Country Plaid Hangs in the Balance with JCPenney Home Collection "M" Valance
Written: Sep 10 '02 (Updated Sep 10 '02)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: country/farmhouse style, dark color contrasts with off-white, inexpensive, heavy cotton
Cons: I left mine in my old house.
The Bottom Line: For a traditionally country look, this is a great choice -- I think they'll wear forever and don't fade!
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| mind-full's Full Review: Country Check "M" Valance 731-8842B |
The decision to purchase a certain style or pattern of curtains or drapes never came easy for me, until the JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance entered my kitchen in our first home eight years ago. Timeless? Certainly. They're still making it after at least eight years, and the design, pattern and colors haven't become outdated -- or faded -- one bit.
No "Country Cute" for Me, Thanks . . . Leave the Livestock in the Barnyard
In recent years, let's say in the past 10, "country" has taken a decidedly ugly turn, in my opinion. Head to a craft show or boutique and anything termed "country" or "farmhouse" hits you square in the face with dressed up pigs, bunnies, sheep and the always-popular chickens and ducks and geese (better scurry . . .). Toss a wire basket full of plastic eggs in the corner and you've achieved the stereotypical "country look".
Gag me with one of the selection of wooden spoons in the Hull crock over there on the counter, will you? Blech.
Or, you have even cuter country with teddy bears, bumble bees and sunflowers, and lest we forget birdhouses (have you been in a store lately where there is not a birdhouse for sale somewhere? Want one in which to store your toilet paper? Wallpaper borders traverse displays with bright yellows, cherry reds, grassy greens and brilliant blues . . .
And all I wanted was a simple country plaid. No fanfare, no barnyard animal friends to stare at me blankly while I fumble for coffee before sun-up.
Thankfully, there's the JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance out there for those of us with simpler tastes.
Are You a Little Bit Country?
Plaid is a "country" thing, and the JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance offers their understated version in a few country-style colors named by JCPenney:
ruby red
dark green
blue dusk
classic navy
The word "checked" in the name JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance is misleading, I believe, as these are not a gingham or block style design, but a plaid made by the color of your choice and white.
The fabric of the JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance is 100% cotton, quite heavy, and dyed before weaving for true, lasting color. Mine are still ruby red and white . . . though someone else owns them now (sob).
How Far Does "Country" Go?
The size of the JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance is limited to only one: 88 inches wide by 22 inches deep at the longest point of the "M".
For a wide window, two valances make for a complete look, and when gathered on a 2-1/2-inch rod (suggested size) you won't be able to tell where they join very easily unless you do some looking. I actually cheated and hung my JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance on a standard-size rod. No one was the wiser.
You can use the JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance alone or with a pair of tiers, which I used in my kitchen, as we had full sun all afternoon, and the added tiers blocked a lot of unwanted light and, subsequently, heat.
No Faded Glory Here!
FULL sun. All day, no breaks. Our postage-stamp yard offered no trees for shade, and with only 9 feet between the kitchen window and a neighbor's fence, we had no room to plant anything on the long side of the house that faced the sun every day to offer relief from direct light and heat.
The JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance did not fade or deteriorate in any way. It endured a seasonal washing with style and grace, ironing back into smooth, crisp ruby red and white splendor and took its assigned space in the window again.
The JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance looked so good even after 8 years of continual sun exposure and with the ups and downs of window washing, laundering and general cleaning that I wanted to remove it before selling our home. Our real estate agent requested that we not do so, as the JCP Home Collection A Country Check "M" Valance looked great in the window and made it a focal point.
I think she was afraid I'd replace it with something else . . . chickens and ducks and geese . . . ?
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
mind-full
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Member: Amy
Location: Same Place as Ever
Reviews written: 320
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Faith is like electricity. You can't see it but you can see the light.
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