If the blue and gold are more saturated, as you said, then I think it would look good.

The blue is just showing a little wimpy on my monitor.

Taken outside without flash

What color are your walls? Are you interested in posting pics of your room?

I don't know that I am a fan of those three solids together in one drape, just not "feeling" it. Maybe a print that has those colors in it would be better?

But it's difficult to make a judgment without seeing the total picture. You might know better than us. :)

I agree with texashottie....I would not put those colors together. If you have a lot of color in your room, why not think about doing tone on tone for your drapes (similar to your wall color - maybe a little darker)....sometimes you can just go overboard with trying to bring all your chosen colors into every element - makes the room look too busy and like you are trying too hard. It really would help to see the room.

I would prefer a print as well, and have been looking, but just can't find what I am looking for. It is a large area - the room is more than 30 feet long by 16 feet wide. It would need a big print or a bold horizonal, neither of which I can find. Or if I find the right scale for the print or check, then the colors are not right.

Oh, pretty room! I am guessing that the goldish drape matches the sofa? Why not go that direction and do just a solid? It is a neutral, and you can mix and match any accessory color with it. Can you get a pic of the goldish fabric up on the wall alongside the window to see what it would look like?

Then maybe you can pull the prints in through your pillows, etc.

I have considered a solid gold for the drapes, but I would be risking gold overload since the walls, carpeting, sofa and (currently) bedspread are all that color. And if I go with a solid color, I would just buy JCPenney antique satin drapes in gold and be done with it.

I'm reaching for a bit more pizazz than solid color drapes.

I am thinking that your idea sounds good but I would stick with just two colors rather than three.
What about all red with the extra two feet in gold or vice-versus.

I have the red-gold combination in much of the house and don't want any more of it.

You know I love your pretty windows and nice moldings - I am thinking that shades of some kind would look very clean and not overwhelm that small space like drapes would - have you considered individual roman shades or bamboo roll up shades? Something with texture would look great....add your colorful fabrics on your pillows, a nice coffee table with a green plant, bamboo tray, candles, etc.

Gray, ha, I'm with Catknap on this one too!

I know you said that the room is large, but the space that you are looking to put the drapes is not very wide. Anything loud or stand-out is going to advance that small area or make it look smaller/narrower/crowded.

You have a very serene look right now. I know you think you have too much gold, but instead I see monochromatic tones with the walls, the floors, and the sofa. They complement one another, and they do not fight for attention, keeping the space more "open" looking.

I think light-colored bamboo shades would look fantastic on those windows, and will introduce a new neutral texture---like Cattknap said.

I'm not sold on the bi- or tri-colored drapes. I just think they would be a mistake. Bring your prints in small doses in those pillows.

Hope this helps. :)

I have (and need) cellular black out blinds on those windows. If you look closely, you will see a small dot at the top of each blind header - they are remote control motorized. They cost a small fortune, work beautifully, and are there to stay.

I would do the Roman shades. Light airy windows are a trend right now. I think you can find shades with red and gold. I would have a hard time bringing in blue because I can't work well with that color. I would add green but that is a personal choice.

And I will repeat:

I have cellular blinds that are staying - no roman shades.

I have a lot of red and gold throughout the house and don't want to carry that theme into this room.

Graywings,
Can you find a decorative trim/fringe (scalloped or tasseled) that consists of gold, blue and red that will cover your seam line between the gold and blue fabrics? I think that will be less harsh than adding the solid red in there, but will still marry all 3 colors in your room.

I like your idea to do drapes as stationary side panels. I think it will make your window a focal point.

Here's a link to a photo of some drapes I made with 2 fabrics and a bead fringe that covers the seam. This is the idea I'm suggesting, but use a multi colored fringe in place of bead trim.

Here is a link that might be useful:

Graywings, one of the girls from another decor board did something similar for her LR drapes just a few years ago. She was in Paris at the time, and I remember several of us following her drape saga with interest. Wish I could find a photo of what she did. Her panels were heavier weight than what you are looking at using, something in a velvet or similar, I believe. She used one color for the main drape and then attached a length maybe 14" deep to the Bottom of her drape. I believe she used piping between the two fabrics. Anyway, it looked wonderful. And I think that perhaps flipping your idea and doing the bottom in the different color might look better? I think your idea could be pretty............maybe better without adding the red insert, or if you add red, just a line of piping rather than the 2" inset. So, here's what I would do.....

You have those panels already. So, get out your dressmaker straight pins and pin your pieces together. Do it very carefully so that it looks as close to 'sewn together' as you can get with pins. Leave out the red for now so you can play with your panels. Do you have a rod hung already? Hanging your finished product from the rod, using the existing rod pocket in your panel, will give you the best idea of how it will appear, but if you don't have a rod up, you may be able to use a strong masking or duct type tape to get them in place. Now, arrange them so you can visualize. Leave the room, then, walk back in and 'surprise' yourself. If you don't love the blue at the top, try the same idea like I suggested, with the deep hem of blue at the bottom edge. Once you do this, I think you will know whether to go full-speed-ahead or go for something else. And if you love the look, then, perhaps you can find something red to tack on as your narrow band in the middle, to get an idea of how that will look when finished. In a lightweight fabric like the one you are using, that's the part that worries me, because trying to do something like this with the addition of the narrow middle piece might hang puckered..........does that make sense?

I've included a link at half priced drapes.com where they show their bottom banding. My Paris friend's looked a little similar, although, I don't think she did a 27" band. Also, you may find something there. I saw some 50" wide panels in 120" length on sale for $79 per panel. And a fabric with a bit more weight and heft to it just might hang better if you are fusing two separate colors.

Red

Here is a link that might be useful: Banding idea from HalfPricedDrapes

It sounds like something I would do but with different colours. I did find this website that might help you.

Here is a link that might be useful: drapery

I like the idea and think that it would work well. Like Red mentioned I would just keep the red to the size of piping. I really think that would be enough to pull the red in.

Mistybear, that's a great link and a really pretty drape. Downsey...........Creative and pretty! Nice job.

Red

Thanks so much for the comments, links and suggestions. I love the look of banding at the bottom. In this room, however, three of the four panels have their bottoms obscured by furniture.

Hanging the drapes helped a lot - thanks redbazel! What I learned was that blue banding over gold looked odd. However, I'm liking the gold band over the blue. This photo is a very rough representation. I would need a longer blue piece, and the drape will start almost at the ceiling. The fabric is less shiny than it appears.

How about these?

m. iris in twighlight

I think the idea you have is great, but I think the blue in particular is too light. I would not use the red in the middle. Let that be an accent color in the room. Everything doesn't have to be too matchy-matchy to work.