Bored, SICK kid Probably this kid's brains got fried in the Afghanistan sun LOL I had a guest who smacked my sweet LilBoy in the face for no reason. I think I'll send 'Rules for visitors who are not pet owners' to this guy. Thanks for the laugh Sylvia!

prairiegirlz5: budge1 was considering the Silk Taffeta drapes which are a shinier silk and give a more formal look. The Thai Silk, also by RH, comes in the same colors and on their website it does look like the same stuff. So basically, whatever color she likes, she could get in either style. But, in person, they do look different as the Thai silk has less sheen and is more nubby--why it's so important to look at these drapes IRL. Budge1, are you near a RH? At the RH where I live, they have panels up of the majority (not all) of the drapes which you have been looking at. There are differences not only in terms of the sheen, but with the fullness as well--some are interlined others only one lining. If you get any type of stripe, they show differently depending on the pleat/rod style you choose. With stripes in the pleated styles one of the colors would be much more apparant than the other.

Very helpful thread. So based on what I'm reading, it seems custom is almost always required. But maybe I'm misunderstanding. For example, West Elm sells a standard curtain in 48" W. Assuming one chooses 2.5 for fullness, this means their standard width curtain covers 19.2" wide (48"/2.5=19.2"). So 2 of them (one on each side of the window) will cover a 20" wide window with 4" trim on either side and 4.5" rod overhang on either side with a 2.5 fullness. Collectively the 20" wide window with 4" trim on either side is 28". Then add 4.5" overhang for the rod on each side and we get 37" total. 37/2=19.5. Which is basically what their standard 48" W curtain covers at 2.5 fullness. That is one very small window. I'm struggling to see why the standard curtain would be made to cover such a tiny window. What am I missing?

Okay, after taking a good ten deep, deep breaths, it hit me how to hang the panels soon after I hit submit message! Since we had dinner plans, I was trying to get ready to go out, and figure out how to hang at least one panel before doing so. My progress so far: First panel pressed and hung before leaving for dinner:) Following our lovely and very relaxing weeknight dinner out (rare treat) at our favorite neighborhood Italian spot, I have now pressed and hung the second panel on the first window, LR: By way of background, DH has never met a drapery treatment that he likes, (says drapes remind him of a coffin, lol). Therefore, I am only "framing" my front facing windows in the spirit of marital harmony, thus the use of only two panels on each double window. The Foyer and LR drapes will never be closed. However, DR drapes (back of house) will be closed in the evenings during the late fall/winter when the leaves are gone from the trees. I ordered 2 extra panels which I will hang in my office window which will also be closed in the evenings. Office window faces the front of the house as well. Silly pet peeve, I like the look of all window treatments seen from outside front of my home to be uniform. I know ~ crazy. After I posted, I sat down for a minute to re-think things, and again looked at the rod, the pockets, etc. More importantly, I tried to block my incessent need to use the rings. Only then was I able to get out of my own way, and see that I needed to hang the panels directly on the rod via the tabs on the back ~ Much as suggested in your responses to my original panic post, only being pressed for time, I didn't get to read all of the responses until we returned from dinner! I feel as though I have gotten the somewhat pleated look I was trying to achieve. These drapes were a JCP steal, so I was so hoping to "make it work". After Loribee's post on a fall reno of her LR, I was motivated to get to a much needed fall update with regard to my LR/DR/Foyer windows. Especially motivated as I am doing it on the cheap! Although I ordered both the Ivory and New Orleans Red, I will be keeping NOR, returning the Ivory. I originally thought I would use the Ivory, however, the gold in the pattern was off in color against my SW Blonde walls. Not the best of pics, but you can see that I have used some binder clips from my office to hold the panels tight at the bottoms. Using those and starching the panels when I pressed them, should take/keep the shape I am going for. I will remove the clips once the drapes conform to my plans.lol As soon as we returned from dinner, I checked to see if anyone had posted suggestions. Although I had pretty much had it figured out, (I'd hung the first panel before we headed out to dinner), it was great to see the quick responses! Many thanks to all who posted. So nice to come here with a question and get responses very quickly. As you may have surmised from my post, I am an instant gratification-type gal, thus, my love for this forum! Thanks again!