Window Shades From Vintage Maps

Here’s a straightforward salvage project.

- Brian D. Coleman

The homeowner has a spacious apartment in a handsome, prewar building in midtown Manhattan. He admits he’d not gotten around to putting up curtains in the bedroom, and his girlfriend was complaining about the lack of privacy. Looking for something a little unconventional, he remembered his child hood classrooms with those colorful, pull-down maps that fired the imagination. Using old maps (or cool new ones) to make window shades is uncomplicated. Mostly, you need a big table or another flat work surface.

easy step by step

1. PREP THE SHADE

Take a plain white vinyl window shade and roll it out on a flat worktable. Remove the wood dowel or lattice at the bottom and save it to replace later. Sand the shade lightly with 400-grit sandpaper so the glue will grip. Wipe with a tack rag or soft cloth to be sure the surface is smooth and clean. Prime the vinyl with a gesso canvas primer to give it heft and limit its absorbency. Sand the primed shade lightly, wipe with the soft cloth.

2. GLUE IT UP