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Show WOMAN'S WORLD Add Charm to Inexpensive Curtains with Simple Tricks String Bows I i i Mi By Ertta Haley ARE curtains at your windows used just to have something there, or do they add the interesting interest-ing note to the room? One of the most inexpensive ways to decorate any room in the home is to provide a bright accent with curtains, a cheerful note or something some-thing so lively as to start conversation conversa-tion just as soon as someone sees your curtains. Just in case you think curtains haven't changed much, just look at some of the new designs and colors which are available, to say nothing of the new styles in curtaining. All rooms in the home have been exposed ex-posed to the new things in curtains kitchens, living and dining rooms, entrance halls, bedrooms and game rooms. Just as refinishing furniture can improve it, so can curtains be used to hide any number of construction faults in windows. They can enhance en-hance the view if you have one, or replace a poor view just in the way the curtains themselves are treated. Remember the days when curtains were mostly white or ivory? These are sometimes used, but the use is quite different from what it used to be. Curtains have plenty of color and design now, and they can be used to bring out room colors by harmonizing or accenting them. There are even certain types of prints available which will help to constant dampness of the room, and the curtains will not wilt. Curtains for the bathroom can match the'shower curtains if they're used. In fact, in a small bathroom, it's best to have them not only of matching material but also in style. Tailored shower curtains naturally call for straight curtains. If the room is not strictly tailored, ruffled curtains may be used, tied back, as to cottage sets. Both the 'shower curtain and the curtains can be made from plastic material bought by the yard, especially espe-cially if you like the shower curtain cur-tain especially long and generously full. There was a time when kitchen curtains had to be organdie or one of the other sheer materials, and preferably in white. Now that color has been introduced more strongly into the kitchen, curtain materials have a wide range. Let's suppose that your kitchen is Early American in theme or has an informal peasant theme. What would be more appropriate than some colorful chintz or one of the peasant prints which are often done on natural or gray-white linen? Here, then, is the ideal choice. Solve Window Problems With Clever Curtains Rooms with small windows can probably use all the light they can get. Curtains, rather than drapes are the answer. Sheer curtains on double rods will answer the purpose nicely, especially those which are can have as nice a picture as you want. Figured lace panels are excellent ex-cellent for living and dining room windows. You might have an attention atten-tion getting cornice and some striking strik-ing pattern in the drapes hung at either side to complete the effect. Informal living rooms with windows, win-dows, bedrooms and kitchens, too, can have the outside view blocked with gathered sheer curtains. You might try use of three or four rows of these, with the bottom edge piped in a solid color that goes well in the room. Windows which show nothing at all on the outside, especially those which look right at the wall of another an-other house can have tailored curtains cur-tains in good colors. Take a cloth of good texture and add some vertical ver-tical stripes of bright color, and use these at the windows. Let Remnants Make J Attractive Curtains How often have you gone out to j buy material and then found some- thing later in the home which would have served the purpose as well? Too often! Check your stock at hand first and see if old things can be converted to usefulness. For smaller curtains you're certain cer-tain to find material unless you've just started housekeeping and have no remnants at all. Good portions of sheets, linen towels, crash, men's shirts and many such items can be cut and used for short curtains. Trimmings may be needed, but these are certainly less expensive Dainty string bows are a favorite fa-vorite trimming feature of the season's shoes. Here they are seen on an open-toed, but closed heel shoe done in black suede, but may be had in brown suede or blue calf as the wardrobe dictates. they can be drawn easily. .Use closed or open, as desired. Curtains treated treat-ed in this way should be luxurious for they have no draperies "to help them out." Pinch pleats should be full; have hems at least five inches deep. tied back in hour glass fashion. Views outside the window cannot easily be changed, but you don't have to look out! Treat windows like this with pretty curtains and you than buying everything new. Shirring in different colors is available avail-able to make the task easier, and so are rick-rack, ruffling, bias tape and ribbon for stripes. a valance at the windows to help cut down the disproportion of the room. Even though the windows may just be average length, they can be made more effective if you use tailored curtains of sheer material, mate-rial, falling to sill or floor length. At the top, drape generously with a ruffled curtain to give the effect of a valance, though the curtains themselves may be perfectly straight. This is a very effective way to treat windows in old-fashioned houses as well as rooms in which there is sufficient color and design interest elsewhere in the room. Drapes may be used with sheer curtains, but they should be full and generous. If they cannot be because be-cause of the expense involved, it's far better taste and much more good sense to spend the money on sheer curtains and make these like drapes, pleated and full, placed on traverse rods. Sheer curtains refresh comers . . . carry out furniture or decorative themes. These, used in curtains, can often be the most effective note the room has. When rooms have sufficient color and design interest, theri add no more conflicting accents, and use plain sheer curtains. Study your rooms and see just what kind of curtains they need. Once this is decided, you'll have fun getting together just what's needed. Use Unusual Treatments For Sheer Curtains Sheer curtains aren't always perfectly per-fectly plain; neither are they always al-ways feminine and ruffled. Today's trend shows interesting effects obtained ob-tained by treating sheer curtains almost as draperies. Take, for example, the room with a large corner window. If you need the light or don't want to close out the view, then sheer curtains are an absolute essential. But, you may say, the room is a living room, and you want something really appropriate. appro-priate. Sheer curtains for this type of corner window may be strictly j tailored. Pinch-pleat them at the top and place on traverse rods so ) I J I m 1 J sds sstj add luxury to long, narrow windows. Novelty Curtains Have Many Uses Need curtains for your bathroom? 1 Plastic is frequently an excellent choice because it will withstand the |