I continue to be so thrilled with the frugal and beautiful window curtains in our home…that I just had to share them with you.
New Home, New Curtains
After purchasing and moving into our little farmhouse 4 years ago, my quest for frugal curtains to hang in the kitchen and dining room areas began with difficulty. I bought several options from a few different stores and ended up returning every single one. None of them “worked”. I honestly hated all of them. I worried I wouldn’t find anything that I liked. None of the store bought curtains fit the vision my mind hoped for. I imagined something old fashioned, something white with hints of blue and possibly other colors. Nothing too heavily patterned to distract from all the other antique decor elements already in the rooms. And nothing too solid that would block the natural light from shining through the windows.
How The Right Solution Appeared
So, I decided not to stress it anymore. I convinced myself I would find something “right” and my windows would no longer be naked. LOL! As I continued to unpack the masses of boxes strewn about our home, I secretly hoped for an epiphany. And then I opened a box that contained numerous handmade antique linens that my Mom had given me many years ago. I’d honestly forgotten all about them until that moment.
When I unwrapped the top layer of tissue paper in the box, I felt like the room lit up with a combination of sunlight and the iridescence of angels’ wings. I knew at that very moment exactly what I was going to use for my curtains.
Get Those Antique Handmade Heirlooms Out of Hiding And Enjoy Them!
These gorgeous heirloom handmade linens were always lovingly used and cared for across the generations of my family. Passed down to my mother and then to me. Mom painstakingly hand washed, ironed and perfectly folded each item with tissue paper and delicately placed them in a box. Then she gifted them to me.
How incredibly blessed I was to receive such amazing works of art. Shame on me for leaving them in a box for so long and forgetting about them. It was their time to shine and be enjoyed again!
It’s All About That Lace!
These lacy linens were an absolutely stunning array of the most incredibly gorgeous handmade, hand embroidered and hand tatted lace items I have ever seen. There were doilies, hankies, tea towels, table covers, dresser scarves, table runners and assorted pillow covers with the cutest, tiniest buttons I’d ever laid eyes on.
All of these gorgeous items were lovingly handmade in the late 1800’s to early 1900’s by my Great Grandmother, her friends and other family members that surrounded her at the time. The art of making these lacy items has been lost in my family. I wish Great-Grandma and her friends were still around to teach me their talents. I was too young when Great-Grandma passed away to learn this art. It’s such a shame and makes me kind of sad. Though I’m so blessed to have these treasures to cherish.
Colorful Antique Linens Create Frugal and Beautiful Curtains
I always wanted a blue and white kitchen. So, our new home with the yellow kitchen walls and brown cabinets was about to get a makeover. I chose my favorite shade of blue for the walls and white for the cabinets. With those colors in mind, I sorted through my cherished box of linens to find anything blue and white.
I planned to use these linens on our dining room window and back door as well! With excitement, I sorted through each item choosing those that were the right size and shape for the windows in need. I discovered Great-Grandma loved blue and white as much as I do, because there were numerous blue and white pieces I could use. Yeh!
Oh That Blue!
I am kind of obsessed with the paint color on our kitchen and dining room walls. It brings out all the best in these antique linens, or maybe they bring out the best in it. If you like the paint color as much as I do…it’s called “Blue Patchwork”. We purchased it from Lowe’s using their Valspar brand. But it is also available as a Sherwin Williams color. Here’s the link to it….
Choose Your Frugal Curtain Hardware Carefully
It was important that I use as much care hanging these antique pieces as I could. I refused to cut or sew them for fear of ruining them forever. I purchased simple straight café curtain rods and special ring clips to hang the linens from the curtain rods. Though some pieces would not work with the ring clips, so I used wooden clothespins to attach the linens to the curtain rods. Super simple, super easy, super cute and super frugal! And kind of fun, with an old fashioned hang-out-the-wash-on-laundry-day kind of look!
Here’s the link to the curtain rods and the curtain ring clips….
Rods…
Ring Clips…
Personal Touches That Touch The Heart
My favorite piece, has to be one I used in the center of a valance over my kitchen sink. I purposely placed this gorgeous piece where I can see and enjoy it often…every single day. The piece is absolutely stunning with the most beautiful intricate flowers and leaves around the outside edges. But, the best part…my Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa’s initials are embroidered in the center. GASP! That piece totally captures my sentimental heart every time I look at it. I hope I’m making them proud by using and enjoying these works of art and displaying them for others to see and enjoy as well. Every time I look at it, I feel like they are both with me and watching over me, over my family and our home. It’s so comforting.
