I stumbled across some of Katrin Cargill’s work and I noticed that she uses these rolled shades a lot.
As an aside, I love seeing photos of a space we all know from a magazine, but unstyled and less perfect. This first image is from House Beautiful, the second is from Katrin’s website.
This image is less pretty, but you can see a lot more details of the room when the photo isn’t so blown out and bright. I would kill for that blue pendant.
Anyway, this rolled look is so fresh to me! I love it and am wondering how practical they actually are. Any readers with personal experience with these?
I ordered her book, Katrin Cargill’s Curtain Bible
In my previous home, I had rolled bamboo shades which worked pretty well…don't have any experience with fabric ones though…I too love the pendant in the kitchen…such a gorgeous blue…thanks for sharing, Jenny!!
I have rolled shades in my kitchen, inspired by Katrin. I made them with fabric ties, so they pretty much stay fixed which works for me in this situation. In a bedroom or something I would want to make sure they were more practically adjustable.
ooooh! I would LOVE to see how to make these!
-{darlene}
fieldstonehilldesign.com
It' such a low key & simple yet chic look!
It's nice to see an un-styled kitchen. Love it just the same!
I've been considering some rolled shades for my mudroom. They don't really seem very practical to me, but would still be pretty in a place where they don't get much action. Can't wait to see the rest of the feedback you get.
Thanks for sharing I enjoyed seeing all the photos of the rolled curtains with the different fabrics.
My parents have rolled "matchstick" type blinds. They work quite well actually. Just as easy to roll up or down as a traditional blind. Theirs aren't fabric, so they aren't 100% perfect at blocking light, but they do well enough.
The blue pendant is fabulous! I look forward to your full report on the roller blinds. i might use the idea on an outside porch ( indoor /outdoor fabric)?
I had something very similar years ago in a bedroom – it wasn't very practical though. Too much tying and retying!
I love how casual these look. The fabric is soft and natural and pretty.
Actually, they are not too hard to put together. Maybe I'll do a tutorial!
They seem like they'd be a pain to roll up by hand unless they have some trick that I can't see in the picture. You're right about the detail between the two pics. I always wonder why the windows in home shots are always blown out, can't the photographer do something about that?
Jenny, As a follow-up to your BH&G page, would you discuss layering and depth in design. I often hear these words used to describe a room. Would you consider doing a post on some design principles?
Thanks!
Anon – I'll add that to my post list. Thanks for the question!
xx
These are a great solution, and I think it would be fun to make. Excited to see how it turns out!
I love the idea of rolled shades. I've never thought of that before. I'm working on shades for my kitchen right now..perhaps this would be a good option. I REALLY am loving the blue pendant with the silver inside the shade!
great tip…i'll have to order that. thanks!
I absolutely love these rolled fabric shades. I have been wanting to try them in our kitchen, but haven't gotten around to it. I'd love to see what you come up with and if it's easy to make yourself.
Very simple to make, but you do have to be careful when unrolling and rolling up. Love the look though!
We have bamboo "matchstick" blinds and they are rollers. They can be a bit wonky to work with. (Wonky is a very technical term, I know.) They rarely roll up straight and it is near impossible to roll them to the same height because of the catch mechanism. However, we do not commonly unroll them.
I've seen shades made (and made one myself) to be faux-romans that are kind of like roller shades. The fabric is held up by tied ribbbon. Therefore, it's not so much rolled as gathered.
Wonky is such a great word. Thank you Rachael Anne. We had these in our last home. We used a washed linen and they were great. Perfect amount of light to the room and loved the rumply,wrinkle look. They pretty much stayed at the level we put them at so I'm not sure how much of a hassle it is to move them up and down. Have fun and show the final pics yes?
I have a roll shade on a small window in my kitchen. I like the look of it, but don't find it very practical since I roll it up and down daily. The cord has a tendency to get tangled up and the fabric sometimes slips out of the string that pulls it up if I'm not careful to make sure the bottom of the fabric stays level.
I had rolled shades years ago in a home in Nashville, hadn't used them in forever. And then, all of a sudden I am seeing them again. So, I just made some for a nursery project I am working on. I'd love to send you some pics…respond with your email, and I will send you instructions!
Oh!! Perfect timing!! I'm going to do this in my kitchen. I can just picture a stripe fabric underneath with a beautiful natural organic print on top… thanks!!!
that blue lamp shade is to die for! and that kitchen is totally my style… love all the white with the pop of the blue shade.
I love these rolled shades–especially those little glass loops to hold the strings that I've seen. Please let us know what you think of these functionally–loved the last post too.
