Room in the raw; first drape question

16 years ago

I emptied the bedroom today and returned only the bare necessities. I'm replacing the furniture and trying to make this small room function for us.

The room is 11 x 14. In order to have room for two large bachelor's chests (to serve as nightstands) I had to put the bed under the larger window, centered on a 14' west wall. The east wall has a closet that prevents me from having two nightstands if the bed is there.

(1) My first question is about the drapes' length. I'm ordering traverse rods tomorrow. Would it be better to get sill-length drapes, or hang the draperies from the crown molding all the way to the floor?

(2) If I choose the short drapes, should the rod be placed closer to the window molding?

Each window has a floor vent centered under them. I have two large dogs. The laundry room is just outside the bedroom. Dust, dog hair, and vent drafts are facts of life.

Please disregard everything you see in the photos. All is being replaced but I've decided getting drapes up, and purchasing the large nightstands/chests will be the first step. (3) Unless I should start somewhere else?

The dresser at the end of the bed is going away, too, just as soon as I find a tall, seven-drawer chest to fit on the south wall next to the doorway.

(4) If you had to live with these two windows (new Marvins!) how would you dress them?

West Wall (The new bed will have either an upholstered headboard, or a plain, flat wood panel headboard. I quilt; the bed will have a selecton of traditional quilt tops.)

North Wall (Viewed from the pocket door entrance. Dresser will be leaving.)

DH has a seperate dressing room by the main floor bath. The one small closet will be all mine. His chests-of-drawers are also in his dressing room. Except for a robe, houseshoes, and a few sweaters, all his clothes are in his dressing room.

The tiny sconce on the east wall is left over from when the bed was on the wall. It will be coming down, too.

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Comments (6)

loribee
16 years ago
You have the blinds on 1 window so I would repeat those on the other window and I would def start with floor length drapes...great jumping off point.
graywings123
16 years ago
I don't like the plan of placing the bed over a vent, which is what will happen if you place the bed in front of the window.

How many inches of space do you have left over for nightstands on the east (non-window wall)? I realize two bachelors chests would give storage, but possibly two very narrow nightstands would allow you to keep the bed away from the vents.
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caroline94535
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks, ladies, I need all the suggestions possible. This is not a "forever" home, but it's got to be liveable at least.

Loribee, the blind was a necessity; that window looks out to the neighbor's house. I wanted something more elegant, but with the dust (large-scale farming area) and dog hair, mini-blinds seemed the most cleanable solution.

The bare window opens to the large sunroom (eventually to be a four-seasons sunroom). This wall was the exterior wall of the house, until someone built the sunroom on in the 80s. They left the window. I do see the point of making the windows match, even though these drapes will be closed 99% of the time. I'll order the blind.

Graywings...You have a valid point; "fire safety" is always first in my mind. I have the bed pulled out 8-10 inches from the wall. The vent is not covered by the bed, but it is directly behind the bed. This is not good, either, is it?

I could block off the vent, and possibly check into the costs of moving it, but I certainly don't want to waste money in this little house.
graywings123
16 years ago
Pulling the bed away from the wall takes care of your vent issue, but eats into the space at the foot of the bed.

I realize I didn't respond to your drape question. Full length drapes are standard, but I understand the dog fur and vent issues. I'm planning to put short drapes in my bedroom, but I'm planning on lightweight cotton panels shirred on a rod.

Buying a traverse rod means you are going with pinch pleated drapes. I used to say without a doubt that everyone should use floor length drapes. But really interesting shortie drapes, starting just above the window and maybe ending 4 inches below the apron, could be a cool, retro look. But if you do long drapes, please, all the way down to the floor, not 2 or 3 inches short of the floor.

Have you ever angled the bed in the corner?
tuesday_2008
16 years ago
You say you quilt and plan on using a variety of quilts for bed covering. I love plain cotton panels in white, ecru, or cream depending on the background colors with quilt coverlets. I am attaching an example (just to give you an idea). Notice the length - like Gray was talking about. You could go with old fashioned roller shade for privacy.

If you quilts have significant pattern/color, you might fold a pretty, solid matelasse across the end of bed. This room is just begging for the slightly country cottage look. Keep it simple.

Tuesday

Here is a link that might be useful: Cotton Panels
caroline94535
Original Author
16 years ago
Tuesday I love the plain cotton panels, too. I might reconsider the "floor length, pinch pleated" route.

While "Country Cottage" wasn't my first choice, the room, its colors, the floor, and the moldings and trim are saying "I yam what I yam!"

GrayWings I agree totally, if I choose floor length drapes, they'll touch the floor, dog hair and all! The Swiffer is my friend.

We're going to test the bed in the corner tomorrow, but I don't know how that will work with my need for large end tables. It's certainly worth a try, though.

Now, two more curtain concerns.

(1) If I go with cotton panels, similar to Tuesday's suggestion, could they be lined? Should they be lined? Can they be hung without the tiebacks?

Could the short, plain, cotton panels be layered over a patterned lace panel? Could the cotton panels be a color or print, and the lace undertreatment be ivory?

(2) If I chose to hang ceiling-to-floor pleated drapes, could they be layered over sill-length lace or sheer panels? The lace/sheer panels would fit from the top of the window trim to the apron. The drapes would be ceiling to floor.

Would any of these ideas be off or weird?