Easy Bay Window Curtains

Our master bedroom is sadly, one of the last rooms to be decorated.

And we have angled ceilings, so it fools the eye to appear to have low ceilings. The walls are only 8 feet tall.

Here is a before look:

(With bolts of fabric all over the bed....nice)

And a look before we bought the house
Bay window hardware is very expensive to have custom made, and take weeks to have special ordered.
So I measured each length of wall the drapes would be on.

Bought two 10' pieces of PVC at 1 1/2" diameter. I also bought three of the 45 degree elbows to hold the PVC together in the angles. The PVC was $1.63 each and the elbows are $0.45 each.

I measured the length I wanted each piece to be again, but subtracted a half inch for every end that would be in an elbow. (So the two inside pieces I subtracted an inch, and the the outsides, that have the finials, I subtracted a half inch)

I marked the PVC, scored it with a box cutter, and snapped it apart.

The brackets and finials, I had found at a thrift store awhile back.

I wanted the look of the wooden rings, but chose shower curtain rings, for their price.
Three rolls at $1.
I sprayed it all with primer, and then with flat black paint.

I then used a dry sponge brush to rub burnt umber across (to mimic a wood grain).
I highlighted the edges with an antique gold. (Same process)

I picked up the fabric for the drapes at a wholesale shop that was going out of business for just $2 a yard (15 yards).
Made simple, straight, drapes with lining.
I used pleating tape to (cheat) give fabulous french pleats. (I need to do another post on the wonders of pleating tape - it is worth it's weight in gold)


I slid the shower curtain rings on the PVC, attached a small cafe ring to the bottom, and used the hooks from the pleating tape to hook it on. I just made sure the part of the shower curtain ring that snaps together is hanging towards the bottom.

The PVC pieces slid easily into the elbows, and I used drywall screws to attach the brackets.

The underneath side of the elbow.

Once they were all put together, I hot glued finials on the end.

It is amazing just how much height they have added to the room, and

the fabric makes it so much warmer and cozier.

This could also easily be done with the wood dowels from the lumber department, just make sure to match the proper diameter elbow.

Visit DIY day at A Soft Place to Land for more fun projects:

http://asoftplacetoland-kimba.blogspot.com/2009/08/diy-day-and-giveaway.html

And The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursdays:

http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/2009/09/beautifying-back-door.html