NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

My dream curtains, at my dream price.

by

I have a pretty good idea of how I want our new dining room to look. I’ve been really digging all the yellow I’ve been seeing on the web lately, so I was hoping to bring some yellow into the dining room of the new house.
Nothing crazy, just something to brighten up the dark upper walls and make it a little less formal and more… well… sunny.
So, when Jen and I hit IKEA, we also took a detour to Crate & Barrel (love). And of course, I fell in deep love with some curtains.
The Bella Porta Citrine curtains, to be exact. Have you seen these beauties in person? They really aren’t done justice in a photograph. They are pretty, still a little traditional and just so darn perfect. I like that the yellow isn’t the blindingly primary color, but not mustard either. The grey details are a nice tie-in to the walls.
So, I wanted them. Right then. Get into my cart, now. Jen can attest that I was beside myself about them. Until I checked out the price tag.

$139/panel. I need four of them. That’s nearly more than we spent on the windows themselves. Crazy. I may have cried inside.
So, I walked away. Even though I was silently telling myself that all the money I spent on cabinets at IKEA could go towards these curtains. (This is Kim math in action.)
But, when I got home, I immediately got to googling. And what to my eyes should appear, but Dwell Studio Bella Porte Citrine home decor fabric at fabric.com. For $16/yard. 

So, I could make each panel for less than $45/panel. While it’s no steal by any stretch, I can kind of justify it.

What do you think? Worth it?

Comments

  1. For those of you indicating this fabric is out of stock at fabric.com, just google it (it’s made by Robert Allen for Dwell Studios). I have this pattern as well as the vintage blossom in jade and obtained them from different sites, depending on what was in stock and a good deal on the dates of my purchases. This is a very popular print and line as a whole and can be obtained at very reasonable prices with just a little bit of research. I am new to sewing, but plan to make some curtain panels and bedding with my Robert Allen fabrics – I love them!

  2. HA! before i read all the way through your post, i was like wait that is just dwell fabric, buy it at fabric.com. here’s the thing … i ordered some in the grey color and i remember it being kind of shiny. it might be worth ordering a swatch … granted, if you get the whole xx yards and don’t like the fabric, fabric.com will give you a full refund. i say go for it! you might want to line them if the fabric is thin. can’t wait to see what you do!

  3. i will never buy ‘premade’ curtains again.

    i have now made six sets of curtains and find the results soooooo much nicer.

    custom length. unique fabrics. half (if not more) of the cost.

    go for it girl!

  4. I think if these are your DREAM curtains, then $45/panel isn’t all that bad in the grand scheme of things. Especially when you consider that they’d be almost three times that much if you just bought them! That fabric is pretty fabulous.

  5. You can absolutely make those (I make curtains no-sew, I’m that bad at sewing) an I absolutely think that $45 a panel is a steal, especially compared to the original CB price! Great find with the fabric!

  6. Go for it. I’ve been eyeballing those curtains from C&B for a while now, I never thought to look for the fabric (slaps forehead!). They’ll look great in your dining room!

  10. Call me crazy, but I just hung these in my kitchen: http://www.target.com/Yellow-Swirl-Tablecloth-60×84/dp/B004E2L9W8/ref=br_1_19?ie=UTF8&id=Yellow%20Swirl%20Tablecloth%2060×84&node=13359081&searchSize=30&searchView=list&searchPage=1&sr=1-19&qid=1305939328&rh=&searchBinNameList=target_com_category-bin%2Ctarget_com_primary_color-bin%2Citem_shape%2Cmaterial_type%2Cpattern_name-bin%2Clifestyle-bin&searchRank=reviewrank&frombrowse=1

    Something to consider for a fraction of the cost! You can hang them right away with clips or sew a simple rod pocket. The fabric is nice and non-wrinkly and at 9.99/panel I think they’re great!

  12. That is one of my favorite fabric patterns. It is beautiful. Yep, you should buy the fabric, it will MAKE the dining room.

  13. Ok. I may be stealing that fabric for my DR windows! Wouldn’t it look a-mah-zing against the future peacock walls? Yum.

    If you decide against it, I may go for it. It’s lovely!

    Oh and that’s the way Math works in my brain, too. “But I didn’t buy those shoes last week, so I can buy this lamp today, right?!” lol

  14. Way worth it… and here’s why:

    1. We paid almost that much for our cheap curtains from IKEA anyway. Curtains are just stupid expensive.
    2. I think it’s totally okay to have one thing in every room that you splurge on because you love it.
    3. These will likely become the centerpiece of your room, and you’ll decorate around them.

    DO IT!

  15. ohmygosh, you HAVE to. just have to. listen to that voice, the curtains are so pretty! this coming from someone who does not even like yellow all that much! DOOOOOO it!

    seriously.

    not overreacting!! 🙂

    ~L

  17. You can totally justify it. That fabric rocks and would work perfectly with your dark dining room walls. Plus, I know how it feels to want something so bad that there’s just no substitution. You should do it.

    Btw, I’d like to recognize you for the Versatile Blogger Award! Stop on by for more details 🙂

  18. Do it! I’ve been stalking this fabric for my own bedroom curtains and I didn’t even realize CB has them. I think it could make the room. (And I wouldn’t mind a tutorial on the curtains =)

  19. 100% justified – do it! Curtains are supposed to be super easy to sew on your own! (I’ve never done it, but it’s just big rectangles right? doesn’t get too much easier than that!)

  20. Yay! As I was reading your post, I was thinking – please don’t buy them — sew your own! What a great steal 🙂 They will look great in your space 🙂

  22. You are so smart I wouldn’t have thought about finding the fabric – I think its 100$ worth it. Those curtians would MAKE the room even if it was empty…

    PS: I may totally steal this idea and make the same curtians once we move ha ha – I love that fabric!

  25. Loveeee this fabric, now you made me want to change out my frugal tablecloth drapes I have in the kitchen.

  26. I have always wondered why more people don’t make their own curtains – they are so easy to make! Sheers are my exception – I hate to sew that fabric and they can be found for a reasonable price usually.

    Careful measuring – careful straight cutting & sewing – careful ironing – you’re done! Just be sure that the pattern matches on each panel. You may need to buy a bit extra based on the size of the repeat.

    Good luck (not that you’ll need it based on your previous sewing reveals). Can’t wait to see your sunny curtains in place!

    Cheryl
    Orlando

  28. $139 per panel?! WHAAAAT??? That’s just crazy. I do think they’re gorgeous though, and $45/panel is a BIG step down from $139! I’m sure they’d be so beautiful in your house. I’ve also seen quite a few tutorials lately on painting curtains with stencils–you could try that if you wanted to go even cheaper . . . here’s one example: http://thethriftyabode.blogspot.com/2011/05/stenciled-curtains.html But that could be a lot of work if you were trying to copy such an intricate design . . . I dunno, just a thought 🙂

    I’m excited to see how your curtains come out, whatever you end up going with!

    Rachel @ Maybe Matilda

  29. I hope you ordered the fabric before you showed it to the entire blogging world cuz there are 0 yards at fabric.com now. No surprise, the fabric is beautiful. You should plan to line the curtains also so use the upcoming Joann’s 50% coupon for that. They’ll be spectacular.

  32. I had my eyes on these for our guest bedroom. I’m still in love. Why are curtains so much money? Sheets don’t cost that much and they are basically the same thing…I think it’s a conspiracy….