Great thread! Maryelizabeth, I love your valance, beautiful!

fillagirl, how wide are your panels? They are luscious!

Maryelizabeth - love your valance, it will be beautiful in that fabric!

Jojogirl11 - I think my panels are 114" wide (2 x 54" wide fabric sewn together). LOVE the fullness, glad I erred on the side of very full vs. less full. I think that's a rule of thumb with WT...

Here are a couple of my favorite types:

Ripple fold sheers and drapes, soffit to floor, wall to wall on commercial type window walls.

Linen and silk, full length, with a simple valance and a little trim. Still looking good after 27 years.
{{gwi:1884872}}

Floor to ceiling layer of sheers and heavy texture. They match the walls because the window is all the way in the corner.
{{gwi:1884873}}

All of these.

Here is a link that might be useful: Windows on Cote de Texas

Fillagirl, love those silk panels. Those are the colors that I want for my master bedroom. Do you mind sharing your wall color?

A picture of Barefoot Contessa's velvet orange drapes, her signiture color.

But, I prefer silk, long and puddling on the floor, but heavy velvet comes in second, if the room is formal.

....Jane

{{gwi:1884874}}

I don't have any window treatments in my living area. I like the unclutteres look. In the bedrooms, I love silk panels like fillagirls or wood blinds or plantation shutters. For bathrooms, roman shades are nice.

I love the west elm panels below. For our new master, we will have patio doors 10' wide and 8' tall. Any ideas on how to get the room dark? Can I have the silk panels lines with something?

Here is a link that might be useful: {{gwi:1884860}}

Hogar, wall colour is BM Inukshuk. Like it but I am changing the wall colour to BM Lennox Tan or Norwester Tan, think a golden undertone will be better with my cherry fireplace mantel.

Jane, is that an apartment? I think I prefer her "barn" decorating style.

Thanks everyone!
Fillagirl - I like that your mom made those, gorgeous!

kjmama below you'll find a link to my photobucket WT inspiration album. WTs are probably my favorite part of decorating. Thought I'd save some bandwidth by not posting them all here.

Here is a link that might be useful: Becky's Photobucket WTs Inspirations.

Actually, I read the Cote de Texas on windows last night and it got me thinking, I know nothing:) I am wondering are panels the only "approved" window treatment? Designers... can you weigh in? What is up with valences being a "don't?"
I just thought it would be fun to see what made people smile in their own homes.
Thanks

Oh, no! I just read through the Cote de Texas also, AND I just had my window treatments installed TODAY! Unfortunately, we did a "Don't," and they would think it looks silly, I guess, but I'm liking it...Actually, I LOVE our woven shades. It will take a little longer to LOVE the cornice (especially now that I learn that it is a No-No), but mostly because it just looks so different. While waiting for installation (about 4 weeks) we got used to the bare look, so it just looks different right now. Here are some pics I took today.

Shades up:

Shades down:

Breakfast room:

Personally I don't care, and never have, what others think about how I dress myself or my home. Yes, it's wonderful when they love what I love, but when it all comes down to it, if you don't like it then who cares how "in" it is, whatever "it" is.
I'm not the only one that feels this way am I?

No, you aren't the only one that feels that way. I've always said that my home only has to please me and make me happy. Like you, I think it is wonderful if others like it, but it isn't necessary :-)

I started to scroll through the CdeT WTs post and I just felt horribly insecure. Yes, I have always admitted (here and elsewhere) to being WTI (window treatment impaired) but honestly, "do it right or don't bother"??? How are we mere mortals to make any use of such advice? The stuff pictured is drop-dead gorgeous, of course, but I don't have the vision or the pocketbook. Deliver me...

That said, my favorite "problem-solver" WT that I whined about here for months, quite a number of years ago was this one. The panels were cheap, softened the nasty aluminum sliders and matched the paint perfectly!

Natenvalsmom

Its a great valance. In your kitchen it is a "DO".

Strict dos and don'ts need to be taken with a grain of salt.

I truly don't take advice from designers all that seriously...have you seen some of the train-wreck designs on HGTV? Some, of course, are classy and beautiful, but many are just confusing and irritating, not to mention ugly. I was not aware of "rules" about certain window treatments, and apparently, neither was the wonderful window treatment designer who helped us. My post was intended to be tongue-in-cheek.

