The Painted Chandelier

A Creative Companion Home/Design blog to Interiors by Melanie Robinson

IKEA Aina Curtains and a Fresh New Look

by 7 Comments

 

 


“Out with the old, in with the new!” Our Master Bedroom has come a LONG way over the years, but I find myself continuously tweaking it. 

 

 
This was a photo from years ago. I was really into the rich woods, and earthy colors. Can you tell?
 
 


And a more recent photo ( but with my old camera, and no photo editing:( I’ve learned some things over the years….thank goodness, like taking photos at certain times of day, and smoothing out dust ruffles, to name just a few….)

Moving on….. I wanted to keep the neutral bedskirt, matelasse comforter, camel/tan walls, and a few neutral pillows, etc. I bought the chocolate velvet tufted headboard a few years ago, when we invested in a King size mattress. I had been using a combination of neutral tones with orange/rust colored pillows for a while, but was getting bored. I have been loving carnation pink, apple green, and chocolate brown lately! I adore the combination of brown and pink, as well as pink and green. 

 
 

This Moroccan style fabric is called Mirage Medallion Gypsy, by Dena Designs. (For some reason, the apple green trim doesn’t appear its true color, even with photo editing! )This was my starting point for other fabrics. I think it’s so beautiful!

 
 
This beautiful pink jacquard is called Dream Weaver in Petal by Dena Designs. I used a chocolate brown fringe trim for its border.
 
 
 
I love this fabric by Waverly called Parterre in Grass, which is an outdoor fabric.
 
 
 
By making just a few new pillows, and mixing in 3 new fabrics in our Master Bedroom, it completely updates the space. I can keep the neutral colors year round, while using any color palette I choose throughout the year with my accents. This was ultimately the goal for my entire house a few years ago, as I began to keep the walls and furnishings in my home neutral, while adding colorful accents.
 
 
The next thing I wanted to change in this space was the curtain height and curtains. I had cream linen curtains, but they were the old standard 84″ panels. I could have added fabric to the bottom to extend the length like I did in my sons’ bedrooms, but IKEA has 100% linen curtain panels for $50 a pair. And they start at 98″ length. 
 
 
Here is the “before,” with only one panel on each window, and standard height. I know, I know…..pretty sad, right? You know how it goes..you see it daily, say you’re going to change it, know it looks bad/is wrong, but it gets put way down on your list of priorities with everything else there is to update/fix.
 
 
Source

We went to IKEA, and I picked up some down pillows, Aina curtains, curtain rods, and hardware. Chico installed my new curtain rods, doing a fine job, as only Chico can. The rods and hardware were black, and the ball finials were silver, so I used Rub n’ Buff in Antique Gold to unify everything. Very glamorous look for just a few dollars. 
The linen curtains actually measured 100″ in length, so I had to hem them. OH, and iron them. Iron, and iron, AND iron them. 6 panels.100% linen. Let’s just say that was a whole Ellen Show, plus a Dr. Phil, and then some. But I think it was worth it. 🙂
 
 
 
I love this easy “trick of the trade,” of raising the curtain rod, to give the windows a visual lift. It really opens up the whole space! 

 I really like the color combination of pink, apple green, and brown. It gives a freshness to the neutral palette, and the combination of these colors feels happy to me. There are still some furniture pieces I want to repaint and repurpose for this room. Hopefully, I will update on that soon!

 
 
The sitting area also got new curtains and a heightened rod
 
 
 
What about you? Do you like neutral walls and furnishings with colorful accents? Or do you like all neutral or all color? Have you changed your color scheme over the years? Do tell! I’d love for you to leave a comment and share!
 
Have a great day!

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Comments

  3. That looked like a lot of work, but I’m glad you could pull it off, Andrea! The finished product looks like an expensive and classy curtain. Kudos to your efforts! It somehow gives off a very classy, yet comfortably aura on your dining room as well as creating an illusion of having more space. Thanks for sharing, and I hope you continue on doing such wonderful projects in the future.

    Roxie Tenner @ Windo Treatments Philadelphia

    Reply

  4. I love your blog. I had a magazine small house. Then I owned 5000 sq. foot house. Both were beautiful. Because When I was invested in business at one time with no attorney…when recession hit I lost 2 businesses, my home, then my marriage. My daughter and I now rent a tiny bungalow. I sold so much. Now have too much of the wrong thing. I always had great taste can’t home this one up. Have ugly fake wood vertical blinds no curtains even in sunroom that I streak through going into my laundry room. My beautiful sofa ended up with a torn bench cushion yet has a leather frame. Hard to explain. Down cushion is gone foam bench cushion is torn. My king size bed is too big for my tiny room but shabby white finish looks good. I have no money to improve and get down. Help! Your ideas are great!

    Reply

    • Hi, Mary! So sorry to hear about your lost businesses and hard times! But great news- today more than ever, you can get beautiful results in your home for not alot of money! Tricks like using large rectangular tablecloths with clip rings and a rod for pretty curtains, thrift shopping for one-of-a-kind furniture and then painting it and adding nice hardware. Things like that really give you alot of “bang for your buck!”
      I saw in a separate comment you said that you are using blue and white again? Blue and white is a classic and timeless color scheme. It looks great throughout the year in Fall, at Christmas, and in the Spring and Summer. Add touches like soft throws for your sofa, cut branches and other natural elements, and a few luxurious candles. I don’t think you have to spend alot of money to have a beautiful home- I just think you have to create a space that looks collected over time and not overly decorated. Good luck and thank you for reading! 🙂

      Reply

  5. Hello, I came across you blog. I love what you’ve done with your bedroom it’s beautiful! I’m working on my house redecorating. I know this post is old but where did you buy the mirror above your bed?

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • Hi, Gia!
      I found the mirror over our bed in the Master Bedroom at Steinmart years ago, but I have seen similar recently at Home Goods and Kirklands. I think I taped it off and spray painted it gold or something, as well. Good luck and thanks for reading! 🙂
      Melanie

      Reply

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