NHB, why do you want curtains in that room? Your mouldings are so beautiful, I hate to see you cover them up! Are you thinking just stationary side panels? You really don't have much room for a rod, either, since your crown moulding and your window casing are so close together. Are you just looking to bring in more color/texture?

I would only do stationery curtains in your room since your moldings are just too beautiful to cover up. I really like the way the windows are right now. You have a beautiful home.

OMG, nhb, why on earth do you want to put curtains on that window? Before I even read the previous posts, I just thought "NO! DON'T!" & I'm in complete agreement w/ aj & lynn. Your window is gorgeous & perfect just the way it is. My advice would be don't gild the lily! I think you have more to lose than to gain by adding a curtain. Most of us put up curtains to add interest or conceal or distract from flaws. You have plenty of interest & no flaws! Just mho!

If you feel you really need some fabric on the sides would it work to put up the drapery rods that are only about 3 feet long on either side of the window. That will keep the majority of molding showing and provide softness on the sides. Do you know the ones that I mean? They also swing outwards from the wall.

I agree with the others. No matter how good the sale is, those windows don't need curtains. The room is perfect as is.

I think they call them "crane" rods. Or just do really short (depends on width of window, measurement to corner of room but I'm thinking 12-18") wooden decorative rods, placed at height between mouldings, but to the sides of the windows, with 1 panel shirred on each?

I agree, you're moulding is too beautiful to cover up. Love, love it.

WOW...I am overwhelmed! :) :) :) Thank you!

All this time, I have thought I needed curtains to "soften" the look of my dark blinds, and to dress up the dining room a bit, and also lend warmth to the room.

My daughter has been after me to put something on the window. I have been begging my husband. My daughter finally talked him into agreeing to a gift certificate for my birthday.

Yes, what I wanted was something stationary (one panel each side,) but never thought about a short rod. I wasn't planning on ever closing the drapes, but did want to cover the edge of where the blinds meet the window frame.

Like this:

I showed your responses to my daughter, and she said she doesn't understand the short rod concept. Does anyone have a photo that I could share with DD to show her the short rods? Even with short rods, I would either be covering up the capital, to cover the blind/frame gap, or the curtains will just hang off to the side and may look odd.

If I don't do anything, what the heck am I to do with the gift card!

I was thinking 2" or bigger rods, kinda like this but more off to the side

http://www5.jcpenney.com/jcp/X6E.aspx?DeptID=60156&CatID=60193&GrpTyp=ENS&ItemID=147e7bd&attrtype=TCT&attrvalue=pinch+pleat&CmCatId=60156:60193:shopbytopconstruction&CmCatId=60156:60193:shopbytopconstruction

But your last photo, with a thin rod just at the top of the casing (have DH hold it up so you see if you like it at the bottom of the capitol or the top) would work too, with the panels pulled to the sides.

Generally I like to see some type of WTs--esp. dining rooms which tend to be wood heavy--because they add textile interest, though in your case you have the pretty upholstered dining room chairs so I agree I don't think it needs any dressing up. I do like the suggestion to run a thinner rod along that flat area of the molding, but I'd wait on final placement until you choose the style of WT since some have a bit of material above the rod. I'd suggest placing the rod so that the tip of the drapery material falls just below the start of the upper window trim.

What to do w/the gift card? How about Christmas gifts, curtains for another room, bedding, bath, kitchen supplies/accessories, lamps, rugs, underwear! That's the great thing about Penney's...they have a little of everything & most of it is pretty cute & of good quality.

Keep us posted about what you decide to do w/the window. You're house is so great & you obviously have excellent taste, so I'm sure whatever you come up w/will be wonderful.

I am sorry, but I am not following either one of the last two post. Also, is anyone else having trouble reading the threads today? Are the sentences really long for you to? I keep having to move the page back and forth to read the entire post. YUCK!!!!

