She asked and I was honest. And we have a very different kind of friendship. Complete honesty and it works. I am not asking for relationship advice but I do I appreciate any design suggestions

Hi. Can anyone suggest anything. My friend is asking for some design advice.

Tell her theyre very nice and will look nice. The drapes will make your friend happy and you should be happy too. She has a flair for the fancy - I think you should respect that. She wants her quality of life increased. The drapes dont ethically or morally hurt anyone.

If she already asked, and you gave her your honest opinion that you don’t like them and she’s going ahead with it because she still likes them, what can you do? I agree with your opinion of them but what does it matter?

Let it go It‘s her place. Let her do her thing and don’t stress it. IMHO

You gave your “honest” opinion to your friend and it sounds like you are trying to prove a point rather than wanting to help your friend’s design dilemma. Guess you want the Houzz community to gang up on your friend...?

Re-reading my original post, I can see how it might appear to some as insensitive but in all honesty I was trying to make the post light and slightly (and unsuccessfully) humorous.

She came to me asking for advice about window treatments. She knows I rave about the houzz community and the great design advice I have gotten but she doesn’t really post to forums. She kept asking me for examples and suggestions. But rather than imposing my decorating style on her I thought I would reach out to Houzz for help.

She came to me again yesterday asking for suggestions and I told her about the post I made. She had a good laugh at the response I got and will surely enjoy the new ones. As I said we have that kind of relationship. She is anxiously awaiting your advice and is excited to see your visions.

As much as you may think I am judging her, please don’t judge my friendship. This is a misunderstanding. But she really is asking for help and I am trying to be a good friend and help.

Totaly with you. Those curtains are not the best. But I don’t know the style of the rest of her house to determine what I think goes. Would definitely prefer to see a roller shade in the dining area. And a roller shade with sheer curtains on top in the family room. But again, depends on the furniture,paint colors, overall style...

You can show her how they might look in her space and let her decide if it works for her. It is only important if she likes it.

Thx. I will

I will chime in here with NO judgements on anything else but the actual curtains! For the sliding glass doors, a valance is not practical there and I would remove it. Curtain panels on each side of the sliding doors are fine but the valance just blocks all the natural light and is awkward for anyone to walk through.

Got it. The curtains your friend likes are very outdated and, I’m sorry, look cheap. Curtains these days are much simpler in design and tend to be side panels only. That being said, the pattern of fabric can be almost anything. If your friend wants to get her style on, have her choose a big bold pattern. Sample photos have a garland of flowers above sliders, maybe something with large flowers?

No, absolutely not. Those need to go back to the store. If she was using them in a formal living room, then maybe, but not where she wants to put them.

As long as we’re being honest, no curtains will improve the sliders when outside the deck needs a good decluttering. LOL

Actually I don’t think there is room for any curtains on slider nor do they seem necessary for privacy. Another point, the curtains picked out would look fabulous in a 1950’s funeral home.

Back in the 80s, I felt in love with the look of a full window Austrian shade. You know the kind ... like this:

To my still-evolving eye, this was the height of window treatment beauty, and right before I pulled the trigger on what would've been the massive (for me) expense of having them custom made, someone dear to me said that this style of shade had always reminded her of a funeral home. And suddenly I saw it clearly. These WERE the go-to funeral home window treatments in many places I'd seen, and I absolutely did not want that in my home.

So yeah... the comparison to funeral home decor just might be the reality check your friend needs.

Something like this would look nice. Clean and bright. A box valence is something she could probably DIY as well.
https://www.houzz.com/photos/rye-house-beach-style-dining-room-new-york-phvw-vp~147111534

Thanks all for chiming in. I sent her the link to the post so she can get some ideas. Keep them coming!!! And as suspected she had a great laugh at my expense...

Sorry Brown Dog but they just came from Kohl’s last week - expensive and new! Might look/be outdated but they’re still selling them in 2020. Not what I was really looking for but was trying some new styles.... thanks for everyones input.

When we bought this house there were expensive drapes, sheers behind, and valances in front. 3 rods, an elaborate setup. Last summer I got fed up with the heaviness and totally removed the front rod and valances. Much improved and it’s lighter and brighter. The valances are folded and stuffed in the front closet. I couldn’t throw them away cause I know they were pricey, but I’m not going to put them back up.

Maybe it would be more effective for your friend to post here. People may be more apt to offer advice to a person who asks for it herself/himself.

Dee Walther- are you Jeannie B's friend who purchased this drape? You say thanks for everyone's input so I'm thinking you are. Does that also mean you and Jeannie no longer need help/suggestions?

Ditto - tedbixby!

Yes Dee is my friend with the drape dilemma. It can be easy to misinterpret things in posts, so my apologies tedbixby, if I mistake your comment as off putting, but I hope you can see that she’s thanking everyone because she’s greatful. I have read some wonderful suggestions but it can be confusing and get lost in the post so I’m summing them up for her here:
-forget the treatments on the sliders
all together
-bold pattern on treatments (floral)
-roller shade in dining area, and roller shade with sheer curtains on top in family room

Much appreciated to all that offered constructive suggestions! Happy holidays

No need to apologize Jeannie as once you explained the situation better later on in the thread than it was understandable from where you were coming from. I've been on Houzz a long time and we see our share of "friends" who have a big heart of wanting to help their friend but in reality the friend really doesn't want the help and it ends up being a waste of time for everyone. So everything is fine and now you and Dee have some ideas to work from. And if you two still haven't figured it out pop back here. Happy Holidays to both of you, too.

I just came across these. They have the look of curtains w/ valance. But not actually a valance. Any opinion (not necessarily the color but the styles). Thx!

Oops. Pic here

I think those are nice, Jeannie.

Those would look nice in the dining room, Jeannie.

I assume roller shade means "top down bottom up" or something like these.