Frugal Curtains Using Antique Linens Require Proper Placement
I love the eclectic mix of all the various pieces. But I had to be careful how and where I placed each curtain. I purposely hung the curtains a bit above the window sills, so they don’t drag and get dirty. Though in full disclosure, I’ve since removed the lower tier from the kitchen window fearing stains from cooking and doing dishes. And also because I wanted to put plants in that window.
Frugal And Beautiful Antique Linen Curtains Make A Perfect Backdrop
The curtains hanging in the dining room window are tucked in-between 2 china hutches that my husband made. They flank a lower cabinet displaying my cookbook collection. The furniture and antique linen curtain backdrop create a comforting little book nook for reading and relaxing. Though I’ll be honest…it’s enjoyed most often by my Siamese kitty as her favorite place to nap.
Since I draped the lower pieces of Great-Grandma’s table covers over the curtain rod, the ring clips did not work on this level. So I secured the pieces with wooden clothespins. They create a nice wood accent in-between the wooden china hutches. The pretty pieces on the valance contain 2 more of those beautiful blue and white tea towels along with a stunning embroidered floral themed dresser scarf in the middle. I adore this piece so much.
Frugal Curtain Door Decor With A Beautiful Intention
Pictured below are 2 more blue and white tea towels and an embroidered butterfly accented table runner hanging on our back door. This is another one of my favorites. Because, beyond that door and near the pasture is a huge butterfly bush that attracts the most numerous beautiful butterflies. This sweet little butterfly accented piece intentionally hangs there so I can enjoy butterflies both inside and outside. Perhaps Great-Grandma enjoyed butterflies as much as I do?!
Mom’s Are Almost Always Right!
My Mom and I disagree about the use of these gorgeous items. She believes they need to be kept packed away, protected and safe. Then taken out once or twice a year, laundered and ironed, refolded with layers of tissue paper and returned to the box for their protection. Or just kept there.
I understand and appreciate her thoughts and fears of them getting faded, damaged, torn, stained and completely ruined. I really do understand and I worry about those same issues. Normally, I do not disobey my mother….until the use of these treasures. But, this is important to me. I will be careful with them, I promise. Sorry Mom. But, they need to be out and enjoyed.
Cherish And Use Gifts From The Past
I cherish these antique handmade linen gifts, more than I can express. Which makes me want to share their history on a regular basis.
I have 2 big and tough sons that are not into dainty, lacy, antique linens. I assure you, when I am gone and they are going through my possessions and they come across a box of these linens…they will have no use for them and will probably throw them away. But, if I bring these lovely items out for all to enjoy, I can share stories about their history with my family and I know that one of my children or grandchildren will remember about these heirlooms and want to keep them, use them and cherish them just as I have. And hopefully they will pass them on to their children and grandchildren…just as I have.
A Fifth Generation To Enjoy Frugal And Beautiful Curtains
We were recently blessed with the birth of a granddaughter…the first girl in our family in almost 40 years. So, when my daughter-in-law wanted to paint the nursery purple, I knew exactly what she needed to use as a window valance. I had tucked away one of my Great-Grandma’s gorgeous pillow covers. An absolutely stunning work of art with purple trim. The purple didn’t match any of my decor, so I held on to it in hopes of using it one day. And that day finally came. With gratitude, my daughter-in-law was quick to hang this gift in her daughter’s window…just as she had seen the same cherished antique linens hanging in some of my windows.
Grandma’s Pride Shines Through Her Antique Linens
I can’t begin to tell you the extreme love and pride I felt when my daughter-in-law hung this gorgeous work of art. How great that love and pride continues to grow every time I see it hanging in my granddaughter’s window. My beautiful granddaughter will grow up to know that her Great-Great-Great Grandmother made that beautiful work of art like no one will ever do again. I hope she will grow to love and cherish it and hopefully pass it on to her daughter or granddaughter some day.
Thank you Great Grandma for your talents and your gifts. And to my Mom…I promise they are in good hands and will be cherished, loved and enjoyed for generations to come. I love you Mom!
In conclusion, Antique Linens Need To Be Seen And Enjoyed
When attending estate sales or auctions, grab those old linens and make them functional again. Find creative uses for them. Don’t let them get wasted or forgotten, they were intended to be displayed and enjoyed.
Take a look around your surroundings for frugal and creative uses of simple items in your home (like tea towels and aprons) to use as window curtains. Use items that are precious in your family. Display them with love and pride. Don’t pack them away and forget about them…enjoy them every day and pass them on to future generations of your family to cherish.
Wishing you all the best today and every day. Take Care. God Bless.
With all my love,
Chauncey
For additional frugal window curtain ideas, check out these links…
https://www.facebook.com/page/866615353716204/search/?q=Window%20curtains
