hello, I see where your husband is coming from. I would not want to cover the picture window either. Here are the options I would consider and just go with whatever ended up looking best to me: (1) Move the bed in front of the small window, raise the curtain rod to the ceiling and put the tan curtains on that rod, making sure that the top of the curtains went to the ceiling and covered the top of the window--this would mean putting the rod on the crown--which is the one thing that makes me question if this is the right thing to do. Also, extend the rod the width of the bed--so the curtains both go to the ceiling as well as fill the entire space behind the bed. Then I would move the picture window curtain rod up higher and put new panels on either side than can be opened or closed. You would need new panels as the existing ones would then be too short once you move the rod up higher--plus they would now be on the small window beside the bed. you could put the butterfly pics on either side of the picture window if the scale is right. (2) Alternatively, with the bed in front of the small window, you could do some type of tapestry, that again starts at the ceiling and covers the entire window and space above the bed. Maybe made from a twin size quilt, like you suggested. (3) Finally, consider the roman shade--however, i am not sure if the scale might be too small. But if you got a really nice fabric and had the shade lowered--the decorative effort may be just as good or better than the curtain or large fabric. And then you could put artwork on either side of the window. If you go this route then I would either paint the window trim the same as the crown or use a more contrasting stain--something darker than what it is now. In any event, from what I can see of the room, it looks like the curtain rod with the tan curtains should be higher. However, I can't see any pics of it straight on, so it may be just fine. And perhaps some artwork flanking that window. Good luck! That little window is hard to work around!

"If you want solid, why not go to a carpet store and have rug cut to the size you want and bound? I don't think it costs very much, and you might even be able to buy an inexpensive remnant and have it cut and bound to your dimensions. You'd get exactly what you want." I guess I am thinking that a cut piece of carpet is different than a rug? I guess I am thinking that solid color runners would be softer than just plain 'ol carpet. Carpet looks like carpet. I dunno if that makes sense. I ended up ordering the Cindy Crawford ones in vanilla, which is off white diamonds on off white rug. So I think the pattern will be pretty subtle. I'll probably know in a week or two. Can I use Scotchguard or a similar product on my new rugs? I just bought an 8x10 area rug from HomeGoods for the living room also. My main concern for stains would be from the dog. We do always keep Nature's Miracle handy.

I love the bed and the quilt and I think the room looks very inviting. I love Craigslist and I think you made the most of it! re: beds and windows, I'd like to give the 'architect' of my home a good talking to. We have four bedrooms and in two of them there is NO way to place a bed that doesn't involve being in front of or under a window. It's ridiculous.

I did that in my guest room - no problem at all. The carpet is pretty low pile and the rug is a fairly thick sculpted type oriental. I have no pad under the rug. I also have a very short, dense wool oriental rug on the carpet in my living room. That also works fine. I have all these rugs on carpet because I moved from a house with wood floors to one with more carpet. I hope to get rid of the carpet someday when I feel like moving everything again. So then I will need the rugs and in the meantime I can't stand the plain beige carpet. In another room I have a thick wool runner that covers the width of carpet from the deck door to the wood floor in the dining area. It has no furniture on it that holds it in place so it ripples a bit. I need to find a way to keep it flat.