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Bedroom Curtains, part 2: The Plot Thickens

18 years ago

Not only do I have the radiator to contend with, but also different size and height windows. I'm going crazy trying to figure out length and rod placement. Please help me! What would you do?

Here are the "problems":

I've measured the shorter window and, as you can see, there is only about 2-1/2" on either side for bracket placement (I don't want to drill into the window frame). No problem: I found a rod set that will fit.

Longer window, with radiator below, needs to take shorter curtain--perhaps 63", which will fall 3" below window frame, halfway between the radiator and the bottom of the window frame:

Shorter window in dormer, the top of which almost hits the ceiling, but with no radiator below. Custom size of 51", will also fall 3" below window frame.

{{!gwi}}

My problems:

1) Where should rod placement be on longer window? If I put it in alignment with the shorter window's rod, it will be really high above the window, instead of right across the top frame, as would be the case with the shorter window. But if I place it lower, closer to the frame (as is my preference), the rods will be staggered in height.

2) Curtain length: Should the curtains all hit the same length? In other words, should each window's curtain hit 3" below the frame--even though that would produce, as with the rods, a staggered look--or should I make sure each curtain is exactly the same distance from the floor, even if that means that the curtain on the shorter window will have more length beneath the sill than the curtain on the longer window?

Here are the curtains I want to use:

Does any of this even make sense? It sounds pretty garbled to me, but I'm going out of my mind trying to figure out what to do.

Comments (23)

  • 18 years ago

    organic, I think I would just make each treatment fit its window. Wouldn't it be the same as what you've got now with the blinds?

    (BTW, I love the creative placement of the furniture in your room. We too have a quirky shaped bedroom...like a T. The bed barely fits in one alcove.)

  • 18 years ago

    If the windows were on the same wall, or really visible from the doorway at the same time, I would say that they should be the same distance from the floor at the bottom. But since they are on different walls and not really visible at the same time, I would hang them so they fit each window.

  • 18 years ago

    Organic, I also love the way you placed your bed.

    I would do full length curtains on the window with the radiator extending the rod beyond the window frame on either side so the the curtains hang down framing the window and not touching the radiator. Hang that rod just under the ceiling so it helps make the ceiling look taller. As for the other window I'd either do full length or to the sill depending on whether or not when you're in the room, you see a lot of the wall underneath the window and behind your bedside table. You could even do a different style of treatment using the same fabric if it has the same feel - ie. tailored curtains on the big window with roman on the small.

    Sky

  • 18 years ago

    Thanks, all.

    So when you say "fit each windown," what do you mean? Where should the rod placement be on the longer window?

  • 18 years ago

    Organic - we had similar issues at our last house with radiators beneath the windows. We used sheers from country curtains and shirred them on a pressure rod mounted inside the window frame. The bottom of the sheers just brushed the window sill. Then we used a Country Curtains Austrian valance over the top to hide the pressure rod.

    In another room, we used lace curtains shirred onto 2 pressure rods, one at the top and one at the bottom (like you might find on a french door). We used several curtains so that they were shirred enough for privacy but still allowed the light through.

    I think having the curtains mounted inside the window frames and stopping at the sill might look better than having them dangle 3" below the window, because having them dangle might just draw more attention to the fact that your windows are different sizes and heights.

    I dug up some pics for you:

    Ignore the tarp and mess in this one - we were stripping lead paint off the stairs through that doorway and had it blocked off.

  • 18 years ago

    lkplatow: Thanks so much for posting your pics. Your window treatments are lovely. It would be a good idea for my bedroom, too, but we already have blinds up and we also need privacy! Plus, for some reason, I just really love the particular curtains I've selected, and want--by hook or by crook--to figure out a way to use them. :)

    sky: I like the idea of extending the rod out a bit past the frame--that really might work. Where should the rod placement be on the longer window? Just below the crown molding, or an inch or so above the window trim? It's driving me crazy.

  • 18 years ago

    If I go with these curtains, where should I position the curtain rod.

    Another thought: should I use shades, instead?

