depends why you are putting up drapes. if its for privacy, you may like the look of sheers or light weight unlined below the transom on one rod, heavier drapes for winter warmth or night privacy above. then you'll still enjoy light coming through the transoms while you lie around in your jammies on the weekend with the sheers closed.

Thank you...privacy is not a concern, its more for the looks. Energy savings from hanging above transom and blocking hot FL weather is a plus...

Agreed, above the transom. 3-4" is probably not enough, the panels will end up blocking much of the window when open and I'm sure you don't want that. Instead you want about 3-4" of the window covered and about 10-12" or so of the wall covered depending on the curtains, material, and how scrunched up you want the curtains when open. Also, to determine the exact placement above the window since the curtains are standard sizes and you want the curtains to just brush the floor, here's my advise, put the curtain on the rod and get a buddy to help out, hold the rod/curtains in place above the window and when the curtain just touches the floor mark the wall and this will be your rod placement. What is the width of the window? Do you know what curtain panels you're getting?

I woul sugeest soalr shades for the sun and heat so you get to keep the view and then hang the drapes above the transom for an elegant look and you need at least 10” on either side of the window to hang the rod and make sure you have at least 2.5 times the width of the window for the drapes and IMO 3 x is nicer looking.

definitely above the transom. It will elongate your windows & give the illusion of higher ceilings. Putting them below the transom will run the risk of stunted looking windows.

Studio IX - I like your suggestion about placement of the rod, so far I measured the top of the transom window and raised the center of the window to 108", figured this is one way to determine the rod placement, any issues with this method in your opinion? I was told that if I use grommets, the panels will collapse and not block the windows. BBB mentioned the panel measures 50" so I plan on using one panel for each window. Window measures about 30" wide

Patricia - My windows are 30" wide, would that mean my rod needs to be 50" wide?

That's a great way to estimate the length. You want at least 4" above the window to 2-3" below the ceiling, anywhere between here is good it just depends on the look and the curtain lengths available. Grommet style will collapse more than others, however you still have 50" of material, it won't collaspe to nothing. Your windows will appear larger the less bunched the panels are when open. If you don't want to cover the wall as far as I originally suggested, I would go 6-7" past the window on each side and leave about 3" of the curtain covering the window when the panel is open. So for the 60" window, the rod would be about 72-74" long.

Thank you! I have the same dual transom window setup in my bedroom and I bought wrap around rods to block light, windows are 35" wide, would I still go 6-7" past window on each side?

Are you doing the same grommet style curtains in the bedroom? If you are then I would probably do 8-9", it's all about proportions and the wider window can handle this.

Hung the wrap around rods last night in my bedroom, went 6" on either side of the window. Also hung the rod over the sliding door, door measures 94" in height, since curtains come in 95" had to hang it right above the door. Any inputs?