Have you got to chapter 35 in ‘A Rosie Life In Italy 2’ yet? The part where I’m finding it hard to breath because of the four varieties of fungus growing on the bedroom wall and ceiling? We have been working on that room and we are well on the way to having it finished. The ceiling has been replastered, the metal beams exposed and painted copper, we’ve exposed some of the stone wall in the corner, cleaned the ancient terracotta tiles, cleaned off the mould and painted the walls (cream). The light shade is brass and we are buying a secondhand brass bed today. The freestanding bath will be pushed more into the corner–Imagine it with a tall leafy plant behind it and some candles dotted around the stone work.
My question to you is… we have inside shutters but should I put curtains? And it so what colour and what colour should the bed cover should I get? I will need to buy both online so if you find a link to something beautiful please do share!
I love the shutters and know you put so much work into them! If they swing inwards, I would skip the curtains….
Thanks! I think I will give it a few weeks before deciding. The room just looks a bit bare, but that’s probably because I grew up with curtains and not shutters! I think when furniture and pictures are in place it will be easier to decide.
I agree with Jen…if the shutters swing inwards, then no curtains. If outwards, then I would go with breezy white sheer voile curtains to floor length. Very romantic.
Fabulous! If you do put any curtains, I think floaty sheers to the floor would be beautiful in white or cream hanging from vintage (or repro) wrought iron rods. 🙂
I think that would work. It just looks a bit bare at the moment, but perhaps when I add furniture and candles etc. it will start to look more ‘dressed’.
I have just finished your 3 books and am glad I have found your pictures to see how accurate my imagination was.
Very accurate
I would do a sheer (not a polyester sheer, but almost linen texture, on a rod, so you pull them to the side to enjoy the view, and pull them over the wondow when you want some filtered light.
It looks amazing
My neighbor is struggling with drapes or not decision so I can see what you are going through. She has plantation shutters in her bedroom but it just doesn’t look completed or cozy without drapes. My suggestion is to offset the curtains more than normal away from the window frame so when open all of the window and the shutters are exposed. I did that in my bedroom and love the finished, cozy look and I still get all the sunshine.
Yes that’s exactly it, I don’t know if it will be cozy looking without drapes! Offsetting them is a good idea. I have a few weeks before all the dusty construction work is finished on this floor and then I’ll put in some soft furnishings and pictures etc and that might make it cozier. If not I’ll add off-set drapes like you suggested. 🙂
A plant and a circular rail above the bath with sheer voile curtain-perfect
Absolutely NO on the window curtains:)
what about a stencil around the windows? If there’s a nice view out of the window I wouldn’t bother with curtains. Italians would use a filmy cotton curtain but they like to keep the outside out not let the outside in.
I love the idea of offsetting the curtains. The window is inset but the curtains would look great on the wall surrounding the inset area. I think it will give you that softer look you’re looking for.
Using off set curtains/drapes is my suggestion, too. Leave the window alone with the nice shutters, but soften the look with pastel drapery on either side, perhaps “pulled back” (permanently) with brass or wrought iron ‘tie backs’. Wait to decide on fabric for drapery and bed cover until the furnishings and wall pictures are in place. Then, you’ll be able to determine the colors and kinds of fabrics that will be best.
I agree on giving it some time once you have furniture in the room. Having stayed in many places in Italy I have never seen curtains as they all have shutters.
Hi Rosie, I’ve stayed in an Italian palazzo where there were outdoor shutters as well as indoor shutters, AND curtains. They were a peachy colour and sort of satiny like one’s grandma might have had. They didn’t match the bed linen to anything in particular.
Please no curtains! Ever! Plants, artworks, layers of texture. That’s all any room needs once you have blinds or shutters.
I believe you shouldn’t do anything with curtains, just use the shutters. When I was selling an apartment in Rhode Island recently all of the realtors told me to take down curtains as it looks old-fashioned. Your shutters are lovely, let the architectural details shine through.
You are right!
I have an 18 room home, and I haven’t a single drape or sheer, although I have bedroom suites that do have room darkening blinds….I’d think the shutters would do that. I know that’s a more modern and contemporary look, so I understand where you’re coming from. In the end do what makes you happiest.
(BTW I’ve breezed through all 3 of your Rosie books in the past week, and have the 4th on preorder! If you ever get a short term rental apartment done my husband and I might be your guests for a month!)
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Just finished book 4 and look forward to 5. Thanks for taking me along on your journey I wish I was with you there. I love Italy. You are certainly a most talented person
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Just finished book 4 and look forward to 5. Thanks for taking me along on your journey I wish I was with you there. I love Italy. You are certainly a most talented person