  • 18 years ago

    I agree that you should treat the two windows separately. I think a window in a dormer is almost like a window in a separate little room, so it does not need to be aligned with the windows in the main room. I would, however, try to keep the curtains the same distance from the bottom of the sill--in other words, both should be about 3" from the sill. I prefer curtain hardware to be at least 2" above the window frame, so I would mount the curtains on the longer window higher (maybe halfway between the ceiling trim and the window trim?).

    BTW, I love your room. It is so relaxing. I love the shams and coverlet at the foot of the bed. And I agree that your bed placement is perfect! (I know you mentioned recovering the bench--I think a vintage needlepoint would look great!)

  • 18 years ago

    Thank you, teeda. This is very helpful. :)

  • 18 years ago

    Organic, I also like the idea of those gorgeous sheers framing the window. I wish I could help more but I a not familiar in hanging sheers or curtains and I am just trying to figure out what to do with my windows and once I hang my semi-sheers, I will be able to help others out.

  • 18 years ago

    Have you considered long sheers pulled off to the side?

    {{!gwi}}

  • 18 years ago

    Your room is very pretty and peaceful. I like the long sheers but then you are there looking at it and know if it looks good overall. Sometimes you just have to br there and see the whole room, the whole look.

  • 18 years ago

    Bump

  • 18 years ago

    I love both the long sheers pulled of to the sides and the shorter sheers pulled off to the sides with the option of letting them hang down. Both look wonderful in the pictures Squirrel sent in to the list. I love the natural color of the sheers.

  • 18 years ago

    Sorry I can't help, I'm too distracted trying to figure out how I can sneak in and make off with that black chair... ;D

  • 18 years ago

    squirrel: Thank you, thank you, thank you! I love it.

    moonshadow: LOL--I have two of them. Picked them up in a little antique shop in Ipswich. The other one's in the LR.

  • 18 years ago

    Squirrel, you are great!

    I must admit, I really prefer the longer curtains, although I do love both. Don't care for the tiebacks shown, though. Organic, CC makes some really nice "holdbacks", including some really pretty glass ones (I especially like the blue which reminds me of seaglass, and of course, of Ipswich!)

    Anyhow, I think your curtain choice is great. Lovely room.

  • 18 years ago

    Organic, we can't wait to see if you choose the longer or shorter curtains. I love both of them so much in your bedroom and feel both styles really add so much to the bedroom. I need to try to get to Country Curtains in the next few days.

  • 18 years ago

    organic-would you mind telling me where you got your bedding? Would love to have the same look in my master bedroom.
    TIA

  • 18 years ago

    I remember you working on this before and I loved the room then and love it even more now:

    I saved your previous picture as an inspiration picture.

    I like what SH did! I lean toward the longer ones.

  • 18 years ago

    teeda: Thanks. I might get the holdbacks that match the rod?

    tfm1134: You're so sweet--thanks very much! The white coverlet is Sferra Poppy--I bought it at a seriously reduced price on eBay. The taupe coverlet and shams I bought at Restoration Hardware on deep discount a few years ago--they no longer carry that style, but there are similar coverlets on eBay all the time.

    perky2: That's so nice of you--thanks. :) My dh prefers the long length, too--so I guess we're going to go with that.

    I'm on my way to CC now to purchase them. Will post pics later!

  • 18 years ago

    What a pretty bright cheery room! The first thing that comes to my mind is to keep it that way! It looks so fresha nd lovely. I;d do a thin drape shade. I did this in dd's room and they are so lovely and light and airy. These will also not bother the radiator.

    What do you think?

    http://www.potterybarn.com/products/p3099/index.cfm?pkey=cprwwinshd&cm_ven=Gravity_Stream&cm_cat=Natural_Search&cm_pla=Generic&cm_ite=N/A

    Here is a link that might be useful: drape shades

  • 18 years ago

    I wanted to add that these can easily be tied at different lengths to adapt to each window. :) I'll dig out a pic of dd's pink ones if you like. I just kind of thought WOW they really "go" in this room! IMO. of course. :)