Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Need Some Advice on Window Treatments

I'm having a tough time figuring out how to hang window treatments in my living room so I was hoping to get some advice from my very helpful readers.

curtain options for living room

There are only two windows in the living room/dining room (we only have four windows in the entire condo) and right smack in the middle of them is our heating/cooling unit. Normally I'm a "hang 'em high and wide" type of person but that heating unit is providing some challenges.

curtain options for living room

I can't hang them wide at all. As a matter of fact the curtains would have to be hung pretty close to the window frame so that I don't obstruct the heating unit. The windows are pretty large so I'm not too concerned that I will crowd the windows and make them look smaller, I'm more concerned that I'll be blocking too much light. The drawing above demonstrates two panels on each window and I think it looks okay but light is a precious resources in this condo so I'm trying to come up with other options.

curtain options for living room

One idea I came up with is to hang the Dignitet curtain wire system from Ikea and have it span both windows. Basically I would be treating the entire area as one set of windows and would hang one panel at each end. This way I don't have to worry about heating unit and I can hang the curtain panels as wide set as I'd like. Do you think the wire spanning the wall between the two windows looks odd?

curtain options for living room

If it does seem a little odd, the other option would be to deal with each window separately and hang rods over each. I would still only hang one panel on each window so I can allow light in but now the question is does a rod with only one curtain panel on it look odd? Have any of you had to deal with a similar situation? If so, what did you decide was the best option? If you have any pictures I would love to see them.

Thanks a bunch!
-Michelle

11 comments:

  1. I've done exactly what you have for your last option (one panel per window) and it looks good. The trick is to make sure the rod is a bit wider than you would normally have, so you can have room for the larger "stack back" of a big panel. Essentially you are going to need room for a panel that's as wide as two normal size ones. I would still have the rod centered over the window though, even though the stack back will be only to one side. Hope that makes sense! I haven't had my coffee yet today!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I agree completely with Rachel. Makes sense and sounds like the best option.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hmmm, I'd definitely go with either 2 or 3 and I'm learning more towards #2.

    Adele

    ReplyDelete
  4. I was torn between #2 and #3. After looking at it again, I'm thinking Rachel and Michelle are right - Option #3.

    ~Camberley

    ReplyDelete
  5. Option 3 works for me. Although I would use a beautiful sheer fabric 2 widths wide and cover the entire width of window (using decorative rod with rings). Then using tie backs, I would pull left double panel to the left and the right panel pulled to the right,allowing the light threw, and clearing the heating unit.

    ReplyDelete
  6. My immediate instinct was to go for number 3. Like Rachel, I thought you might need double width panels. I hope if you find some you'll do a post about them! I've been looking for a while, and I only found them at Pottery Barn where they were pretty expensive, and at JCPenney where I couldn't quite understand all the drapery lingo enough to get to what I wanted (simple white panels!)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Definately option #1 - and i'd try to hide the heating/cooling unit somehow, maybe by putting a small plant stand in front of it? Or a chair?

    ReplyDelete
  8. I just installed the Ikea wire system in my place 2 weeks ago since I needed something over 12' long and a rod would not work. I like it a ton, am amazed at how it makes the room look bigger and nicer. Is it possible that when you don't use the heating unit, you could slide the panels to hang in the middle to cover/hide it? I'm not sure of the scale of everything, so that may play a role in that being impossible or weird looking. If you went with the wire, would getting some fabric to put along the entire wire, like a pseudo-valance work? That may play up the continuity. Good luck, you have an excellent eye and can make any of options work!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I'm a fan of option 3. It feels the least fussy and most simple and clean which really seems to fit your taste from what I've picked up on :)

    ReplyDelete
  10. i like the last photo because a)its unique, and b) it (to me) takes the attention off the wall unit, and puts more aesthetic focus on the unique rod hanging!

    ReplyDelete

ShareThis