Custom Black Out Roman Shades

Every decorator has a favorite thing to see installed. I think mine is a toss up between new pillows (they really can transform a room!) and new window treatments. I was so happy with the way Joanna's roman shades just transformed her bedroom!


The white linen fabric with the cheery yellow trim has such a brightening effect on the room! The shades are also super functional. You know I am a big fan of making shades out of mini blinds and also glueing fabric on top of matchstick blinds. Both are great methods, but for this project I knew we needed something a little more permanent and hard-wearing, so I had my seamstress make the blinds. We had them blackout lined, which, beyond looking great and giving the linen a nice weight/drape, it's so nice for blocking out the city lights at night or the morning sun which always comes too early for us parents!


Custom shades are not inexpensive (that's why the DIY method can be great to keep around for some projects), but if you are using the shades every single day, I think the extra cost is justified. Joanna lives in a prewar apartment and her windows are extra, extra long so the cost was a little more than standard windows.


I had these exact shades priced out at the Shade Store for comparison to my work room, and they quoted me $650 per shade. Yikes! My seamstress did BOTH shades for several hundred less than that. So again, ask around. If you look on craigslist for a great seamstress, you can get custom work for a lot less than you might expect.


PS The mustard yellow vintage trim completely makes these shades for me. We bought the trim at JEM in Tribeca for just a few dollars a yard. They still have some left if you'd like to stop by and snag some for yourself!

28 comments:

  1. I just got a quote for custom shades for my master bedroom and I need your seamstress if she or he wants a job! (westchester)-
    pve

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  2. Thanks for giving us your sources! You are the best. Great trim is so hard to find (without paying crazy money).

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  3. Beautiful! I agree that the trim absolutely makes those shades. Thanks for sharing.

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  4. These look great. I love her room. I hope to get my courage up and make my own DIY roman shade soon. I really enjoy your blog.

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  5. I love the golden yellow trim on these shades; the perfect touch!

    xoxo
    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  6. great tips! i desperately need to make some shades for both bedrooms in my house. this is giving me some extra motivation.

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  7. Those curtains turned out great, esp. with the fun trim you used!

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  8. Joanna's room looks so wonderful, I love it! I am curious though, are you going to tell us about the picture over her bed? Joanna mentioned you mounted it on MDF board? I would love to try this but am nervous--how did it go for you? Thanks!!

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  9. They are so gorgeous! This makes me feel terrible for covering bamboo shades for a client this summer. That's a great price for such beautiful custom work. I'm going to have to search for a local seamstress here.

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  10. Huge fan of the mustard yellow trim & the headboard!

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  11. After pricing out shades (over $500 a pieces!) I made a bunch for our home (all with blackout since we have parents and kids too). This site has meticulously detailed instructions and she also sells supplies. The aesthetic is perhaps a bit too, hmmmm, traditional/arts and crafts but the techniques apply no matter what the materials. Her worksheet that tells you how many folds, how much fabric to buy, etc. is invaluable!

    http://www.terrelldesigns.com/

    A beginning sewer can definitely do it but I recommend a rotary cutter and mat so edges are super clean.

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  12. They tuned out lovely! I've been thinking about doing something similar in my own master bedroom!

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  13. Love them - i agree the yellow trim makes them fabulous!

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  14. Hello,
    Would love to have the info on ur seamstress. I need four roman shades for my kitchen. I live in Staten Island.

    Thanks
    Olivia
    olivia_flor@yahoo.com

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  15. This whole project has been completely satisfying to follow. Great job.

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  16. Thanks for the close-up of the trim! I had been squinting and zooming and turn my computer sideways for days trying to see the detail! The shades are def my favorite element to the room.

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  17. that trim takes the cake...i am now contemplating adding some to edges of my PB blackout romans in our bedorom to spice them up a bit!!

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  18. i'm loving this tour of cup of jo's room. i think these shades are my favorite. or maybe the bedspread. it's all just fantastic.

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  19. I would love it if you can share your seamstress info!

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  20. I need those kinds of drapes for my window. It gets too bright sometimes and it wakes me up.

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  21. Nice looking window sheilds. I want to make one too.

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  22. I'm jealous of your trim sources in New York. Other than Marmlesteins I'm often at a loss from trim shopping here in Philly.

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  23. Where did you buy the fabric for the shades themselves? Or did you buy blackout fabric and have the seamstress stitch them to a standard shade?

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  24. That trim is so fun! They look really professional and heavy duty, I'm sure they'll last a long time. Beautiful job.

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  25. jenny, you are so, so, so talented. i think it's safe to say that yours is my favorite blog! i just got back from a computerless vacation and was thrilled to look through all your posts i missed while i was gone. :) your style is so chic, fresh, original...and the fact that you DIY so much of it amazes me. the only question left is: do you ever sleep? :) :) your productivity amazes me! thanks for the great, original content. love it.

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  26. hi! her room looks amazing. PLEASE could you share the name of this seamstress and say what instructions you gave her? would be SO grateful
    -desperately needing similar bedroom shades in nyc

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I so appreciate hearing from you. Nice comments make my day! Thanks for keeping things light here, friends! :)