SconceAged-Gold&size=412+KB&name=&p=kirsch+wood+traverse+rods&oid=c70d448d605ebd864e77f0721eca14ea&fr2=piv-web&fr=&tt=&b=91&ni=120&no=105&tab=organic&ts=&sigr=12krd3mgs&sigb=137fu9t7e&sigi=11fjuog1h&.crumb=ljA/DSaLVvF)</a></p>

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<p>Not a curtain in the house. A blind or two, where the house faces the street. Otherwise, bare windows…</p>

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<p>I have curtains on the lower level of the house, very similar to the style in the picture posted by Gourmetmom. I can’t have blinds - my cats would destroy them in a few nanoseconds. :slight_smile: Wood rod/rings combo is a clean, classic and at the same time very functional and practical way to hang drapes. My rods and rings are not very ornate - they are contemporary looking to match the rest of the house.</p>

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<p>I love that muted plaid dress. Wish I needed one! (well maybe I don’t since I am much too much of a cheapskate to spend almost $500 on a dress!)</p>

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<p>I have an English tudor - very traditional, and in my neck of the woods, somewhat of a departure from the center hall colonials that abound. The main rooms would look odd without curtains, but in most areas, the fabric matches the wall and creates a uniform look. I have a pale yellow silk - floor to ceiling in the living room and dining room. </p>

<p>I have wood blinds in the study and in a bathroom, and they are also great - 3" slats look really substantial.</p>

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<p>I just finished removing heavy draperies from the first floor windows of the home we purchased about six months ago. They were quite elaborate treatments, sheers and heavy brocaded, tasseled drapes with silk cord tie-backs and fabric covered cornices. I hate to think what they cost. But we just couldn’t stand them. Too Liberace for us. In the dining room which we did in very neutral colors, adding picture framing below the chair rail and a crystal chandelier we debated putting in drapes to match the fairly traditional vibe of the room. But the windows have very nice framing and look out on a nice view from good elevation. We opted to stay with what we are doing throughout the main floor – very neutral shades that tuck up into a cornice that matches the color and molding style of the room trim. I was worried it would be too bare but the room has enough going on that you don’t miss the draperies. Also, it is a very private lot, no real concern for privacy.</p>

<p>I have made drapes in the past. Once carried back 10 yards of gorgeous bronze silk from a little store in Florence to make drapes for our dining room. I lined them by hand! As gourmetmom is suggesting I put them on a cherry stained wood rod. I left them in the dining room when we sold the house. Realtor said sellers liked the dining room . . . my DD said I should have taken the drapes and made a prom dress for her.</p>

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<p>I just saw an outfit in church that caught my eye and want some reaction from this learned group of ‘young dressers’. The outfit was a bit out of my ‘comfort zone’, but I’m not sure why–probably about confidence, or lack thereof. Let me know what you think.</p>

<p>A fifty-something woman, curvy figure, not slim/not heavy, sort of a spunky personality, wearing a black pencil skirt (could have been corduroy or maybe ponte knit–not sure) with a chocolate brown turtleneck, brown tights and brown boots (riding boot style, low heel, strap and buckle). The t-neck, tights and boots were all the same dark, chocolate brown shade. She wore a chunky faux ivory necklace and looked very put together. I kept thinking, “But black and brown aren’t supposed to go together!”</p>

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<p>LOL, sewhappy! I think we all heard of drapes that were transtormed into play clothes, but a prom dress… :wink: Speaking of that… I was shopping last night and peeked at Gucci’s sale. You should check out their cruise collection! I could not stop laughing at some offerings. Oh, the bold prints! Some of the models on the Gucci’s website look like Von Trapp children. :)</p>

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<p>ha-ha…I was thinking “Maria”,as well.</p>

<p>Gourmetmom, mine’s a tudor, too. I like the idea of the drapes matching the wall color. Hadn’t thought of that. I hope I can find a nice rod, and I like the rings, but those pleats…Maybe the fact that I have pleats now and grew up in a home with pleats is causing severe “pleat-aversion”.</p>

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<p>I keep waiting to mature into Gucci. I have never really understood Gucci.</p>

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<p>My mother had some Pucci scarves ( he attended Reed & so D has a tshirt whose logo he designed), but I don’t get Gucci either.</p>

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<p>Beil - I wear black and brown together all the time. In her case, I might have matched the boots to the skirt though, to ground the outfit.</p>

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<p>Beil - were you in my Sunday School class last week? Nope, I would have noticed, they are 5 & 6 graders. </p>

<p>Seriously - that is almost identical to an outfit I wore to teach. Black and brown.</p>

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<p>I have a similar outfit: black boots, black tights, black and brown tweed pencil skirt and brown sweater. It is the perfect background to display my scarves. :)</p>

<p>Gucci clothes are too wild for me personally to wear, but I like to look at them. It is runway art. Basic Gucci shoes, if they can be found on sale at 70-80% off, are great. The pumps that I got are amazingly easy on my feet, and I have to keep the wedge boots in the back of my closet or I will wear them out too quickly.</p>

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<p>I also like black and brown- the brown has to be light & rich enough to register as a separate color I think.</p>

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<p>France has a lot of very chic women wearing black with brown. After visiting France a couple of times it sort of makes me wince to see someone in all black. Too harsh unless you’re Audrey Hepburn.</p>

<p>So ideas please on my endless quest to finish my powder room. I have eight (yes EIGHT!) shelves above the counter flanking the mirror. The walls are a very delicate pink with white chair rail and white-on-white picture framing below. Wood floors. Green marble counter and the tulips skink from Kohler. Let’s just say this powder room has the ghost of wives past haunting it. </p>

<p>So what the heck do I put on the shelves? No window so plants are out. Jars of decorative soaps? Folded towels? Remember eight shelves.</p>

<p>I feel as if it should all have some sort of theme . . .</p>

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<p>Glass. Clear glass bud vases in all shapes. No flowers. That’ll get the ghost:).</p>

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<p>sewhappy –
Photos/small prints of places you have visited? A small clock? Books? Can you change the pink walls? </p>

<p>Our powder room is practically wallpapered in subway maps and cartoons. People always apologize when they come out for having taken so long. :D</p>

<p>Black and brown outfits are a combo I like a lot.</p>