I have three curtain rods that are three inch. Two are small and one that's maybe six or seven feet. They cost in excess of three thousand dollars for the rods and brackets...they're just stained wood.

I purchased them from a designer going out of business at a garage sale but I knew her buyer so I learned the price from her when I was looking fir a fourth rod.

Perhaps hand loomed silk would be cheaper :). I didn't end up using the rods where I had planned because of the high cost to do the other windows in that room but will use them in our new house because I have smaller rooms (with less windows). But I never let them go because I knew they cost more than gold lol.

Since you have a window above the FP, I think I would place the rod between the upper and lower window instead of at the top of the upper window.

Even if you can find the 3 or 4 inch diameter rod, I suspect the large rings to go on the rod would be hard to find or pricey. You could put a false hem in the drapes and get a couple extra inches that way.

What about finding coordinating fabric and finding someone to attach it to the bottom to give you extra inches? I would think that finding someone to do that sewing would not be too bad, and probably less than custom rods/rings.

Or, do as gracie suggested and hang below top window. That's what I would do. In fact, it's what I did in my family room. My upper windows are bigger with fan above, but I think it would look ok with yours too. Here's a picture of mine. Sorry for those of you that have seen this a million times.

{{!gwi}}

Ohh! I love yours! You think mine would look ok under the smaller window? I just think that above the to would give it a much more dramatic look. I feel that since the windows on the top are so much smaller, it would look silly. No?

Here is your picture:

It is easy to insert your picture directly into your post by copying and pasting the HTML code into your post.

I like the idea of adding a large border at the bottom of the drapes. And I would take them to the ceiling.

Thanks Terriks!!!

I agree that because your top windows are smaller, it would look better to go to the ceiling. Definitely more dramatic. Also, looking closer, I have more room between the lower and upper windows, making it easier to put rod between. I think you'd be better off adding fabric to the bottom than trying to stretch them by using big rod and long clips.

So you think I should bring the rod all the way to the top of the ceiling? How much space to I leave fro the top? What do you suggest I add to the bottom of the panel? The same color and material so it just blends in or do an accent?

Here are the curtains I am planning on using. I haven't received them yet. Hopefully, I will like them.

NO WAY would I cover the top smaller window. Why? Hang the rod under it and move forward.

I love your windows - very pretty. Although I am not good at window treatments, I was able to find two pictures that may give you a visual of adding onto the panels.

Hard to see but the bottom and inside trim was added to these panels:

This one shows a fixed valance which might be able to be added to your panels. Not sure how that would work but hopefully others more experienced could give you a yeah or nay on its practicality.
{{!gwi}}

IMHO, I like the idea of hanging them from the ceiling with a standard bought rod and embellish the simple panel. HTH

Chris

Interesting varety of suggestions here. I'm a BIG fan of curtians taken all the way up (as long as "all the way up" doesn't cover like 8 feet of wall!), but in your case I would hang them between the two windows.

I would have done the same in the pic a previous poster shared with the arched windows, as she did. Her change in window shape cues a breaking point to me, as does your change in size.

I would also place the rod between the windows. As you are hanging the drapes for effect and not use, you would always see the small window above, between the open drapes. As the center window over the fireplace will not be draped, I think it would look better to accent all three narrow windows by leaving them all uncovered.

Thank you all for your help. You guys are great!!! I definitely have a decision to make. I think I may go with under the window since I wouldn't have to do any customizing.

I will post pics when I get them up there. Hopefully, by the end of next week.

Now for the morning room valances. UGH!

:)
Kathy

I would agree with the others if your window wall wasn't opposite a wall with a much higher ceiling. I'm afraid if you hang your curtain below your small window, your window treatment will look dwarfed by the opposite cathedral(?) wall.
Dee

I think you have to be careful of proportion. You don't have a lot of room on either side of the window, and so if you go with really long drapery, and they are very skinny as you space dictates, I think they might look odd.

That said, my choice would be to paint and build out with trim the space between the upper and lower windows, to make it look like one installation, and run the drapery up to above the top window. I think that will make the area flow nicely, and make the window over the fireplace area feel more special.

If you don't sew, you might check at your local fabric stores. They often have a list of people who are willing to take on these types of jobs.

I would treat all the upper windows as transoms and consider hanging curtains on the inside of the lower windows with tension rods. It will give the entire area a neat look and none of the windows will look out of place. Keep it simple. Or if you want to hang drapes then hang them between the upper and lower windows and leave the center one empty.

Here's a couple of mock ups I did for you:

This one has a wide border at the bottom:

And here they are under the top windows:

terriks- YOUR AWESOME!!! I like them from the top. What do you think? I am going to post a pic of my FR as it looks now painted and so that you can see the whole room. I will do it later this evening when I get home. This is so helpful!! I really appreciate it!!!

KAthy

I definitely like them at the ceiling. They just don't look right below the transom windows.

Hi Kathy, if you're still looking for a solution, i've used closet dowlling in a 3" diameter. It can be purchased at HD or Lowe's by the foot.

I recently went to an estate sale at a $2 million home, and was told by the homeowner it was PVC piping used for the very substantial 6" diameter 'rods'. She said it couldn't be used with a heavy fabric(she had a lined Chenille)as one long rod, but for panels on each side of a window because it would 'bow' in the center. ;o)

Some how I missed that they won't move? If you are talking only two panels one on the left side of the left window and one on the right side of the right window..then I can see how it would balance with the fireplace. I just don't know why anyone would cover light up if privacy isn't an issue. With the "transoms" it isn't, so why cover them?? Are you planning a tie back? I wonder if the swag that would be created is what you want? You are very linear right now, the swag would soften things quite a bit.

I started a new thread about this, but just in case you all didn't see it, here are pics of what the room actually looks like painted. I also posted a pic of what the opposite side looks like. I have just began this decorating process (moved in 6 months ago) so ignore all the misc stuff lying around.

So, I think have decided to do 4 red panels, one on each side of the windows. Bringing them 2 to 3 inches outside the window, to make the windows look bigger. I am planning to take them from the ceiling down to the floor.

What do you think terriks or anyone else for that matter. :)

opposite the fireplace