More on vintage linens

My dining room is really small. I have a round table and four chairs. It's really a combo kitchen/dining area with a bar separating the two rooms. This is where I have the vintage tablecloth window coverings.

I recently replaced my table in the dining room with a round glass-top table. The legs of the table are in the Bentwood style, so I purchased four Bentwood style chairs to go with it. I stained the chairs which had been stripped of paint and recovered the seats in a designer chenille fabric.

CHAIR COVERINGS

The backs of the chairs were not in the greatest of condition, so I came up with an idea to cover them. I purchased a vintage set of monogrammed sheets and pillowcases with crocheted trim. The monogram happens to be the same for both my first and last names. I outlined the shape of the chairback on the pillowcase and sewed around it.

Even though I had cut the vintage tablecloth in two for my window coverings, I really don't like to destroy a vintage item if I can help it. So I didn't cut the pillowcases and was able to sew a seam around the inside without too many problems with the extra fabric on the inside. If I ever decide that I no longer want to use the pillowcases as my chair coverings, I can rip the seams out and have pillowcases again.

They're not perfect by any means but I think they look ok.  I have a vanity and intend to use the monogrammed sheet from this set as a cover for it.

VALANCES

I love filet lace and have bought quite a few pieces of this over the years, mostly dresser scarves. The theme in my guest bedroom is french country. I decided to use three of the filet lace dresser scarves as valances over the shades. I also have two of the dresser scarves draped over the chairs which are sitting under the window. I did not have to alter the dresser scarves in anyway.

 

 

I have a large filet lace tablecloth that I use as a shower curtain in my guest bathroom. I use a lining behind it and it gives a very french country feel to the bathroom and ties the two rooms together.

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Using vintage linens in home décor

I love vintage linens but when I buy them, I want to use them. I think so many people put linens in a drawer and they never see the light of day again. So, I’ve started incorporating what I buy into my décor.

Sometime ago, I wanted to replace the window coverings in my combo kitchen/dining room. I was looking around a shop which sells vintage and antique items and spotted a vintage tablecloth for less than $5. It was very colorful with birds and butterflies and flowers, and I couldn’t resist buying it. At the time, I didn’t have a clue what I was going to do with it. But when I got it home, it struck me that maybe I could use it to create window coverings.

NOT A SEAMSTRESS BUT I GET BY

I’m not a seamstress by any means, but I do have a sewing machine and can sew well enough to get by. After determining the size of the tablecloth and the size of my windows, I discovered that the tablecloth was a perfect size to create the two window coverings. I cut it down the middle and then cut the top off to use as a valance on each window. I bought some fabric to use as a liner and sewed the pieces together. I sewed some rings onto the back of each panel and threaded a piece of string through each so that I could use them as roman shades. I glued some beaded trim on the bottom of the valances.

These are pictures of the resulting window coverings. For very little money and a couple of hours of my time, I have a totally unique pair of shades for my windows. And I’m able to indulge my love of vintage linens - and see them everyday instead of having them stuck away in a drawer.

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