I'll soon be moving to a new-to-me home that has arched windows in the main living area. I do not like arched windows and don't care for two story rooms but...that is what I am getting so I will live with it. There are four of these window sets each about 9-10 inches apart. These are conventional square-top windows on the bottom, wallboard and then arch-top windows above. I would like to treat these together.
I am considering treating these with long fabric panels hung just below the crown molding. I usually hang these to just cover the window edges to maximize the entrance of light but this will expose quite a bit of the arch so... This is a considerable investment in fabric (each panel will take about 7-8 yards plus lining) so I want to get this right the first time.
Also what are your feelings on prints for window treatments? I am leaving a house with medium toned rich blue/green panels that I really love because the color elevates my spirits. The new house has carpeting with a slight green cast (compared to the rich wood of my current home). I am considering a slightly greenish blue damask pattern on a neutral background (not high contrast) to go with my expresso brown velvet sofa and new chairs yet to be purchased (The buyers of my home loved my living room so much they purchased all my upholstered furniture so I am bringing a brown velvet sofa from my current library into the room until I decide whether or not buy a new leather sofa. Easy chairs will probably be a textural neutral and other patterns will come be on pillows or perhaps a throw.
These window treatments will be viewed from the second floor loft as well so I assume both rooms should coordinate in color. Should the two conventional sized corner windows in this area be treated with the same fabric? They are on the opposite side of the room (west as compared to the east on the living side) and will need to be operational for west sun control which can be brutal here in the summers.
If I can manage to attach a photo from the real estate listing you can see the windows basically un-treated. I really like fabric and feel I need some to damp down sound and echos in the room.
While reading your description I had visions of the windows being right on top of each other. There is so much space between them I think long panels just under the crown would look odd. Do you need to cover them for light control? If that's the case, I would add blinds like there are on the lower windows in the picture. If they are close to the wall color they should sort of "disappear" into the wall.
I had visions of the windows being right on top of each other.
Me too. although you do give a good description. Would it be possible to just remove the windows and have the space walled in? Would that look odd from outside? Do you need the light? Would it be cost prohibitive?
As far as pattern and such in fabric, personally I feel that the more elaborate or definite a fabric design is, the more quickly I tire of it. Unless of course it is a subtle color(s) or in a not too visible setting.
If we closed the windows I think it would feel like we were in the bottom of a well. We would probably appreciate the light into the second floor loft gameroom from these east facing windows.
Guess what folks.: I hate, hate, hate blinds. I love the open look of almost totally uncovered windows but like fabric for softness and to cut down on sound echos. If I want to cover a window for privacy or light control, I generally use top-down bottom-up pleated shades that I can pull all the way to the top of the window to get that open feel or lift from the bottom to get privacy but allow light into the room.
I sort of like the look of textural bamboo shades drawn all the way up but capable being lowered for privcy combined with fabric for softness. But then there is that expanse of wall between the windows... (The other side of this wall is a roof extending out over a porch.)
When I suggested "blinds" I meant in the generic sense, which could be bamboo, fabric, metal or wood. The ones in your picture appear to be some kind of matchstick or light color bamboo.
One reason is that there appears to be a strong, horizontal, visual line created by the ceiling soffet in the foreground, that continues with the upper floor railing, and then runs along the lower edge of the upper windows. Whether it is intentional or not, it divides the vertical space in half visually, and supports the idea of two floors, or upper space versus lower space.
I suspect that if you cut through that with strong vertical lines created with floor to ceiling draperies that the entire space will feel off kilter, like a rocket ship is taking off in your living room. Kind of disturbing psychologically. Massive drapes like that will be very out of scale with the rest of the room, and will also pull your attention away from the fireplace, which seems like it should be the focal point.
So I would suggest that you just dress the lower windows, and let the upper ones act like clear story windows, and keep them undressed.
One more suggestion is that you take the photo and print it at about 8x10 and then trace over it, and draw in different drapery ideas. That will give you a simple, general idea of what things can look like.
Cocok- Great Idea about printing out the photo and drawing the longer and shorter versions of window treatments on it. Now if I could just get my printer to work...
I am shutting down after I post this message. Today is the time we put the last things on a rental truck to carry computers, televisions, plants, etc. to travel to our new home. Now I will get to consider the window treatments on sit!
