I’m on a mission to warm up my kitchen with some color and character. When we remodeled back in 2018, I was working with a kitchen with a small footprint and dirt. Nothing felt open, nothing felt clean, and nothing felt bright and airy. So I did what anyone that is feeling claustrophobic does and I tore down walls and made everything as bright as humanly possible. Maybe a tad bit dramatic if I’m being honest.
As my tastes have changed and I’ve started to take a little adventure course called “Color,” I decided that this kitchen needed a bit of a change. But I maxed out that kitchen budget back in 2018 and I didn’t really want to spend much more redoing something that is already good. So I’m working on small, attainable changes to make impactful changes in this space. And everything I’m doing can be changed down the road if I want. Which it will. Because I am who I am.
My first job was to tame this unruly back door which is the first thing you see as you enter my home. It’s a straight shot from my front door and I didn’t love the grey (Sherwin Williams Ellie Grey), nor did I love what my sweet old pups did to it while they were alive. It was trashed. So if I’m going to add color, I wanted to sand off all that old paint and stain it the most beautiful dark stain, Minwax Jacobean.
Watch the Reel HERE:
Since my back door has windows on the top half, I wanted to add a curtain to add privacy when I wanted it and have it open to let the sun shine through when I wanted that. To keep costs down, yet still accomplish it, I created a beautiful curtain using 1 yard of fabric, an inexpensive rod and hooks, and a little no-sew trick. My original plan was to make this a cafe curtain, but you all convinced me to go all the way to the top and I LOVE what it turned into. And since I purchased 2 yards of this fabric, I decided to use it on my kitchen sink window and make THAT into a cafe curtain. Both so beautiful, and both so easy. Let’s get into it!
Materials
1 yard of fabric of your choice – I used this fabric from Hobby Lobby (on sale for $3.59)
The Process
First, I cut my fabric in half lengthwise to give myself two equal halves for my two separate panels. I wanted them to be wider than my window to give myself a little slack even when they are closed.
I placed the fabric face down on my ironing board and placed the hemming tape down about 1″ from the top. If you would prefer to have your rod slide directly through your curtain instead of using hooks, place the hemming tape about 1.5″ from the top instead. This will allow room for your rod to slide through. If you are using a different rod, please measure to ensure the size of your rod will work with this size and alter, as needed.
Fold the top of the fabric over the hemming tape and make a crease with your fingers. Then run the iron over the crease for 60-90 seconds to make a solid crease and allow the hemming tape to adhere the seam down.
I then switched it to one side of the panel and doing the same process: lay the hemming tape roughly an inch from the edge, fold over the fabric, make a crease with your finger, iron it to adhere the tape. Do this for both lengthwise sides. Do not worry about the length just yet. You can measure that at the end.
Once your rod is screwed into your door or window at the height you desire, you are able to then measure how long you need your curtain to be. You could easily slide the rod through your curtains as I did in the kitchen window or use your hooks. This will change the starting height so measure accordingly.
When you have your measurement, finish the bottom edges by laying the hemming tape on the backside of your fabric, folding it over and adhering with your iron for 60-90 seconds.
All in, this project took me less than 30 minutes for both windows and now I have privacy, a little bit more character, and a touch of warmth. Stay tuned for each simple, attainable changes I’ll be making to this kitchen. I can’t wait to see how it all comes together!
Are we friends on Instagram (@growingupkemper) or Pinterest (@growingupkemper) yet? Follow along for all the attainable DIY projects, tips, tricks, and inspiration!
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