Perhaps roman blinds (fabric or bamboo whichever you like) hung well above the windows to add height visually?

Why are your chairs so far apart? Is there a reason? I would put draperies there but extend them beyond the window frames to make each window appear larger.
I would bring the chairs closer together so they look conversational as if the two people sitting in them are interested in what the other has to say.

tinan - I hadn't though about shades. The rod on the large window is mounted right at the top of the sash windows, and below the arch. It is at the same level as the top of the other windows. Would blinds hung higher on the side windows look off kilter?

patricia - it is a fairly small room, and moving the chairs closer together meant moving them further into the center of the room (to avoid the desk.) They just look odd sitting in the middle of the room. As to drapes, would you go with color, or white/ivory/something else?

Thanks for your responses.

I would get ivory drapes for the large window and ivory roman shades for the two small one. You can get stationary ones for decorative purposes.
Or if you are good with fabric, maybe something with a subtle stripe to bring in the blues and raspberry? There are some people here who are great with fabric and could help if that is the direction you want to go in.
I love all the light that comes in to the room.

I see that you have sheers on your larger window, I would put the same type on the two windows.

I see the room and the furniture as very traditional. So I would go with an asymmetrical window treatment on the 2 windows, and I would change the sheers on the big window to a matching or coordinating fabric. The sheers look too insubstantial to me for such a large and dramatic window.

You could go really formal with something like swags and jabots, with or without the side panels....

{{!gwi}}

Or you could go more relaxed using a tieback to pull the treatment to the left on the left window and the right on the right window. The higher the tieback is placed, the more glass will be exposed.

I was looking for a good example, but failed...but in the process, I came across this gorgeous treatment. Not necessarily for your application, but a great idea.
{{!gwi}}

Here's a pic I took of an old colonial room in Sturbridge Village which I thought was a nice traditional way of getting an asymmetrical window treatment....I kept it in my idea file. They pleated the top to line up with the stripes in the fabric and then added a draw string to pull the curtain back to one side.

I would put sheers on the 2 smaller windows to match the larger window. I also think you need something more vertical hanging above the desk and I'd move the chairs closer together. Nice room from what we can see.

I fail to see how moving the chairs closer together would put them in the middle of the room, but I am not in your room so I cannot see that. I also think if your room is as small as what you say, you should paint all the walls same color. I would use sheers, I suppose, on the 2 small windows at the chair area if I did not intend to change the window covering at the pretty arched window. You have a pretty room, good bones. I do think you need more substantial artwork on the walls.
I would move the small piece of artwork over the desk to the wall by the window and stack it with the piece already there. Then I would buy a substantial wider and taller piece over the desk.
You have a very nice space. Just keep working it. It sometimes takes a while to see what you really want and what works with what you like.

I too would use the same type of curtains for the two smaller windows that you have on the bigger window. IMHO the curtains should be the same on all windows in the same room. Also, do you have another wall for the desk? A nice table with lamp on it between the chairs would look nice and then maybe you could straighten your chairs up and put them closer together. If they look "stuck" in the middle of the room, how about a tall plant in the corner to take up some room?

This post was edited by grandmaof3 on Mon, Feb 25, 13 at 14:17

This is a bit funny, most of the comments are either things I've thought of, or phases this room has been through in the last 18 years. Maybe I'm not as clueless as I thought.

I am good with fabric, so if my as-yet-undefined WTs require sewing, I will do it. I had considered sheers for these windows to match the front window. I used to have asymmetrical short swags, much like the ones pictured in the bedroom. These windows are so close together that full WTs on each seemed like overkill. I really don't want anything too heavy on any of the windows.

There is no other wall for the desk. I am standing in the doorway, on the steps. The wall to my left is French doors into the next room. Those doors are opened against the wall most of the time, so no furniture there. I used to have a ficus tree in the front corner, but it died and I didn't replace it.

Since several people suggested sheers, and I was thinking along that line, I will look for sheers, another tall plant, and a vertical piece of art. I'm really not into art, mostly I have photos taken by people I know, or art painted by someone I know. I have a hard time choosing art that isn't directly relevant to me. I'll keep trying.

Thanks for all the helpful replies!!

I think you are right to avoid heavy or overly ornate window treatments on these windows, it would overwhelm the room and look fussy. I'd stick to blinds - or sheers to match the large window. I wasn't sure if the curtains were staying on the large window. ARe they needed for light control or privacy? It does break up that beautiful window to havr the rod across...

No, the sheers on the large window are mostly decorative. Once in a great while they might get pulled, because that window faces SW, and the sun blinds the person in the next room. But without something down the sides, that window looks really unfinished. I supposed I could put up a white rod that would blend into the window trim.