I tend to think that the red plaid curtains will be a bit matchy-matchy, and yes, a little "too much of a good thing" in your room. I'm actually kinda liking the idea of a green curtain in your room, but not this particular plaid -- maybe something with a very small scale, almost a ginghamy kind of feel.

I'm of the school that if you're going to use a distinctive fabric, use a lot of it. I like the curtains and while it's all matched, it's very feminine and Nancy Lancaster.

I also think it might be too matchy. The room is really pretty and I think a different pattern fabric would accentuate what you have so far.

I do like the long length of the tab tops. I think some panels stacked outside your window on each side would look nice and balance the taller fireplace area and tall bookcase.

What popped into my head when I saw the photos of the whole room was long, crisply starched white cotton panels underneath the valance you already have. You actually don't have very much of that little floral going on, but IMO more plaid would be "too much enough already". I'd rehang the rod (or trade it in for a distressed white iron one maybe?) so that the brackets are much wider, allowing space for the curtains to stack next to the window, and higher so that the bottom of the valance only extends maybe an inch below the top mechanism thingy (technical term!) of the blinds. This fakes a taller, wider window which, as greenmtn says, balances the tall stuff on the other side of the room.

A little plaid goes a LONG way. I like the idea of panels in a creamy color, with a red band on the bottom. Give it a little more sophisticated feeling, while playing up the fabrics/colors you already have going in your very cute chair and sofa.

Is a picture worth a thousand words?

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Can't see the whole space (and wondering about the fp and bookcase relative to the window) but I'd be thinking of bringing a solid in. I'd probably put a couple solids on the sofa, as well as one on the chair, too, to backdrop and contrast with the prints.

I guess i'm in the minority, but I love it! It's such a fresh cottagey look, and cottage can be about same or different fabric colors. IMO, a green/cream toile would break up the red~if you add 3 green , remove 3 of the print. Toile lampshades too, and add a few green items in the room.

I think you're right, PattyCakes, it's just another look! I think I'd like it too, actually :)

I think they would be nice. Is the window across the room from the sofa? I think that's a big enough break to make it not too much of a good thing.

I like the idea of the green too, but you'd have to be able to buy pillows and other things in that green to make it work.

I'm a big one for ordering it and trying it! JCPenney will take anything back if it doesn't work. The downside is paying the shipping. I'd do the panels and the valances both, and then I'd try just the panels with your blinds to see what you like best.

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your couch and chair. But they would look much better in my house ;)

I think putting plaid on the window would detract from the beauty of the upholstered pieces. I think sheers or linen flowing panels in cream/ivory would be beautiful on your window. Country Curtains has a great selection.

That is a great idea and observation, Cindyloowoo!

I'd lean toward a more solid red, with either a small print, or a solid red with a print trim, similar to something like Oceanna posted.

I should talk, tho...my LR has a variety of prints, all in similar tones. That's why I think you should stick with the red.

Piper:
I love your room. It is so cozy and fresh! I like the plaid panels too, so think you should try them out. Some other options would be a nice creamy linen panel, or some muslin panels with ball fringe on them. I think it would be a fun detail. I found some at Country Curtains, the link is below. I agree that they should frame the window so you get as much light as possible into the room.

Is there anywhere I could see more pics of your cozy home?

Here is a link that might be useful: Ball Fringe Curtains

I was thinking the arrangement over your sofa looks a bit high and floating -- rather than lowering, though, here's a shot of a crown moulding ledge shelf with a little color added in. (Quake tape to secure, I guess :)

And showing a few solid, darker valued pillows, but maybe you're not after that look :)

Very pretty!

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Oh, THANK YOU ALL!! My son's home sick today and I've been up most of night with his cough so this is SO much a pick me up for my day!

Oceana, So great, you are my go to gal for pictures, I've really enjoyed them all and thanks for inspiration..love'em

Squirrel - I love what you do and it really helps us all, so appreciate your ideas, I hadn't thought of the shelf, but it's great,,I'll be on the hunt now for that! That area did need some umphh...thought of perhaps dry brushing some of the hangings in red??

