Nana's Day - Porthole Curtains with a view!

Once we sorted out Nana's design direction, we were off and running.

She has one window in her family room, but it is not your normal window.

For starters, it is a basement window with a view of a window well. Second it has a kitchenette under part of it so long curtains were out of the question. Third it has an underwater scene painted on the inside of that window well!

At one time Nana had Jaysen paint the metal window well with a scene from the ocean.  It looks pretty cool, so naturally we want to highlight that. Because it was in the basement, privacy isn't really an issue, but I felt it needed curtains to add a softness to that side of the room. 

We decided to add a valance.

We took the easy route and bought panel curtains from Target. These panels had large silver grommets at the top. We decided to use the grommets as a design element; they became the bottom edge of our valance. 

The window is pretty long; 6 foot. We started out by sewing the two panels together. Then we cut our new extra wide panel to the height we wanted. To determined the height we measured from the ceiling to just below the top of the window and added about 5 inches. The extra five inches allowed us to wrap the fabric around a 1x2 piece of wood. 

(Because we were using the finished edge of the curtain, we did not have to allow for a hem in our measurements.) 

I had my sister and Nana,

cut two small strips the same length for the ends of the valance.

After wrapping the 1x2 and stapling it to the fabric, we added small "L" brackets. We left the ends free so we could staple the small strips off each end.

Next we just had to get our head in the GAME and install the valance.

OK, I know that was cheesy!! I just couldn't resist.

But we literally just had to get under the valance and screw the "L" brackets to the wall.

DONE!!!!!!

Nana and I just love how the grommets look like portholes!!

Super easy valance!!

Now let me talk a little about the fish tank window.

It is hard to get a good photo of Jaysen's painting  due to the glare, but check it out in the photo below.  I love the swimming sea turtle.

The curtain helped to highlight the fish tank, but it still needed more.

I bet you can't guess what it needs?

You got it, 

eyeliner!!

We painted the aluminum window trim black, which really set off the fish scene.

What do you think?

Oh, we did actually add a blue LED light strip that shines on the aquatic painted window well. It looks very cool, but unfortunately I haven't been able to capture that in a photo; too dark.

Can't wait to show you more!!

Thanks for stopping by!