You did a beautiful job on your remodeling! The kitchen is lovely. I really like the dragonfly fabric. I think you could use it again over the window seat. From a distance it reads as a solid. What I picture over your window seat is a scalloped valance hung from knobs. I don't know if I'm describing that right - I'll try to find a picture. I think if you vary the style a little but use the same fabric, it will look great. In terms of where to mount the valance, if you plan to use the window seat for seating at the table, I think the valance would feel awkward mounted outside. However, an outside mounted valance would make the seat more cozy for curling up with a book and a cup of tea (or glass of wine). As far as the other windows, I don't think you have to use the same treatment on all the windows b/c I think there is enough separation between the rooms. I have found wood blinds to be heavy and bulky to completely raise up. Have you thought about roman shades? You could use different (but coordinating) fabrics in each room or opt for a neutral or woven wood for all the windows.

I think the white wood blinds are a great place to start--esp. as you say you've just purchased the home and probably have many things to work on. It gives you time to develop your style and decor room by room and the flexibility to change as your life may change. The blinds alone do look best if there are casings on the windows which it looks like you have. That is how I have in my home office. The kids' bedrooms do not have the casings on the windows so do look a little under dressed with just the wood blinds. I found this work in progress picture of my DD's room before I had put up a valance. While I prefer panels, due to the size of the room and furniture placement it wasn't possible: I bought my blinds from JC Penney's during on of their 40% off sales. Lowes also sells them as well as do other places.

West Elm curtains arrived and they are perfect!!!!!!!!!! Totally transformed our room; we are so pleased :) Thank you all so much for your help and encouraging me not to settle. (and I fully admit I do not have good decorating taste, so if you have any suggestions, I am open.) And I was really confused about what West Elm's color "zinc" was... if anyone is curious, it is a dark, metallic grey with a slight beige hue... I would rename it "Gunmetal." The material is great... I have not ironed them yet. I am hoping over the next week the wrinkles will fall out. If they do not, I will ask my mom to iron them ;) I'm horrible at ironing and also due to have a baby any day now :) :) :) Now onto finding a rug!

thanks for the responses! ratherbesewing, i like the idea of roman shades, although the word "custom" makes me nervous--that sounds expensive!! would you leave the little windows with nothing over the shades? would that look funny/unbalanced if there are panels on the big window and door? sujafr, i wish i could see a photo of your DD's room with the shutters! i wonder if they'd be room darkening enough? also i wonder how they attach? there is no room to mount them inside. kristinekr, thank you for the bathroom compliments! we LOVE how it turned out! now we have the bug to do the rest of the house. :) I didn't think of the grommets without sheers, because I need *something* behind the curtains when i pull them aside so i don't see the neighbors house (or they don't see me). what would you suggest if not sheers? do you think it would look ok to have panels on the one window and not the others? i don't think i can do an inside mount because there's only 3/4-inch of space for the hardware. i'll have to look into it. THANKS. anne