COTE DE TEXAS

Dear Miss Cote de Texas

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And today, we have a new decorating question!! 

 

Dear Miss Cote de Texas:   We built our dream home a little over a year ago on Clear Lake.  I am in a bit of a conundrum when it comes to curtains for our master bedroom.  During design and construction, I envisioned natural woven wood shades on each door.  I have since changed my mind and would prefer to go with hanging curtains.  I quickly sewed simple muslin panels when we moved in which are currently hanging on tension rods.  Unfortunately, the intersection of the ceiling with the door trim does not leave adequate room to install a curtain rod over the transom windows.  I am perfectly okay with leaving the transom windows uncovered, we are accustomed to the light coming in. 

What is your suggestion for how to hang curtains?  I have thought about an inside mount, similar to what we already have.  Or could we do an outside mount above the door/below the transom?  Help!

 

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Here is the view out the bedroom – over looking a canal in Clear Lake, a suburb of Houston.  The canal actually leads to the Gulf of Mexico.  What a great view!!!

 

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And here is the bedroom with the problem window/French doors.  There is a great, dark hardwood floor and a fabulous vaulted ceiling finished with bead board for cozy texture.  Outside the windows is the balcony overlooking the canal, as shown above.   The ceiling on the balcony mimics the one inside the bedroom.

 

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And another view.  Well, all I can say is WHY??????

Why build the doors SO close to the walls that there isn’t room for a proper rod????  WHY???

This could be such a gorgeous vignette with beautiful curtains hanging from above the transom, but since the space is so tight, I’m really wondering if that is possible.  Hmmm…..

 

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Here you can see how close the windows are the walls – but have no fear!  We will solve this issue.

Here are some ideas.  It’s hard to find a photograph that completely addresses your issues – but I’ll try the best I can:

 

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Here are windows with transoms.  Instead of using textured blinds, they used fabric blinds which are softer and also bring in pattern.  It’s an option BUT your windows/doors seem rather short and I think using this option will only make the doors look even shorter.  Avoid.

 

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And here are textured shades, hung under the transom.  Again, I think this will make your windows/doors look even shorter and I would avoid this window treatment.   IF you do decide you want to do this …. be sure to go with light, airy shades as opposed to dense ones that don’t let any light in. 

 

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Here in a beachy bedroom, they mixed the textured shades with curtains but brought the shades up to the top of the rod, thereby elongating the look.  The problem with this treatment is you lose the transom.  Therefore I wouldn’t do this.  If you feel you DO want this look, again, choose an airy shade that lets light in and lets you see some of the transom.

 

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Now, here is another fabric shade – that is mounted over the transom.  The fabric shade is not lined which lets in light and lets you see the transom behind it.  This also would make the doors/windows look taller.  And notice how close to the walls these curtains are hung.  By using a rod without a finial or a radius rod, you can hang curtains, just like these.   I like this look – if you want a fabric shade.

 

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Here in a blue and white beachy styled room – striped linen curtains look so good against all the white trim.  When using curtains, think about stripes and patterns to add some pop to the room. 

 

 

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Notice how close these windows are the wall – by using a rod without a finial, you can hang curtain just like this.

 

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Here is a close up of a radius rod.  You can get radius rods that will actually attach to the wall behind it instead of sticking out to the side. 

 

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See how these curtains are attached so close to the wall.  By hiring a professional window treatment designer, they will be able to order the proper rod for you.

 

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And here, the rods are again – radius rods.  Look below to see the rods – available at the Antique Drapery Rod Company HERE.

 

Hotel Artistes rod 3 1/4" return

 

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I love this look and think this treatment would look great in your room.  White linen curtains hung to the top of the transom.  I love how these are lined – so the sun does not shine through allowing you to see the fabric.   I always order my curtains with blackout lining.  You can also use “bump” – a kind of flannel lining.  But, I prefer the blackout lining myself. 

I also order my curtains – with no ironed-in pleats.  That way you don’t get a tall column of stationary fabric, but instead, you get a loose, flowing look – like above.

 

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For instance, here are curtains with ironed in pleats.  They look like tall straight, unmoving columns.  I really don’t care for this look.  To avoid it – order “do not iron in pleats.”

 

 

 

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In this bedroom that I designed, we had a huge problem with the windows.  Instead of matching, one was a French door (that was never used) and the other was a short window.  The owner didn’t want total blackout, so the textured shades kept out enough of the light in the morning.    The door on the left had a transom, but the window didn’t.  In order to create a feeling of symmetry, I tried to make the windows look the same size by using the white linen curtains to disguise the disparate sizes.  As you can see, the windows were also very close to the wall.  We used a thin rod with a flat end finial.

