The room does appear formal. Is it used formally too? If so, I am not sure I'd try to unformalize it with the drapes.

There does not appear to be a lot of color to the room from the pics posted. What color are the pleated shades - neutral? Do you have a pic with the shades on?

Generally I like the idea of going solid given the couch is pattered. What about chocolate brown? Too much sun for that?

Is this the only place in the room that you can put the couch? Perhaps if it was not in front of the window, the options would be different.

I'm not very good on choosing window treatments, (although plantation shutters would be very pretty,) but just wanted to say what a beautiful room and what pretty windows. Also, the view is very nice! Good luck with your decision.

I think side panels would be just fine, especially if you used a beautiful curtain pole. Try to use one of the colors in the sofa or the candle shades. Is there a rug to pull colors from too? Use a solid fabric with some texture to it. Then make some pillows for the sofa from the curtain fabric. Beautiful sofa, fabulous window and view you got there.

I'm not much of a window treatment person either, but at first glance thought plantation shutters to match the trim or roman shades would help to give the room the more casual feel you're looking for. You could even have a pretty fabric shutter put in, those are different and allow you more of an opportunity to customize the treatment.

I look at a lot of decorating magazines and have noticed that valances are rarely used any more and do think that in your case they might give a frumpy feel to the room. I would vote for the side panels. A great source for curtains which I've often used is Country Curtains. They have many styles, not only country (my house is not country) at very reasonable prices, with great quality and service. As far as color is concerned I would choose off-white, to give a fresh quality to the room and also so as not to detract from your lovely view. I hope you post pictures when you have the curtains, with more of your beautiful room included.

This may be more formal than you have in mind, but . . . I have a bay window in my dining room that adjoins my living room. All of the windows - the bay plus the four living room windows - have stationary panels on the sides.

I snapped a photo of the dining room ones, but my photography skills don't do justice to the drapes.

Here are the living room ones:

I agree -- no valance, and very simple side panels (with maybe also two more simple panels between the picture window and side windows) in the same color as the walls or color of tan medallion in the sofa. The fabric could have a little pindot or such, but all the same color. That window needs softening up.

What a beautiful window and view. The sofa does look very formal, not exactly a "cuddle into" sofa. Maybe add two large throw pillows of a different fabric (what else is in the room that you could repeat on the sofa?) to it with some soft silk fringe.

I'd definitely have the drapes custom made and lined at the place you found, so that they have a more expensive look than ready-mades. It will do a lot for the room. Am thinking cotton, something with a medium finish -- not too hard, not too open a weave.

Love the color of your walls and am trying to zero in on an exact one for mine. What color is it?

Thanks so much for all your input and compliments too... I've added a few more pics to include the entire room (sorry if pics are too large, i can't figure out how to make them smaller..lol can you tell i'm new at this?!) Yes the room is used mostly for company and holidays, our den is the everyday relaxing and tv room..the additional pics show the pleated shades..the shades are pulled up 90% of the time. The area rug has a black backround..

And yes graywings that is exactly what i had in mind.. thanks for the pictures!

The shades down a little to show the color..and my little hambone doggie..

Bigdoglover: WOW..that is exactly the type of fabric I have chosen (before having 2nd, 3rd,.. thoughts) the fabric is gold just a smidge darker than the walls with a tiny pindot and lined.. that has taken me over 4mos. to decide and you are right on within mins.. haha such talent on this home decorating forum!! Thanks so much.. Oh the walls in the living room are BM Chestertown Buff and the walls in the adjacent dining room are Behr Winter Wheat - which we love and have in our den also, it's a bit darker than the living room!

I would do the panels on either side of the window, that come over the edges of the window area just a bit. Obviously the rod would be mounted above the window in the space below the crown moulding. I would be sure the rod was substantial and decorative, perhaps in the wood tone of the furniture, and not a skinny one, since it will be visible all the time.

Just wondering if you have ever considered putting the piano on the end wall and the curio where the piano is? It seems like the piano and bench and upholstered chair crowd the entry from the front hall.

I would love to see the curio where the piano is now, with a couple of the green plants beside it in the corner.

