A cozy window nook!

First of all, thanks so much for your idea on the furniture layout! It�s hard to get a feel for the room just with the pics I posted � there are walkways behind both sofas, so for now, they have to stay put. But I am going to add a console table behind the long sofa for sure � I found a perfect table that isn�t too deep and it�s gorg! But for now I�m trying not to spend any cash. ;)

One of the first changes I made to the Bub�s room was his window �  it looked like this for quite some time:

I�ve gone back and forth for years now about adding a built in window seat in this spot. Some day I think we will, but for now, I needed a spot to put the rocking chair. The addition of a big boy bed made for little room for it. It fit perfectly into this little area -- so I decided to make a little �reading nook.�

Then it was time to address the window. I�ve slowly but surely been replacing all of our two inch blinds with bamboo roman shades (LURVE) and that was the first step:

I loved the shutters (found at an antique store) but with the move to a big boy room, they just felt too �nursery� to me. Or maybe I was just tired of them. I�ll go with the former. ;)

I played with a few ideas in my head. One was to make shutters like I did for the windows on our deck and hang them to each side of the window. I loved that idea, but I also had plans to add more light to this spot. It was going to look odd having the light sconces I had in mind installed on top of the shutters.

I wanted it to be light and airy feeling � and then I remembered the white muslin fabric I had bought for another project. I had a ton of it (I need to get more now for the other project, then I�ll share that one!), and it was only $1.99 a yard, and 40 percent off of that.

Score!

It was perfect!:I found the swing arm sconces at Home Depot ($30-something each?) and they were EXACTLY what I was looking for! Squeal! They are so gorg. And they even had drum shades, with a yummy basket weave-like fabric. (Just like the wallpaper I used in this space!)

I still wanted to add a little something to the white drapes, so I decided to use extra fabric from his headboard project (coming soon). I started by hemming up the ends of the muslin with my iron and hemming tape:

Then I made panels of the accent fabric, hemming the edges with the no-sew tape:

And then I just ironed the panel to the muslin:

I rarely ever sew drapes � I always use hemming tape! I cannot stress how easy it is to use! I always buy the super weight and it holds up great � for years and years and years. You can even wash items you use it on. I buy mine everywhere � Joann�s, Hobby Lobby, I think even Walmart has it?

This project would probably have been faster with a sewing machine � but by the time I get my little machine out and then try to sew a straight line, I�d rather just use hemming tape. ;)

Now the little touch of navy blue really grounds the drapes, both literally and figuratively:

The extra fabric at the bottom helps to make them a bit more substantial and they hang much better now.

I planned to make the panels a little thicker than they are, but I didn�t have enough fabric. They ended up being eight inches tall:

I love love LOVE how they look next to the built ins:

Wooeee, I am in love with this navy and white combo! Classic.

Each sconce takes a 75 watt bulb, so it adds a TON of light:

The sconces are on the wall behind the fabric � and to make it so the arms came through the fabric, I separated the panels of muslin � one slightly thinner panel on the left, one wider on the right. So the arm of the sconce comes right through the fabric:

      

I can still close the wider section when I want, so they are operational.

I�m thinking about adding a cornice at the top, but I�m a little wary that it will get too busy, so I�m holding off for now.

I am so thrilled with the transformation! Before:

After!:

I especially love this area at night! It�s so sweet to sit in this chair with the Bub � during the day, looking out on the land behind us. At night, reading, talking, just being.  :)

All in all this spot was in the cost of the sconces and the bamboo shades (from Lowe�s). The fabric I already had for other projects. It is one of the first things you see when you walk in, so I felt like it was worth it!

The room is coming along just as I saw it in my head. Lurve. Lots still to do in here � art, accessorizing, molding, painting, painting and more painting. :) I can�t wait to show you the rest!

P.S. You can see peeks to other parts of the room in these pics � I know I said before I was trying to avoid primary colors when I started thinking of the redo a year ago. The whole irony in all of this is that primary colors are all that are going in here! AND I love it! :)