I love that fabric and it will go well with your beautiful home : ) You say these panels will be stationary and mostly be against the wall. Not lining them will keep the light, casual look you are going for. If you line them, they will probably last longer (as lazygardens said) depending on how much sun shines through onto the portion that will be near or partially covering the window. Whichever you decide to do, I think they will look great. Post pictures when you are finished! -Laurie

There is nothing that replaces actually feeling the fabric with your fingers! Who knows what 165 grams/yard feels like? Unless you're a total fabric junkie, or a professional, you'll want to touch and feel. You'll also be happier if you see the colors in person. Do visit the home dec section of the fabric store. My one major exception is when I want 100% linen (I use it for medieval costumes), which is hard to find locally, especially at a price I can deal with. For linen, I go to fabrics-store.com; however, if you're looking at the polka dot, this is likely not what you're looking for. Linen does make a nice drape though. Here is a link that might be useful: site for linen

I just replaced my vertical binds on a patio door with a double rod, sheer curtain in the back and blackout curtain in the front; I don't have an alcove like you, just the door frame. I got grommets on both, but I am thinking I will try to find another sheer w/ a rod pocket or something because the blackout curtain catches on the tops of the sheer, and I have to hold the sheer in place when opening the blackout curtain. My rod does sag a little because I couldn't use the middle support bracket, but it's not really noticeable. Fortunately the curtains are not very heavy; they are rather inexpensive ones I bought on walmart.com actually :), placeholders until I find something better. I would have hunted up a ceiling mount rod if I had room to fit it in the door frame, but I don't. Mine's wall mounted just like the blinds were. I went with the sheer and blackout so we have light and enough privacy during the day but can close the blackout if it gets really hot and/or need more privacy and when we go home (this is at a vacation home).

I would advise against curtain panels for any of it if you intend to keep the blinds. If you are not pleased with the blinds, there are options for celluar shades. Cellular shades would be lighter and they can be opened really nicely to reveal the whole window. If you feel that you need softness or color, I would recommend only a decorative top treatment and stay with some functioning blind or shade. Being that you have a fabric covered couch in front, you might want to consider top down/bottom up shades. That way you can control the exposure and keep your privacy and keep the sunlight from eating up the fabric on the couch while still having light in the room. Keep your door free from the windows. There are problems in covering up a door. You dont have to treat them as one big space. They are not, really. I think that the blinds look way too heavy for that big of an area. Adding curtain panels is only going to weigh it down evern further and be chock full of logistical problems. It looks as if what you have attempted to put up are not curtain panels that are intended to actually function by opening and closing. It is not apparent that they are traverse rods. Those rod pocket panels are not meant to open and close. The only way you can make them functional is to hang them with clip on drapery rings. Even, then it is awkward to open and close a wide panel like that. I think that you need to regroup and rethink your expectations for what is possible or workable. Lighten up with celluars that do match for all three areas and forget the rod pocket panels or any curtains . You can put a valance over the tops of the windows. but leave the door aside from that. You can buy expensive celluars or you can go with something from the Homedepot store brand. I recently bought some inexpensive celluars for a purpose and I am surprised at how well they are working. Since you have a couch in front of the window you may want to consider the corded shades, as the cordless ones require you to actually lift the bottom rail of the shade. If you could grab a cord, it would be easier. For the door, you could go with a cordless one. What you are trying to do just looks too heavy and too fraught with problems, of all kinds. The celluars come in a few different options other than top down/bottom up. Also, if the only fabric that you are putting up is a valance. That valance can be changed out very easily if your decor changes. A good neutral shade as a working element will be a constant that does not need changing. If you have a sewing machine, simple valances are very simple to sew and they are much less costly becaue they take a lot less fabric. So, you could splurge on something special. Regroup. What you are attempting to do is not working for you or for the windows.