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Home Decorating Windows Design Dilemma

Curtain length for windows when one is above a stair landing

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

This is a weird home decorating question. We have 2 windows in our living room that overlook our front porch. Both the same size, but one is over the stair landing, so curtains on that one would be shorter by about 3 feet. We definitely need curtains or something, and I'm 100% against blinds (plus they just don't fit the style of the house - it's a 110 year old Victorian). Also, I'm not a fan of curtains that just skim the bottom of the sill.

This picture is old, from when we bought the house this summer, but it gives you an idea of the situation we're dealing with. There are 2 more windows on the wall to the right. I've thought about Roman shades, but they'd likely be closed all of the time since we live on a busy street, and I'm not as crazy about the way they look when closed (or maybe it's just that I always only see pictures with them open).

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User

5 years ago

Not in a 100 year old house. I had the same type of window in my Victorian -- but I didn't have the window on the other side. If you want lace curtains I would do what you already have on the stair side and then go to the floor on the other side. If you think about it even though they are different lengths, they both go to the floor. There are always challenges to an old house. Sigh!

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Comments (10)

simplechoices
5 years ago
Hunter Douglas silhouette shades. Other companies make similar products. Or plantation shutters if that suits your house more.
leightx
Original Author
5 years ago
I'm not a fan of shades either. I know - I'm a pain! I've thought about plantation shutters, but I'm not sure how that would look with the wood trim. We don't plan to paint it. The windows are painted white. I can't imagine getting a wood color that would be close enough to match. Would white shutters look odd with wood trim?
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If you don't want roman shades, you can just do draperies to the floor. The baseboard heater is fine there. All my drapes cover my baseboard heat, and your heater is only under the window. I usually place my rods halfway between the ceiling and the top of the window trim. If buying ready made drapes that are either 84, or 96, you can use rings and drapery hooks on the 84 length, to add more length, and place rod accordingly so that the drapes are just shy of touching the floor. In terms of where you would place the rod brackets, I usually go 3-4 inches outside the outer edge of the window trim. If your curtains are not that full, go 2-3 inches away. You want the leading edge of the drapes to just come to the glass and not obstruct the view.
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leightx
Original Author
5 years ago
All of the lace curtains are going. In fact, they're already gone! If I do curtains, they'll likely be a simple linen.
leightx
Original Author
5 years ago
Also - in case it wasn't obvious, the stairs aren't original.
Nick
5 years ago
Would you be able to solve it by changing the glass? A cheap solution would be window film. A more expensive option would be etched glass. That might be more in keeping with the Victorian (or Edwardian, based on your dates) style of the house. A modern (and more expensive) option is electrical privacy glass that can be switched on an off.
Angel 18432
5 years ago
How about shirred curtains (similar to what is on the door).
threers
5 years ago
Given your stated preferences, I would put the type of curtain/fabric on your windows so that the stair window goes to its sill as you have it and then on all other windows , you go to the floor

Having said that what bothers me about your photo is the square curtain on the lovely oval window, This just doesn't go along with the style of your house. Please consider some of the glass covering treatments as suggested by Nick Brown for this door window...
Nick
5 years ago
Your comment about the staircase prompted another thought. Take out the window at the bottom of the stairs and replace it with something smaller. I'd be concerned about something, or someone falling down the stairs, through the window and out onto the street. With different sized windows, I think you would have more flexibility to play with different lengths and styles each side of the door.
leightx
Original Author
5 years ago
Oh goodness - the lacey curtains are all long gone. :) The window on the oval window is getting replaced with something that looks like etched glass - so no curtain at all.

I love the idea of the privacy glass that can be switched on an off, but don't want to replace our old glass windows. Way too much character, plus we live in Texas so the weather isn't as much of an issue.

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