My husband and I often reference "Operation don't look 100 years old." It's a running joke about the aesthetic of our home.
Our style is traditional almost by default given much of our furniture was inherited, and the finishes and trim throughout the house feel more suited for a colonial than a split level. It is, admittedly, a great spot to be in because it's a beautiful style. But it's also a constant challenge to keep things looking bright, fresh and interesting rather than slip into stuffy and stale.
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Our dining room is a prime example, because it's anchored by the gorgeous dining room set that belonged to my husband's great-grandparents. We had done the bulk of the work in this space about two years ago: Fresh paint, a new light fixture, globally inspired rug and curtains, and new fabric on the seat cushions. However, lately it was looking a little dull.
(Before on left. After on right.)
The pictures on either side of the window were feeling kind of dinky and undersized. Also, the window coverings weren't looking very full and the rings looked messy. With a quick 48-hour refresh, I was able to make a few updates that gave the room a boost--and just in time for lots of holiday entertaining.
Dialing in the Drapes
To freshen up the curtains, I knew I needed more than the single panel sheer I was currently using. In this case the Vivan curtain from Ikea fit the bill. A pair of 98" panels is only $13 and they're a sheer without being too transparent. I always opt for curtains that are longer and then hem them, allowing me to mount the hardware high and have the panels still skim the ground.
I had been wanting to try my hand at a French pleat curtain because it allows the fabric to fall more uniform and gives the top of the drape a finished look. The gathered fabric at the top would also allow me to secure the ring lower on the panel, better masking that gap between the ring and the top of the curtain, which can look more casual.
In the end, I opted for a pinch pleat rather than a French pleat because it made better use of my narrower panels. There are a few tutorials on YouTube, but I think this is by far the simplest to follow.
The actual sewing is extremely easy. The key is mapping out your spacing on a piece of paper ahead of time so you know how to mark off your curtain correctly.
Finally, rather than hang the ring from the top of the panel, I just secured the clip an inch below the top, further pinching the pleat and providing a more polished look along the top.
I chose to stack the Audubon prints that were already in the dinning room to bring some more weight to the left side of the window, but for the right side I wanted something entirely different.
Mounted Staghorn Fern
You may recognize Staghorn Ferns, also called Elkhorn Ferns, as the lovely and architectural plants that germinate directly on tree bark in the tropics. Yeah, they're basically good looking parasites and they've become a popular plant to mount and display on a wall rather than in a pot because that's how they're found in the wild.
While I do have a real Staghorn Fern, I opted for faux ferns in this space. Here's an easy how-to for making your own.
What You'll Need
One faux Staghorn Fern on a wire stalk (or in my case, two in different sizes). Many places carry these now, including Target, but I got mine from this Etsy seller.
A wood plaque to mount your fern on. Typically, you'll see the ferns mounted on a rougher wood or piece of bark, but I went fancy with something that was likely intended for taxidermy, because this is our most formal space.
Sand paper
Wood stain--I had some leftover in American Walnut that I had used for refinishing picture frames.
Hot glue gun
Power drill with large bit
Hammer
Wire cutters or strong scissors
Step by Step
1. Find the center of your wood board or plaque and drill a large hole. Then lightly sand the surface.
2. Flip your finished plaque over and use your picture hanger, accompanying (super tiny) nails and hammer to secure your picture hanger into place.
3. Flip the plaque back over and apply stain to the front by following the instructions on the can. Let dry completely (at least 3 hours) and then lightly spray with your polyurethane. Let dry several hours.
4. You're now ready to feed the wire stalk of your faux plant through the hole. But first, heat up your hot glue gun and apply a generous amount of glue to the hole. Then, push the stalk of the plant through.
5. Allow the glue around the plant to cool.
6. On the back side of the plaque, use wire cutters or strong scissors to cut the excess stalk of the faux plant as close to the wood as possible. That will allow the plaque to hang flush with the wall.
7. From the front of the plaque flatten the leaves of the fern with your hands, bending the wire as you go to open and lay flat.
8. Hang on your wall and enjoy!