BTW, NHB, I love your taste - can you please look at pics of my stairs/dining room in the newel post below and tell me what you think we should do with the stairs? Photos would be great! Thanks

Sheila

Yes, nhb, there is a problem with some of the threads today.

You said you weren't following my post. Maybe I misunderstood. Didn't your DH give you a gift card to JCPenney?
The other remark was in reference to your good taste. I am confident that whatever you decide to do with your window, it will be great, as you have excellent taste!

Hi NHB, try looking up curtain cranes, swing arm rods or crane rods. Hope that helps to give you a picture of what I'm talking about. The length of these rods are adjustable, so that you can control the fulless of the drapery - but they are not itended to meet in the middle, just to stack on the sides, which in your case would work well.

Hi NHM,
May I switch the subject to your blinds? I see you have one valance for the three blinds. Are they 3 individual blinds with each having their own header with the one valance or are they three blinds attached to one header and the one valance? I have been so procrastinating to put these in my bedroom. I love the spacing between your blinds. Do you know where you bought them? I have some blinds in the guest room, and to give it a finishing touch I used a pretty valance with a tension rod that just barely fit within the box of the window. There was just enough space between the wooden blinds and the edge of the window to use one of those small tension rods. I did not want to cover my beautiful trim.

Here's a link on the drapery swing arm. Those windows and the details around the window, are beautiful. Just try stationary panels with a swing arm.

Here is a link that might be useful: cast iron swing arm for drapes

Country Curtains has the crane rods. With your wide window (9ft?) I also thought this was interesting since you would have to screw supports into the middle of your moulding - might as well be decorative!

http://www.countrycurtains.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=3779&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=106&iSubCat=195&iProductID=3779

Wow, I agree with the others that the window doesn't NEED a drape. But if you want a touch of fabric I love the swing arm idea, hung just above the horizontal trim piece on the moulding. Of those two golds, I like the darker one also. I've seen some drapes posted here in printed fabrics that look awesome too. Your blinds and window trim are beautiful.

NHB - Beautiful home. I would not put curtains at that window. Does not seem to be a privacy issue. Your room is very warm and IMHO, you need to nothing else. I took a peek at the curtains and I don't think you will like them if you have to cover the beautiful crown moulding. The room is wonderful, leave it as it is.

If you must, I would follow the advice regarding the cast iron swing arms and only use a curtain with a stripe color very close to the wall color so as to not draw attention to the curtains and away from your beautiful room!

Please post pics of what you decide.

Beautiful room that needs nothing else. I think a rod of any sort would detract from its classic beauty.

I second the pics on your decision.

I'm so glad everyone said not to cover up that gorgeous molding on the window. That was my first thought when I saw your pic.

I always love looking at your DR, it is so beautiful.

Deb

Your windows and window frames are beautiful.....simple but elegants. I think I would keep them that way...Enjoy their beauty.

Sorry for not responding earlier, DH and I went to the movies.

stinky-gardener - It was not your post that I didn't understand, it was the two post above yours. I believe we posted about the same time. :)

I am tired now, so I will come back in the morning to re-read and look at some of the links. I want to thank you all for the suggestions and the compliments. I really appreciate them.

Hi newhomebuilder, I also noticed that the posts are very long too, I'm also moving the blue line back and forth to read everything. Has this ever happened before?

Before I read what anyone had written, I said to myself after looking at that beautiful window and all of the moldings.....'why in the world would she want to cover that window?' If it were mine, I wouldn't put anything up there.

I would not add drapery of any kind, even stationary rods. Crane rods wouldn't make sense to me, as it appears that is an inside window and you wouldn't need to move the curtains away from the windows when you open them, which is really the purpose of the swing/crane rods.

You already have a lot going on in that space visually, between the arches, pillars, wainscot and heavy trim - I don't think you need anything else to compete visually. But if you really want to do something, I would get rid of the dark wooden blinds, which fight with all the wonderful white trim, and add soft roman shades or white blinds instead.

