I love it. Just curious what program you used for the mock-up...

Thanks, ladybree. The mockup was done by someone else, and I don't know the name of the program that was used. I'll see if I can find out though.

Any other opinions?

I am not crazy about all the different things going on. Arched windows, straight blinds partway down, curtains hanging very high on a rod that spans the whole space, fabric crowding the windows a bit, while leaving narrow bare strips of walls in between. I think it chops up the area too much.

You might try curtains in a subtle print that contains the silver sagey color (at least that seems to be what it is), and instead of a long rod which takes away from the arches, hang panels from stationary rods the color of the blinds, in between each window, and at each end.

You have a lovely space, and the rest of the area seems restful and elegant. I just think too much going on at the window wall takes away from that feeling.

Do you want to be able to close the curtains and thus cover the windows completely? One reason for hanging panels high with arched windows is to allow covering the arches; it's usually better than trying to use shades. On the other hand, sometimes shades hung to cover just the rectangular part of the windows are sufficient for privacy.

Anyway, I tend to agree with les917 that it might be too much activity, so I would endorse hanging wide enough panels to cover the spaces between the windows, in effect turning it into a wall of fabric punctuated by windows, or (if you draw them over the windows) an entire wall of fabric.

I would also use blinds or shades in a more neutral color, which in this case probably means lighter. I am not much of a fan of dark blinds and shades at all; I very much prefer them to be background, not foreground. My take is that they should be similar in color to the walls if the walls are a light neutral.

Les, thanks for your thoughts. You mean a subtle print in the same color as the sofa? What about blinds, or do you not think I should use any? We have to block out the heavy sunlight that comes in in the afternoons, so we need something.

Okmoreh, thank you. I really like the idea of having panels for looks, and using blinds for privacy and blocking sunlight. Currently there are white blinds on the windows, but I could use a tan/beige color if that is what would look better.

I would love it if someone could do some mockups for me, so I could see some other options.

Nobody else like it or have any other suggestions?

I like it. having the various things going on would look striking.

How much wall space would you see between the windows?

Thanks, graywings. I'm not sure how much space will be between the windows once the panels are up, but I'm guessing about a foot if I hang them the way the mockup shows. Maybe I need to reconsider the way it's done in the mockup. Maybe it is too choppy. I'll see if I can play around with Paint and do a mockup, although it won't look like this one.

I am not able to make the changes I want in Paint without it looking silly. Maybe I just don't know how. I was, however, able to remove the long rods going across the wall, so you can see what it looks like. Which do you prefer?

Since the window frames are white, white blinds are less obtrusive than any other color, as long as you hang the panels so that the windows frames show fully. (Which you should, to preserve the shape of the arches.) My point was that it probably isn't a good a idea to replace them with dark shades, because a dark color would introduce contrast in the wrong place, drawing the eye away from the luxurious look of the long panels.

I do think that you should install the panels so that they completely cover the spaces between the windows - when I have done this I have always liked the results.

Thanks, okmoreh. So maybe I should keep the white blinds I have. Also, I'll look around for some pics of rooms showing panels covering the walls as you suggested. I like that idea too, but I will then need to have the rod go all the way across naturally. Let me see what I can find.

I like the white blinds, too.
The dark ones create a sort of chunky, three-hyphen line across the wall that doesn't serve any purpose in the overall scheme. And in your room, with its proportions, I like the single slender rod across the whole wall, and the six narrow panels of drapery, better than the staccato effect of stopping and starting the rods, or the bulk of panels wide enough to fill the space between the windows. I think slender panels emphasize those pretty windows, while wider ones make the wall about the curtains more than about the windows...?

I do agree that the curtain panels would be nice in a soft shade with some subtle pattern in it...a diagonal grid/trellis pattern, creamy taupe on pale blue or the other way around, for instance, would look lovely and simple with your things and your rug.

Here's a couple mock ups for you. I did the first one before reading others thoughts and see I'm fairly close to okmoreh. Though after seeing it I have to agree with ormoreh that lighter shades/blinds would look better. She mentioned natural, but I'm thinking your current blinds which work well with your wood work. In other words they tend to look as though they are part of your trim so they don't compete with it.
Anyway here they are in the order I did them...
{{!gwi}}
{{!gwi}}

I do have to admit that the richness of the brown blinds does look good too. It lifts the color off the floor where most of the brown is in your room. Seeing them both together I think I'd choose the brown blinds myself.

bronwynsmom, thank you. I'm not sure which idea I like best now - the one with a small amount of fabric between the windows or the entire wall of fabric.

justgotabeme, thanks so much for the mockups! :) I like both of them, but I'm thinking maybe the dark now might work nicely in the room. The white blinds work too I think. I'm really torn now. It's hard to decide, isn't it? Maybe the ones I chose aren't exactly right though.

