awning

For a very long time now I've gazed at my kitchen window and imagined an awning there. I've looked at custom made ones but they were a bit outside my budget. I thought about making them out of wood but, for one thing, I'm no woodworker. For another, it seemed like it would be too heavy.

Then the other day the thought occurred to me to make it out of artist's canvas, which I noticed they are now selling by the roll at Michael's. But on the particular day a few weeks ago when the inspiration struck, they were sold out.

Think, think, think.

This inspiration was like an itch that had to be scratched and I just had to make the awning right there, right then.

What if...what if...what if I took a premade roman shade made of duck canvas and treated it with gesso....hmmm. Would that work? And what if I hung the shade with two tension rods...one at the top through the rod pocket...and the other at the bottom between the two cabinets at their edge. Why wouldn't that work?

Guess what! It worked perfectly. And it took only a matter of hours to make. I started on it that night and finished and hung it the very next day!



I used a plate to trace the scallop and then drew the line straight up. After I painted the pink stripes, I cut out the scallop design. Since it was treated with gesso, there's no worry of fraying.

You wouldn't believe how much more whimsical and delightful my kitchen looks with this as my over-the-kitchen-sink window treatment.