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rgrin2000

Window treatments for off-center kitchen window

10 years ago

Our kitchen table is at the end of the island, pushed up close to the wall. We have a bench along that wall. The window is about 10" off-center to the room and the light fixture above the table. I want to camouflage it so that it looks symmetrical. In the living room (nearby and within line-of-site), I have floor-to-ceiling curtains. So far, I see two options:

- floor-to-ceiling curtains that hang open to the sides of the bench to hide the difference between the two window edges (DH thinks this might get too dirty in a kitchen?)

- apron-length curtains hung long enough to cover the bottom of the sill and hide the difference between the two window edges (I think the kids might accidentally pull on it as they sit and slide on the bench.)


Any advice or ideas?


Comments (11)

  • 10 years ago

    A pic would be so helpful here....

  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    Good point! Please forgive the late-night, poorly-lit iPhone shot. The room looks bad and bare, and I haven't done anything but the necessities since the window keeps throwing me off. We are looking for an electrician to update some wiring and install a pendant over the table instead of that can light, though I'm sure we can't do anything about that stupid ceiling vent. The angle is looking straight on across the island to the table/window. Door to the garage on the right. We have no coat closet, so a shelf is serving the purpose for the moment. Opening to the living room is on the left. The living room has these curtains floor-to-ceiling. We will probably be moving/selling within the next 6-24 months, so we need to keep an eye on eventual staging and neutrality. Thanks for any advice!

  • 10 years ago

    I would line the table up with the center of the window and ignore the fact that it doesn't line up with the island. The table is on the other side of the room and a different seating area. Then you can do any treatment you want on the window be it just a valance, side panels or whatever.

  • 10 years ago

    Then the light would be off-center.

  • 10 years ago

    Also, you can swag a pendant from the can to the center of the window-centered table, no electrician needed.

    rgrin2000 thanked sheesh
  • 10 years ago
    last modified: 10 years ago

    You want to center around the most prominent and proximate feature, which, in this case is the window. Center the table and the light around the window. What happens on either side of the window won't matter as it is already different...in width, in door placement. Strict symmetry is only for a very formal space, which this is not; or often an aid for novices who don't yet trust their eye to create balance through massing and scale. Go to houzz.com and look at some kitchens with tables...if you look closely, you'll see a lot that is far from perfect symmetry or balance, but it all works together.

    For example, this kitchen...the table is not centered on the island, the island lights are not centered relative to the table, but they are over the island... and the dining light is centered over the dining table....each is appropriate to its own space.

    Dining · More Info

    rgrin2000 thanked Annie Deighnaugh
  • 10 years ago

    the electrician will be able to move the light to center--- I think that's a much better solution rather than trying make it look like the window is bigger... if patching the ceiling well is an issue and you don't want to hire, you could get a larger (plain) ceiling medallion to help cover it...

    it's so frustrating when builders don't notice/don't care about things like this!!

    rgrin2000 thanked busybee3
  • 10 years ago

    Thanks so much! I hadn't thought about moving or swaging the light over. With an electrician coming anyway, that shouldn't be too difficult. Now to determine the window treatment. Even though we've got the blinds in the window, I think it looks naked. I like bamboo shades, but DH says it looks like we're trying to live on an island and won't have them. (Roll eyes.) But I can't afford to spend a lot of money on custom Roman Shades either. Any recommendations on that?

  • PRO
    10 years ago

    Move the table, swag the light. Are you cabinets black? Is that why the table and bookcase are black?



  • 10 years ago

    I would do what everyone suggested but might try placing the table longways parallel to the window