Hi guys!

Remember like a gazillion years ago when I said I was going to change out the blinds in my bathroom? Well, I finished it and FINALLY photographed it!! (That last part is the hardest IMHO.)

Here was that window… just to refresh the ye ol memory…

The window had a basic wood blind on it. Which, seriously, worked great. Functionality = A++. Looks = C-. Why is it that most things that are functional just don’t look the best?!?

I have always wanted a roman shade in this spot, but when I started looking at custom prices I was a bit put off by the $500 price tag! This window is 65″ long, so it’s a big job and the shipping? Fuggetabouit! That’s when I had a thought to use the existing hardware and sew a fabric panel right on top. Genius!!

And it wasn’t that difficult. You can do it too!! I was lucky to find this amazing linen stripe fabric for $3 bucks a yard in the remnants section of a designer store – It’s gorgeous!! But a little too see through, so I snagged a liner from Joann’s that still let light in, but obscured the view (if ya know what I mean). I started by finding a straight line and sewing the two fabrics together, leaving about 2″ on each side for finishing the edges with the nicer fabric. Then I divided my window into sections and sewed little pockets into the liner fabric only!

From Lowes I bought some wooded dowels and put them into the little pockets. In my case, the dowels weren’t quite long enough so I had to cut and glue to make them long enough, but hopefully you won’t have to do that! They have held up great though with Titebond.

Wondering why I don’t have pictures? Well, that’s because at this point I really wasn’t sure how the dowels would look. But trust. They look good. Just cut them about 1.5″ shorter than the width so that you can stitch them inside the shade.

Okay, let’s kill the spirit of the old blinds.

And then snip the cords you will no longer need…You NEED the middle one.

Then I used epoxy to glue the fabric shade to the top of the blind. For the sides, I used velcro so that I could take the shade off if I ever needed to paint the trim.

Now we’re getting somewhere!

Grab these rings and put them on your blind cords.

I sewed the rings by hand through both fabrics to where the dowels were lined up. If you use matching thread you can’t even see it in the front. All you have to do is make sure the cord is unobstructed and the shade will automatically roll up into a roman shade because of the dowels.

Easy Peasy!! (Except for your arms, ’cause they get ttiiirrreeeddd after a few rings!)

For the bottom, (I left a lot of extra just in case) I simply trimmed and glued it to the weighted part of the blind.

DONESIES!! Hand clap!

I think it looks great! I don’t move the shade all that much since it’s a total pain to climb over the tub – who designed this shiz anyway?!? But one day I’ll get rid of this monstrosity and be able to have unfiltered sunshine whenever I want. #victory.

Hey, want a little table like the one I have in the corner? I’ve got one for sale – vintage, guilded goddess!! The plant is a fern, which will probably die soon but is SO pretty! The pot is an antique from Italy and yes, I am reading that. Trying to, at least!!