 

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Here’s a closeup of how close the window is to the wall.  Same as yours.   Also, if you do want a textured shade – see how these are airy and let the light through?  You can even still see the transom through the shades.

 

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And, in the end, this is what I would recommend.  Hire a professional window treatment person.  I use Custom Creations by Monica HERE and highly recommend her.  I would probably use a radius rod, or a regular rod without a round end finial.  I would hang the rod right at the top of the transom.   I would use panels – 1 1/2 widths of fabric on each side, lined, no ironed-in pleats.   If you need or want a shade, I would use an airy, textured shade, hung from the transom.   But, I would prefer the window without a shade.   Also, I would avoid an inside mount completely.  An inside mount would cut the eye line and make your doors look too short.

I would probably use a plain white linen fabric so as not to take away from the view.    If you want some pattern and color in the room – you could bring it in with a duvet and or pillows.

And finally, I would have an electrician move the light switches from between the window.  Right now, the eye goes right to them, like a focal point.  Once moved, you could put a few prints there, one on top of the other, or a long antique mirror. 

I hope this helps you with your decorating issue!!

If YOU have a decorating question – please send it to me via email, along with a few pictures. 

My NEW email address is:  cotedetexas@aol.com

Don’t use the “Mrballbox” mailbox anymore!!!

 

 

AND, there will be a book signing for Leslie Sinclair’s newest:  Segreto Style on November 4th at Joyce Horn Antiques.    If you can’t attend but would like to buy the book, please go HERE.

 

West University: Things To Do

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If you are from Houston – it’s that time again for the West University Festival of New Homes.  It started last weekend, but you still have this weekend to tour some of the prettiest new houses that have gone up this year in West U.  Even if you aren’t in the market for a new house, it’s still fun to see how they are furnished – since some great interior designers have taken part this year:

Bradford Collier of BwCollier Interior Design, Inc.,  Sheryl Stringer Designs, Segretto, Chateau
Dominique,  Christine Ho with Cho Interiors, Spaces and Tami Owen.

OK – I see exactly which houses I want to visit.  The tour is this Saturday and Sunday – 11 am – 5 pm!

 

One house in particular caught my eye – it was the house of a young builder – David James.
David James (DJ) Palmore has a degree in building – a BS in Construction from LSU.  After graduation, he started out working with a local custom homebuilder – completing over 30 houses in West University and other fine neighborhoods in Houston before he went out on his own.  
The house that David James built for the showcase is actually a custom house that has been sold – but the owners were gracious enough to let him enter it.  Spaces For Home – a décor shop recently featured on Cote de Texas – provided all the interior design, headed by owner Susan Gay and designer Dewayne Formby.   Dewayne was so sweet to share the photos of the house with me so that those who aren’t in Houston can see it! 
I love looking at new custom homes – it really is a great outlet for seeing what is new in building and really, there are so many new ideas here.

All the photography shown is by Connie Anderson HERE.

 

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The exterior tells you right away this is a custom house – I love how the white painted brick is mixed with the stucco.  And I love the metal awning.  The front door mimics the stunning metal French doors.  And I’m loving the new shutterless trend I’m noticing around town.  It just looks so clean to go sans shutters – especially when mixed with white brick or stucco.

 

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You enter the front door to a main hall.  To the left is the living room, to the right is the dining room.  Spaces For Home furnished the house in soothing tones of grays, taupes, and white – with lots of light caramel colored wood and iron.  In the living room – a grid-like bookcase was painted dark gray against the white walls.  An antique map framed in sections acts as the focal point over the sofa.

 

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The pattern comes in the pillows – I like the way the two main pillows are such a nice size – probably 24x24, which I think is usually the right size.  I really don’t like pillows that are too small to make a point – and these two show how important the proper size of pillows is.   Dewayne added the small lumbar for the added comfort of the third person. 

 

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The main hall is limestone, while the public rooms are a dark hardwood.  The builder prides himself in his execution.  Notice he needs no quarter-round molding to hide flaws in the hardwood floor placement.  Instead, he has a clean look of an over-tall piece of molding rising directly from the wood.   Between the kitchen and the dining room is the butlers pantry and wine room, which is seen behind the steel glass windows.

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Here is a closeup of the molding, without the usual quarter round hiding the space between the wall and the floor.  So perfectly executed, there is no need for the quarter round.  Much more sophisticated looking.

 

 

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Here’s a view of the wine room – in the service section between the dining room and kitchen.  So unique!

