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Home Decorating Windows Design Dilemma

French Doors with sidelights and transom --- curtain placement help

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hi! Would love some insights from my Houzz friends. The issue is where and how to hang some very neutral linen drapes that I've purchased. Do I completely cover the sidelights? I've used fixed, smaller rods in the past for panels that can be stationary, but I'm thinking if I go with full-length rod I will keep my options open. If I go with one long rod, how long should the rod be? The doors/sidelights measure 94" and there is roughly 24" on each side of the door frame.

I've done a mock-up but I'm not sure it helps a great deal.

This photo is of the entire rear wall of the living area. The panoramic view distorts things a bit, but you can get the general feel for the space.

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Comments (4)

PRO
Blackdoor Design by Tamra Coviello
3 years ago
IMO I would not add drapery panels or a rod. Couple reasons:

1. you have beautiful casement that adds a great architectural detail to the space. Which also gives a clean, simple look.

2. By adding the drapes it is going to close up the area and make the wall heavy feeling and advance into the room. And a rod would once detract from the great architectural details of the entire french door package. Plus, block needed natural light.

Recommended Solution:

I would put all matching flat roman shades on the doors, sidelites and kitchen.

Something similar to give some interest, but soft enough to not detract from the details of the french door encasement. Due to the sidelites being so narrow. Might need a smaller pattern. But this is for inspo ;)
Leigh Ann thanked Blackdoor Design by Tamra Coviello
Leigh Ann
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks so much, Tamra. The more I have stared at the mock-up and at the wall this afternoon, the more I like the idea of no drapes. You're right about the light too. The back of the house is north-facing so there was never a lot of natural light. Adding the large porch didn't help but it is well worth it, as that is our happy place three seasons of the year!
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That is an awkward placement for French doors that open inward. It appears that any of the four doors sticks out into the room as there is no wall for them to swing back flush to (bookcase on the far right is in the way). Do they get left open for ventilation? Which door and what side is usually opened? The answer to that affects what kind of treatments to use. If only one door is usually opened and it's the inner door, it does look like there is room for drapes to stack back into the outside corners. There may not be enough room to swing a door back open with drapes there though. Do you need privacy? With all of the other white trim on that wall, I would not paint the doors black unless you want them to be the focal point. Is the beach out those doors? Then maybe go black (and share your address!!)
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Will you have any window dressings on any of this, or will they all be naked all the time? To me, the drawn alignments in 10:21 (time on the houzz post) looks off. I'd see about a little more header/trim rather than have uneven divided lights as shown in that picture. I know you really want your window trim to match what is elsewhere in the house, but is elsewhere in the house visible from the dining area location? Where will a compromise be less bothering to the eye? To me, if you have divided lights everywhere else, and then unevenly divided lights in the dining area, that is more bothersome than what was originally proposed.
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Thank you all so much for your feedback! I have incorporated a lot of your comments into the design. I am going to propose the following changes to the builder (we are mid framing): Increase French door width to 6 feet. Make the 3 foot door panel closest to sink fixed. Make the functional 3 foot door near tub swing inward. I will have him keep the doors pretty much centered on the bedroom vault but go over one foot longer to accommodate the extra foot (especially since really shouldn’t get closer to sink). This will also make the bathroom seem more balanced I think and the operable door with open to the chandelier in the bathroom. I will also place a large full length mirror on back wall next to linen closet which will reflect light from large bedroom window feature (and hopefully be more attractive than looking at plain wall or side of bathroom door) Change shower door swing and add a towel bar on door (this is brilliant!). Should the towel bar be on outside of door itself or to the left? Change WC door to be a pocket door to eliminate the look of so many doors and so don’t have to look at it when open (and we often would probably leave it open so this way it doesn’t block mirror). I will have to ask contractor about this but I suspect he could do pocket door into the open attic space. I will change the direction and swing of both closet doors and will also ask about cost to upgrade them to French doors (well single door but glass with divided panes— and will do white curtain on back like suggested). Do you think it’s worth it to upgrade linen closet to same door? Thank you for all the suggestions!!
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Leigh Ann
Original Author
3 years ago
I'd never seen any kind of treatments for sidelights before until you mentioned and I googled it. We're going to keep the existing flat roman shades. My husband fell in love with the fabric and I'm enjoying the shades too. But I suppose I could order shades for the sidelights....not sure of that yet. Thanks again! BTW --- do you do color consults? I'm having a hard time selecting a stain for the porch.
PRO
Blackdoor Design by Tamra Coviello
3 years ago
Originally, I was going to mention if you can get your existing fabric too and just add the sidelites in roman shade. I do. I do them locally with my full service firm. But I also have a edesign business for out of towners; Click here'Fence Color Consultation'. I have picked many of outdoor stain colors for clients. It can be tricky to pick the right one. And stain is not forgiving on a fence like paint can be. At least with paint if you choose the wrong one you can paint over it. Much more difficult with stain to erase your mistake.

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