I don't follow trends, and use valances in some rooms. I make all of my own WTs from fabrics that I love.

Pierre Deux 'Geraine' fabric from eBay in kitchen for summer

Upstairs bathroom fall/winter embroidered Waverly fabric

Checked silk in half bath. I change this room out a lot.

my3dogs - I really like that silk check topper. What pattern did you use for that one?

natenvalsmom - if it is wrong, it sure looks right... I'm ready to move in;)
my3dogs - SO pretty, glad you like valences in happy colors... what a seamstress;)
amysrq - I'm glad you understood the insecurity birthed in me, though that pic looks like it could fit in the do pictures. WOW! I love how airy it feels.
You all are cheering me up:)

natenvalsmom and all others, please note that my last post was posted just two seconds after natenvalsmom posted her lovely WTs. It was just a coincidense that I mentioned not caring about trends at that time.
natenvalsmom, I can tell you reply was written as tongue in cheek though it would be easier to do so if we could EASILY use italics or graphics to help show what emotion was being thought when instead of just relying on the written word here at the Garden Web. Not all of us know html without looking it up. In fact even when someone posted the codes awhile ago I couldn't get them to work here. I'm on a group at NING that shows the codes when you click on the the symbols for bold, italic, underline and crossout so I'm writting this message there and hoping by copy and pasting it into the message box here at the Garden Web it will show. If so I just might write all my messages that way. LOL.

YAY IT WORKED!

I'm a new arrival to window treatments, in terms of realizing there is a whole discipline and industry dedicated to them. I've been struggling to make things work with guesswork and home sewing for decades, so I'm having fun discovering what there is out there with respect to ideas and hardware, and above all, fabric!

Reading that Texas website (and I haven't got through it all, save that for a glass of vino one quiet evening), I am struck with how differently a designer thinks compared to a homeowner. There is one photo in which s/he deprecates the amateurish use of swags and elaborate tie-backs in a room with an 8-foot ceiling, saying how inappropriate the WT is for the setting. That's fine for a designer, to say THIS type of treatment goes in THAT type of setting, but not here - s/he has many jobs to choose from. For the homeowner, HERE is the only setting I have, and if I like swags and tie-backs, or valances, THIS is the only place I have available to put them. So I'm gonna do it and it's gonna make me happy, as per the OP, devil take the designer's opinion. That said, there are boundaries, but they are simply more flexible for homeowners. Thank heavens!

And I do thank you, justgotaBme, for posting your photobucket album! That's a nice variety with some outstanding ideas.

I'm afraid I don't have much to show yet that's finished. My house is old, and its best feature is its wide wood mouldings, so I've been working on WT that will allow the use of nice rods and finials - which I love - with the window frame showing (and some of those aren't stripped yet, so are still languishing under layers of old paint in the basement). And just as I'm figuring it out and getting stuff done, I'm realizing we need to repaint all the rooms after living here for 16 years AND we may be getting new windows, so I'm reluctant to choose, let alone cut and sew, fabric just yet.

KarinL

I love the picture that you posted, amysrq! That looks beautiful. I assume that you used small rods for each panel?

'Do it right or don't bother' um, ouch! What's 'right'? And who makes these rules, anyway? Have they ever been traced back to a stand the-test-of-time source? You know, like the Tollhouse recipe...does an equivalent for WTs exist?
*stares out valance covered window & ponders this*

If we do something because someone else says it's 'proper', but doesn't particularly work for us, shouldn't we toss our comfort level right out the well-dressed window?

