The grids and window style are a big contemporary shift. Not sure the pelmet really fits now.

I'd keep it, adds interest to the room.

Please add a photo that shows the pelmet and the adjacent crown molding next to the window area. This is a fine finishing touch for a traditional room where you prefer not to show joints in an angled curtain rod.

I took another screen shot of the above photo - but zoomed in. Can you see it now? Thanks.

Thanks for zoomed photo. It looks very well made. What I meant was to take a photo of the wall sideways next to the pelmet beyond the windows, not above and below it.

It's the best way to conceal drapery rods if your intention is to have drapes on the windows.

The pelmet hides the curtain rod. If you get rid of it and keep the molding, you're going to have a visible curtain rod, which will not make the room look less "heavy." It will add clutter. The crown molding fits with the rest of the room. In an older house, you need molding to prevent cracks or lack of perfection where the wall meets the ceiling from being visible.

Ah ok. Unfortunately I can’t for now. What would that tell you? They are indeed very well made. I was picturing - once complete - that you’d walk into the room and see mostly glass - facing the beautiful forest. Now I’m torn - the pelmet would hide definitely hide any hardware - but it makes my eye stop - I would see moulding - then a big wood box - then window/forest - as opposed to nice moulding then window/forest. Hope that is clear. A much younger niece said she would try to “AI” it?

IMO you might decide to not do drapes since privacy does not seem to be na issue . Even if you do nothing wrong with seeing a nice draperty rod ans pretty finails I think it looks heavy . I like the new windows and they appear to not be as traditional either

"I was picturing - once complete - that you’d walk into the room and see mostly glass - facing the beautiful forest."

If that's the goal, why not get rid of the pelmet and the draperies? Other than in my bedroom so I can darken it, I don't have any window coverings. Remember:

The spotlight effect is the psychological phenomenon by which people tend to believe they are being noticed more than they really are. Being that one is constantly in the center of one's own world, an accurate evaluation of how much one is noticed by others is uncommon. The reason for the spotlight effect is the innate tendency to forget that although one is the center of one's own world, one is not the center of everyone else's.

So passersby are likely not interested in what you are doing and peering in your window.

Thanks for the feedback.

Here is the AI mockup recommendation that “solves” the issue. The privacy need is only on the lower part of the window - our block is a popular walking spot.

The sheers on the end are there to soften the edges. Could just be stationary panels?

Even with a less prominent colored rod - still an eyesore? Too casual? I’m encouraged that there isn’t a strong feeling that the pelmet isn’t coming across as a heavy box..

Yeah, it's called nighttime.

FYI - your AI photo did not post.

Strange. I see it but will post again.

Thanks for letting me know @dani_m08!

Lol, wdccruise. yes, I suppose my entire house is a series of ”black holes at night” since the only window coverings I lower at night are the bedroom shades. All the other shades are left UP since I crave lots of light in a house during the day & don’t bother lowering them at night. Also, I have lots of landscape lights outdoors & I love the look at night.

Wdccruise …. the ”spotlight effect” explains the conduct of a former relative of mine. She had every window covered 24/7 even though there was no one around to see in. Weird, she lived like a vampire, even though we have beautiful weather & her home is secluded. When I’d ask her about it, she’d always say there ”might be people looking in”.

K Laurence: " I have lots of landscape lights outdoors & I love the look at night."

Not good. Follow Dark Sky Principles and see the stars. View your plants in the daytime.

Wdccruise …. Mine are all very low voltage & light the plants only. Not only that, they’re under very wide 4’ eaves so no danger of violating Dark Sky principles, so you can relax, lol.

AI often just "fixes" problems, like vey little space for curtain rods. I'm doubtful that you can get a result that looks like that. The curtain rods look too small to me for the curtains and your actual space. I would never rely on an AI mockup to show me how something will look. Search for curtains and curtain rods and figure out what something would actually look like in that space. You could certainly have sheers while keeping the pelmets. That would be the lightest look. Those cafe curtains AI gave you are too low for much privacy and they would look a lot better at the height of the top of your lower window.

Thanks. And you’re right, @Sigrid. I need some sort of visual even if not perfect - but would not rely on it. Also agree that the cafe curtains are poorly hung. Do you think keeping pellet is workable then?

I cannot tell you how much I hate fake drapery panels . If you want drapes the do drapes thet can close and still be full and look elegant .I use solar shades to control UV and heat they give you daytime privacy and let you keep the view. If noght time privacy is the issue then I add drapes 3x fullness and clsed at night Honestly unles you run around naked in front of those windows no one cares what you are doing

Thanks @Patricia. With pellet? And just a mention - I get the spotlight effect. Slightly guilty. The truth is though - and it’s partly endearing and partly unsettling - is that the neighbors do confess to being openly curious - they’ve told me “they love walking the block looking to homes and wondering what people are doing”. They’re much older, were the “new kids on the block” , but there is stop and stare component. Harmless - just more uncomfortable when you’re especially private.