Curtain and roman blind fabric for my dining room

[HappyAsIAm]

I have two sash windows in my dining room, side by side, with only the window frames between them (ie no wall space). But there is wall space either side. I was thinking of putting roman blinds on each of the wndows, and then full length curtains on a pole to just dress the window, without ever intending the draw the curtains. Just to make it look more interesting.

I am going to paint the walls neutral (I have lots of Laura Ashley twine, so I'll probably use that up), and I have oak furniture in there (M&S Litchfield dining table and sideboard and M&S Durban bookcase if anyone is interested!) and brown leather dining chairs - I am keeping these. The floor is original and is an oak kind of colour.

Can anyone recommend me some blinds and curtain fabrics please? Two different fabrics, that 'go'? I like geometrics, spots, stripes (but not checks so much) and the house is Edwardian. I accept that I will need to buy made to measure, and would rather not spend anything more than about £40/metre (less if possible).

[7to25]

Villa Nova, Foxley collection Chervil fabric for curtains and Foxley Stripe or a plain for the Roman Blinds. (!)
I chose this to go with the oak and the twine but I don't think that the twine really goes with the oak, could think of much better colours, and also the twine, to me, is very boring for a dining room, unless it leads directly onto another room.

[HappyAsIAm]

There are 3 doors off our dining room - to hall, family room and kitchen. I should say that its about 12 feet x 11 feet.

Tell me more 7to25 about what colours you think would be better for the walls. I can keep the Twine for another room, so no loss there.

I like the Foxley stripe as I like stripes in general and there are decent colourways in it. I like the Chervil, but it is slightly similar to the Sanderson dandelion clocks massive roller blinds I have in the kitchen (bought before the whole world seemed to buy the same!).

I am not afraid of colour btw, but greens are a good colour for that room.

[piprabbit]

What sort of fabric are you thinking of using for the curtains? Full-weight curtain fabric? Something softer? Will you be using another different pattern for the curtains?

[HappyAsIAm]

piprabbit I have in mind full weight curtain fabric for the curtains, and I would like the curtains and blinds to be different (texture/pattern) but from the same colour palette.

I would like to avoid bright red, as the living room curtains are red/taupe/beige (Laura Ashley Belgravia in tomato), and gold, as the family room curtains are gold (Laura Ashley St Germaine in gold). Looking for something contemporary for the dining room though.

[bacon]

Harlequin do some stunning stuff!

[Mandy21]

I've just had roman blinds made for my kitchen in Clarke & Clarke Deckchair Stripe (the sage option). The background would go well with the neutral walls and oak furniture.

Something like this

www.illusioninteriors.co.uk/Deckchair-Stripe-by-Clarke-and-Clarke

[7to25]

Hi Happy,
sorry to leave you, I am packing to move on Friday!
Before you said anything, I was thinking of greens, to go with the wood tones.
I will try and look up a couple of ideas later on tonight, bearing in mind what you have in other rooms.

[7to25]

OK
Villa Nova fabrics, curtains in Alba (sisal) from Akoko collection. Blinds in Akoko Stripe (sisal). Walls I F&B strong White and trim in Wimbourne White.

[HappyAsIAm]

Hope the move is going well 7to25 and I wil leave you in peace to get on with it! Thanks for the ideas - I like very much, but I think I will look for something a little more vibrant.

[7to25]

Thanks happy, have moved now and have a leak.....off to try a plumber.

[mathanxiety]

I agree about the Twine paint. Very blah for a dining room. You need to give the room a sense of being a space since it seems to be grand central station -- I had one like that and went for a light olive green that blended with the rooms on either side yet established an ambience for the room itself, especially with lamps lit, when the colour seemed to change to a warm greeny gold, which was nice with the natural oak floor.

I recommend F&B Ball Green or Lulworth Blue might be nice with your natural wood.

The Harlequin 'Lilia' and Harlequin 'Samara' curtains look interesting. Your blinds could be off white.

[mathanxiety]

Clark and Clark have some lovely graphic designs for the curtains...

[HappyAsIAm]

Thanks mathanxiety I really like the Clarke and Clarke Quantum collection. Will have to order swatches. Are we talking megabucks? The Harlequin Lilia and Samara are a bit floral for me. I now realise that floweres or leaves or the like aren't for me.

In what order should I choose things? Best to choose fabrics for the curtains and blinds first, and then a paint colour, do you think?

[mathanxiety]

I would look at all the potential paint colours and the fabric options at the same time, so you don't commit to something that turns out to be impossible to work with. Let it all swirl around in your head. Sometimes a fabric can inspire you in the direction of a paint colour or an ambience and same goes for a paint colour..