Window coverings

[lornaschinske]

DIY Roman Shades: Classic Roman Shades, Top Down Only, Top Down/Bottom up
http://www.terrelldesigns.com/Instructions

How to make a Top Down/Bottom Up Insulated Roman Shade
http://www.ehow.com/how_4834338_up-insu ... shade.html

[somewhereinusa]

Thanks for the info, I had to look up what a roman blind is. More food for thought. Have you done this on your bus? How do they look with window that is longer than tall?

[lornaschinske]

Originally Posted by somewhereinusa

... Have you done this on your bus? How do they look with window that is longer than tall?

I haven't done this yet. So far it is the only window covering that I like. Since we are keeping the original bus windows, which open from the top/down, it seems to be the best choice. My problem is that I like to wash the curtains every so often. While a stix-n-brix house curtain isn't supposed get that all that dirty , the curtains in the RV accumulates grime quickly which I attribute to driving down the road. Also I have to decide on a Top Down Only or a Top Down/Bottom Up.

My RV curtains are "cafe" style that I made from MicroFiber waffle weave dishtowels. They are washable. I have to figure out how to make the Roman shades to where I can take them down a couple times a year and toss them in the washer/dryer. I figure that I will have to study both methods and make an insulated shade using an old blanket instead of the Reflectix (and prewashed fabric). The alternative is to use a cheapy quilt from Wal-Mart (I'm shooting for an easy care "vintage beach cottage" look... unless I change my mind again). If I use the cheapy quilt, All I have to do is line the back with the curtain liner (slows down the rot due to the sunlight) and it's all machine washable.

My windows are :
1 single
3 double
1 triple
The Roman Shades should look fine, in my opinion. I've never made a Roman shade but David made one for his house boat out of red velvet (that was pre-me so I never saw it). He says the hardest thing is keeping the string from getting knotted up while you are stringing it .

Sure beats mini blinds all up and down!

Decisions, decisions, decisions! Just one of so many!

[somewhereinusa]

Lorna,
I think I may be going for that vintage beach cottage look, if I understand what I think that means. I keep going back to the bus Jake von Slatt did and I like the look. I would never have thought I would like green, but I think it is definitely one of my favorites. I don't like todays posh overstuffed look. I also like the old rv's with varnished wood everything. I'm trying to get mumsywumsy interested, but she's not much on decorating. Unfortunately she isn't able to "see" anything until it's actually placed before her.

Relatively speaking I'm in your neck of the woods tonight in Milan. Spent three hours sitting west of Santa Rosa on the I40 parking lot, waiting for them to clean up the leftovers of the demolition derby on ice. Headed to Phoenix, then back to Moriarty to load my bus on the truck and get her home.

[lornaschinske]

I also like the Von Slatt bus. Downside to the Victorian Steampunk look is that it tends to be high maintenance (or more maintainence than I want to put into it). While I LOVE Polychrome VIctorians, I understand the work involved in it. I spent a lot of time designing/making the rather plain trim on food cart (see my avatar) and a lot of time painting it... it's only got five colours on it (3 coats each), not counting the gold leaf but that took a lot of time waiting for the paint to dry. I'm simply not a domestic diva. I loathe cleaning. Only reason I cook is that I'm more into the food and to get decent food, that means that I end up making it myself. So the upkeep on a Victorian style bus is not something that I am terribly interested in. The laid back, well-used, beach cottage look is more to my taste. Also it will handle the eclectic mix of furniture styles that I have to install in the bus.