My windows are like the Road Rules Challenge of all windows. Another hitch: I'm one of those people who craves daylight, without it, my body will go into pseudo hibernation. It's a very real issue in winter. The windows in my house are really wonky. Average size windows set sideways (man, was that a stony maneuver on someone's part). My dogs can't see outside. My nieces couldn't see outside till they passed the age of 9. (Unless they stood at the storm door, which doesn't fly when it's -20 and the door is coated in ice. How do you tell a mom her kid wanted to see out and got stuck to the glass.) With the exception of my lr picture window, all sills hit at chest height and I'm 5'8". So in the dimmest rooms I used every trick I could think of to dress those windows and lasso every beam of sunshine I could get my hands on. Tried panels in some rooms. Picture if you will, tall elegant panels on a squat, extra wide window with an expanse of 4' of painted wall below it. It's a very funky look (the phrase 'your mama dresses you funny' comes to mind.) So valances set higher on the wall, to make the window look taller, with (gasp) mini-blinds was it. Continually hitting big expenditures that break the budget just doesn't leave room for the white wooden blinds I'd love to have. Maybe it makes me a backward bumpkin in the rule book, but it works for me. And until a 'eureka!' solution slaps me upside the head (or we move), it sure beats hanging out in gloomy rooms in a blue funk all day. ;)

Amy, funny you should mention your insecurities. I have spent some time this morning studying your MBR photo (green paint suggestion for scanmike). Would like to keep a copy of that photo to use your WT as a reference, if you don't mind. Light, airy, crisp, clean...aahh. If I could just taylor it to my wonky MBR windows somehow. *rolleyes*

An interesting thread. After viewing the link for Cote de Texas, I know I'm playing the minor leagues. But, I have been very pleased with our Living Room after making new window treatments. My DH built the cornace which we upholstered and I sewed the panels.

{{gwi:1875358}}

Thanks for the kind words, Moon. I struggled with those windows, too. I know they are not to everyone's taste, but like you, I wanted to scoop up as much light as possible, have a smidge of privacy and try to get a finished look. In retrospect, I think my "fear" of over-sized hardware really was pretty ridiculous. I should have gone a little (or a lot) beefier.

The Tollhouse Cookies of Window Treatments....now, that's what I've been looking for all my life! :-)

Spiffy, I actually used sash rods. I wanted them to disappear and they were just right for the Belgian Linen Sheers, which I got at Restoration Hardware on sale for $45/panel.

natenvalsmom, would you share your wall color? The whole kitchen is so pretty, but that color looks like what I have been wanting! Thanks.

cyn427 - Thanks for the kind words. The paint was a bit of an issue because of the light in the kitchen. The area above the sink receives so much light, that whatever we liked THERE was too, too dark in the family room/breakfast room, and anything that looked great in the FR/BR was too washed out above the sink. So......we actually have 2 colors that were next to each other on the Benjamin Moore color strip. The darker color (Louisburg Green HC113) is above the sink, and the lighter color is in the BR/FR (Saybrook Sage HC 114). They look pretty much the same most of the time, I guess because of how the light enters the room, and if it was all the same color, the darker corners of the FR would look really dark (no windows there).

Hope this helps, and Happy Thanksgiving!

KarinL, you are very welcome. I glad you enjoyed my album.

such lovely windows...and some delightful ideas, both written and shown :)

we are still pondering the window treatments for our kitchen/dining space...

thanks for helping spark my imagination!

Thanks, natenvalsmom! What a great idea to use the two colors! My galley kitchen may need the lighter with the darker in the FR area at one end. Brilliant. And, Happy Thanksgiving to you also-and everyone here!

Natenvals, that is a truly good fix to the all-too-common paint dilemna......one color is perfect in most of the space, but looks a little washed out or muddy or whatever on one wall or in one adjoining room. Most of us don't think about doing that--just using the next brighter/darker color on the same strip for the problem area. Now, that's good decorating!

And speaking of good decorating and pretty window treatments, I very much enjoyed seeing everyone's favorites, and even enjoyed cote de texas treatment of treatments.......although she can go a bit 'over the top' for my taste sometimes. And here's the thing....yeah, valances per se are not so in fashion right now. But that does not mean they are 'out'. OUT like Harvest gold washing machines, or stuffed geese on the mantel, or mauve carpet with sponge-painted walls out........Nope. They are maybe not as 'In' as lush drapes or plantation shutters or bamboo rollups, but they are most definitely not out. Take a nice long look at Beautiful Kitchens magazine by Better Homes & Gardens that ttodd so kindly told us to go out and buy this week, (Winter '09 issue) and look at the valances on these fabulous designer kitchens!
Kinda makes you think about what you just saw on natenvalsmom's windows, huh? And I loved the first few pages on the use of neutral paint colors, just as Tiffany oh tiffany ttodd, said that I would!!

