Some inquired about my cafe curtains over the sink in my design studio from yesterday's post.  Well, I will share some more info with you… first I should tell you this – it took me a long time to pick out a fabric.

You see, when you do what I do for a living, you are surrounded by new fabrics daily.  My fear was real: what if tomorrow something I like better shows up?  So for a few months it looked like this in my windows.

I'm glad I didn't go Katsugi (above left), considering Maison 21 has plenty of excess that he bought cheaps and is going to send my way.  Do you think I can do this without honest opinion of blogging friends like Joni & Courtney?

No.  Of course not.  (I had on white pants – it was summer) I had to snap random photos to send off and bother someone else with my 'window issues'. And every so often when I had a second of me-time I'd throw up a new sample and give it the ole "eagle eye".

You know I love the Luca by Scalamandre (above right), I hold Scalamandre near and dear to my heart.  This has long been one of my favorites, but I really would rather use it in my house than my office, although I adored it up there… I ruled it out.  BUT I knew I was getting close when I had these 2 up.  I wanted something feminine, soft, warm, and blue was looking good to me. 

My friend in NY, Beth, she's my go-to girl.  If I had a D&D I'd be set, but I don't… so thank you Beth for helping me.  One day this explosion happened next to my desk and I was thinking about my own windows. 

In the end I went with Suzanne Rheinstein's Ikat for Lee Jofa.

I had installed the natural woven roller shades when I moved over a year ago.  They are just cheapies from Linens & Things… RIP.  I love them though.  Simple and great color.  I did not want to do away with them… so I left them in the windows (they are inside mounted).  I simply added a rod for cafe curtains.

Now, don't have a heart attack… the rod is a shower curtain rod. Ghetto fabulous, I know.  Wouldn't Suzanne Rheinstein be proud?  I had it left over from a job, and it matched the stainless cabinets perfectly.  So I just ordered these brackets to hold the rod and mounted it to the cabinets.  The rings I got at this great retail chain we have here called Tarjay (remove the clips- remove the clips – remove the clips… clips are not your friend).

I wanted my curtains to fall on the window sill… and they do.  Which makes me happy. They are linen… linen grows… so when I first hung them, I gave them a 1/4 – 1/2 of an inch to grow. I hung the rod at the top of the window… although I toyed with the idea of hanging them 1/2 way down (in the middle of the window)… but when I opted to keep my roller shades I knew it would look best for them to be at the top.

See the shower curtain bracket… not too bad aye?  The curtains are what I call "2 finger euro pleat"… see the 2 folds in the pleat… yes.  That's all that means.  They are black-out lined… because I think bolder patterns look better with black-out lining. 

You remember how I mentioned "remove the clips"… if you desire to be a little more sophisticated… behind your curtains, whether they are pinch pleated or not… you can use a drapery pin or a drapery hook (same thing) then you attach your rings to those.  Wah-lah!

Random other information you may or may not be interested in:

Yes, I decided to keep that painting from way back when for myself.  Which unfortunately I do a lot of times when I buy something I like with the intent to sell to a client. 

I think I've mentioned before, but incase I forgot… the stainless cabinets are all old.  Reclaimed/salvaged from 2 different places.  The uppers came out of a hospital via a friend who knew we would like them.  The lower- sink system we found at a side of the road flea market.  Opposite of the sink wall is a range and either side of the range are undercounter refrigerator (on the left) and freezer (on the right).  The cabinet hardware (unlacquered brass) I made myself out of plumbing parts.  Someone asked me about brass plumbing parts, and I can't find the email?  This is similar to what I used, or go to page 50 of this catalog. My mini dishwasher is by GE and my icemaker is by Kitchen Aid… the ice that the Kitchen Aid icemaker makes is one of my favorites. My faucet is by La Toscana.  The crazy looking valves that look like a science lab came on the sink… I love them.  My walls are Benjamin Moore White Dove OC-17 and my ceiling is Benjamin Moore Camouflage 2143-40.

Happy Friday!!

PS: my Dr.Nut (a soda that used to be made in Louisiana) crate came from Round Top when we went last March.  Courtney talked me into it, but didn't buy one at the time.  She regretted it and so when she went back to Round Top this fall- she found one for her kitchen too!