 

 

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Here’s a close up of the wine room.

 

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And looking on from the front hall to the dining room.  Love the solid gray linen curtains against the wood table with cream chairs.  I love that table base – it mixes contemporary styling with traditional.  All furniture comes from Spaces For Home.

 

 

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Walking down the main hall towards the back – the kitchen is to the right and the family room is to the left, overlooking the back yard.  An archway of rough limestone divides the two rooms.

 

 

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And looking from the family room to the kitchen, you can see more clearly the stone arch.  The wood table is a contemporary take on an antique butcher block – while the chairs resemble the dining room table, continuing the design theme throughout with the caramel wood and iron.

 

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The steel door leads the back yard and garage.  Quiet and calm finishes – small tile backsplash, honed stone countertops – are so much more sophisticated choices.  

 

 

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And hiding behind the island – a French Le Cornue stove.  To die for!  Pick out your own dream favorite at  Williams and Sonoma HERE.

 

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And looking from the kitchen island to the family room with its dark beamed ceiling and wall of steel French doors.

 

 

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The family room continues the décor scheme – with dark gray and taupe mixed with iron and light caramel wood on the coffee table.   The steel French doors are gorgeous – just gorgeous.

 

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A pretty large oil hangs over the sofa.  I like the symmetry of the matching mirrors and two pairs of chairs.  If this look is too contemporary – you could tweak it very easily – using antique mirrors, or sunburst mirrors and a more traditional coffee table and lamps.   Again, large pillows – one solid, one matching the curtains – add a focal point to the sofa.

 

 

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Youthful damask curtains in gray and white are repeated on the sofa’s pillows. 

 

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The powder room shows the reason why Places For Home went with the light wood tones – the cabinetry here.  Love the tiny pendant lights.

 

 

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The stairwell has a limestone wall – the same as in the kitchen.

 

 

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The guest room upstairs has a wonderful graphic rug, matched by the curtains and pillows.  Love this room!

 

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This guest room has an interesting headboard and a contemporary styled Moroccan rug.

 

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Love the slipcovered chairs.  Now, you know the wall hanging is too contemporary for me – but by replacing it with a few antique prints, it would totally change the feel of this vignette.  The chairs lend themselves to either contemporary or traditional, which is good if you want to take décor either direction.

 

 

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This sitting room upstairs continues with the grays and taupes found downstairs.  As always, great sized pillows serve as accents.  I hope you are noticing all the rugs – not any textured seagrass type rugs at all, which is a nice change.

 

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The master bedroom is another study in symmetry.   Rather than all the grays, this room is more of the taupes, along with the metals.  Pretty rug and headboard.

 

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The master bathroom is a blend of brown honed marble and white marble.  As found throughout the house, dark wood plays an important part here.

 

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The shower is behind the tub and it is gorgeous.  I love the blend of the brown and white marble.

All of the furniture and accessories seen in this house are available at Spaces For Home.

Remember – this house, along with all the others is open this Saturday and Sunday from 11 am to 5 pm.  Be sure to check out the Tami Owen house and the Segretto/Chateau Domingue house!!  Those two really look great.

Thanks Dewayne for sharing the beautiful photographs! 

 

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One of my favorite gift/décor stores in Houston is Olivine – located in the Rice Village.  I bought my Madonna there for my daughter’s bedroom and everyone just loves it.   Olivine always has the best merchandise – from home décor to candles to jewelry to baby clothes to – you name it!

 

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The owner Helen is a huge animal lover – I’ve lost count of how many dogs and cats she has!  

 

Classic Kippers

She started carrying this line of men’s bow-ties named after the owner’s rescue dog, Mr. Kippers.  Mr. Kippers had been abused when he was rescued and his neck was scarred from the chains that were around him 24/7.

 

His owner started making bow-ties to hide his scars and through that – started a bow-tie business for humans!   Helen saw this line and it was a perfect fit for her business.  Most of the profits from Mr. Kippers goes to animal rescue charities.

 

Mr. Kippers even has his own blog HERE.  Here his owner posed him in front of the Mr. Kippers display.  So cute!

In honor of Mr. Kippers – Olivine is extending this offer to Cote de Texas readers.

 

Corridor Rescue

Paws Houston

With a $30 donation to either one of Olivine’s two favorite pet charities:  Corridor Rescue or Paws Houston – all Cote de Texas readers will receive a 20 percent discount, storewide!!  Offer good through the end of October.    Twenty Per Cent discount – store wide!!!    A huge thanks to Helen for her generous offer!!

For more information contact Olivine, below: 

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