Red

hi - y'all
I feel kind of horrible reading these comments. When I posted that about window treatments - that is just like how I do them! not what you should do. everyone should do what they like without me making you feel bad. Oy!! THAT Makes me FeEL HORRIBLE!!!! I am not being judgmental. It's more like a guide for people who are interested in knowing what i would suggest if i were their interior designer! Also, I tried to show what doesn't work and why. People make mistakes and I tried to show that. But if you like swags and tails - go for it. Or cornices. It's not to say there's something wrong or bad about different treatments. I personally
like panels now. I find them easier to use and simplier. but that's not to say I don't appreciate a beautiful fancy window treatment because I DO. I was just showing what I like personally and how to avoid making decorating mistakes!!!!!! I feel terrible. uggggh. just ignore my pathetic attempts at trying to be a teacher.

Oh goodness, jb. Don't feel that way!

You had a wonderful guide on WTs. I enjoyed it, immensely, and didn't see where you derided anything as being out . It was more about scale and design (in a perfect world).

I took it as inspiration.

My two favorites, my meditation/away room and my bedroom:

Wow, you never know what will happen on the internet! Hi JB! I guess I should weigh in since I started this :)....

Well, we are working on a home right now so I have been checking out books like crazy out of the library on decorating, window treatments... and asking questions here on gardenweb. I haven't had to decorate a house in x# years, so I need some help. I want to learn! I don't want our home to look dumb, that is why I'm trying to learn... Aren't we all trying to make our homes the best, prettiest, warmest they can be?

Your blog entry set insecurity in my heart because you clearly did illustrate your points... and it was nothing really I had been reading in my books. This surprised and perplexed me, as a novice. :) I did learn from your pictures. I learned that window shades do look better outside the trim and in line with the drapes. WOW. I never noticed that before...

SO, you just go on teaching:) I also read cook's illustrated magazine to try to learn something about cooking... they are just as opinionated and descriptive as you (do you read them?). It is about refining taste I suppose... BUT I still like to use cream of mushroom soup, which they seem to abhore:) and I'll probably put up a few valences in our new home as that is all we can do and I like them. I may also try some pretty simple panels with blinds ordered as you suggest and I will probably feel proud (I hope) that, "hey this looks pretty good!"

Thanks for jumping in. Many Blessings!

jbwebb don't you dare apologize for your WT guide. I loved it. And I LOVE your blog and read it every day. You have great taste. Classic looks and great fabrics will never go out of style. kjmamma simple panels and rods are very popular right now. I like them dressed up with pinch pleats and trim. I also like bamboo blinds if they are sized and hung right.

{{gwi:1884878}}


{{gwi:1884879}}

Natal that is Barefoot's Manhattan apt., and I do like her barn decorating better as well.

.....Jane

jbwebb, I see that you are Cote De Texas owner. (Nice to meet you. ;)

As I am one of the ones who paraphrased you, I feel compelled to respond. First, my post was coming from a very tongue in cheek place, heavy on the snarky side toward my own windows. I've bemoaned these windows a few times over the years here, this post is not the first. But on the bright side, they are keeping the cold and snow out this morning. That is a great deal to be thankful for, so won't complain too much.

You didn't make me feel bad about how my own windows are dressed. I can do that without any outside assistance. ;) I hope I didn't make you feel bad about your comments. Wasn't my intent. (There has been a recurrent theme in discussions here lately about 'rules', and that made it's way into my thoughts when posting above.) So combine the rules discussions with my wonky windows and it's an arena for me where most rules (prefer 'guidelines') simply don't fit.

As I was typing the comment 'My windows are like the Road Rules Challenge of all windows', I wondered what someone like yourself would do with them. (Not a blog follower, but have visited a few times via Home Dec.) But I'll be honest, when I followed the link above to your blog, I stopped after the first ten or so photos, because they were all grand. And I thought what I usually do when I look at a grand window: beautiful, stunning, would be great to have all that light. And then I tuned out. Because it's difficult for me to glean practical information I can walk away with and use. To a designer, a grand window is probably the best canvas to work with and showcase their talents. Some here can emulate those looks and pull it off. But many can't. Either we're window challenged, the window is a challenge, or both.

