Cynthia, thanks so much for your response. I hadn't even thought of that as an option! Great suggestion! In your professional opinion, would it look better to simply have one large roman or to break it up into three?

What about really nice, folding plantation shutters that you can push back flat when you like? Usually can get whatever colour timber or white/antique white. Can tilt blades whichever way for privacy & still can have fresh air.

I agree with Cynthia, 3 roman shades would look really nice! Good luck with your project.

I've made large Roman shades myself. Even if you could do just two, they are heavy to pull up and down. Three is the way to go, since the window frames will bridge the gap between them, it will look better too. Good Luck.

Cynthia, is exactly right - 3 would be perfect! One would probably sag and not work correctly - not a good look LOL! I try never to do two of anything, odd numbers always are more pleasing to the eye - the bigger one in the center and the two smaller ones on either side - it will look great!

You might want to consider outside mounting a wonderful roman shade, mounted high, close to the ceiling to help draw the eye up and make the ceiling look higher. Then tuck simple cellular shades under the roman shade. They can be the privacy treatment, you could even do top down shades. That way you have the decorative look of a large roman, but have the privacy treatment as well.

Omg, an overwhelming response for three Romans, love it! I knew my fellow houses would not let me down! Marybeth, good suggestion, I thought about a top down type of thing, but didn't think I could do that with the Romans.

Once I get the Romans done, I"ll post an update. Wish me luck!

Lets think beyond trying to cover the widow and take the entire space into consideration. I can't tell from your photo what's outside the window but you might consider moving the table away from the wall since this isn't a diner and add french doors to the outside. Possibly get a round or small square cafe table with a small pendant fixture. Breakfast is served with the doors open expands the kitchen. Congrats on your new house

W

I definitely would not recommend plantation shutters here because there isn't room to swing them open or have them accordian back with hinges. When you have a bunch of narrower shutters, you have a lot of view covered with the width of the frames.

Romans, three of them, mouned high (good idea MaryBeth!) would continue the line of the upper cupboards and allow you to still see a good amount of fabric when they're open because you'd be covering the ceiling to top of window-glass area at all times. You could also put a pair of them above your patio door, but I would anticipate that you would rarely, if ever, lower the one over the operable door (the door that is in use). It's important that all the romans be mounted at the same height and have the same measurements for the sections that rise up, so that they all "match" when they are drawn up.

3 Cellular shades with top down, bottom up, cafe style would suit your bistro table and windows. A soft shading sheer with fabric slats would also look extremely modern, they would give you privacy yet let the light in. I love mine!

I agree that 3 is the way to go. What about flat romans on the 2 outer, with a ballon shade/blind from the same fabric for the larger middle one. Change in texture might break up the large expanse of fabric.

Claudia, I agree with the suggestion of 3 Roman blinds, split on the window frames. Outside mount blinds would benefit you as you can most likely then choose stock sizes vs. custom If they were inside mount.

The only change I would make is to mount the blinds so the top touches the ceiling. This is because Roman blinds tend to block a lot of the window even when retracted, so mounting them at the ceiling height not only minimizes that but also gives the illusion that the window is taller. See attached photo for an example. (The bottom of the retracted blinds would cover a smaller portion of the top of the window so they still feel "connected" to the window) They would also then align with your wall cabinetry, so perhaps a coordinating color could work.

If you're looking for day and night time privacy for the window with a slight view obscurity you may also consider Silhouette by Hunter Douglas. They are a combination of a sheer and a blind, and have a nice clean look.

http://www.hunterdouglas.com/our-products-detail.jsp?id=1

Best of luck with your project,

Steve

I think North has a great idea to make use this space for a french door. It would be a great addition. If not than 3 roman shades is the way to go.

You had mentioned wanting a valance and privacy. This is a pix of roller shades with a trim on the bottom to match a valance. Very modern and gives you color. https://www.houzz.com/photos/home-design-ideas-phbr0-bp~

IKEA has some great shades on staggered tracks so the shades can be slid along as preferred to stack open or cover the window as much or as little; great color and design choices http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/Textiles/18891/

The window is fine, however, the view is lacking a lot. Outside work is a must, the fence has to be replaced or painted and the concrete removed with better landscaping all the way around. Having a hidden area for a grill would be functional along with plenty of new interesting landscaping that is easy to care for.

