Window treatment for high horizontal window

15 years ago

Does anyone have any images of a relatively formal treatment of awning windows high on a wall?

I have ideas galore for my standard shaped windows, but I've got one goofy window unit overlooking the driveway in the lobby adjacent to the kitchen that is driving me nuts. DH has just finished the window trim and I really need two things: first of all, a temporary affordable window covering to last from now until I really know what the room is going to be like--probably will be in place at least 6 months, to cut draft and promote nighttime privacy. Eventually, I need to decide on something that will endure.

The unit is 6.5 feet wide and just under a yard deep, a pair of awning windows treated as a single unit. It starts about 14 inches from the ceiling, so only an adult can look out the window. (For those who have followed my story, this is the window we had to order in a rush when we realized that car doors on driveway could potentially open into a full-sized window.)

For the permanent solution, I will want light-filtering privacy at times, sun gain at times (it faces south), and full bore thermal covering at other times. There is essentially no sill because the moldings cascade in a stupid ziggurat [thanks, Pella!] out 6 inches to the wall and DH's promises for a geranium platform at position of the lower trim will never come to fruition. I could perhaps put very slim tension rods into the innermost tier of trim next to the glass pane (for something sheer) and add a second layer--a doublewide roman in a fabulous fabric hung from outside the window over the pair. OR mount some kind of light permeable blind on the inside and hang a retractable set of lined curtains on the outside, although I'm reluctant to expand the visual width of the window any more than necessary--wall space is at a premium and I have other plans for it. It is likely that a chest or a bench will be centered under the window, so I don't think I want to fake up a full length window using floor length curtains.

The front door is nearby--has full length white interior blinds embedded in it. These are for night privacy and sun gain/sun protection also.

As I said, images are solicited: Formal entryway with window high on the wall, like an old piano window. Thanks in advance.

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Comments (7)

palimpsest
15 years ago
Are the interior blinds in the door venetian blinds, accordian blinds or cellular blinds? You could do the same thing in a cordless option in an inset mount for the privacy, filtering, (and if cellular, insulation). I think a roman shade would be best for the over treatment since you want to furnish underneath. I might go up the the ceiling or crown moulding with a roman shade so it wasn't a sliver when it was fully opened.
formerlyflorantha
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for addressing the problem, P. I agree that any roman shade should stack entirely off the window area. The stack of pleats would be about half or less of what a standard window would need, so I don't think I'd go to ceiling--this is 8 foot tall room with a lot of oak frames at same top height--door to front step (behind the people in this photo), double sliding doors at closet (on right in photo), door to garage (at photographer's left), door to dining room and rest of house (behind photographer), door to basement (right of photographer). We're into doors.

The embedded blinds in the door glass are extremely thin venetian blinds. White. Jeld-Wen steel exterior door. In photo they are stacked at top--the mode for most daytime activity unless sun is very strong in summer. Faces west.

Here is a link that might be useful: The awning window under consideration
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formerlyflorantha
Original Author
15 years ago
bumping this with the hope someone has an idea.

The room is definitely an accommodation to the oddities of the house design--writing it out in words makes it clear how hard it was to come up with a workable design. We're trying to make lobby seem to feel welcoming but also to lead people out to the back of house or over to the adjacent kitchen peninsula. Window is part of the welcome.
dianalo
15 years ago
I ordered roman shades for our 5 foot awning window in our dining room. I don't mind the width, so did an outside mount. I chose the European fold option to make it a little dressy. Ours will be closed most of the time because it faces the side of our neighbor's house. I would have skipped it entirely, but the town did not count our back wall of windows and a french door as giving natural light or ventilation since they open into the screened in porch. The town considers those be on an interior wall.
Anyhow... it was the only way to get a window that did not interfere with furniture placement. Since it faces south, I wanted light filtering/blocking for sure. The Roman shade should give it a clean look and will allow ventilation if needed.
formerlyflorantha
Original Author
15 years ago
dianalo would love to see photos when installation is done. Thanks for posting
palimpsest
15 years ago
If you put a piece of furniture under it, I think you could put full length panels on each side, because they would be anchored by the piece underneath.
formerlyflorantha
Original Author
15 years ago
Palimpsest, thanks for the response. I did a lot of incubating about your suggestion.

I decided that I would indeed put full-length panels each side of the window. I had a piece of fabric that was paid for--had been purchased for the adjacent kitchen but rejected (too much rectangular stuff going on to compete with "shaker" cabs). There is barely enough fabric so don't look too closely on the back side at the false hem, etc. Local store had clearance sale on mahogany red curtain rod so I figured God was sending me in this direction. Rings were a lucky find at Tuesday Morning--they dropped the curtain so it just grazes the floor.

Not sure if we're going to keep this 1830s furniture piece or sell it, but for now, it's going to stay right here, my "plunk spot" for stuff entering or leaving the room. Front door will be painted to match the woodwork, once the weather warms up.

I still want to put a lacy or filmy or handkerchief lineny inner curtain over the window. Readers may have seen the Kitchens forum posting about decorating with old tablecloths on Take a Risk Day, but if you haven't, here's the link, much of it very silly stuff. Imagine that pointy white lace curtain here. (references to arrows and points in the postings deal with feng shui thread going on at that same time)

Here is a link that might be useful: taking a risk in decor--cut up a tablecloth?