Customizing Off-the-Rack Curtain Panels

In the two years that we've lived in this apartment, I've always appreciated the simplicity of the white Pottery Barn Peyton draperies that hang in our living room. 

(the "before")

The solid white allows the eye to rest somewhere in a room filled with prints; and yet, I can't seem to leave well enough alone because I recently updated each panel.

I didn't start out intending to do anything to the PB curtains, but when I came across this image

(via Decor Pad)

...my wheels started spinning in overdrive. 

But, really, can you blame me? This space is gorgeous (you know I love me some red)!

Aside from jazzing up each curtain panel with some attention-grabbing trim, I also wanted to reinvent these into pinch pleated curtains and that is just where I started. Mom was here this weekend, and it seemed to be the perfect project for us to tackle together.

After a trip to Joann Fabrics, we had everything I needed to begin: 3" wide pleating tape, several packages of pleater hooks, pins, measuring tape, and twill tape (which I purchased from this seller on Etsy).

  Red twill tape trim was pinned to 3 of the four edges of the curtain panels (1" off of the vertical edges and 3" off the horizontal edge):

Mom stitched the trim on each panel...

 ...as well as the pleating tape to the top of each panel:

The final step for "pinch pleating" involves inserting your pleater hooks into the pleating tape. Very straightforward stuff.

I won't bore you with any more directions, but instead I'll go ahead and share some pictures of the installation:

I'll be honest with you all, Mom and I were met with several obstacles when completing this project, but we're both really happy with the results. I'm sure my new Sister Parish-upholstered chair will look great in the space (notice the hole where it once sat).

Hope you like them!