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jennifer_williams8429

window dilemma with build in too close

5 months ago

Hi! Please excuse the mess—we’re still settling in after the move. I’m planning to decorate this office/craft room in bright colors, but I’m running into a challenge: the builder placed the windows too close to the bookshelves, which is making it hard to figure out how to dress the windows. I’ve attached an inspiration photo for the color palette (though I accidentally uploaded it before the actual office photo). I’m still undecided on fabric since the ones I loved have been discontinued, but my main issue right now is figuring out how to work with the window placement. Any suggestions?



Comments (14)

  • 5 months ago

    as @jck910 says, Roman shades. You could even buy the colorful inspiration curtains and have them made into Roman shades.

    Jennifer Williams thanked apple_pie_order
  • 5 months ago

    all the window coverings do not need to match. Inside mount top down/bottom up for the tight spaces and another style roman shade with color and pattern for the others.

    You sound stressed, one step at a time, you'll get there.

    check out Blinds.com I've had great luck with them, and often great sales.

  • PRO
    5 months ago

    I wouldn't try to do drapes. There are lots of patterned roman shades and blinds that would be great !




    Good luck!

    Jennifer Williams thanked Debbi Washburn
  • 5 months ago

    No to drapes. You can get a custom upholstered valance with blinds housed inside or romans. Either will use bright fun fabric to your liking.


    I have a question about your desk set up. It seems really shallow, like you would be sitting quite close to such big screens and it would be uncomfortable on your eyes. My husband is looking for a desk and wants a really deep one so he can look at his big screen without hurting his eyes. It is hard to find a deep desk. Is your set up comfortable for you? How did you decide on the depth of your desk?

  • 5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    Kendrah, define what you consider "deep" for a desk?

    My built-in desk area is 25.5" deep, but my monitor sits 11.5" from the front edge, so I would be fine with a desk that is 18" deep ... in other words, deep enough for the monitor base to fit and give me the 11.5" in the front.

    How "uncomfortable" a screen is to an individual's eyes will depend on so many factors (biological, physical and perceived), so I don't think there is one perfect distance for everyone.

    Just like some people prefer to sit in the first few rows of a movie theater, some in the middle and some all the way in the back.

  • 5 months ago
    last modified: 5 months ago

    @Kendrah My main monitor sits about 17" from the front edge of the desk, and I usually sit a little further back than that. I find the distance really comfortable. I could technically push the monitor back more, but I have baskets behind it that neatly store all the cords, so they stay out of sight. The side monitors might look closer since they're nearer to the edge of the desk, but from my sitting position, they're actually farther away than the main one.

    My husband, on the other hand, prefers his monitor much farther back, so I think it really comes down to personal preference. For reference, my desk is about as deep as standard kitchen cabinets. Honestly, I just asked the cabinet installers to add some desk-height cabinets in my office when they were doing the kitchen—so that's how I ended up with this desk setup!

  • 5 months ago

    I actually really like the look of the Roman shades—they’d totally solve my problem. The funny thing is, my husband just put blinds in there, lol. He’s going to love that!

  • 5 months ago

    What would you choose for the bay window—curtains, additional shades, or a valance?

  • 5 months ago

    I asked chatgpt to show me roman shades, looks like it got confused on what is a window. lol


  • 5 months ago

    i also asked it to show me a valance, this is what it did.


  • 5 months ago

    I like the blinds with a valance. You can have a bit more light control with blinds - though you may not care about that. They are easier to clean. And, your husband won't feel like his work is futile.


    Really nice room. Lovely views. Great storage.

  • 5 months ago

    You can do a faux roman shade as a valance with the blinds (obviously not this fabric)






    Jennifer Williams thanked jck910
  • PRO
    5 months ago

    You have some awesome views I would do solar shades on those windows to give you heat and UV control and let you keep the view all day. They aslo give you daytime privacy then do the roman shades if night time privacy is an issue . It will make that space so much nicer to work in all day.