I think the rings could be a nice detail, and add some textural interest. I don't think of shirred panels as formal, so the clip rings could actually be a more dressed up touch for you.

I would like to see the rod hung higher above the window, to help balance the height of the armoire, so the clip rings will give you some extra length that you might need. I think having your moire panels on either side and sheers in the center, all on one rod and all the same length, would be nice.

I Love your new bedding! I agree with les. I like the clip rings also. I can't wait to see your finished beautiful room!

Hi, Les,
Thanks for the response. Yes, I am planning to hang the rod higher. I hadn't thought about using sheers in the center. I was thinking more of a valence that would be on the same rod as the panels. Hmmm --- you have given me something else to think about. Thanks!!

Thanks for the compliment Cdecker. I love the current bedding and the new. My search was for "summer" bedding as I wanted a change. I found the whole set of Revere Gold at Macy's ---- It was $350 marked down to $49.99 and then 10% off - couldn't pass it up - I'll worry about summer bedding in a few months!!
I just found this curtain pic which I think would work. As I studied it, the top is just a continuation of the panel and flips over the top, then the rings clip on. I could make the center portion over the window the same as the flip-over part on the sides and it would look uniform all the way across. Just a thought until I find the next picture and change my mind.

I had a valance in between side panels in my living room and dining room when we first lived here. I didn't want anything blocking the windows, so I figured that was a good solution to finish the top area of the window all the way across. Drapes never needed to close.

On the 11 foot-wide bow window, it looked fine. On the 6 foot wide DR windows, it reminded me of a woman with straight hair and straight bangs - kind of like Cher in the 1960's.

Since you have the shades on the windows that you don't really want to show off, I think the sheers in the middle would work. Because the treatment will be on rings, you can always push them aside if you want the whole window exposed for more light while the shade is up.

Thanks for the thought, Les. Sheers are certainly an option - maybe I also need to see what else I could use instead of the shades. Maybe the panels themselves can just open and close, but then I would have to make them wider. Since they will only be about 13", I was planning to make each side half the width of the fabric - which would still give me double fullness.

What about making a roman shade for each window out of the same fabric as the drapery panels on either side, and getting rid of the roller shade? I have also seen kits to cover a roller shade with your own fabric. That way the shade could be down part way and give a more finished feeling to the center area of the window.

These folks will make up roller shades for you in your fabric... or you can get a kit to do it yourself at your fabric store...

Here is a link that might be useful: Custom roller shades

Oceanna, I had thought of custom roller shades, but I know they are much, much thicker than the vinyl and I don't think I would be able to use the inside mount like I have now, based on the way the windows are built -- but I am going to look into it. Love your gallery threads, BTW.
Les, thanks for bringing up the roman shade idea. I actually had thought of that when I redid the room 4 years ago and bought the current bedding set. But I made valences instead, which I never really liked. They just didn't seem to finish the windows. About a year ago, I bought the sheers currently on the windows, just to get rid of the valences. They are not quite the right color, or style for that matter, but an improvement over the valences. I really want the windows to have a finished, custom look.
When the shades are rolled completely up, they almost disappear against the white of the window, so they will "do", but I really want to get rid of them. I think I am going to make the side panels first, then go from there. Problem with me is that I want everything done and completed yesterday! It drives me crazy to have unfinished projects, but I know the drapes are going to take a bit of thinking as well as time to get them right.