I gave your blog a second chance just now, went back and scrolled through all the photos. 3 times. ;) Once beyond the grand ones the size scale dropped. (Still, all are large and nicely proportioned on the wall). Lo and behold, I might have gleaned something. I first saw what you labeled as a "DON'T" (and I agree, tried it long ago, returned it). Rod/ panel high on the wall, white window frame, woven blind inside mount. (But did see a discrepancy further down when a designer did the same thing under the "Do's".) Anyway, you mentioned on the homeowner's DON'T example that it would look better w/woven blind outside mounted and just behind rod, so it covers both wall space above window and white frame. (There was one of those aforementioned 'slap myself up the head' moments!) Why didn't I think of that?!? Now that might be something I could pull off. I'm part way there in one room. FR w/ 8' ceilings. Panels are raised to the ceiling. I took a scarf that matches a color in plaid panels and make one swoop across the rod, just to cover the gap between rod, painted wall, white window frame. Scarf tails are hidden behind panels on the wall area. Successfully hid most of the window/wall contrast, but it's still visible from a side angle and bugs me. Plus I'm tired of scarves. Because of extra height it brings the excessive wall space below the window into better proportion. But that's a low light room with furniture near windows that distract the eye. Upstairs in full light where nothing is near/below the window I don't know if it would work (will have to photoshop test it). But woven wood blinds I've tried have minimal clearance. So if they're going to tend to hug the wall, how does one overcome the 'hump' of the upper window frame when the woven blinds are lowered? (When I close blinds I leave panels stationery/open. Even tho I always install enough width to be able to shut them, it's just what I prefer to do.)

My other challenge window is my picture window. It's 112" long, but only 48 high and takes up nearly the entire wall. I got it as close as I can, but walked away in frustration. It's not hideous, but it's not 'right' to me either. So every time I walk past it I cringe.

I did say "it works for me", but that doesn't mean it's gratifying. I still yearn for something more refined, more finished. As long as I have lived here I have wished for someone (Southern Living, Traditional Home, Martha when I liked her, or hey, now how about you!) to take on this challenge that so many of us face. But the catch is the grand window is not a contender. The huge windows in uber chic settings has been done so many times and doesn't have a lot of practical application for so many of us. There are a lot of us readers/consumers/subscribers kicking around that don't have massive windows nor the massive budget to dress them. Just average size in average size homes but there is something goofy about them that just creates a major hurdle. So I'd really like to see a designer tackle our Challenge Windows in various shapes and sizes (short, squat, tall, narrow, sideways and too high like mine) and show us what they've got. An entire article devoted to Wonky Windows! There are a lot of us who have done the best we can but are still left feeling frustrated. An article like that with photo layout would be refreshing and rewarding to see!

I suppose I am she who paraphrases!

Here's the line that gave me pause: Curtains are tricky though they need to be done right, executed perfectly, or its better to not bother with them at all.

While I think the blog is quite wonderful and the WT post certainly has instructional value, a statement like that does not empower people to do the best with what they have -- talent, resources, access to materials or professional help. I think the illusion of Perfection can be crippling -- à la do it right or don't do it at all.

As for the apology, feeling horrible and admonition to "ignore...pathetic attempts at trying to be a teacher", I am not sure that is really necessary, jbwebb. You have expressed your opinions on the subject of WTs and clearly you have a high level of expertise, not only for decorating but also for blogging. I think everyone here respects you for that.

But, you have your audience and it won't necessarily include all of us, for a variety of reasons. If someone commented that she only liked minimalist, contemporary looks in WTs, I can't imagine you'd be so ruffled. It's just a matter of personal taste afterall. I guess you could say that Perfectly Done Panels are a matter of taste, too.

I sincerely hope that your "upset" post above was a passing reaction and that you were quite well over it before the ink was dry. I am sure you have better things to worry about. :-)

Cross-posted, Moon!

you are my long-lost sister, aren't you?!size=1>

The NYTimes has been running a series where designers are doing pro bono work for people with a very limited budget (relatively speaking.) It has been a lot of fun to read and I think anyone can register and read on-line. I love the similar challenge you have set forth for jbwebb and design bloggers everywhere!

