Hi Loree, and wow! You've been doing a LOT of work! I love your faux painted stripes and stencilling... a perfect Victorian touch. I'm one of the ones around here who loves Victorian decor.

Window treatments in the Victorian era were usually lace in the summer, and heavy draperies, often velvet, in the winter to keep out the chill, as you probably know.

Are you keeping with the Victorian decor all the way? Or are you throwing in some modern elements? If the latter, you can find window shade kits at a fabric store (you might phone ahead). This is where you stick your own choice of fabric to the window shade. Then you can glue on whatever trims you like. You can even cut whatever scallop you like on the bottom. You can use a coordinating fabric to make a valance that sits inside the pretty window woodwork at the top, that will hide the shade when it's rolled up, if you like. Or just use the shade.

Here is an example that I did in my parrot room. I couldn't find a kit wide enough for this window so I just used spray glue. I would advise the kit. This topper is on the outside but you could do yours on the inside.

This treatment I did was meant to be lighthearted and fun, but you can do some very elegant treatments this way. And with the kits, you can use any fabric you want, from fun stuff in the kids' rooms, to satin stripes and elaborate tassels in the grown up rooms.

I love that shade! I too have an old home and have stripped the gunky paint foom beautiful moldings. I understand not wanting to cover them up, or in my case put holes in my replastered walls! I would make a roman shade with some elegant fabric, floral maybe? Otherwise Oceanna's shade with a valance, which could be on spring rods, would be very pretty too. Treatment really depends upon how Victorian and how formal the room is gong to be.
Diane

Gorgeous woodwork!

How about tension rods? These can be mounted inside the frame of the window, so they won't cover any of that beautiful wood. Plus you won't have to drill holes!

I like your idea of roller shades. Believe it or not roller shades at one time were considered very chic. They were invented about 1900 and were pricey when they were introduced. They were installed in high end homes and had sheer curtains placed over them. As time went on, the prices of roller shades fell and eventually they were seen in almost all homes. Soon roller shades were seen as "cheap" and low brow.

If you decide to do your own stencil on the shades make sure you use flexible paint so it won't flake off. Or use a stain for the stenciled print. Stains are prone to fading though.

Instead of doing sheer over the window with the shades you could do a valance that is lightweight yet substantial.

Oceana: The decor is/will be mostly Victorian. Maybe it'll end up being "Victorian Eclectic" if there is such a thing: mostly Victorian with whatever else I happen to like that seems to "go." LOL Right now I'm trying to figure out how to "victorianize" our queen-size waterbed 'cause it's so comfy and I love having the storage drawers (to say nothing of being rather attached to the heated mattress).

Of course, the waterbed doesn't match the 50's (I think) era maple bedroom suite that used to be my parents' -- which is nowhere near "victorian" to start with. Yes, I'm a frequent CL browser.

I like your idea of a shade with valence. Where did you get your shade kit? I know the Victorians used window treatments based on the weather, and I like both lace and velvet. But, even though I'm sure the velvet would help retard air infiltration I probably won't go that route just to avoid covering the woodwork. (Besides, velvet is a cat hair magnet! LOL)

Powermuffin: The room isn't going to be terribly formal -- that wouldn't be "us." But I'll probably include some more formal touches. Do you know of any good patterns for Roman shades? I've done lots of sewing and was planning on making the valance or shade or both. And I'd mulled over the idea of a Roman shade -- but haven't yet gone so far as to search for a pattern.

Mclarke: Yes, I was planning to use tension rods. After all our work to reveal the wood, I'm *not* going to cover it up.

Dilly_dally: Thanks for the reminder on flexible paint. I probably would've overlooked that requirement (since I was thinking of using the wall paint I used for the ivy stencil). I would've been very frustrated (and he'd've never let me live it down) if I'd stenciled the shade and then it wouldn't "roll" correctly. *sigh*

Thanks for the ideas everyone. I'm adding to my "list"....

Lorree