I am a big fan of top down bottom up bambo shades (inset) they are neat and clean and are the best at privacy and light adjustment. Blinds.com has a lot to choose from.

Thank you. She seems to be pretty set on curtains. I’m wondering if maybe a blind to the window sill and curtains to dress the sides might work somehow?

Since she already has curtain rods, why not use drapes all the way across? Seems the simplest approach.

If your ready-made curtains are too long, cut them and use iron-on hem tape to shorten them. As here, Ikea is a good place for reasonably priced items. Choose the type that has a header which allow for their use on a track such as hers. (Not the ones with large grommets.) Where is she in the UK? https://www.ikea.com/gb/en/cat/curtains-10700/

Thank you. She’s in Manchester. I was hoping to find some kind of rods that look a bit nicer. These look cheap and tacky and I’m not sure if they are in the best position. The way the curtains are now just don’t look right.

If money is a big issue then these short curtains on rods always look great in British rooms.

Thank you. I’ll show here these. The blinds do look nice but she’s seems to be set on dressing the window with curtains.

Perhaps a combination of options? If your daughter wants draperies, perhaps a rod placed outside and above the box bay window (that is what she has) with long draperies that can be hung on either side and drawn for privacy. And then lighter sheers or Roman blinds, or even shades on the back windows, themselves. The draperies can be stacked to the sides, framing the bay window, most of the time and used for light control and to add color and texture in the room. Google “how to dress a box bay window” and you will see lots of options!

Thank you. That’s very helpful.

Would this help?

Jennifer Brouwer Design Inc. · More Info

That is stunning. I’ll show her this as so far I’ve been unable to persuade her to have curtains outside the bay. One of the biggest problems is the area at the top of the bay where the rail/ pole goes. The house has previously had a settlement problem and is wonky. This is most evident in this bay. Unfortunately I can’t get a photo that really captures it but at the moment the rail goes along the top of the window frame which mean the gold curtains hang from half way down between the top beam and the picture rail. This looks very odd. In your photo the curtain hangs nicely just below the beam. To do this with my daughter’s would mean the rail, if it goes inside the bay as she wants, would sit half way between the window and the ceiling accentuating the slope where settlement has occurred.

I would place the rail right beneath the ceiling on the outside of the bay so the top of the draperies kiss the ceiling. While she might want the draperies inside the bay, you say it will call attention to the structural issues with the home. Reiterate that with her. The only down side to our suggestion to drape the bay is that I believe the heater is below the center window. And full length draperies will block that, no?

Thank you. The radiator isn’t an issue as there is other heating in the room. I’m starting to lean towards blinds as I think putting a rail anywhere is going to look crooked. I’m thinking the best thing may be to get an expert fitter to come and advise. It’s a really tricky window.

I think we have a solution. My youngest son who has done beautiful work on his own house, has come round, taken one look and said to box in the ceiling in the bay which will lower it to the top of the window and the curtains won’t then look half mast.