It does look odd. Why can't the curtain just be hung normal, you can still open the door, no? Won't she want to close them sometimes? I'm not sure I understand how the curtain panels fill the far corner space in the breakfast area.

I think it would look a bit odd. Could she possibly hang both panels on the right side of the door and gather them to the right side with a tie-back of some sort?

If you use curtains that have grommets they are the easiest to stack in a very narrow space.

I do think the arrangement above might not be the best.

I'm sure you will get some good feedback here.

They make traverse rods that draw to one side, you may need both panels to close opening for privacy,then why not buy a valence for across the top or make one?

Could she hang the panels from rings & then just push the panel on the left side as far over as possible?

No, the door cannot be opened with the second panel in place... "there is not enough room" The curtain would constantly get caught when opening and closing the door. Also, there is a wall switch.

The far corner of the breakfast area is an empty space, except for a coat rack. Of course, the curtain is not filling the entire corner area - just from the door to the corner. A curtain panel would give the wall space some color. Not allowed to paint the white walls.

I suppose we could hang both panels on the right side, but I think that would look just as odd.

debb - No grommets.

Is this any better a rendition?

{{!gwi}}

Another vote against . . .

tina

Forgot to mention that the doors have the built in blinds, so there is no need to close the curtains.

How about putting blinds on the doors or even curtains made for this purpose?

Instead of fabric to fill that corner, would she consider a tall, upright plant or a plant on a stand? If she just absolutely wants fabric at the windows (and assuming the doors open out, so as not to interfere), could you hang a valance? Maybe even hang it up higher towards the ceiling, so as to give the overall wall area a look of height (and that may keep it out of the way of the doors if they do open inward).

That's a tough situation. I have a window similar to your dd's.

Has she thought about nixing the curtains for now and using door panels instead? She could always use the material from the curtains and turn them into door panels, unless she really likes the curtains and wants to keep them untouched.

Here is a link that might be useful: Door Panels

threegrad - Read my above post! The one just before yours. :)

I wouldn't say "stupid," but it calls attention to the problem rather than solving it.
If she really likes the panels, she could run the rod all the way from the cabinet on the left to the wall on the right, and use rings to hang both panels on the right to fill the space. Then she could draw them across to cover the doors if she wanted a more dramatic look in the evening?

Thanks for the suggestions. The rings may be an option for entertaining. She does have a front door as well. :) I'll try to take a photo of the doors tonight!

I have the exact same door situation-- butted against the counter on one side and a corner that needs filling on the other. I take it that you want the fabric-wrapped rod because you feel the need for fabric there? Not ideal. But it's not bad to have a full-width curtain stacked in the corner. You can sew the two panels together. If you don't need a center rod support, the double panel can be closed whenever. Or use a larger wood rod (traverse maybe) to give some oomph above the window where you're tempted to use fabric. You'll get used to the one-sided look. See JanePa's thread: she uses a valance.

Here is a link that might be useful: one-way drapes at door

I would use a valance or cornice above since she doesn't need the privacy since the blinds are in the door. I would get a plant or maybe a long piece of artwork for the corner.

Sorry, newhomebuilder, I did not see that post. Then if that is the case I would not do anything to the doors. Clean and simple is best.

I agree, threeg. Sometimes less is much better.

I'd hang the rod above the door on the wall and would use clip rings and put the curtain on the rod so it will slide..you can actually use several panels if you need..and it would be ok to DRAW them back to the one side with a hold back..

Returned from my daughters last night, but forgot to take a picture of her breakfast room area. She had decided to leave the door area blank. As I mentioned before, she has the coat rack in one corner which helps, so no plants are needed (although a good idea.) Since the condo has 9' ceilings, she does have an area over the door that needs addressing, so we are on the hunt for something suitable.

oakleyok - I like your panel idea, and will mention it to my daughter. She gave me the curtain rods and panels, to take to my son today. She may want to get them back, now. LOL

DH and I are running down to Chattanooga for the weekend to help our son get settled into his new place - I have mentioned about his historical condo on here recently. See link. I have found some great decorating bargains both through CraigsList, sales, my daughter's left overs,and my own collection of junk. I will try to take photos of the "after" when we are finished decorating. In fact, I will photograph my daughter's place, also!

Thanks again for being honest and for the suggestions.

Here is a link that might be useful: Son's Place

I haven't read through all the replys so forgive me if I'm repeating or missing something.

I think it looks very odd in all honesty. I had the same arrangement in my last house. I've looked for old pics, but couldn't find anything which shows that detail. Here's what I did and it worked:

1. My drapery panels were super-cute, and were the focal point in that section of the kitchen.

2. I made sure the rod I selected did 2 things...(1) was simple & plain...didn't have ornate endcaps to bring the eye up to the rod, and was a simple bronze color to blend in my kitchen...and not stand out as a shiny, sparkly accessory. (2) I made sure the endcaps screwed off.

3. I removed the endcap on the problem side and installed the rod by butting up the bare endcap right to the cabinet. So, YES, one side of the rod did not have an endcap. The other endcap side was tastefully plain and intentionally nothing special.

4. My drapery panels were tabbed, so they bunched up together in the open position in a nice uniform way. They were not the fitted/seamed-on-the-rod style where the fabric bunched up too tight in the open position. You know what I'm talking about...right?

It worked great, and not a single person noticed the area...even when looking at the area unless I pointed it out. The cute drapes nicely framed the view outside, and that's what people looked at & never had a reason to draw their eye up.

As for access to the door handle...the panels are fabric. Your hand easily gets to the door. It's not like you're reaching through vertical blinds (which was installed when we bought the house) that move and turn and sway and have to be adjusted. It's fine.

Now, I moved out of that house (divorce). I took my drapery panels with me, but left the rod. The ex-H put up some cheap plain-jane, bachelor pad, utilitarian, and off-color drape panels after I left. It looks awful. The removed endcap on the rod is now really obvious. The drapes are off-color and boring, so yes...your eye does go up to the accessory...which is the plain-old rod with a missing endcap. The flaw sticks out like a sore thumb.

That's pretty much it. Hope that helps.

IMHO decorative drapes around a door look weird.

You already have built in blinds for privacy on the doors you say. I would not bulk up the door with decorative drapes. You say you need to address the top but I would not do a valance over a door. How about a long shelving that goes all the way across the wall above the door? Put some art on the blank wall. Is there room for a small table against the wall, something not too deep?

We had a similar situation at our house and decided to use woven blinds as valances above the slider and kitchen window on the same wall. We put them up well above the slider and window so the bottoms hit just below the top of the frames to get maximum light. It was way cheaper than buying actual valances and adds a little interest to the wall. HTH