You are welcome. I think what I'd do is stick with the current blinds for awhile. If they don't feel right after a few weeks or so then go for the darker ones. I do like they way they bring the brown up.

Great idea, jgabm. :)

I think having the panels as high/higher than the arched top of the window detracts from their architectural contribution to the room.

What about a shaped fabric pelmet that followed the shape of the arched top?

Have you looked at a design where the rod would correspond with the top of the rectangular part of the window? (This may chop up the proportions, especially if the fabric contrasted a lot with the wall color)

Arched or shaped windows that started appearing in the US in the Georgian/Federal period--->Victorian period often contribute more to the exterior of the house than they do to the interior *unless you can keep them uncovered. Window treatments become problematic since they may obscure the design intent.

Originally, Palladian windows were kept bare but had interior wood shutters to close over the rectangular aspects. As time went by soft window treatments were added that first empasized the shape (Pelmets, valances or swags) but later on in the Victorian era everything got covered up and shape of the window was often completely ignored.

When they started to appear in the (1970s?) again (excluding a full on colonial revival house) they came up with all kinds of fan shaped blinds and shades to cover the glass. IMO they look better uncovered if that is practical.

Thanks for the history on these windows, palimpsest. I appreciate it.

I found a few pics of rooms with these windows with various treatments used, some of which you talked about. Because a little privacy and a lot of sun comes in the windows, we have to have something on them.

Hi,
I am loving the third photo, with the off-white panels hung very high. The draperies in that photo look quite full and heavy, so would be good for blocking sun as well as preventing heat loss. I think something similar would work very well for you. (What would probably be the Z Gallerie Scala on your swatches, though I do like the softer look of un-pleated panels.)

Take a look at the IKEA panels I've linked to below.(they come in light brown.)

I would keep the blinds you have; I think they are very pretty and work with the room - and, hey, you already have them :-)

BTW, I just love your room. Do you have any photos of the painting over the fireplace? It all looks lovely.

Here is a link that might be useful: IKEA velvet panels

Can I ask.... is privacy an issue? Is there a practical reason you need blinds in this room?

I can't remember if I mentioned that we have a number of these windows in our home. Only one has wood trim on them so far. We are so far behind on our making, staining and installing woodwork it isn't funny. I just thought you might find it interesting to see how we'll be finishing the woodwork around our arches.
{{!gwi}}
We've more done in this room (the master bath) but this is the only one that shows the window without curtains so you can see just how we finished it.

I also like pics one and three of the last set. The full drapes in three work, IMO, because they are a close match to the wall color.

Is picture #1 an option for you?

postum, thank you for the link for the curtains. I also like the fuller and higher panels I believe. I'm glad you like how my room is coming together. I'll get a pic of the artwork above the fireplace and post it for you.

mclarke, privacy isn't a major factor there, only sun.

jgabm, what beautiful framework around your window! Thanks for posting it.

palimpsest, I really like the first room I posted, but the WTs hung below the arches seems to give it more of a chopped up look to me. I personally think I like the look of the higher hung panels for my space.

postum, here's the artwork over my fireplace.

My thought is that it really depends on the height of the ceiling (which I can not really tell whether it is 8 foot or taller because the mock up looks stretched and distorted compared to the other pics). If the ceiling is 8 foot then I would go with Les' suggestion of simplicity. If the ceiling height is over 12 foot I think the volume of the room could then carry a little more complex window treatment where you are mixing blinds and drapes (horizontals and vertical shapes).

Thanks, barbie. The ceilings are 9 ft. high.

Yes, I was going to mention the proportions of the room as well.
Your first inspiration picture...with the 3 windows, the bamboo blinds, and the curtains under the arches...has proportions quite different from yours. The ceilings are higher, and there is more window than wall.
I agree with Palimpsest, that photo #3 with the simple full-length drapery and the slender, ceiling-height rod, is your best bet.

Thanks, bronwynsmom. That's the direction I'm leaning too.

I mentioned before I have five of these windows in our home. Though our wood work will be squared, as shown above with the bathroom window, I still like the look of the curtain rods above the arches close to the ceiling to give the room height. Is that what you were going for even though you have nine foot ceilings? Ours are only eight feet.

Yes, that's what I'm thinking too.