I use to have shutters on the bottom with a valance on the top. I took off the valance and put shutters on the top also. Looks sooo much better. There are some really pretty box pleated valances that would not look so dated. Regardless, use whatever makes you happy. I am sure you will get some great advice here.

How about a roll up shade in a fabric or bamboo type look?

Here's a picture of one of the windows. The other is on the other side of the vanity. Loving the taped on temporary blinds?

Here is a link that might be useful: bathroom

I believe this because I have a bedroom where I am about to put short curtains.

Too funny graywings!

It sounds like you are going to put short curtains (not a valance) just at the top for sun control and shutters at the bottom.

I don't know, the material sounds pretty but I wonder if it might look odd to have short curtains just on top. Have you considered shutters on the top and bottom? Do people do valances over shutters? That might look pretty.

isn't there such thing as putting fabric over shades (like you can on a lamp shade)?

I'd do that with the fabric you have and like. and I'd find a shade pull that goes with the decor of the bathroom.

you could also cover a piece of styrofoam with some of the fabric to put across the top of the shade (the roll).

Love what you have in that bathroom so far! How about shutters that go full height of the window, but with fabric inserted into the center?

I'm not sure if you really mean cafe curtains or if there is some confusion about terminology... and you really mean a valance? If you are actually talking about a 24" or 30" cafe curtain hung from the top of the window, I do think that would look strange. But a valance would be great! I don't think valances are out of date because sometimes they're just the best solution. I'm, uhh, "only" 40-something, and I have valances in my dining room and some bedrooms!

Another nice idea would be a woven wood blind, but I don't know if you want to keep pulling blinds up and down all day.

My solution was to make a Gallery Glass window. Michaels sells the kits with wonderful window designs. Or, you can make up your own pattern either with paper and pen, or on your computer with a drawing program. There are also copywrite-free stained glass window patterns on the web. Staples can print your pattern whatever size you request. I designed this one:

If you decide to make one for yourself, I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

If you can sew, and have a pretty botanical print fabric that you like, you could also make something like this. This type of valence/curtain looks more updated than just a straight valence, and does a great job of blocking the sunlight. It's an easy sewing pattern that many of us learned from one of our GW members, my3dogs. She's made some gorgeous valences for her house, and many of her windows also feature shutters on the lower half of the window.

BTW, I love what you've done with the bath renovation so far!

{{!gwi}}

I just looked at your picture and if you would like, you could "frost" the entire window easily with a window film, so you'd always get light but also privacy. Hardware stores carry them and they come in all sorts of frosted textures, or even look like stained glass. They are also sold online and at eBay.

Then you could put a valance on the window.

Here is a live link to my favorite window topper patterns. Their Gallery is fun to peruse.

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of window films.

If your lovely bathroom was mine to decorate, here is what I might do.

A wooden roman shade blind, or a fabric roman shade with the fabric you have.

I have the very affordable blinds from JC Penney home in many of my windows. They are easy to install, under $50 a window, and have held up very well. They let in some ventilation, but still provide enough privacy. They have many stocked sizes, and also sell custom width sizes for a bit more $ and longer turnaround time.

To keep the clean, uncluttered look you have, I would suggest top-down, bottom-up blinds. These are blinds that you can raise from the bottom or lower from the top, depending on the time of day or the room use. Great for bathrooms.

They are infintely adjustable, and you can inset them into your beautiful woodwork window framing.

I was thinking about bottom-up blinds, too, Mclarke. That would allow the bottom half to be covered for privacy at all times. Nice photo!

Where did the OP go?

Thanks for the great suggestions for my bathroom windows. Some of them are impractical because they don't allow me to keep the top of the window free while blocking the bottom (rollup shades). Sometimes, when the sun is beating in, I want to block the tops whether the bottoms are covered or not.

Top down, bottom up woven woods would work. So does having shutters on both top and bottom halves of the window. You've given me a lot of options to consider.

Based on your reactions, I think "cafe curtains" belong in Fred and Wilma Flintstone's cave and not in a 21st century house. Yup, I'm old!

I think shutters would be a great answer to your dilemma. You can configure them the way that best suits your needs.

I was going to use cafe shutters in the new bath, but decided to go with a cafe curtain instead. Nothing old about that choice, lol.

Here is a link that might be useful: shutters

i am doing something like "cafe curtains" inspired by (i think) the march 2010 issue of traditional home...they had a pic of a corner bathroom window with fabric cinched on both tops and bottoms of the bottom 1/2 of window and then i believe a roman shade on top...i am having a cornice made for the tops of my bathroom windows and will have a textured sheer type of fabric to put on bottom....(might get some window film for behind them to >obscurity) i am very much hoping that it looks nice and not old-fashioned!!

Natal, your crisp white curtains are lovely. Thanks for the link to Horizon shutters. They're perfect for my room -- don't know how I missed them on Google.

Natal, your crisp white curtains are lovely. Thanks for the link to Horizon shutters. They're perfect for my room -- don't know how I missed them on Google.

Old age? Really? I think it depends on the overall feel of the room. My bedrooms and bathroom have a cottage feel, and I have cafe curtains with woven wood roller shades in all of them. I rarely put the roller shades down, but they're there if I feel like I need full privacy. If you ask me, it's the perfect combination of maximum natural light and moderate privacy most of the time, with the option of full privacy as needed.

Agree with Bungalow House and others. My home is rural and casual, and light, airy cafes for a little light control are just right for some of my deep-set double-hungs. Funny the directions people come from. I'm older also and aggravated with myself when I find I'm being influenced (still?!) by whatever the current trend is. :)

Joycesvoices, your description of a cafe on top for light control was perfectly clear to me and sounds as if it would look very good. Having seen a whole lot of styles, you know you'd not be breaking any new ground with this by a long shot, but obviously it'd be a whole new look for some. It has the wonderful design virtue of suitability to space and function and would be a happy break from the too-usual. Why not tack up $3 worth of fabric and see what you think?

BTW, cafes HAVE been around for some while in the wish-I-could-afford-to-hire-them design market. I've seen them in a bunch of pictures of lovely homes, like the House Beautiful mentioned, and they've been popping up in those commercials that make people like me rewind just to look at the room. (My husband just loves that.)

Iconoclaustic! That's the word that was floating on the fringes when I was reading this thread. When an entire generation doesn't know what one's talking about, rehashed has truly recylced to become cutting edge.

Rosie, LOL!

I think cafe curtains are very appropriate in some windows.

For instance, you can see beautiful trees out of the top half of my breakfast nook window, and a cement driveway and plain fence out of the lower half of the window. Ugh

Rosie and bird lover, thanks for the encouragement--and graywings, you've been with me from the start. I will use cafe curtains and half window shutters because that's the best solution for my "view, privacy, sometimes too much sun" requirements. When I get them put up, I'll post a pic.

The old age business has to do with my observation that some people who are otherwise alert and active don't change their view of design--ever. My 88 year old MIL takes great pride in her densely gathered white sheer living room curtains. We love her and would never tell her that her house looks like it belongs to Joan Crawford. That's why I asked for a sanity check re cafe curtains.

I don't prefer valance on the top, it dsn't look nice.

Here is a link that might be useful: care homes