I'm so glad that Cynthia, Marybeth, BeautifulRemodel and others mentioned to place the romans high. I definitely don't want to cover much of the window when they're open. I love having a lot of light come through, so I'll take advantage of the height and bring them up to the ceiling. North Point, you raised a good point. I actually do want to replace the windows for doors in the future. When we moved in 2 months ago, we gutted our kitchen and remodeled it top to bottom. The kitchen was original to the house (1968) and so our remodel was not to simply update it, but we also reconfigured it to maximize the space and the open layout. For that reason, we're holding off on any other remodeling projects. We have a bathroom to remodel next, and the doors in the kitchen will probably after that. For now, the roman blinds will be what I move forward with. JKL4437, you must have bionic vision to see such details of my backyard! You're more than welcome to come help me with my landscaping. :-)

It sounds like you've solved your window dressing problem. Not to get too off topic, but I think the view from your large window could look really nice with something like a pergola in front of your fence, with some chairs or a swing underneath, and some potted plants and flowers. It would also help obscure the neighbors house in the view, which, at a glance, looks like the previous owners were trying to do with those trees. You're very blessed that you can make the changes you need to to your home. May you have many happy house decorating hours ahead. ")

I agree. With with MB, Cyn, & others. Don't skimp on the visual effect of having the shades go all the way to the ceiling. Will make a hugh difference in the styling and look,

Why not have the Romans go all the way to the ceiling but encase them behind an upholstered pelmet? Depending on what you chose for fabric, Romans can look just like rectangles of fabric. However if you were to design a shaped pelmet on matching or co-ordinating fabric you could really make a feature of the window. Good luck!

Thanks for writing back. The window is fine, now take care of the view.

It's mostly about the unsightly view.

It sounds like privacy is the main concern while not losing the existing sense of light and openess. This might apply to the rest of your home as well. If this is the case, then extending the height of the fence would solve the privacy issue. Then your family can enjoy openess and privacy throughout the back of the house.

My best friend has a large picture window in her kitchen. She just had a small shelf built over it & displays her vintage glassward there, and doesn't bother with window dressing. It looks well, but the sun does not come in that window alot & she is on a big lot, so no need for privacy.

Good idea. Colored glass I hope.

I am a little shocked at the criticism of the outdoor space which you didn't actually ask for an opinion on! As you have stated this is a home recently purchased with a lot of projects you are doing one by one. Keep your focus and in due course you'll complete your wishlist.

Looks like you've come to a conclusion about the romans, and I commend you for that. Just wanted to add that I would not put them under upholstered valances because that would be too heavy for a kitchen.

There are a couple of ways of making romans more interesting if you fear them looking like a flat rectangle of fabric. First of all you can use a pattern instead of a plain fabric. Secondly and/or alternatively you can make them in a waterfall style rather than flat, so when they are lowered there are still some folds visible. It takes more fabric but it's very pretty and luxurious. Depending on the need for privacy and how much light you would like to let through, you might consider making them in a linen sheer lined with a linen sheer (so two layers). You can also dress them up with trims.

I have gone through my inspiration pics in my shade file on my computer and attached some images I like. Now I regret not saving the credits as to where I found them :(

There was a comment that if you mount the romans outside the frame of the window you might not need to get custom ones made. However, you still have to have the centre roman's edges line up perfectly with the edges of the centre window! The two side romans can extend maybe 6" past the outside edge of the window (just guessing because I don't have a measured drawing of the wall and windows).

I'm attaching a few more pretty ones... The last photo doesn't show romans but some beautiful drapes in a black and white lattice print. I think the lattice print fabric would be lovely done as romans! Good luck! :)

The outside view has a lot to do with the overall room decoration, if it's not, then just put a pull down shade over the window and ignore the view altogether.

The roman shades are a good idea, however, there is a caveat. The material you choose is important as the dirt and dust from cleaning and the grease from the kitchen will settle into the romans. They will need to be drycleaned once a year if the fabric is not washable.

Hey Cyrosa, if you heavily planted with beautiful, fast growing, bushy trees along the back fence, you wouldn't need anything on the windows & could look out at gorgeous trees & no one could see in.....they don't date either!!! Wouldn't have to worry about matching, flowing on to other rooms etc. Much prefer to see trees (& the birds that they bring) than blinds or curtains anyhow & the whole look is gorgeously simplistic. Added bonus, wouldn't have to paint the back fence...ha!.

Oh forgot, the trees would have to be tall enough to block out the neighbours house of course.