Middle room coming along.

[plasticpigeon]

I'm encouraged that this room looks better than the last even without any dressing. It will be a dining room. I now have to sand and stain the floor and put a big rug on it. In the small alcove, I shall have a grandfather clock that is a family heirloom. I

 

[TheSpid]

nice ........

 

[88v8]

It does improve the room's proportions when one differentiates the frieze colour from the walls.
And doesn't the window look good.
And appropriate furniture. No Ikea!!

You are writing a How To on bringing out the Period ambiance and character of even a small and unremarkable house.

Ivor

 

[Socksitis]

Doesn't that look good. I like the colour and agree how the differentiation looks smart.

 

[plasticpigeon]

I'm struggling to decide what curtains to get. I like the look of dark wood with yellow walls, but the curtains I can't decide upon.

 

[paulc]

A pale cream or off white with a subtle damask pattern would be my choice.

I'm quite liking your choice of yellow. Certainly a world of difference to beige or that gruesome grey that seems to be all the rage at the moment.

 

[88v8]

Will there be any upholstered seat furniture that might provide a colour theme?

Otherwise, paint a piece of wood with your wall colour - primer, top coat top coat so it's a good solid representation - and off to the decorators' merchants for an hour or too of dithering. There is quite a lot of choice in period-appropriate curtaining. Some of its expensive, but you'll only buy it once.

There's also the question of tiebacks or not, and whether made of the curtain fabric or of rope.

If you already have the turkey rug, take that with you as a colour check.

Try to view the colours in artificial light as that is mainly how you will experience them.

Lighting... the clear shades on your ceiling fixture might be a bit clinical for a dining room....? Unless you have wall lights or a dimmer.

Our dining room in our previous house had patterned seat chairs, patterned wallpaper, green & cream paint, patterned curtains, patterned Art Nouveau tiles in the fire surround, green carpet. Was a bit of a faff getting it all to work together but we were happy with it for 26 years.

Ivor

 

[Cubist]

This is rapidly turning into one of the most dangerous threads I have ever come across.

I admit I very much like the rooms colour scheme and the way it harks back to some of the grand interiors but...

When grown men begin to discuss curtains!

I start looking for the whiskey bottle and and hiding from all those First Ladies saying "Oh isn't it nice to see such blokes getting in touch with their feminine sides"

Not least because in this household I have to do a I'm told and stick to the how not the what.

Bah humbug - Christmas is Coming

 

[Owain]

When grown men begin to discuss curtains!

There is nothing unmanly about curtains.

For too long men have been excluded to cold draughty sheds at the bottom of the garden with nothing but a 1 bar electric fire on an extension lead through the kitchen window, a kettle, a long-wave radio, a pile of old newspapers or Amateur Gardening, and those cardigans we rescued from the bin because the wife refused to send them to the jumble sale where we hoped we'd be allowed to buy them back again for 10p and wear them for another year. It is time to reclaim our domestic territory and demand our opinions on curtains be heard.

And then we'll get our power tools and put up whatever we're told to, without grumbling.

 

[plasticpigeon]

Well I find myself single for the first time in 10 years, so I have to choose the curtain colour and floor covering, which means no more beige carpets or curtains from Dunelm. I was thinking dark red curtains, and maybe a red turkey rug. Good thing is if I get it wrong and it looks silly I won't get an earful.

 

[a twig]

I start looking for the whiskey bottle...

There's the rub, you'll be wanting whisky, not whiskey. Enough of the proper stuff and even conversations about curtains can become thrilling adventures in their own right...

 

[a twig]

Back on topic, that colour is an almost perfect match for that in the toilets at my prep school, so really not for me I'm afraid.

I would fear that a couple too many sherbets and a weird flashback could find me urinating in the fireplace... :S

 

[paulc]

all those First Ladies saying "Oh isn't it nice to see such blokes getting in touch with their feminine sides"

My first set of curtains were matt black with a thick light blocking liner. Nailed to the window frame top, bottom, and sides. The door also received a similar drape, but just nailed in place along the top. Nice and dark in there now

 

[Cubist]

Well I find myself single for the first time in 10 years, so I have to choose the curtain colour and floor covering, which means no more beige carpets or curtains from Dunelm. I was thinking dark red curtains, and maybe a red turkey rug. Good thing is if I get it wrong and it looks silly I won't get an earful.

