A couple of weeks ago I had the world's easiest and fastest shopping experience picking out blinds for my new kitchen. Then it was all downhill from there. Not the blinds - they're great. No, the problem unfortunately is me. I got them picked out, custom cut, and then home, all in less time than it takes to cook a pan of brownies. Then what happened? They sat on my laundry room floor for two weeks. Unfortunately this is not unusual for me.
Finally, I got motivated to hang them up.
I removed the old blinds easily by sliding the header piece out of its brackets. My husband had the bright idea to see if the new blinds fit in the old brackets, noting that they looked similar. We held them up, and were pleasantly surprised to find that they would be able to slide right in. No installation! Yay!
Except that they didn't slide right in. They were too long to fit my window. You know that saying, "Measure twice, cut once"? Well, I didn't. Instead I measured once, and now would have to cut twice. (Sadly, this is also not unusual for me.) My husband narrowly avoided rolling his eyes at me, and we loaded the blinds back in the car for another trip to Lowe's. At this point, I was just happy that they were too big and not too small!
The good news is that it was just as quick to cut them again as it was the first time. And the associate didn't even laugh out loud at me when I told him I was back for a re-cut. Score one point for Lowe's customer service!
Back home again, we lifted the blinds and slid them right into the old brackets. They fit! I was feeling pretty good at this point because, aside from the multiple trips to Lowe's, this was the fastest installation project ever. Then I realized I really needed to shorten them, so I wouldn't have a big chunk of extra blinds at the bottom of the window. Easy enough, right? Well, not if you're me.
This is a big window, y'all. And it's behind my kitchen sink. Which means that I had to wrestle several pieces of blinds, cords, and scissors, all while sitting on my counter, leaning over my sink! Thankfully, I had spent a good amount of time reviewing the instructions on how to shorten the blinds, and managed to do so correctly without cutting the cords that raise and lower the blinds. (I really didn't want to make a third trip to Lowe's!)
Finally, they are perfect! They look beautiful and work better than my old ones ever did. Plus, I can raise them with just a light touch.
Since this is a big picture window on the front of the house, and near the front door, I wanted something that provided good privacy, as well as light control.Here's a quick shot of a few different levels. When they are closed, there are no holes to see through, giving me complete privacy to do dishes in my super-comfy, super-unflattering PJ's.
Other than being my own worst enemy a few times along the way, this was a great process from start to finish, and I'm so happy with my new blinds.
Be sure to check out Levolor's Custom Size Now Cordless blinds for your own windows. Let me tell you in all seriousness that if I can successfully replace window blinds, I promise you can too.
And remember - measure twice, cut once!
Johanna says
Woot! They look great! 🙂
Meredith says
Thank you Johanna!
Emily, Our house now a home says
I did the same thing when measuring blinds. I measured on my own while my husband was at work. My kids all said it was Daddy's job. I scoffed and told them Mommy could do it too. Cut to use getting the blinds home and they are really, really long. I have no clue what I did. I have let my husband do the serious measuring of windows since then. :/
Meredith says
So glad to know I'm not the only one! I hate it when I prove my husband and kids right in their skepticism! 🙂
brightgreendoor says
Your kitchen looks so pretty, the blinds look great too! I'm going to be shortening mine as well so thanks for the picture to show how it's done!
Meredith says
Thanks! The instructions that came in the package were really good, but I had to read them a couple of times to figure out which strings were which.
DeDe@ Designed Decor says
I love them! They look so clean and great in the space with your kitchen design! So sorry about having to go back and cut again! Lesson learned!
Meredith says
Thanks DeDe! I hate it when I have no one but myself to blame for my mistakes! 🙂
Lala says
It's so beautiful!! And such a beautiful kitchen. love it.
Meredith says
Thank you Lala!
Corinna Ashley (For My Love Of blog) says
Literally as of just a couple hours ago, I was confused and attempting to correct people when they said the length was adjustable. I just opened my box up (after it sitting here and there for a week) and saw how the instructions walk you through the easy process. Cool!
Meredith says
It IS cool! And it looks so much better to have them properly adjusted. Totally worth the effort!
Jeannette Paladino says
Meredith -- I had a similar experience many years ago, except we bought our kitchen blinds at Home Depot. And living in NYC we schlepped the blinds home on the subway (that was fun!) only to find they didn't fit. Back to the store. Sometimes I think it's best to leave these things to the professionals!
Meredith says
Oh no! Yes, I think if it was harder to get them home, I'd probably be more inclined to pay the installation fee. And that's saying a lot for a die hard DIY-er like me. 🙂
cheryltherrien says
Reading about your experience is exactly why I hire someone else to do it! LOL Glad it all turned out well. We just put up new blinds similar to yours and we love ours!
Meredith says
Oh no! I hate it when I become a cautionary tale! 🙂 Although it's true that DIY-ing is not everybody's thing, and it's good to know your limitations.
hellolittlehome says
Your story sounds exactly like something that would happen to me ... ha ha;) I love how the blinds look in your window!
Meredith says
Ha! Glad to know I'm not alone. 🙂 And thanks!
Sarah @ Little Red Brick House says
Oh no, Meredith! Thank goodness they were too long and not to short! My husband won't even let me do the measuring anymore. Somehow I always end up messing things up, LOL. They look so good, though! Nice job!
Meredith says
I know! I'd never have lived it down if I'd had to go buy a whole new set! Oh well, all's well that ends well... 🙂
Jeri Walker-Bickett (@JeriWB) says
I had to buy two sets of blinds when I moved to NC. I cut the pull cord to shorten it, but cut it too short. Oops.
Meredith says
Oops is right! That's a hard lesson learned. Bet that doesn't happen next time though!
Jeanette L. says
I hate making more than one trip to the store. For some reason there is an entirely different language when speaking interior mount vs. exterior mount blinds. I never seem to explain myself correctly and it always results in at least two trips. Way to stick with it!
Meredith says
I know! My husband and I joke that it's not a DIY project until you've made three different trips to the store!
onemoretimeevents says
They look great in your kitchen window
Meredith says
Thank you!
Wendi @ H2OBungalow says
How frustrating to have to go back to cut the blinds again, but sooo good to know they can be recut if needed! They look great on your window:)
Meredith says
Thanks Wendi! It was frustrating, but not as bad as it would have been if they'd been too short! 🙂
Lauren Shaver says
Looks fabulous!!! I love the corbels on your window too.
Meredith says
Thank you Lauren! I found those at Hobby Lobby.
GuyFoodGuru says
I need blinds on a few windows myself. I think you just motivated me to finally make a little progress on it. And the worksheet from Lowes, a BIG help!
Meredith says
It's so much easier than I thought it would be, even given my own shortcomings! Good luck!