Bette Davis at the Cross House!
I did a previous post about movie stars coming to the Cross House! And today it was a honor to receive the great Bette Davis!
Ms. Davis let me know that she would like to stay incognito during her visit (“fans can be SUCH a bother!”) so she asked me to call her Krystal. And, what Ms. Davis wants Ms. Davis gets!
After arriving, I gave “Krystal” a quick tour and then we went to lunch at Radius where we introduced ourselves in a long freewheeling conversation with hardly a mention of draperies!
Post-lunch, we returned to the Cross House and set about earnestly with the reason for Krystal’s visit: hemming the draperies for the library and parlor.
The BIG debate was length…
OPTION #1: Normally I would hang drapes from the top of a window trim, falling all the way to the floor. This would accentuate the TALL windows in the Cross House. However I have never really considered this option as it would obscure the stained-glass transoms (the horror! The horror!) and much of the lovely trim.
OPTION #2: The drapes would hang just under the stained-glass and fall to the floor. However, in doing a mock-up, this made me want to instinctively PUSH the drapes up higher. They somehow looked cut off and they made, eek, the tall windows look…stubby. This is not obvious in the above drawing but was so in real life.
OPTION #3: So, Krystal and & I came up with this. The drapes would begin just under the stained-glass and fall to just below the window sill. After Krystal pinned up a hem, and a panel was hung, it was instantly obvious that THIS was the ideal solution.
OPTION #3 did not make the overall window look stubby. Whew!!!!!!!! By exposing so much of the trim and base (another good thing) the window still reads as TALL and the drapery complements the window rather than overtaking it.
So, Krystal was duly authorized to make each panel 65-inches long.
You will note that in all three options the drapes are pushed to one side. An asymmetrical treatment allows for the maximum exposure of 1894 trim, which I very much want.
I am picking up the copper rods tomorrow (to be used as curtain rods), and the wood, gold-finished curtain rings were shipped today. Hopefully they will arrive before Ms. Davis Krystal departs and we can hang the draperies!!!!!!!!
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Another exciting day at the Cross House. Happy Birthday Ross!
They’ll look fabbbbbullllousss darlink.
Bette Davis is at the Cross House and so is Robert Irvine!!!!!
this house is full of surprises!
Thank you, Bette! Um, I mean Krystal. I can’t wait to see the finished work. Who knew that such a superstar would have skills like that! If I tried to hem drapes it would look like something Edward Scissorhands would have done after one too many Chardonnays…
Ross and Krystal, it sounds like you’re both going to work wonders on these windows. I’m excited to see the results.
Totally off topic…..what a brilliant menu at that Radius place! As I currently live and work in lovely Riyadh, Saudi Arabia where pork products are banned any menu which has these PLUS alcohol (similarly banned) is a winner with me.
Enjoy curtain hemming and movie starring this week.
One set is ready to be hemmed, the other set will be ready to sew tomorrow afternoon. The actual sewing doesn’t take long – it’s all the prep! Being able to work in the Cross House, surrounded by all that gorgeous wood, ambiance of yesteryear, and for a good cause makes me feel so awesome! What a great way to spend Valentine’s Day! Love of a house. Thanks Ross for letting me!
And thank YOU! It has been fun working with, and getting to know, you!
Krystal, would you please do us a favor and give Ross a big hug for sharing his fabulous Cross House and his inspiring journey to restore it?
Ross, please give Krystal a big hug for doing what so many of us would love to do — Help you by working on the wonderful Cross House!
On behalf of the followers who wish to give Ross a hug, I duly accept the lovely task on your behalf!
Thanks, Krystal!
One set of curtains are done! (8 panels sewed together in pairs). The second set will be a bit yet. And pillows! To bring it all together! (still to be done). It’ll look fabulous!!! I look forward to seeing them hung up. I’ll be leaving before that’s done 🙁
Maybe I’ll have to trek back again!
WHOEE!!!!!!!!
SO glad you aren’t going with option 1. What is the point of having glorious woodwork if you’re just going to cover it up? One of my favorite modern approaches to decorating old houses is allowing architectural elements and trimwork to BE the decoration, avoiding the smothering effects of too much fabric, too much paint and too much cute. Way to go, Ross and Bette!
Yes, I agree! And showing the woodwork was really the only option. AND it looks right (the scale of the window can handle being broken up visually).