Maybe you could just add a scarf. You wouldn't need a rod, just hooks for the scarf. If it were my home, however, I would keep the windows as they are.

newhomebuilder, what is your ceiling height?

If the height is 9ft. or less I would hang a thin black iron rod between the top of the window moulding and the bottom of the crown. Attach the curtain via small black iron rings, as in this photo posted by someone on another thread (link below, scroll down about a third of the way to the room with the swimming photo).

If the ceiling height is greater than 9 feet I would hang the black rod on the frieze board of the window moulding, that is, the flat surface above the top of the actual window. You will have to put a support on it in the middle to keep the rod from bowing. I would attach the curtains the same way.

I also think they would soften the effect and need not ever be closed since you have the blinds. But I like the lighter material that is real silk dupioni; if you are going to add another layer to your windows it shouldn't be heavy since you already have heavy molding and dark wood blinds, imo.

Here is a link that might be useful: Curtains hung with small black rings on a thin black iron rod

NHB, your windows are very pretty, adding drapes, which I always love, is going to cover the windows....which you were trying to avoid doing. Several people have posted about the swing arms, but what type of curtain were you thinking of hanging. A formal drapery panel wouldnt look right on the thin rod and would not look right if it went past the side of the molding. If you want something.....my suggestion is hanging a lighter weigh fabric with the decorative medalions just above the picture frame molding around the window...so it would be hung in the 4-5 inch flat white molding....7 3 inch round medalions. I think I would only do a fancy valance to cover over the top of the blinds....but you could hang side panel drapes with a few medalions on each side. Just a suggestion, they really are beautiful as is:)
I like your chandelier a lot....I hope I didnt ask you this before, I have asked someone before, but do you know who makes it. I have been searching for chandeliers. I have a few in mind but havent placed my order. THANKS

I think a valance would look out of place because you have very strong horizontal lines on that wall already with the window moulding, the crown, and the slats of the blinds. A valance would "bring the ceiling down" and almost look like heavy eyebrows on your window. Simple, elegant hanging panels on either side of the window, not covering but an inch or so of the moulding, would enhance the look and bring in a strong vertical component that is now lacking, imo.

Hello - Y'all have convinced me! I think I have decided to let the dining room ride for a bit longer, although the link that kswl pointed out is a HUGE help...thank you. Also, my ceilings are 9+ feet tall.

I have switched gears to my bedroom now, and may do something in there instead.

sanborn5 - The blinds are three separate units, with one long valance. I can not recommend the company, however. The blinds are the reason I found my way to GardenWeb almost 2 years ago. For those that are new, or don't remember, my first post was about a $4,000 blind mistake (getting dark blinds) and all the trouble we were having with the company because of inferior workmanship. I searched to no avail for the original thread.

les - If you read the "mistake" thread, you would remember why we chose dark over white, and why we cannot use something different - like Roman shade - over the windows. The outside of the house needed to have darker blinds...white would have looked funny. Also, since we have our living room and dining room open to each other, I had planned on using the same window treatment in both windows. If I put roman shades in the dining room, then I feel I would need them in the living room. That would not look good in the front of the house. Plus, roman shades cut down on light, and we need more light in the house.

gk5040 - Yes, you did ask me in another thread. LOL Here was my response to you, but I guess you didn't see it.

"There is another thread that was posted yesterday, about my chandelier."

"My fixtures came from Capital Lighting Co. In Atlanta, Georgia (also in Dallas) and the chandelier is from the Villa Collection."

Once again...thanks so much for all the support and suggestions. :)

I agree with KSWL.

I would keep the drapes plain and simple in a solid color with texture. No tieback. Just let them hang to the floor.
No puddle.

I too think the windows and room look lovely just as they are.

