I prefer the curtains higher up. You actually covered up the frames with the rod, if the rods were higher you would be able to see more of the frame. This is personal taste and you will get different opinions here!

A few options for the sun/heat. Solar window film technology has changed from many years ago and you can now get better fade/heat protection without having to use a dark tint. Take a look at the Huper Optik brand.

You could inside mount some simple "old-style" roller shades or inside mount some duette type cellular shades for more heat control. Use white and they will blend into the window frames when rolled/pulled up.

I think the curtains need to come to the floor (or pooling slightly is ok), but not above the floor. Are your current curtains long enough to raise them up? Is so, I'd definitely move them up few inches. There is good advice on the web about hanging drapes, I think Pottery Barn has a tutorial to help. I'd prob put woven roman shades behind them to go with your cottage home. You can pull them up when not needed.

Personally I would leave the curtains where you have them. As for shutting out the heat, I would use white roller shades (inside mounted) and pull them all the way down to shut out the heat and all the way up when you want the beautiful view. Roller shades, mounted inside will barely be noticable when rolled up.

I think they're perfect. I'm in a small minority of disliking curtains hung a lot higher than the window. My eye's go straight to the high curtain rods and I can't appreciate the curtains. If that makes sense. I never understood the concept of hanging curtains THAT high. lol.

I think.. I will leave the drapes where they are (they do just touch the floor) . The more I thought about it, one of the reasons I hung them here were because the adjoining breakfast room is paneled, with no window casing at all. It looks weird with just drapes, and I hung a valance over it to hide it... but I may revisit this again in the future! lol

The shade.. I have thought of that, but using a shade I would block the entire view for hours during the day. I would see like to see the view, with blinds, I could tilt them upward and still see out & let light in. My other option I thought of is roller solar shades.... just thought maybe since the rest of the house was blinds I should go with blinds, but I feel that the opinions here is NOT to use blinds... ?

cat_mom has a shade that you can see through but it blocks the sun...hmm...not sure what they are called...maybe they are the solar shades ? They come in black or white..she has black. You can see through them very well. I was in a restaurant that had the white ones and I was amazed at how well you could see out and yet they blocked the heat and sun.

I would get something like that before I would get shades that have to be tilted. I don't care for those ..just my opinion. All others would block your view which is lovely.

Here is a link that might be useful: maybe you will see something here

I agree with trailrunner. I would go with solar shades, they roll completely up like the old roller shades so you can hardly see them when up and when down you can get different intensities so you block as much rays as you want. You can see right thru them very well but no one can see in.
They are a bit pricey but so worth it.
How are you feeling these days?
I have been wondering how you were recuperating.

lyban, thanks for asking! Getting better everyday, down to walking with a cane, and I think I'll be able to get rid of that soon! Started PT 2 weeks ago...

I did have solar shades once.. think I will look into them again!

oh..I forgot you had surgery...I am so glad you are on the mend !! Hope you and your DH had a wonderful day and no stress !! don't worry about the windows..get well !! c

Glad you are making progress! I would do bottom up duets on those windows! They would not show at all when you wanted the room totally open, and you can still have your view with the lower portion blocked, then pulled all the way up when the afternoon sun is killing you. And, you still get light either way.

Nancy