Hanging Curtains: An Evening of Expletives

Last weekend my husband and I purchased curtains. We've lived here for two years and we're just barely getting this done.

Mostly because our original plan fell through. When we purchased our condo, we fell in love with the model. In the model there were sheer curtain panels that were hung by pegs instead of a curtain rod. We loved how it looked and we've spent the last two years looking for pegs. I'm now convinced the designer of the model must have had them custom ordered because they just aren't available. I was also searching for curtain panels with very few tabs - 3 to 4 tabs on top so I wouldn't have an obnoxious line of ten pegs holding up curtains on each side of the window. Those too, do not exist.

So we gave in and purchased curtain panels with many tabs and a curtain rod. We bought both at Ikea.

We like the curtain rod because it's a little different. My husband pointed out that it goes well with a shelf we have in the room as well. He's very knowledgeable with basic design - its impressive. We also decided against getting dark blue curtains because the room already has so many dark pieces that we felt it'd be too much. We went with basic white curtain panels instead.

The experience invoked emotions I don't want to feel again. I've never been so angry at an inanimate object! First of all, the curtain rod doesn't allow for the curtains to be added after the rod is installed. The curtains must be hanging on the rod first, so that added to the madness. We measured and leveled and marked the wall where each screw should go.

But there was a miscommunication somewhere...and after we got the first two screws in to anchor the rod to the wall, we stepped back and realized it was off center!

And so began the marks on the wall, the holes and the expletives...

After regrouping, remeasuring and remarking we were ready to try again. One screw went in on one side and then the other side...the drill died. Apparently we hadn't let the drill charge for long enough.

So there I stood, curtain rod held high above my head, making sure I didn't move at all because it would only scratch my wall more...and I was told I would have to just stand there until the drill charged back up...or there will be more holes in the wall! I made it about 5 minutes before I told my husband I couldn't hold the curtain rod and curtains above my head for much longer - so there was yet another hole, more scratching and more expletives.

We decided to just walk away from it, because it was just best for all parties, including the curtain rod itself. We watched a show and then came back to it. The drill was charged enough to get the job done so we started again. We measured, marked, leveled and I held as still as I could while standing on a stool with a curtain rod held over my head.

FINALLY the screws went in....FINALLY it was finished!

But not without some touching up to cover up our scratches, holes and anger...

Proof of the marking and holes caused by frustration

Such lovely holes on my wall.