Cheril-Ohhh, I know that blog oh too well...I discovered it from someone on this site (or propbably multiple people) and I added it to my "favorites!" Like ajsmama said, though...I am trying to do *affordable*, plus, I cannot even say I like the idea of mounting the blind on the soffitt/drywall above the door...because if the blinds are down, you can't open the door, and I would like to have that capability. I really was considering this just cuz I wanted to be "different" and I thought it would be somewhat reasonably priced. I wanted to have WW blinds *AND* drapes/panels just cause I like the varying textures. I may have to forego that idea after tossing it around with you folks...I just don't think it is practical. side note: my front doors are also french doors. On these, I am definitetly doing some sort or blind, because I don't want drapes at my front door, that would look weird. I need to do something SOON...I already answered the door in my bathing suit because I was expecting a friend...and it was a solicitor! :0 The front doors are double french doors. The back patio is one french door in the middle, with a pane on either side. red-I am probably going to go with just drapes. That was my original plan, guess I am back to it!! :)

As someone who has always loved the way pinch pleat drapes hang, and are easy to open/close and keep clean...it's getting really, really hard to find them anymore unless you have them custom made. We recently hung some grommet panels in a semi-sheer in our dining room (where they would only rarely need to be opened/closed) and they are gorgeous. They hang nicely and no bulking at the top. A few months later we tried some black-out curtains with the grommet top - these we do open/close daily - and they have been just great. Mine are here to stay. I think they look much better and hang a lot better than fabric bunched up/gathered on a rod. I see them in quite a few of the high end catalogs. The problem is that like pinch-pleated drapes, they are not cheap to make. The grommets are expensive and add to the cost of the curtain significantly. (I looked into making my own but quickly decided it wasn't worth it when I saw the cost of the grommets)...so it will be interesting to see how long they do last.

Thank you for all suggestions thus far. We replaced the w/w with hardwood last summer & repainted the walls & trim. I was avoiding drapes or curtains in part so I wouldn't have fabric that would collect dust. The room felt so fresh and was so much easier to clean once the carpet was removed. I wanted to keep with that pared down look & feel. But I'm getting the feeling that I have to go with drapes that can be pulled together when needed if I want to also keep the blinds. I'm not in love with the blinds, but they allow light into the room on hot summer days and freezing winter ones. Otherwise, it's a couple of big windows bare to the elements with shades drawn or shades pulled down and a dark room for a good part of the year. Sheers would offer that diffused light during the day, but I definitely don't want to layer those and blackout drapes. I chose bedcovers & furnishings for this room to keep it gender neutral and wanted the same for window coverings. If you're struck with any other ideas, please let me know. Thanks -

The double rod is not designed to hold grommet curtains. It's designed for panel curtains shirred on the rod, or panel curtains held on with clips or rings. You could add rings that hook to the grommets, but that won't really fix the crowding problem. Try some no-grommet blackout panel curtains instead.