Habitat for Humanity curtain project
Over a year ago I was contacted by a couple who were regular donors to Habitat for Humanity. They had in the past assisted with financial donations as well as some actual hammering of nails and digging of soil but as they are getting older, they weren’t inclined to do as much physical work but still wanted to do more than just donate money. There was a duplex for two families that had just broken ground in a nearby town and their proposal to me was this—meet with the two families, have them choose any design of window treatments they wanted for as many windows as were in the new townhomes, take them fabric shopping in person, shop (online-thanks COVID) for all of the hardware needed, and they would foot the entire bill. Since I have often wanted to make a meaningful donation to Habitat for Humanity but lack financial means, I saw this as a way to finally make a difference also and proposed that my time with the families, the time spent managing the project and the actual making of the curtains would be my donation. There were 6 treatments in one townhome and 8 in the other.
Due to COVID-19, I knew it would be impossible to have a group of people hanging all the curtains at once with me there to direct where each one should go. I also knew that it was unrealistic for me to try to do this step by myself. The manager of the build said that she would be able to arrange for a couple of volunteers to hang everything over the course of few days, so this picture shows my solution. I bundled every curtain up each with it’s complete hardware needs and detailed instructions as to what room they went to and desired height placement. The delivered results weren’t elegant but I felt this approach was the most likely to ensure a successful end of the project. I’m happy to report that this is exactly what happened!
The first town house
The client wanted this kitchen/living/entryway space to have a light and airy feel to it. She also wanted to be able to glance to a window and see if someone was approaching without having to open the curtains and without them being able to see in. The cafe style treatments she chose accomplished this nicely and having the entryway and kitchen curtains hung at the same height helps to expand the space.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
These clip tabs make for easy removal for cleaning and helps the curtains to glide open and closed smoothly. The simple brushed metal paired with the nautical theme all serve to help keep this area feeling very open.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The living room is right off the kitchen so these bold stripe curtains give a nod to the nautical theme but still allow this to be a separate room.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
In the main bedroom the clip tabs were used again for ease in opening the curtains. This light yellow with birds print makes for a softer feel to the room.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The main bedroom also has a high narrow window and I made this curtain on a wide valance rod for it. Once she had everything hung in the room, she decided against using this curtain but may go back to it in the future.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
Simple but thick flannel curtains were all that this teenage boy wanted. I used a wrap around rod to give him maximum room darkening capabilities.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The second town house
This client had always wanted big dramatic drapes and loves the color purple. These drapes are double sided for maximum draping options. The cloud sheer has the pull cords completely enclosed in the fabric to prevent the young child in the family from getting into them. With a valance, this dining room window looks out on the world in style!
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
She specifically wanted braided tie backs. I was happy to oblige and after some fiddling, taught myself how to do a 5 strand plait. It proved to be a good way to incorporate all the different fabrics that were used in the front room space.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The entryway has a roman shade-again with the cords encased between the main fabric and lining. Not ideal for this style of shade but it works well enough.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
I really like how this little window looks. The valance is a nice touch and if you look closely, you will see it is lined in the shade fabric. It looks great and I’d like to say I planned it but the fact is, I ran out of the lining fabric and had to get creative in my piecing.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The living area of the front room. A nice lilac linen fabric that hangs very well and is paired with a fun shimmery purple print valance.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The “Bee Curtains”. While shopping for the fabrics she commented she really liked bees. I saw this from across the building and even though it didn’t match anything else she had in the cart, she loved it immediately. It makes for a very bright and cheery laundry room door curtain.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
Who wouldn’t want a custom shower curtain? She originally had picked this out for her bedroom and I commented that it would make a good bathroom look too. Almost immediately her eye fell on another fabric that was even better suited for her bedroom and that is how this shower curtain came to be!
This is a very dense fabric that works well to darken the room but still serves to brighten the room during the day. The valance gives it a nice and finished look.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The youngest child will have a raised bed right at the level of this window. I had extra of this fabric so was able to make him a quilt and two little pillows to help him to make his own little fort up here.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The mom wants him to be able to get some light but also does NOT want him to be able to get to the latch to open the window. I devised this solution of two tension rods-one at the top and one at the bottom of his curtain to hopefully keep him from figuring it out-at least until he’s much older!
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
The teenage daughter had a wide array of ideas of what she wanted and switched out her fabric in the shopping cart several times. Most were Harry Potter and other fun patterns but at the end of the day she surprised us all and settled on this beautiful sage green with dusty pink flowers. I again used a wrap around rod to provide her with maximum room darkening options.
Photos by:: Micheal Lanz https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com
All studio pictures curtesy of Micheal Lanz photography https://www.lanzartstudioofphotography.com