Okay, I'm back! This is my bow window from the outside - excuse the very ugly aluminum storms, removing them is another project for another day. Here are a couple of inspiration pics I want to "frame" the window rather than dress the inside, it's not that deep and with five rows of panes I think it would look too fussy. I love the look of panels over woven wood shades. I figure finding a shade sized to fit across an almost 10ft long span would be problematic and very expensive. Also I don't think I'd ever want to drop it all the way down/open. I was at Target today and found these beautiful placemats on a clearance shelf for $1.49 each. They had the exact neutral tone colors (cream, khaki, brown and green) I was planning for a whole living room redo. I grabbed all 16 that were there. My idea is to attach them together with maybe a band of ribbon to hide the seams if necessary, baste in some "folds" running lengthwise and staple the whole thing along a piece of 1"x2" lumber and mount it over the window up close to the ceiling. I did a quickie mock up by taping the backs of two of them together and then to the rod: I need to play with the proportions of the folds still. This shows two of the pieces of ribbon I could use if I think I need to cover the seams I'll flank the window with simple panels of either a heavy twill or nubby linen on big rings. The rod will run in front of and at the same level as the top of the "blinds". I'm not sure what color yet but probably either khaki or chocolate - I think the green would be too much. I'd like to use a double rod to keep the sheers that are hanging now layered under the panels to have some flexibility when I want the window completely covered - a choice between light filtering/opacity or room darkening/insulating. Anyway ... that's my idea for dressing a big honkin' bow window!

For budget reasons we plan on making ours out of piping material so we can make them super long. We have a wall of windows and I want to have sheers and curtains on either end of the room. I would like to be able to use the sheers but will likely never use the curtains. Unless, it is so bright and I want to sit down to watch a good movie and need some coziness.

Wow...are you sure a question like that doesn't require a site visit? Seriously, if you don't need coverings for practical reasons, don't bother as the room is beautiful. if those are single glazing, you might wish to have roller blinds fitted against the window and hidden by trim work painted to match the window trim. You would lose a few inches at the top but a talented trim carpenter could make them look almost like a part of the window trim. I could see custom made radiator covers that would mimic the wainscoting would turn those obstructions into a desirable feature. For the top use the same profile and dimensions, at the same height, as the window sills. Columns on the ends and probably three panels of approximately same proportions as the existing ones across the front of the radiators would work well. Do some research on radiator cover design as you need to have good air flow coming in from the bottom and exiting at the top and a properly designed cover will actually help, not hinder heat distribution from the radiators. Despite the term, more heat comes from convection than radiation and channeled air flow will increase the heat transferred to the room. Let me know if you need a link to info about radiator cover designs

Is your house oriented exactly the same way? Does it get direct sun in those windows like this house?