What a lovely room.....so far!! The drapes look fantastic and do so much to warm up the room. Seeing what else you do with it will be fun, be sure to post again with your questions so the great people at GW can help you with your selections. They do this so well!

Wow! What a difference the drapes made! I love your room. Might I ask what color is on your GR walls?

nanny, thanks for posting. Yes, I will be back, for sure. This site is SO addicting. I spend way more time here than I really should, but I love it!

On that note, if anyone has suggestions about furniture, I'm all ears!

I think they look perfect!! I like the height they give the room! Nice drama but not overly so! And I'm jealous of your fireplace...but not of that snow! :) Brrr!!

KATinVA

The fabric and colors are perfect.Sophisticated, with a slight sheen, but not formal like silk.
So, what do we get to see next? :)

They look beautiful Jan, as does your mantel.

Oh, Jan...Don't they look great?!

If you're like me, you're wondering how you could have lived without WTs that warm up your room so nicely.

I love them.

Beautiful! Amazing what a difference WT make, huh?

I read your last post with great interest, and I've been waiting expectently for the results. Your finished windows look terrific and these drapes were the perfect choice!

I was wondering what you decided on. I think picking WT's is the hardest of all decorating! I'm so glad you picked these curtains. They're beautiful and they look fantastic in your great room! Can't wait to see more pictures!!

gmnolen - yes, they made a huge difference. The wall color is BM Wilmington Tan (I think it's a historical color).

kimberlyinva - I wanted something not too casual and not too fance, and I think it all worked out. I originally ordered some panels from JCP that were on sale, only to learn that they had sold out, so I was very disappointed. But, I like these better anyway.

cooperbailey - Thanks, I guess furniture and accessories are next. Honestly, this group of people here has been much more valuable to me than the designer we paid big $$$ for.

justgotabeme - Thanks for posting. Once I take down the Christmas decorations, I'll have to find some things to decorate the mantel.

parma42 - Glad to hear from you!!! I am very happy with them, and I do wonder what I did without them. It was a big expense for us (lots of panels, as I mentioned), plus hardware, and I decided to wait for something nice, rather than get something less nice in a hurry.

maxsam - Yes, they make a huge difference. Most people say to wait and get furniture first, but I knew we'd be waiting a long while for the furniture, so I'm quite hopeful we'll find furniture eventually that works with the draperies. I think we will.

boysrus2 - Oh, I'm glad you're back. You know how indecisive I was in my original post. That's what is so great about this place - people really care and are extremely talented and helpful.

Jan

I think you made a great choice with the textured brown. I also have Wilmington Tan in my house so it's neat to see what you chose for your WT.

Wow, Jan. Those draperies are perfect. I love the way the wall and drapery colors pick up the colors in the stone. Can't wait to see more. You are off to a grand start.

Cynthia

Wow, those are great. Can I ask how much room you have b/t the window trim and the stone, and how wide the panels are? I'm facing a similar situation with a TV b/t 2 windows.

What a difference hanging them high makes (even if you can't go wide)!

Very, very nice. Excellent job! I love before and after! Love the fireplace and the mantel!

betteratthelake - Thanks so much. Yes, draperies are very hard to choose. I can truly say I've been wrestling with this for a couple of years now.

valinsv - Our painter recommended the Wilmington Tan color, and I really like it. It's a golden tan. What colors did you use in your decorating scheme to go with it?

cyn427 - Thank you! I am looking forward to completing this room.

ajsmama - The window trim is only 6" from the fireplace stone. So, unfortunately, I wasn't able to place the panels wider on the sides of the windows. I hope that doesn't look funny. I just love the look of panels so much. And with nine windows in this large room, it seemed to need some warming up, so to speak. The panels are about 50" wide each, so they are gathered quite a bit.

deborahnj - Thank you! Again, this was a big undertaking. Poor hubby had to do all the hardware installation, but he was a soldier about it.

I will post pictures of the other windows soon in another post.