I am not a big blog reader either, but I wonder if there are any design blogs out there that address those of us with wonky windows, limited budgets, modest fabric sources, limited vision, etc. Oh...waiduminit...that's why we're all here at GW! ;-)

you are my long-lost sister, aren't you?!
Ha, yeah, I've had my suspicions for awhile now, too!

Thanks for the NY Times info! I'll check it out!

kimmieb - any resource for the bamboo blinds in the first pic you posted? Thanks!

palimpsest: Can you provide some resources on the ripple fold drapes? I am thinking about using them for my patio sliding door and wanted to know if there's an "affordable" option. After all my kitchen expenses, I'm maxed out everywhere; any ideas?

>I wonder if there are any design blogs out there that address those of us with wonky windows, limited budgets, modest fabric sources, limited vision, etc

Well, there's this one, but to be honest, after a while it palls a bit--always the same mid-century modern/West Elm/Ikea look. But they do have some clever ideas. I found the bamboo shade in the middle thing there a long time ago.

(I thought there was nothing wrong with the Cote du Texas blog entry, if you read the whole thing. If you take umbrage and stop reading early you miss a lot of stuff later that clarifies some of those statements, although it does seem like everyone in that blog has ceilings at least ten feet high. :))

Here is a link that might be useful: young house love (formerly This Young House)

Isn't it wonderful that so many of us are so passionate about a subject like window treatments? I love that about this forum...to find people who are as empassioned about decorating as I am.

I found the cote de Texas blog about draperies helpful in many ways. There were many things pointed out that wouldn't take much more money to do "correctly". Those things were 1. Hang blides just under the drapery rod 2) buy cheaper fabric and create volumes. Granted, this applies more often to the traditional room, but then again, Cote has clearly labeled herself as a traditionalist so I didn't expect her to address minimalist modern drapery design and 3) what a designer's eye sees that others of us may not see.

These little differences, how blinds are hung in relation to windows, are what make the difference between a well desgined, beautiful, ohmygod how lovely kind of room, to a gee, that's pretty kind of room.

I also got a good deal of inspiration from many of the photos. Choices that are bold and have personality look so wonderful if executed well. I loved the blog and have saved it to my favorites! I'll be referring to it again and again, I'm sure.

writersblock: jackpot!
Now that's what I'm talkin' about.
And I'm craving more!

This picture window they have is so very similar to mine. (Mine only has about 2' of wall on the outer edges, so takes up most of the wall, looks like mine might be a bit taller & wider.) I would need two 60" blinds. I think I might be able to pull off what they did (fingers crossed). The bamboo shade appealed to me but I had never seen it done on a wide window like mine. I even like their taste in decor, which makes all the more appealing. Now that I've seen it done on a very similar window, I like it! Only concern is vertical seam, but not sure I'll worry about that till I try it. (I still haven't patched the screw holes behind sheers from the last fiasco, I was so disgusted. ;) I can see the seam in theirs if I zoom, does it look too funky? (I'll leave the blind up and close the sheers at night as I've been doing.) I could fill up an entire page of what I've tried, returned, tweaked, and done on that window and it always fell short of being 'right'. Rod at frame height, made it look a mile long. Rod high on the wall (as I have it now) but no gratifying solution to hide the wall space between frame and rod. So I settled for the most passable 'creation' I could come up with but it has always bothered me.

Now I'm getting fired up! That only leaves the turned sideways wonky windows. Actually, the windows in their den (scroll just beyond the master bedroom) are also quite similar to mine in how they sit on the wall. Think mine are a bit wider and sit higher up, but there's that big wall space below like I have.(Oh, to add some spice to that mix, the lower level ones are recessed by 6" or so. No idea why they were done that way.)

I've been browsing that blog, their creativity with some things (nice kitchen) just knocks my socks off!

Thanks, I'm very grateful for the link!

Follow their links and you'll find a lot more like them. I agree, they are *very* creative. I just wish that once in a while they'd do something in a different style.