Everyone else collectively, thank you all for your advice, help, imagination,,too bad we can't have a GW convention and meet up....GWer's unite!

beausoleil - hang on for the pictures,,different color group but comfy/cozy I'm told by others. =)

Photobucket is on the fritz/maint. right now but I'll come back to it later today.

Love the idea of try it, return it. It certainly couldn't hurt. But I'm liking the fancier stuff as shown by others,,I've already have some patterns for that type for my kitchen. BTW, window is on opposite wall from the bookcase and couch/chair are on opp walls but cough is on an angle. I have lots of pillows in the other 2 coordinating florals big and small that match couch. Whoohoo for consignment shops and can you believe I had already picked out red for the room and couldn't find just the right couch for almost 2 yrs when I "fell" into this? I couldn't have designed the look/couch more perfectly..Sometimes the universe just unfolds for you, for a split second and you gotta grab it.
Back soon with pix for BeauS.

Glad it helped! I really like the cream, with just a bit of color added in.

I'm with ideefixe...Nancy Lancaster and all that. Very English Country to me. Actually that style relies on mixing various patterns for its lushness, as you have done with the pillows. I think that simply repeating a fabric on the windows gives you the look and doesn't present the challenge of "getting it right" as you might by introducing something new.

I think using the plaid panels will actually strengthen the look of the sofa, where a different WT would start to dilute the room. Plain white would be straightforward enough but a a bit predictable.

Before I scrolled down to your pics, I thought...uh oh...plaid! But it is such a soft plaid and with all the pillows and no skirt on the sofa, the room can certainly handle it. More bold and stylish than anything else would be, IMO.

Ahh this is something i'd be asking for help/opinions also!

your home looks lovely! really like your furniture!!

my vote is the plaid panels also.

If you don't mind me asking what's up above your fireplace? the red design. is it wallpaper? very inspirational!

Sheesharee - I painted it red and painted/short brushed on a stencil that was really huge, like 12-18" sq. (diamond shaped lines with the fleur de lis etc just as you see it). It took a little math but I really like the effect. Stencil Ease website carries it and others (look under floor stencils or something)(I got mine at Michael's).

Piper,
I don't think I've seen pics of your LR - it is darling!!

I love the florals and plaids - can't believe you found the sofa at a consignment store!!

I like the plaid drapes - hung as far back as you can get them to really showcase that great window and pretty outdoors. I might even consider keeping the floral valance and raising it up higher with dummy panels to the side framing the window. You could add some pretty gimp or bric brac to the valance in solid red.

BTW, have your seen the french country check rugs by Karastan?? It seems like you would like them. I am not suggesting this or anything just thought you might like. I certainly did!!
Smiles:)

Here is a link that might be useful: karastan rug - comes in other colors

I'm not a big plaid person. But if it was my room and I wanted more plaid on the windows, I would do the opposite colors of that plaid (red field w/ cream striping - is that the right word???). Personally I like the current valance but I would also want it opposite, red backround w/ cream vining (or maybe the green),

I am not a decorator by any menas, so take my opinion w/ several grains of salt - LOL!

I would add pannels and keep the valance contrasting -- as for pannels either the plaid you have found or a solid red -- I would also add the solid red pillows that squirrel added to your sofa -- really grounds it nicely.

Waverly has solid tab top curtains in the same Crimson color. That might look nice with plaid shades underneath and the solid crimson pillows mixed in on the sofa and chair. Just enough to break up all the pattern, but not take away from the overall feel of the room. Below are some coordinates to your fabrics.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pantry plaid coordinates

Piper, I love your LR! That sofa and red table just make it and I love what you did over your fireplace. Very clever! You have a great eye.

What do you think you'll do about the curtains?

From squirrelheaven:
the arrangement over your sofa looks a bit high and floating -- rather than lowering, though, here's a shot of a crown moulding ledge shelf with a little color added in. (Quake tape to secure, I guess

OK, no earthquakes here but I still want to know, what exactly is quake tape???

Susan

Piper, I also love your living room, especially that couch with those wonderful pillows. Your table lamps are also perfect for your room. I like so many of the looks other have shown and think you should try out a few looks from places with a good return policy.