Funny, I made something a rolled shade for our kitchen door several years ago. I just used fabric ties, so it tends to stay in one position. But I am still really happy with them, and plan to make them again for the door and the windows this time, after the room is repainted.
I love these! There are so many possibilities–especially with a contrasting fabric on the back.
I love her Florence Knoll style sofas in that big gingham/check! Modern Country looking. I think I'm buying the book. Thanks.
Oooh! I am a fan of this shade. I just like the looks of it, clean, not puffy… and not mini blinds. Some pictures look like there is some kind of string mechanism… but if this is hand rolling I am off the wagon.
Jenny,
I just wanted to say that I love your blog. My husband and I are renovating an old home in Arlington and I have been getting a ton of inspiration from your blog :) I'm actually blogging about our progress if you're interested: http://chiccottagecharm.blogspot.com/
Thank you!!
Erin
I would love some of these for my kitchen! Looking forward to the tutorial.
Obsessed with the checked sofa!!! I am going to do mine!!!!!!
I love the simplicity of these roller blinds, & yes the pendant in the kitchen is lovely
Jenny, please let me suggest that these rolled Stagecoach Shades work best as VALANCES where they can remain stationary and do not have to be hand-dressed every time you want a little privacy. Calico Corners makes them and here is a link to two styles of valances–a Stagecoach Valance Pleated and a Stagecoach Valance Rolled:
http://www.calicocorners.com/category/custom+window+treatments/valances+and+swags/board+and+pole+mounted+valance.do?page=2&sortby=&ViewX=12
There is a very critical matter that has not been mentioned in any of the comments and I think it's worthy of another posting: while you may like the style of these rolled fabric shades, THEY WILL NOT MEET CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION REGULATIONS ON SHADES WITH CORDS. Valances remain high on a window and are different. Shades that may come out of a cord, string or band to create a loop are a safety hazard to young children and are not permitted.
Here is a link to information on Shade Safety from the Calico Corners website:
http://www.calicocorners.com/category/custom+window+treatments/child+safety.do?leftnav=1
All the shades made by Calico have a shrouded cord system so that they cannot cause a strangulation accident. We recommend that a Stagecoach Valance be used with a Roman shade or blind or shutter for privacy.
Yours for great decorating and safe shades,
Jan Jessup, Calico Corners
Hello, again from Jan at Calico Corners! I noticed that in my previous comment, the links to the Stagecoach Valances and the Child Safety issues on the Calico website only partially printed.
Here's how to get to them: For the VALANCES, go to http://www.calicocorners.com and click on WINDOWS. Then click on Valances & Swags, then click on Board & Pole Mounted Valances. Go to the 2nd page to see the Stagecoach Valance Pleated and the Stagecoach Valance Rolled.
For the Child Safety guidelines, click on the link on the WINDOWS page–it's at the bottom of the left column.
All of these interior spaces look so bright and happy. The shades look great. I love reading your blog!
PS- I'm hosting my first GIVEAWAY on my blog. Please come and see!
X
I have rolled shades covering my six windows in my studio. They are way laid back and I love them. I haven't had any of the tying/retying problems mentioned.
I love that kitchen shot. The island is surprising narrow, but it looks like it works in the space. As for the rolled blinds, I have never used these in a space. I do love the look, reminds me of the beach! M.
We have some and they work well, they are on our doors in the beach cottage. so its fun b/c you can add cute fabric to them :-)
I like this simple look for window coverings, but with three small children, I need a cord-free option. I've made DIY fabric roller shades as described on Apartment Therapy and while they look pretty, the fabric tends to come off the roller when pulled too hard and sometimes they don't roll up evenly. I am anxious to see what you choose for your home, Jenny!
this is a friend of mine's house. she wants to talk to you about her shades (the kitchen and the blue family room). Katrin Cargill designed her house with Carol Glasser. i'll tell her to email you!!!!
Thank you so much for sharing! I was just in the process of searching for inspired ideas for a shade in our kitchen… in fact I just did a post about kitchen window coverings today! Thanks for the ideas…
I miss you. :) Hope your technical difficulties are fixed soon!
I use to make a lot of these as fixed valances, rolled them up on fabric tubes. I was talking with a photographer and he said they blow the windows out like that so your eye doesn't look at what's outside, it focuses on the interiors.
I own Katrin's Curtain Bible and absolutely love it! It's the perfect combination of total eye candy, inspiration and easy-to-use.
These are really great inspirations you have there! I have now ideas for my kitchen! Thanks a lot.