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What type of window treatment would you do for this doorwall?

15 years ago

I think it needs something. The wall looks so bare. I'd like to keep most of it open since the view is so pretty and the kitchen doesn't get a lot of natural light. I was thinking a valance might be our best option.

And if you saw my post a few days ago about light fixtures, there is our new one. It makes such a difference! Its not up yet, but we got a matching pendant for over our island. Thanks for everyone's input!

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Comments (6)

amykath
15 years ago
How about some panel curtains on either side?? That is what I did with my sliding door and thought it looked great.
hilltop_gw
15 years ago
I'd agree with aktillery about panel curtains. You could push them off to the side, softening the edges but allowing the same amount of natural light. Going with a lighter color fabric will help maintain an open feel.

I have a valance in our office (sheer navy) and valances in our dining nook (lighter plaid). They block some of the natural light & on a patio door they cause you to have to "duck" to walk under them.
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This is the first (and only) time I have ever seen these things. I do attribute the reason that our children do not usually get up before 8 a.m. is b/c of how dark it keeps the room in the morning. In terms of taking them down and leaving them for the next owners - it's not that simple. They are made specifically for each window and the "rail" that the shade slides up and down in is attached to the jamb with a sort of high powered sticky tape. You pretty much render the thing useless if you remove the rail. The former owner was a big smoker and we didn't realize how much these absorbed the smell until we unrolled the one in our kitchen by our big glass sliding door -ewwww! that's when all the others came down. We managed to get the ones in the bedrooms off of the rail so that I could give them a good soak in the tub. I don't think I could change the fabric on the shade but if I can figure out a quick way to do the valance, I may do that and leave the rest up to the next owners.
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mtnrdredux - thanks for the pic, that looks great in your room. How was your experience with Smith and Noble, I've never ordered from them but was considering for this treatment. Les - Thanks so much! I like the idea of a wood valance to hide the shade. So the valance should be wide enough to cover the top piece of trip completely? I'm going to discuss this with my husband as I think this will give it a clean look. Thanks for the link Chris. Julie, thanks for the tip, I think it would be so much easier to just take the cranks off or look for a smaller size. They are a pain! springroz - I'm in between the solar shade and the cellular shade. I like the insulation the cellular will give as well. We got all of our romans from jcpenneys and they were very reasonable during one of their big sales. Annie - are your shades bamboo? I would love to see a pic. Jeannie, you place sounds lovely, do you have any previous pics to share? Yaya - your link takes me to JCp's blinds but not sure which one you were referring to. cliffandjoann - thanks for the pics. I love the way the solars let the view shine through. Do you have direct sun through that window? I'm wondering if they do a good job reducing the glare? Thanks everyone! Right now, I'm leaning towards a wood or fabric valance and roll-up solars or the cellular shades. I know the cellulars are great for insulating, how about the solars, any insulating benefits? Also, do the solars reduce the glare or do you think I'll still be squinting once the sun hits this window?
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We are not window treatment people either, but have started to add some as we've reno'd/decorated a few of the rooms in our house; two bathrooms and our office. They really do help to finish off a room. That said, we're not covering our kitchen bow window, or the DR bow window, though I might consider something for the DR window at some point--just for the window panes themselves, not to cover the whole bow-unit. We used Hunter Douglas' Designer Screen Shades in the Roman Shade style (ours are mounted inside the frames becuase of our window style/frame depth). The shades are very clean-lined and range in sheerness. With the sheerer weaves/fabrics, you can see outside with them down and they allow a lot of light in.
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The height of your panels works for the room, leaving the arched top window to be a view to the sky. Is there a reason to go higher? if so you can do an arched to set of panels or top treatment. Please keep in mind that you have at least 1 more window in that spacey and if you do a higher treatment on that window it may bring down the height of the room and be unbalanced with the other window(s). I agree that shades inside mounted would look good if you need light blockage, and I prefer to have panels out further to each side exposing more of the glass. .....Did that help any?
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stolenidentity
15 years ago
I'm beginning to think that my tastes are minimalistic. I'd not decorate that window with any kind of covering. Put some art or something on the walls on either side and continue to allow your pretty view to be the star!
ingrid_vc so. CA zone 9
15 years ago
I agree with the panels without valances. It will give softness but not interfere with the clean, classic look of your decor, which I really admire. I would also make them close to the wall color or the trim color so as not to upset the balance of the room. I think you'll be very satisfied with the result.
yodajo
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions! I think I am going to make panel curtains and hang them to the side, like hilltop suggested. I agree that the panels will add some softness that we are trying to add to the room.

Now if anyone has any suggestions on how to keep my 2 year old and 7 month old from putting dirty, food covered fingerprints all over them, I'm all ears!
Sujafr
15 years ago
You have a lovely view and I think your idea of panels sounds great if you want to leave all that wonderful light.

I'm Nana to two little ones and had two daughters--so I've seen this suggestion actually work---at least for food. We had the rule that you only eat sitting down at the table, bar, or highchair. Then hands were cleaned immediately after eating before they're allowed to wander through the house. So--no food gets on curtains. Now, :~) that doesn't take care of teething slobbery fingers on them or the windows, but it does cut down on the big stuff.

And when they're helping you "cook", keep a damp cloth beside you so that when they've sampled and get down, you can wipe before they wander. Good luck and enjoy your inviting home!

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