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sunnny_gw

Window treatments for a NON window treatment type girl

14 years ago

Hello. I'm needing some help deciding what to do in my living area. I like the NO window treamtent look because I like the feel of the outdoors being inside but I'm wondering if I need something to soften the look and also the evening sun is painfully bright. I found some nice roman shades at Lowes which are faux silk and the color matches my wall color very well. I think I'd like them here but would like some input and ask if I would need something like a sheer or anything else with them?

A sheer? A simple topper thing? Something more substantial?We have roman shades in the bedrooms and really like them.

Now, the tour continues and we come to the piano nook. I'm planning on doing a swagged sheer that would drape to the floor on only the center windows (haven't figured out exactly what yet but will figure it out) What color would like good?

THEN.. LOST in the dining area. The living area and dining area are open to each other. There's 5 windows which are BRIGHT... can't-see-the-person-next-to-you-when-the-sun-is-setting type sunlight. I need something but can't come up with anything. If I do roman shades in the living area should I have them here as well? Just roman shades? Then a topper of some sort?? I saw some roll up shades at Lowes that were actally very cool but wonder if they are OUT OUT OUT! :) They have 2 layers - the top layer is sheer and the other one can be any fabric we want. But I don't want to be the odd woman out and have my friends and family saying "UGHH she has roller shades!"

Here's my pics and any help or advice would be wonderful. Lowes doesn't carry the roman shades in the width I need for the dining area windows but hopefully I could find them somewhere else. They would need to be 26 inch.

I'm a decent seamstress and could make something if not too difficult.

I'd love to see some photos and inspiration pics of others that might be similar or give me INSPIRATION!

Thanks so much,

Sunny





This is a photo of our eating area. I will be refinishing the hutch and adding crown moulding to match my cabinets.Pardon the temporary paper shades. :)

Comments (14)

  • 14 years ago

    You have a lovely home and beautiful windows. If you don't like window treatments, I would go with the roman shades and put them everywhere for a cohesive look. Although I'm a (simple, no frills) curtain person myself, in your space and with your likes I think the roman shades that match the walls would be perfect. I would forget the toppers, sheers or anything else that you don't really like, because it would be a pity to break up the beautiful lines of your windows. I personally wouldn't do anything different in the dining area since I think a cohesive look in areas that can be seen as a unit is best. On the other hand, if you like the roller shades I wouldn't worry about what anyone else thinks. Only you can decide if you like the look and it will be appropriate there. Good luck and trust your own instincts. You've done a great job in decorating so far!

  • 14 years ago

    Simple panels in a color similar to your wall color wouldn't detract from the view.

    By the way, your home is lovely!

  • 14 years ago

    Inside mount Romans would look nice. I would go with the same color in both rooms with your open floor plan. They usally come with a 6 inch valance so unless you really wanted to I would not do a top treatment, unless you decide on roller shades which I don't care for much. But I would use a top treatment on them to cover up the roller.
    Only draw backs of the romans are their either up or down, can't control the light too much. Another treatment to consider is horizontal sheer shade. Soft and elegant but can control light much better. Here's a link if you want to take a look.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Horizontal Sheer Shades

  • 14 years ago

    Beautiful! Leave the living room windows alone. For the windows around the piano, I would swag fabric starting at ceiling height and droop it down on windows, mabe a six inch droop. then let the fabric go down to the floor on each side.
    For you eating area, what about stencilling some words above the windows? no window treatments. just stencilling a saying across the top? some saying that you like.
    Your windows are beautiful. I wouldn't cover them up.

  • 14 years ago

    no help here, but your room is gorgeous! Would love to hang out there:)
    Please tell me about your floors.... we are about to plunge in with some new floors.

  • 14 years ago

    Wow - You have a gorgeous home! Since it sounds like you enjoy the outdoors view and value simplicity, I would think about simple bamboo roman blinds (from overstock or target) - I love their texture and simplicity - they are inherently neutral and I think they just always look great. Plus, you have lovely warm decor and it complement your hues for a casual look. You could add curtain panels (like the photo) but they also looks great on their own.

    {{!gwi}}

  • 14 years ago

    Inside mount Romans would look nice. I would go with the same color in both rooms with your open floor plan. They usally come with a 6 inch valance so unless you really wanted to I would not do a top treatment, unless you decide on roller shades which I don't care for much. But I would use a top treatment on them to cover up the roller.
    Only draw backs of the romans are their either up or down, can't control the light too much. Another treatment to consider is horizontal sheer shade. Soft and elegant but can control light much better. Here's a link if you want to take a look.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Horizontal Sheer Shades

  • 14 years ago

    Can I ask if your home is a "Victorian Reproduction" home, or if it is maybe a home inspired by Victorian sensibilities? The setup in the room you've pictured, the amount and placement of windows, all say "Victorian" to me. It almost looks like a Victorian Parlor to me.

  • 14 years ago

    Beautiful space. I think some draperies in the piano room would soften the space and add some texture in the room. I can see roman shades in the eating area and would leave the LR alone OR add drapes that start right below the ceiling and then swag them so most of the window is uncovered (like trisha suggested).

  • 14 years ago

    We are not window treatment people either, but have started to add some as we've reno'd/decorated a few of the rooms in our house; two bathrooms and our office. They really do help to finish off a room. That said, we're not covering our kitchen bow window, or the DR bow window, though I might consider something for the DR window at some point--just for the window panes themselves, not to cover the whole bow-unit.

    We used Hunter Douglas' Designer Screen Shades in the Roman Shade style (ours are mounted inside the frames becuase of our window style/frame depth). The shades are very clean-lined and range in sheerness. With the sheerer weaves/fabrics, you can see outside with them down and they allow a lot of light in.

  • 14 years ago

    I think some really nice molding around the windows and plain inside mount roman shades would be beautiful.

  • 14 years ago

    Beautiful home!!! I like what Laurainlincoln suggested~

  • 13 years ago

    I agree, the usualy mini blinds, vertical blinds, etc get old quick. I've always been a fan of the more unique blinds such as roman shades and bamboo shades. For that room specifically bamboo shades won't really work but roman shades definitely well, if not there are always drapes.

    Here is a link that might be useful: Discount Blinds & Shades

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