Question about shade length for french doors

15 years ago

Hi all, it's been a while since I've posted....

I was wondering what you would do about this dilemma: in my morning room I have faux french doors (one opens and one is stationary). For most of the summer months the sun beats down through those doors and blinds us all at the dinner table. We want to put some sort of shade to keep the setting sun out of our faces. DH and I found a custom order natural woven roman shade by Levolor that we love. It also has a built-in valance at the top. Since we know we only want the shades down for one meal 4 months out of the year, we were wondering if it was worth going the full length of the window. The shades will be up 90 % of the time, and we are concerned about the material bunching at the top underneath the valance. Would it be strange to go only half the window length? We are not too concerned about privacy since our neighbors can only see us eating when they are doing their dishes. What do ya'll think?

The shade is rum raisin and will be lined:

Here is a link that might be useful: levolor rum raisin

Featured Answer

Sophie Ingerslew
Original Author

15 years ago

Actually, only the door on the left opens - the other is stationary. I have never opened that door all the way, only because we have a small deck that we never use. I'm not sure if the shades butting up against each other is a concern.

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Comments (6)

deeinohio
15 years ago
Hi:
We have woven wood roman shades on our french doors in the great room, and very rarely extend them since they lead into the sunroom. They go the full length of the door. They don't look bunched. I think they would look the same if they only went half the length. I'd take them to the bottom. Blinds are expensive; you might as well get the full benefit.
Dee
Sophie Ingerslew
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks Dee! Good to know : )
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cliff_and_joann
15 years ago
They won't looked bunched, however they will stick out enough so that the left door won't be able to open all
the way against the right door. That is the problem I
had with mine. I have since made new ones that are short
and really only use them as valances as I don't need them for privacy. There will be about a foot or more space when the door is against the other door -- if you go all the way.
Right now with my short ones I have about a 9" space, when
the door is open.
You have to keep the dust board to a minimal size...Our dust board (for hanging the shade is 1") Don't order the cornice either, as it will just make more problems for opening
the door.
deeinohio
15 years ago
cliff_joann might have something there. Mine open from the center outwards; I didn't notice yours open toward each other. (There's always a hook, isn't there????)
Dee
socalsister
15 years ago
What about just a valance with a roller shade inside?