Then the piano on the end wall, to the right a bit, with the mirror on the right side of the front window hung over it. Right now the mirror doesn't reflect anything interesting, it just is kind of floating there, and it will have to move anyway when you add the drapery. Try the two smaller pix that are now on that wall by the chair hung on either side of the mirror. Then move the round artwork over the chair in the corner.

I would also like to see some darker patterned pillows on the two side chairs, to bring a bit more color there. Perhaps the pin-dot pillows on the chairs would work behind the print pillows that match the couch?

mom, thanks, BM is my favorite brand, can't wait to try the Chesterton Buff. The additional photos are good -- the room is very well arranged. Beautiful rug.

Les917 is a master at furniture arranging, so read her post carefully and see what you think.

My only addition is that once you put up drapes you will have to move the mirror. Think about moving it into the foyer at the base of the steps, above the area where the plant is sitting. the molding will help ground the mirror. Right now, with nothing under it, it looks like it is floating.

LOVE the dog!

I would try darker solid panels, I would also try two small curtian rods, rather than one monster rod. Too me, it looks odd when the rod is much longer than the height of the panels. Save the reciepts, you can always take it back. I would go for finished width of about a foot, with 2-3 times the amount of material.

Mom, just realized I forgot to say the drapes you describe sound great. They are going to be full length, I assume. That will really give some vertical thrust to that wide window. I agree with chris8796 on the width and fullness. You could always get several bolts on loan and see whether they would be better darker, as she says.

You've done a beautiful job of your room.

Thanks so much for all the input I've received.... i really appreciate all of it!!

Les917: Yay! another vote for the panels.. when we measured that is just what we did- a little over the edges of the window. Ahh yes, the piano - the piano was on the wall where the curio is and vice versa for about 10 years so when we ordered the new furniture, we thought we'd change it up a bit, but hmmm maybe we should put it back the other way???
the piano bench should have been tucked under the piano a little more- its not as tight as it looks when DD puts it back where it belongs..lol yes the mirror does have to go.. there was a table under it before the new end tables came... the mirror will go back above the table where it is now on the upstrs landing..I'm hoping Santa will bring me an oval mirror (from ballard designs) that I've been eyeing for over the piano, what do you think about that? Not sure what i'd put on the wall where that mirror is now if i dont move piano back around???? So many questions... that's why I feel paralyzed by any new decisions.. thank you for taking the time to answer my post.. i've been lurking here for a while and you are, as graywings suggest, a master at furniture arrangement and more!!

Does the oval coffee table need an oval centerpiece or can any shape.. rectangular or round go on that piece of furniture??? Not sure what to put on that table??

Graywings: Yes the mirror is going... thanks.. doggy says,"thanks"!

Chris8796: The fabric I really liked was solid with a tiny pindot and a shade or 2 darker than the walls.. I am seeing the seamstress on Wed. to look at the fabric again an i will ask her to sketch out both a long rod and 2 shorter ones.. Thanks so much.

Bigdoglover: Yes the drapes will be full length.. thanks for your kind compliments..

I value all your opinions and wish you all a peaceful and healthy holiday season... I will post more pics in January when the drapes are finally up! Thanks again..

Lovely room. I agree with doing just the two stationary panels with the panels on wooden rings. I would opt for a larger wooden rod mounted with two arched supports, one each in the area between the center window and each of the flankers. Have the rod installed just under the crown molding so that soffet area does not look too chopped up. Make sure the drapes are lined (possibly interlined as well) so that they look nicr and full to balance out the width of the window. I would have them just clear the edges of the window molding when open--don't cover up any molding.

I think I would be tempted to put in dark wood shades to tie in the dark wood furnature thats in the room. I have seen some really beatiful dark wood rods with a golden crackle finish on the glass ends that would look great with the decor in that room as well.

Beautiful room! I would love to see something sumptuous and contrasting like dark chocolate velvet drapery panels hung at the ends of a chunky wood rod with a decorative carved finial. The dark brown would be beautiful with the yellow/gold tones and the texture would lend richness without being too formal, IMHO. Plus it would play on the brocade style of your sofa.