It looks lovely outside. Through these beautiful windows the sunny outside world seems beckoning. When I ventured out into the yard a few minutes ago though, it was chilly, very chilly. It is more like a lovely winter’s day, than a spring day.
The new windows are amazing! I love them, literally. It is surprising how much one can appreciate, even love, an inanimate object. I would love to open these new windows! That will have to wait for spring-like weather to arrive; it isn’t anywhere to be seen in the local two week weather forecast.
I purchased three inexpensive tension curtain rods, two for the living room windows, and one or the front bedroom window.
The front bedroom has been a storage room since 2010. Its time has come. The window treatment was one cafe curtain, dark green check, and one shower curtain, mauve flowered. This arrangement has provided privacy, as well as a jarring visual effect. This morning I used the tension rod to hang the shower curtain over the window once again. The cafe curtain is going into retirement. I am still thinking through this window treatment.
The basement window treatment is currently newspaper taped to the frame with painters tape. It does the job.
The kitchen window works well with the curtains I made three years ago. Rehung, job done.
Over the back bedroom window a 40 year old set of custom made blackout drapes have hung at the window. Their quality was outstanding, when these were made for my family room, during my first, fairly affluent, stab at marriage. The drapes are like new, but for a small water stain on the back lining, which is not visible from the interior. These drapes have been put back on the job, and just might hang there for the long term. So what if they look like the 70s! They are the 70s.
The living room windows are the big challenge. Using the tension rods, the previous cafe curtains were easily hung. But they did not suit me. Next I tried a pair of sheers that I had found at the dump, crisp, white, beautiful, like-new sheers, that for some unknown reason were discarded. They did not provide enough privacy, and down they came. Next I rummaged through totes in the front bedroom, until I located the floor length sheers that had hung in the master bedroom at the country house. I like these the best so far. I can see out, the light comes in, and during the day you can’t see in. Also, I think they dampen the noise of the construction at the end of the street, which is in full swing now. The issue will be, what to do at night, when they will put the living room on display, if there are any lights on in the house. Thinking cap on.
Note: I blotted out the street view on the bottom panes, digitally with the colour light blue.
At long last, the house is ready for a little bit of interior investment, in thought, time, and perhaps a little bit of cash, perhaps. I am taking it slowly though, no cash investment until I see what works and what does not. There is no hurry.
A sudden silence has descended in the neighbourhood. The construction workers are taking their lunch break!
Worldly Distractions
Weather
1°C
Date: 11:00 AM EDT Friday 23 March 2018
Condition: Partly Cloudy
Pressure: 102.0 kPa
Tendency: Rising
Temperature: 1.2°C
Dew point: -9.3°C
Humidity: 46%
Wind: NNW 9 km/h
Visibility: 24 km
Quote
“What is life but a series of inspired follies? The difficulty is to find them to do. Never lose a chance: it doesn’t come every day.”
George Bernard Shaw
1856 – 1950
Corner windows on adjoining walls … what could be better! -Kate
I love corner windows on adjoining walls! This is the first house I have ever lived in that has had them, I’m hooked! The panormic view is wonderful!
It took me quite a while to understand the windows and the blocked-off pattern – done by computer? I thought they came that way! We have miniblinds on the big windows in our eating room and the curtains that I made on rings over them that can be pulled across to insulate against the cold. The blinds are perfect for privacy and when in the open position (but still down) one can see out just fine. I know they are dust collectors but that’s the only place we have them. Then I have these roman shades that pull up and down by themselves on the over-sink kitchen windows which I only use when the bright morning sun blinds me there… they go up almost to the top when not needed.
Bex, I guess I should have mentioned that I blotted out the view from the lower windows! We had blinds at the country house, and I hated cleaning them, an understatement! Of course, it was made worse by the fact that the house was heated with wood, messy business. If they didn’t need to be cleaned, I’d choose blinds! But they do need to be cleaned, and I am opting for fabric that can be popped into the washing machine every so often. Sheers will need to be covered up with curtains at night though, so I am thinking about that. The way the furniture is arranged, it is difficult to reach drapes to close and open them, so I’ll be on the lookout for an easy open/close system.
I am determined to keep the road traffic from gazing into the house, it is so small here, that when you look in, you see almost the whole house at a glance. Fish bowl living is not my cup of tea, LOL.
I’m glad you explained the digital photo adjustment to your photo, I thought you’d adhered something to the windows so people couldn’t see in! Lovely to have lots of light and later on when it’s warm, fresh breezes!
It is great to get feedback about the photo edit Joan! It makes perfect sense to think that it might have been some sort of film adhered to the window, to provide privacy!
The light is wonderful, the living room is the brightest room in the house, and oh how sweet it will be to feel the warm breezes!
Thanks for the explanation about the digital alteration. I first read this entry on my phone and I couldn’t quite see what was going on there.
When we moved into our current house, it took awhile to get the window treatments. In the interim, we *did* use a cling film for privacy on the windows that needed it. It came in a pattern that looked like old fashioned frosted glass, kind of an ice crystals pattern, and that worked really well as an interim solution.
Wendy, what a good idea! I used frosted window film, the adhesive type, on the former dining area windows, and loved it. I balked at putting adhesive on the new windows though, but cling film sounds like just the thing!
I am so glad for all the feedback on the digital edit! Something for me to keep in mind in the future!
When I was looking at real estate a lot, before we bought Mist Cottage, I always enlarged the images that gave a view out the window, to see what the neighbourhood was like. This technique provided amazing details, so I’ve been conscious of that ever since. This journal is available to anyone, anywhere in the world.
Maggie, I think that what we had was technically an adhesive film, but it was a light adhesive. It came on a roll, was cut to fit with scissors, and came off with no problem and no residue. However, my best friend came over and helped me with it, so we had four hands to do it!
Wendy, that sounds a lot like the film I put on the windows in our dining area in the kitchen. I managed it with two hands, but not without a few glitches, lol! I am glad to hear it comes off without a problem, that gives me more choices!