Jan - thanks for the reply. It looks like the panels just touch the hearth, so you must go onto the wall a little. But it doesn't look like they cover too much of the window - must be really thin stackback if they're 50" panels. But it looks great! I understand about it taking years to do things. I bought my curtains in May 2008 and haven't put them up yet (was waiting to see how big a TV DH would buy for b/t the windows - he said we could fit 50", we ended up with 42", I should have hung the curtains and told him we couldn't go more than 37" LOL!).

They look really nice. I like the curtains and the rods very much. Nice fp too!

ajsmama - The woodwork is 6" from the fireplace, but the draperies cover the woodwork and part of the wall too, so they hang close to the fireplace. I scrunched them up quite a bit so they wouldn't cover too much of the windows, but the panels are quite full. Good luck with your curtains too!

Sheesharee - Thanks for posting. The rods looked like they'd be SO big, but once we mounted them, they looked more proportionate. :o)

Sorry to be a pain, but can you tell me how much painted wall is now showing (out of that 6") b/t the curtain and the FP? It looks just right, I'm trying to figure how close to the TV I should have my curtains (42" panel but heavy fabric) hang. I think it's the angle of the photo, the finial on the right hand window isn't actually touching the FP (the left hand I see a gap) - how long are the finials?

I am going to blatantly rip off your design. Thanks.

ajsmama - Sorry for the confusion. The draperies hang just over two inches from the fireplace stone, for the most part, but a bit more at the top. You're right that it is the camera angle, and if I were to move toward the center, you would see that the right pole is not really overlapping the fireplace stone. Both finials are just over an inch from the stone (the stone is irregularly shaped, not perfectly straight, though). I know the panels do not look heavy in the picture, but the fabric is actually upholstery weight. I did scrunch them quite a bit (maybe too much) to preserve the view outdoors. They can be made to look much fuller. I wasn't sure about how much window they should be covering. Do you think they would look better less stacked? I was surprised they could be stacked so much.

The finials are 4" long, and, as you can see, it was a tight fit with the two corner windows on the left. But I really wanted the finials. DH did a LOT of measuring ahead of time. The poles and finials are the Opus set from Country Curtains. I almost sent them back at first, because they seemed so large (like closet pole size, and the finials are very big too), but they look alright with the height of the room (9 feet), I think.

Feel free to blatantly rip away - lol! I'm sure your room will look great. Please share photos when you're done!

Beautiful. Love the height they are hung at also. Your mantel is gorgeous as well. Strange question, but would you mind sharing where (and how long ago) your stockings were acquired from. Love the style. Thanks.

Enjoy your room!

Jan - they look *perfect*, don't spread them out to cover more of your window. My rods are thinner, only have 8 ft ceilings, I might actually bring finials out over TV but I think I am going to stack mine to end 2-3" from edges of TV (depends on table width - just touching table I see will be fine since yours touch hearth). I'll see if I can scrunch mine as much as you did yours to not cover too much of the window.

I really like the FP - esp. the nutcrackers (DD loves nutcrackers). Can we see more of the room/furniture?

Love the drapes especially putting them high on the wall. I'm in Wisconsin too so I know what you mean about needing the warmth.

Where are you going to look for furniture. We stopped in Fort Atkinson at a really neat store two years ago and thought I'd use them when I got around to replacing the furniture in the family room but they went out of business last year. Then two weeks ago Porters of Racine announced they are closing. We got our son's bedroom furniture there 27 years ago. I have a couple projects to complete first but would like to get going late summer.
Thanks for sharing your pictures.

ajsmama - I can honestly say I'm genuinely excited for you. I know how much more goes into selecting and hanging draperies now! I have a whole new respect for the process - lol! I would love to see your room when you get them hung, so I hope you'll post on it. I did some research about hanging draperies, and I learned that there is more than one way to go with it. It's a matter of preference, in some respects. It was definitely a challenge for us, with the wall space so narrow around the fireplace.

datura07 - I'm open to any source for furniture. We bought our dining set from Ethan Allen, and I love it. It's a "New Country" style. We purchased our entertainment center, a piece by Hooker, from Gabriel Furniture in Green Bay/Appleton. And our kids' bedroom sets came from the Lullabye Shop in Green Bay. We used to live near Kenosha/Racine, but we moved and now live north of Green Bay. The stockings are personalized from Pottery Barn. I bought them a couple of years ago. Where in Wisconsin do you live? Go Packers!

