We would suggest Hunter Douglas blinds/shades. They are great for energy efficient (especially since it is really open, you want to keep the heat or the cold out), green, Child Safe, Lifetime Guarantee etc... It can be a little overwhelming when picking something out, but we highly suggest adding some top/bottom honeycomb shades where you can keep your small top window open (can be closed too) and the bottom ones mostly closed. :)

The gabled ceiling makes drapes a challenge. I see what you mean about the white sheets...though I think they will fall better once they've been hung for some time.

You can do shades outside the frame.


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I would 'embrace the windows'; the upper would be gorgeous with some stained glass panels made to fit inside each; if you don't want to add color then colorless frosted and patterned would go well. Even if it mimicked the 8 little panes and was in the same glass. Below that I would put real rods, with finials, and do draping curtains. larger swags at the edge sides and more of panels in the middle. If they were mine and my hubby wasn't allergic to potmix, I would put ficus trees or something of the like in front of the windows and some plain panels behind to close at night. The curtains you have now would be fine with something to bring the eye to something other than the curtains. I've seen some others' ideabooks where they deck out windows like this, and it isn't that hard to do a little DIY to make your own window treatments... the big thing with your curtains to me is they look 'unfinished' and there are better window people than me; I am sure someone can tell you how to finish punching up what you have. Good luck.

Roman shades are a challenge because so much of the light comes in through the upper portion... Especially now that the leaves have fallen. We have no shade. Inside mounts would be perfect but again, we don't have the depth.

I have a similar problem, but I have two 150" picture windows in my living room and one 120" picture window in my dining room.

I've beat my head red looking for inexpensive solutions for 14 years.

I like the idea of using plants in front of windows since you get a lot of light. You can have some lower and half way if you add a shelf.

Return for a linen from PB or RH. A weightier fabric will hang better and look less like sheets.

These are the PB Emery Linen Cotton curtains.

I love your windows and the treatments are not bad. I would love to see you move the tv to the adjacent wall, where that art is hung. The TV does not work in the corner.

Also you should iron the wrinkles out before hanging. They won't "fall out"

These curtains can be hung three different ways... Curious if the pinch pleat method would made it look more impressive. Yes, need to iron. Hanging them took two hours.. And everything out of me, last night.

Curtain panels that pull almost flat when shut are going to give you that "sheet" look. Panels that keep their pleat and fullness even when closed will not do this. It doesn't look like you have enough fullness in the width of your panels to get that look. Definitely need to steam them, but I think you need more fullness.

I am guessing your windows are about twelve feet wide? That means you need at least six of PB' s 50 inch wide panels in order for the curtains to look right when closed. The good news is their silk panels in ivory are on sale this week. Mine haven't arrived yet so I can't comment on quality or color but hope they are okay. Got some curtains from PB once that we're not, but I decided to give them another chance since the sale was so good.
Also if you are going to open and close the curtains every day it would work better to have them rings on them.