I think you mean horizontal wood blinds, as they would be able to tilted open where you mentioned 'without raising them completely'.

I don't see why you couldn't have panels that go from the rod to the windowsill or lower trim on that window. I do see furniture on the right side, but I can't see it interfering with something like that.

I've put a link below to what I am talking about. It shows the style I'm thinking of. Ignore the fabric - just see the style. You could do one panel on either side of the window (63" is common) and a matching or coordinating valance in the middle. They don't have to be tied back as the picture shows.

Search on 'Hatfield' at the Country Curtains site. I just made my mother some 63" lined panels for her bedroom windows from that fabric, and also did the scalloped valances that you'll see. We used an inexpensive double rod, so she can pull the panels closed if she wants. Yours would be just decorative on either side of the window. Click the drop down for size and you'll see all the standard lengths that you can get their curtains in.

Here is a link that might be useful: Country Curtain short drape

I have pretty much the same challenge in my house. After 2 year I still haven't come up with an answer. I'm considering wood blinds too, but feel like they still need something soft in addition to counter all that wood.

How do you feel about tiers paired with a shade on top? I find them to be the most practical. Leaving the top sash exposed lets in an immense amount of light, and having the bottom sash covered gives a good-enough sense of privacy most of the time. In the cases where I want more privacy, or the sun is blaring in, I can pull down the shade half-way on an as-needed basis, instead of having to mess with opening and closing something every single day.

The challenge I find with tiers is usually they look kitchen-y. I have seen a pic of a linen-looking fabric with a nice arts & crafts detail stenciled on the bottom edge that looked good in a living room.

An alternative to tiers is a top-down/bottom-up shade of some kind that can behave the same way, but personally I don't care for seeing the strings when they're top-down.

Plantation shutters?

Good luck, and keep up posted on what you decide.

Not to hijack the thread, but my3dogs, do you have a pic of the Hatfield curtains? I zeroed in on those a long time ago as what I wanted, but when I photoshopped them into my living room, it was instant ugly. Maybe it wasn't an accurate representation. I would love to see a pic of them in a real room!

Sorry there isn't a better pic of the dining room in my last house. I was actually trying to take a shot of an oriole eating my hanging orange, outside. :)

We had two windows with wood blinds and just wanted to soften the top of the windows a bit and hide the top of the blinds.

I bought the valances from Country Curtains. They are a combo of straight in the middle and short swagged on the ends. The other window was to the right of the corner hutch and had a matching swag on the right side of it.

oops, yes, of course I meant horizontal blinds!! I think I hadn't had all my a.m. coffee when I wrote that...

I would do the panels and ignore the furniture on the right. Can't it be moved enough so that the panel on the right hangs correctly?

If you want a valance, I'd add something similar to the one linked below........maybe even an inverted pleat. I chose that one since it has rounded lines which will help soften the window.

What type blinds are there now? Cellular?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1548499}}

I also have the radiator in front of the windows in every room. In my DR and LR I have cascades and jabots. The jabots go to the windowsill and lace curtains are underneath. I may get 2 inche white wooden blinds to go underneath the lace for privacy.
Also I have had curtains to the sill and other times have had panels to the floor on either side of the window. It all looks fine. You get used to having radiators.

annz, nope, that sideboard-type piece is wedged in between the wall and a doorframe. There's nowhere for it to go. Right now, we just have woven wood blinds on the window.

The woodwork looks so nice that I'd want to show it off. Could you just do midpoint, inside-mounted tiers with no valance, or would the people across the street peer in the top of your windows when they're on their second floor? If so, you could even move the tiers higher to the first upper mutton, which would still let light in during the day and be more private. Maybe something in a muslin or linen fabric, or even a crochet if absolute privacy isn't an issue.

bunglaow, Just a few hours ago, when I had to take Mum to the doctor, I thought 'WHY didn't I bring my camera over here?' I have been going to over there several times a week, and forget it each time. but NEXT time, I'll try to remember, and take a pic for you.

I recently painted her bedroom Ben Moore's 'Fennel Seed'. She needed something safe, although there are many colors in that fabric that would allow you to go in several paint directions. I have to say that I was thrilled when I put up the window treatments at how well they looked against that paint color.

I bought the fabric on fabricguru.com for $7.95 a yard, but they are sold out now. It cost $130 for the fabric and lining, and if we had bought them through CC, what I made would have been $500. :-)

I have the Hatfield pattern from Country Curtains in the gold color . In the kitchen I have three windows together and I did as My 3 Dogs suggested. One panel on each end and then the valances in the middle.I also put off white shears on lower half of the windows for privacy. During the spring and summer the shears will come off. It looks quite lovely.

We have a picture window in our family room. Recently we had all the windows in that room painted white, then added 2" faux wood blinds. We lived with that look for a couple of months and then added valances. Here's a pic with a straight valance with ball fringe (from Targee. I don't have my3dogs marvelous sewing ability!)

I have the blinds closed tonight because it's so very cold here, but typically they provide privacy/light control.