I assume the alcove will be the laundry room and you want to hide it from guests or when it gets too messy. Is this your new home or a rental? Could you hang curtains on the alcove side of the opening so they won't be visible at all times?

I don’t know why you couldn’t. Unless a person opens them, they’ll never know that’s not a window. You could set a couple of chairs and an end table between them in front, just like one would if it really was a window. Arranged, of course, to allow the ”laundress“ 😆 easy access.

When the curtains are closed, the front room will lose a lot of light. Currently, the stackable w/d are visable. Where in the room will they be placed?

What is your goal? Hanging doors would not be impossible.

Hello!! Thank you all. The laundry will go in the closet. I planned to put a small desk in front of the windows. There is not a lot of space ( just a couple of inches ) to the left and right of the windows and I want drapes. I don't want roman shades. But, drapes will cover a lot of the window. They don't need to be useful ( open / close ) just decorative. So, I was wondering how strange a rod and drapes would look like on the outside / framing the alcove??

Thanks for the additional information. So the alcove will hold a desk and office- type things?

You could absolutely hang drapes on the outside of the opening, as long as you keep them closed. If they’re pulled open or tied back, IMO they’d look odd as heck.