The reason the posts are going off the screen and lines of text are so long is caused by the link that you posted early on to JC Penny. The link text is extremely long and as it is considered one word because it has no spaces, it will not wrap down to the next line. In the future, if you have a link, put it in the "Optional Link URL" box at the bottom of your post when you preview it. That will place the link below your posting and will eliminate it causing a wrapping problem. You will not see this box when you first write your post, however it will be there at the bottom when you preview your post. Look below the submit buttom and below where it says "you may use this form to make corrections" After entering the link in the box and typing in a "name of the link" then preview the message again before submitting. This will cause the link to be shown on your posting. Hope this helps.

I looked at your pictures and thought that you didn't need curtains. Your moldings are beautiful. You have blinds for privacy, nothing else is needed. I am glad you have decided to leave well enough alone.

newhomebuilder, are you in Atlanta?
We live in Griffin, a "hamlet" a little more than an hour to the south :)

mary_lu - Thank you pointing out the problem. I am well aware of the "Link" box, and use it often. What I don't like about it is that you cannot post more than one link. That's why I put the links into the text. Glad to know that was it.

kswl - No, I live in TN. However, I grew up in SC, about 2 hours from ATL. I know Griffin.

NHB, I will say once again, I love your home! We don't have the arches that you do, but a fair amount of architectural detail in our home. I understand the desire to "soften" the windows in the dining room.

Here is what I did: I have French Doors that lead from my dining room out onto the veranda. The designer I chose wanted me to put Roman Shades on the windows because of the millwork but mostly because of light switches on either side of the doors. I wanted something to soften as well as the ability to close the drapes when entertaining or just enjoying a romantic dinner with my husband.

I decided to go with plain panel drapes stacked to the side of the doors with batons for when I wanted a more intimate feeling in my dining room (it's open to our living room too). We like a lot of light because much of this room is north facing plus we have the large overhang. I put the cordless cellular shades up on the windows (from Penny's they are great!) and my drapes were installed last week. I'm glad I went with them instead of shades or just blinds, and the designer did agree with me that it was the best choice.

Of course, your home has more millwork than mine does and we don't have the large capitols over the window as you do. I love the look of the simple goblet panels though.

Whatever you do, as others have said, will be beautiful. You have great taste!

Susan

I should have known you were in a hilly or mountainous area, newhomebuilder, as the views from your house are so wonderful!

I am so glad you decided to leave the window alone!

Susan
I'd love to see a photo when you get a chance.

NHB, Thank you....I did miss the answer as to where you had gotten the chandelier. I know I have asked two people, one I remembered seeing their response and one I could not find the post when I went back a day later. Dont you hate when that happens!!!! Yours was the post I never read. Thanks again:)

Ok, I have spent an hour or so trying to find your chandelier. No luck. I think I looked at every chandelier they sell, when I googled and search under the villa collection I get nothing....even on their website. However, I learned a lot about Capital Lighting, they have some pretty chandeliers. I didnt know that name before. I have been looking at Savoy, Minka Lavery and Murray Feiss. Do you have any other info I can search under. I would love to see another pic of the chandelier:)

Newhomebuilder, my husband frowns on me posting any pictures on the web, but I'd be happy to send you a picture of the dining room drapes if you will email me off list.

I've enabled the "email me" function if you choose to email me. Please let me know if you don't, and I'll remove that option from my page.

Thanks,
Susan

gk5040 - I wonder if you have the right Capital Lighting. I know there are two that show up on Google. However, the funny thing is, when I try to go to my chandelier, I get a message that I have to be logged in (a dealer). This didn't happen the other day, and I found the chandelier right off.

Probably the best thing to do, is contact the company to find a dealer in your area, or email for a catalog.

Here is the link to the web page.

Here is a link that might be useful: Capital Lighting

Thanks so much, I have been taking care of a relative and I havent been online very often....I keep losing the places I need to return to. I will look into this tomorrow. I tried to browse and I got the same message. I might be able to search thru a lighting company. I will let you know:)