The red curtains I understand but whats a turkey rug - no, I will not google it.

Also a warning. A good few years ago the first First Lady decided enough was enough and exited stage left. A few years later, after I had fully decorated my new place the second First Lady showed up. After overseeing the re-decorating she decided a house in the country might be better.

 

[Socksitis]

Colours and curtains! I know when it is right and when a room feels comfortable, but no idea of how to get there. There are some lovely fabrics out there, I have some samples from a company called Loome https://www.loomefabrics.co.uk/shop/selector
They do fabric according to style/period.
At then end of the day a room needs fabric to soften it. Go with what feels right.
I am now looking at what sort of window dressing - curtains floor to ceiling? roller blind? curtains to just under the cill? I see you have a plug under the window - will you go for floor to ceiling curtains? on a rod/pole/track. We have never had so much choice. Almost need summer and winter curtains. Good luck and enjoy the process. My husband doesn't say very much about the colours - only when I get it wrong.

 

[Owain]

Back on topic, that colour is an almost perfect match for that in the toilets at my prep school, so really not for me I'm afraid.

I would fear that a couple too many sherbets and a weird flashback could find me urinating in the fireplace... :S

That's a very good reason for not having an electric fire.

 

[88v8]

Well I find myself single for the first time in 10 years...

Sorry to hear. Although as you say it does in some ways simplify things.

As you have a solid colour on the wall, that is to say no patterned paper, I'd offset that with patterned curtains. For the size of room, the pattern repeat should be on the small side. Perhaps veer towards a pale red with darker pattern?

Victorian options for example https://www.thevictorianemporium.com/store/category/curtain_and_upholstery_fabrics/all
but there's no substitute for seeing - and handling - the real thing. Very thick fabrics will not hang well in a short drop, which also raises the question of whether your curtains will hang to the floor or just below the sill.

Take your time.

Ivor

 

[Feltwell]

When grown men begin to discuss curtains!

I couldn't agree more. I know someone who was made to sell his motorbike by his other half, in order to buy... yes, curtains. As you can imagine, his friends were understanding and supportive, and even 20 years on they never make man or mouse jokes.

For too long men have been excluded to cold draughty sheds at the bottom of the garden with nothing but a 1 bar electric fire on an extension lead through the kitchen window, a kettle, a long-wave radio, a pile of old newspapers or Amateur Gardening, and those cardigans we rescued from the bin because the wife refused to send them to the jumble sale where we hoped we'd be allowed to buy them back again for 10p and wear them for another year. It is time to reclaim our domestic territory and demand our opinions on curtains be heard.

WHAT!!??!! :shock:

I dream of being allowed to retreat in peace to my cold draughty shed with a kettle and old newspapers. I am a modern man and have moved with the times - the radio is DAB, and the attire is knackered fleeces, not cardigans - but I demand my right, as I slip further and further into the grumpy embrace of middle age, to retreat to my shed in peace to tinker.


Stuff curtains!


:wink:

 

[Abi Cott]

Curtains are a practical piece of equipment that when specified correctly reduce the draughts and raise the temperature in the room in question. As such they are a necessity for a well insulated and easily heated room.

Unfortunately they come in a variety of colours, finishes and patterns. Narrowing down your requirements for their technical performance is a good start.

Once you've done that I recommend taking a token assistant shopper with you when viewing your pattern options. At the end of the day you will pick what you like, but there is nothing more reinforcing than hearing someone else say they aren't sure about it to help you make up your mind.

 

[Feltwell]

That's far too sensible and logical Abi! :lol:

Of course a room needs them, and I'm sure that PP will make an excellent choice, as he seems to have an eye for the aesthetic qualities of home "finishing", certainly more so than the average stereotypical male of the species.