Calling all interior design gurus - I need inspiration!

[Cocochops]

I have just moved house and have no curtains anywhere. I need to get some Roman blinds made for our dining/family room ASAP as its at the front of the house and not very nice having people looking in while eating dinner!

My main problem with deciding is due to the size of window. It's basically 3 large windows all next to each other and takes up the whole wall so each window is about 180 cm high and about 130cm wide so a lot of fabric. I want a pattern but worry about it looking too busy.

Room is south facing and gets lots of light it leads off the kitchen so we have a sofa and table in it and use it mainly in the day and to eat dinner.
Edwardian house with fireplace,period features: ceiling rose, picture rail, high skirting etc. Medium colour wood floors will have a rustic scrubbed pine kitchen table, sofa currently brown leather.

I want something that is quite contemporary but not look too trendy, modern or out of place. In terms of colour scheme I was going to find the fabric I like first an then choose a paint to match.

So far I quite like these

harlequin - like the colours

harlequin bit dark?

Clarke and Clarke - too floral?


Clarke and Clarke - like the colours

Sanderson quite different too busy? Maybe better in the blue colour?

Opinions or other inspiration gratefully received.

Thanks!

[givemeaclue]

I have a whole wall of curtain in my living room and an extremely glad I did not go for a pattern. Those fabrics are all lovely esp first two, but how about a linen type fabric with a coloured border? When the blinds are down it could be a bit much, you can use pattern more sparingly throughout the room -rug, cushions, tablecloth etc

[Rhubarbgarden]

I love the last one, especially in the blue. I really like patterned curtains on big windows though, I think you need something bold or you can end up with quite a dull room. Try Marimekko for modern, cheerful prints.

[fresh]

BTW, with those widths you will be able to get each blind out of one width of fabric, so it may be less fabric than you think. Even with the Sanderson one you'd only need 7m (if that).

If everything else is plain, I'd go for a pattern. FWIW I like the last one - more interesting.

[emanuela]

Hi,

They are lovely, but I would suggest buying cotton/viscose. Linen just feels too coarse (my opinion).

What about harlequin kallianthi (several models)? Or why don't you go for stripes rather than flowers? They will look quite busy after a while.

[almondfinger]

Hi there,

I think the last is the best and in any of the colours. Personally I love the red but the blue is lovely too.

I think all the others are a bit 'now' and might date v quickly.

[orangina]

Just helped my mother sort out roman blinds in all the rooms in her house. We went for this on 3 adjacent windows in her living room and it looks lovely.

[orangina]

Sorry, should have said, went for the dijon colour.

[orangina]

Have recently used this for roman blinds as well and it looks fantastic. Put it in my mothers study in the zinnia colourway, and in a bedroom here at home in the cilantro colourway.

[Flatbread]

The last would be good for cushions. Think it is way to busy for a large swarth of windows.

Is there a reason you want blinds instead of curtains? I think plain/self print curtains with an interesting tassel would look lovely.

If you want blinds, what about simple jute ones?

[Flatbread]

The last one in OP's list, I meant. Lots of posts since!

[orangina]

The first one I linked to is 100% linen and it is beautiful fabric. Very soft, slightly vintage in feel. The second more geometric one I linked to is a cotton linen blend, quite robust and perhaps a little more structured in feel. Both lovely fabrics, quite good quality/value.

[Flatbread]

If you do decide on curtains, I love this look

neutralheaven.blogspot.com/2012/02/draped-linen-in-bedroom.html

You could get a similar effect with hessian

[emanuela]

Sorry. I see I am in the minority, I only buy cotton/viscose or 100% silk. I hate linen on everything (clothes, table cloths, curtains, etc). Op, please ignore me...

[betterwhenthesunshines]

Personally I'd keep them plain - and add interest through colours (maybe a coloured edge or base?) and also whatever you plan to put on the walls. But I always find large areas of distinctive patterns are difficult to marry with whatever pictures I want to put up (would rather spend the money on a painting!).

Love the Sanderson one though - seat covers for the chairs???

[Cocochops]

Thanks for all the advice - more confused now!

flatbread we are having blinds as the windows finish very close to the wall and as its such a wide area we would lose a lot of light at the sides when they are drawn.

I think I do want a pattern as rest of room is going to be fairly plain. I think I am leaning towards the Sanderson one. I printed out lots of copies and taped together holding up to the window to try to give an idea and it didn't make me feel sick looking at it which is a good start!

Well I have a few more days to decide going to order on Saturday I think.

[noddyholder]

I like flatbreads link as it is timeless heavily printed blinds look very 80s Art on the walls can add interest if it looks too dull. White linen roman blinds and natural linen dress curtains looks beautiful on big windows

[Startail]

The last two.
The Clark if modern furniture
The Pagodas if your keeping with the Edwardian feel.

One big word of warning, if it's a South facing window steer clear of red or pure pink.

It fades like buggery, I have beige roses on the edge of my curtains and pink ones in the middle.

They were hideous enough to start with (however, they were also free).