Bathroom progress: The window coverings

My bathroom project had been on hold for many, many months.  The main hold up was not really having an inspiration and also not knowing what I was going to do for window coverings.  And I think the window coverings was the biggest stumbling block.

I knew I had some very specific needs and wants when it came to covering the window in the bathroom.  The main one being the issue of privacy.  No one wants to have the feeling of letting it all hang out while using the bathroom, and the lay out of our bathroom poses a very specific problem and that is a low window directly next to the toilet.  As you see below.

That window is 25 inches from the floor- now go ahead and measure 25" up form your toes.  Yep, you got that right, when you stand up you are flaunting your everything to the neighborhood.  Oh and to make matters worse, that bathroom window faces the front of the house and the street.

So it is a no brainer that some sort of window covering is needed.  And life would be so much easier if I could just put up a curtain, blind or even a shade and call it a day.

But wait, if privacy was the only issue that would be the route I would go.  The other big issue I have is light.  I crave sunlight in my house.  I think I am still making up for my lack of sunlight from the years of living in Washington state.  I was crushing and dreaming of shutters, upper and lower shutters that you can operate independently. 

source- House Beautiful

But after taking a few measurements, I found out the toilet tank is too high to allow the shutters to open and close.  Curses to you toilet, Errrr!

So that left me with cafe curtains, which I love.  Really I do, but I was kind of hoping for something different.  But cafe curtains it will be.  

So now that I have overcome the physical barriers of the window I now needed to confront all the other obstacles.  The main occupants of the room are a young brother and sister, and sometimes friends and family who join us for extended visits. Which adds up to a room needing to be young and fun and yet not to juvenile and I needed to make sure the room was not too feminine (my own personal issue).

I knew my kids had decided on a color they liked, aqua. And I knew I wanted a retro print, but that was really all I knew.  I kept my eyes open and I stumbled across the fabric in a quilt shop in Minnesota.  I knew it was the one right when I saw it.

I wanted to change the proportion of the cafe curtain- meaning not having it right at the center of the window, but instead having it longer so it closed off most of the window, but still let in the light.

But when I got them installed, I knew they were not right.  They didn't let in enough light, and the proportion was off (not full enough for the length).  I just wasn't happy.  But then I decided to go ahead and make a second cafe curtain with the fabric I purchased for the shower curtain.

And that is where I found my perfect window coverings-

And my inspiration for the room-

 -Laurie