You could either add the same fabric, which I would do by adding a tucked detail on the bottom, or you could add a solid color border at the bottom. Either way, I would do a nice deep border - at least 12 inches.

I'd slice them about 2' above the floor level and sew in a 3' insert (like a stripe) in a coordinating fabric.

Thanks for the quick replies. i need to add 3'- not 12". I was wondering if a bend of 3' would look odd. Here is the window in question:

I was going to add fabric to the top and buy a corresponding solid brown silk to create a piping detail. I think the piping detail would line up with the trip between the window and transom.

Adding a band could be a solution; IMO it needs to be a substantial band to match the weight of the trim in your room. The sugestion of a 12 inch band is a good one. Play around with some proportions. tape your curtain in place and then try folder some differnt width fabrics at the bottom. I think the idea here is that you want to make the border look intentional. 3 inches is going to make it seem like you had curtains to short and you tacked on a border. A 12 in border will look intentional...like the drapes were designed that way.

Sorry for the confusion, but I need to add 3 feet not inches.

Since these drapes are going to be just for show, I would take one panel off of each drape and use it to "lengthen" your drapes. Have you thought of putting your drapes below the transom? Would that work or just look like your curtins were too short?

Oh, 3 feet!

I was doing a quick mock up with a band about 12 inches, but here's one with an approx. 3 foot band:

It might look better if the change in fabric was at the top, and aligned with the cross-piece of the window.

Another possibility is to run string/twine/ at top of panel so that fabric falls below the cross-piece, and only string/twine shows on the transom window. Sounds odd, but I've seen photos where this looks quite nice.

Ummm---here's a crazy thought...couldn't you put a decorative rod across the bottom windows and leave the transom bare? Then the drapes will be just the right height? I've seen functioning drapes done that way for windows with transoms...when privacy, not light control, was the point. In other words...treat the transoms as clerestories?

Am I making ANY sense? I can see it--just don't have the PS skills to represent it...

Here's a pic with the drapes on the lower portion only, which I'm not loving:

And here's one with the wide solid band on top:

anytime I see a solid band on a patterned fabric, be it draperies or a skirt...I think "oh! didn't have enough fabric?"
Are you really saying that the ceiling of that room is 10 feet tall? That space is bigger than it looks.
I hate draperies hung at the ceiling with that rod across the top and that little 8 inch space of wall between the opened panels. Hang the curtains at the top of the window....unless you have 3 feet above the window and will have a monochromatic look with the walls and the draperies near the same color.
Just a thought....but you say you have fabric that's 70 inches by 10 feet.....and you need 10 feet length. Could you turn them sideways? So the stripes ran across the window? Or you could hang the draperies at the transom and if needed, hang another solid drape on a separate rod....that could open or close....sort of like a valance on a rod.

Sorry I misunderstood, I thought you were 3 inches short. But you're talking about adding 3 feet of fabric. The middle look is my fav, hanging from the piece of solid wood 3/4 of the way up the window. Otherwise, different drapes may be in order? The band at the top, and the band at the bottom isn't looking great unfortunately.

I had this problem one time. I originally had panels made to go under the transom and after hanging them I thought they looked dumb like that and it also shortened the room and did nothing for the window. I got more fabric (lucky to get exact fabric) matched it and sewed it to the bottom. I hid the seam by adding a trim piece across the seam in a complimentary color in the fabric. Looked great and I got lots of compliments on them. Not one person ever asked me why that trim was on there at that height or even noticed anything different about them. I'd just do what you propose and take it from there it will be fine. People don't come in and inspect things like we think they do.

Thank you for the ideas and terriks-thanks so much for the mock ups!!! Those were very helpful. I think I agree with gr8day. I just would not be happy with them below the transom and adding a solid band that tall doesn't look great. I ended up sticking to my plan- I took it to a seamstress who's going to remove one panel width and use it to get the height I need. I bought a thin piece of cording to place at the seam. I'm also going ot add lining while I'm at it. Hopefully it will look good-I'll post an update in a few weeks when they're up!

i also think you should hang the rod at the top of the window and not at the ceiling... i would add a crown to match existing wood...

i would probably use same fabric to make the panels the correct length- as others have said, a 2-3 ft 'band'is too much and looks like you didn't have enough fabric!

Oooh! This happened to me, I had gorgeous silk draperies (Cowtan and Tout) in my old dining room that had 9' ceilings. My new house has 10' ceilings. There was no way I wasn't going to use these drapes...I adore them. Luckily, I had 3 windows in old house and 2 in new...I took drapes to a fabric shop and they said they could add 14" to the bottom from 2 panels I wasn't using! We found some perfect trim, (egads, 10 yards though...ouch) and omg, they turned out so well...I adore them. I don't think it looks obvious at all. Perhaps this could work for you?

nini-your drapes look great! where did you get your chandy?

It is by Capital Lighting, I ordered it through a local retailer. I am not sure if it has been discontinued...apparently, they frequently discontinue styles.

nini that is exactly what I did! I had to add about 28 inches and then added a beautiful fringe at the seam. It looked really nice. I tried to find a picture of them but that was our last house and can't seem to locate. Your drapes look amazing. I love your house. I remember seeing pictures of it in the past. Beautiful! pps7 can't wait to see your new panels.

nini - your drapes do look great!!

I had a similar problem for our great room. I had 10 ft solid silk drapes but needed them to be just over 12 ft. So, I added a band of red silk fabric on the bottom that has embroidered fireflies that are the color of the solid fabric on top. I love how they turned out and nobody ever thinks that it was a mistake. Here is a (not very good) photo of the drapes in our great room:

Looks great gobruno! Your house is beautiful!

I have two matching vertically striped drapes made out of heavy cotton (I guess). Would it be acceptable to lengthen one by using part of the other? (I only need the one in the new house.) I'm afraid it would be difficult to line up the stripes, plus I'm concerned the hem would be noticeable, as it wouldn't be masked by the contrasting fabric you all have been talking about. The stripes are not equal widths; they range from a couple of mm to several inches.

How about if you turned the stripes sideways to make a border?

>How about if you turned the stripes sideways to make a border?That's an interesting idea! I hadn't thought about that at all. I may just live with it, though. If I can mount everything as I think I can, it'll be a little over an 8' drape on a 10' ceiling. I would have to mount the valance higher than the pinch pleated drape. The valance is 16" tall, and the drape's buckram area is 4" tall. Is there any rule of thumb about how far the valance should extend below the buckram to hide it? It's made of the same heavy, lined material as the drape.