"Where in Wisconsin do you live? Go Packers!"

Now, you'll probably never speak to me again but I have to admit, that after 40 years as a Packer backer, I've taken a break to follow Brett.

Do you hate me? :)

Oh, parma, I LOVE watching Brett Favre play football, and we miss him here SO much!!! I don't fault any of the Packers players for his leaving, but if the Vikings win it all, I will be thrilled for them and Brett. It's not the same without him. The administration really did a disservice to Brett, the team and the entire Green Bay and Wisconsin community in their poor handling of the situation. I can't believe he's not here any more. It's truly been a grieving process - really.

Beautiful drapes. Jan. The pictures do not do them justice, I am sure. I loved the pattern on the close-ups. Just amazing what some fabric hanging on the wall can do. I love the height. When I did my bedroom, I hung the drapes high - could not believe that I had done that - hated it - but couldn't bring myself to ask DH to move the rods, so lived with them. After a week or so, I was hooked on hanging them high! Love the look. Adds so much more presence to the room. Your home is beautiful. You had give me much input last Spring and summer when I was working on a new patio. I believe we have the same patio stones. Of course, mine are now covered with about 2' of snow! I am sure yours are as well. Stay warm up in Wisconsin!!

no-green-thumb - Hello! I remember you and your patio situation. How did it all turn out?

LOVE it! They are perfect!

Hi Jan,
It is beautiful, everything I wanted. The gentleman we chose to do it was awesome. I went to a stone place and they gave me three names - I would not hesitate to recommend him. (Don't want to hijack this thread with pix). It was such a positive experience - can't wait until all of this snow melts - at least two more months before I can even see it again!!! Stay warm in Wisconsin! After seeing your gorgeous family room, I really need to get busy on mine - starting today! Will have posts asap for help.

loribee - Thanks for posting!

no-green-thumb - I'm glad it all ended up working out. We love our patio too, and now we're so glad we went with the pavers, rather than a wood deck or something. We were so consumed with the outside for a while that it took us a while to get to our great room! We have a lot of snow here, but I love it, as long as I can cozy up inside.

Jan- I LOVE THEM- they might be my solution-- but i dont see them on country curtains- can you peak and see if that curtain is still available. Did you order the poles on that site too? thanks

suzienj - Yes, they are still available at Country Curtains. They are the Brookside Diamond in the espresso color. I also ordered the rods from Country Curtains, and they are the Opus rods, which I almost returned because they are so large, but I'm glad I didn't because they look great now that they're up.

Brookside Diamond Panels

Opus Rods in Antique Brown

Hope this helps!

Great looking & what a difference the WT's make! Great job!
Bonnie

I think I am going to have to copy you on those window treatments. I have two windows in my family room that have been bare for two years because I could not figure out what to do with them.

My walls are Olympic Pony Tail, which is similar to Wilmington Tan (I only recently became hooked on BM paint, in retrospect, I would have done WT in here), so I know it will look great.

I love it. It looks perfect!

They look beautiful and really make a big difference in the room.

I'm so glad you posted this picture b/c I have the same layout with my stone fireplace flanked by a slider and a large window. Since I also have about 6" b/t the window and the stone, I was wondering how panels would look. Now I know!

bonniee - Thanks for posting!

stacyesq - I would really like to see pictures of your room before and after too. I'm sure you will like the quality of the draperies. They're so nice. I ordered them in the 96" length because we have 9' ceilings, and I wanted to hang them high. Now that we have the Christmas tree down, I can post pictures of the rest of the room, so keep watching for that.

juddgirl2 - Yes, it's surprising that they fit alright. I absolutely had my heart set on panels, so I had to make it work somehow.