Challenging bay window - help!
Our guest studio apartment /office has an east facing bay window this bright light leaks between the shades that wake up guests. I adore drapes, and they'd resolve the light gap issue, but I can't cover the radiators - the only source of heat in the apartment. Am I correct that it would look stupid to have half length drapes that only come to the window sill?
If shades or blinds are a must, how do I cut down on the light gap between the blinds? Hunter Douglas and The Shade Store both said cellular shades have the smallest top rails, I'll be able to get them closest together to minimize the light gap but light will stiill come in. Am I missing any other alternatives? Suggestions?
The second from the right window has a window AC unit in it all summer long so window treatments have to navigate that as well.
Note, our main apartment down the hall came with beautiful Shade Store roller blinds. I've included close up pics of those bay windows so you can see how the construction leaves gaps.
Thanks!
East facing guest studio window
Our other bay windows with Shade Store roller blinds
Comments (18)
msjoan
last month
Lorraine Leroux
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Comments (10)"Dilemma number one is right there as you walk in. The old style railing and bay window. Most living will probably go on in the family room further up front. What would make this a really attractive area that says wow when you enter?" I'm confused there. Is that the actual entry (I don't see a door). If that is an entry hall I'd treat it traditionally with a center table and put a lovely piece of glass or art on the center table. Hall tree and bench against the wall and a piece of art on the wall...treat it like a gallery but keep the scale small enough to move around easily. "Dilemma number two is the hall bedroom with the shelves. It will be occupied by a college friend for now. I doubt they have *that* many books to fill up two rows. The room is small, and I can't come up with a way to update and really make use of the space. It also has a chair rail, as does the adjoining small hall bedroom next door. " So far that appears to be the prettiest room in the house IMO. I wouldn't fill that with two rows of books...I'd use it for display of collectables and some books on a limited basis, lots of blank space as well. I'd paint the entire room in a soft and somewhat bright color to lighten it up. Maybe a soft celery green? I love the window and the shelves. "The last dilemma, at least for now is adding a breakfast bar or island to the kitchen, so there is a place for a quick coffee besides the gazebo. Would you place a small bar/island by the pillar and slightly obstruct the path to the dinette, or have a small work island plus put a small bistro near the french doors and visually block the entry to the family room from the kitchen." Whew those are challenging spaces. My first thought was to find out which walls are supporting and which can go. I'm assuming you want to do something less invasive. OK so here goes my lecture.... Some homes aren't suitable to breakfast bars or islands. The layout is wrong or the size isn't compatible. Forcing one in causes (in the words of sir toppum hat...my son's hero) confusion and delay. Actually it causes a traffic nightmare. You might have room to tuck a stool under the end of that little bar area, but that's it and to force one in isn't sensible really. I have two homes with no area sensible for island seating...suprisingly we've survived and learned to sit at a proper table :) It's not all bad. If you feel you must have this...and really I don't think it's a smart idea, I'd put a very small bistro table right smack in front of the doors to the outside, NOT in any of the other walkways. But honestly, I'd put a smaller table in the gazebo and a very small loveseat or a couple of soft chairs with a table off to one side of the gazebo for more casual coffee seating. It's going to be a fun space eventually, but you have your work cut out for you now. Take it slowly and you'll figure out how to live in the space :) Whatever you do, don't turn the gazebo into a pretend outdoor one with fake ferns, flowers on the walls, blah blah...I've seen it done and it's painful :oP...See MoreHelp: creating a new window opening & installing a bay window
Comments (6)Many replacement contractors can create new openings. Be sure they have the necessary skills to perform that particular type of work. Simply asking if they can do that will usually suffice. Most companies avoid headaches so if its something they are uncomfortable with, they will tell you. This not only requires creating a new opening but installing a header. A great question to ask a prospective contractor is whether or not the new opening requires a header. If he says no, simply move on to another guy. although most experienced window contractors can do this and its simple, it is very labor intensive and can be costly....See MoreHelp with backsplash corners layout in bay window
Comments (8)You have the wrong tile guy. Don’t move forward with anyone who can’t miter. Do expect to pay for someone with better skills. The average good quality time contractor charges $1500-2500 for a backsplash like you want. Maybe more if there’s more not visible....See MoreHelp with window treatments for Victorian bay windows and picture rail
Comments (9)First off you have beautiful home and congratulation on your new home. I'd suggest going to the floor if you're going to go with curtains on these window and if you're okay with going above the picture rail i'd suggest that. Going above the rail will just add height to your room. 1/4'' is going to be too narrow to do an inside mount. If you like the idea of having some of your trim show you can always mount on your trim, but just don't cover it all. Honeycomb and roller shades would be good pairing options with curtains. A roller shade will project out farther than a honeycomb shade.... just something to consider. If you're open to suggestions on an alternative option consider an Illusion shade. They have a modern look and give you versatility with light and privacy. The illusion shades are beautiful on their own or look nice with panels as well....See Morepartim
last monthchispa
last monthpartim
last month
elcieg
last month
How about long panels on either end and then short over the radiators?
Radiators...can't remember the last time I heard it. Our first home, built in 1911 had radiators...steam. Wow, the best heat ever...kept you toasty and add moisture into the house.
Kendrah
last month
Jilly
last monthlast modified: last monthKendrah
last month
thinkdesignlive
last monthJilly
last month
Olychick
last monthlast modified: last monthI can't really see in your pics if this could work, but would it be possible to hang draperies forward from the bay, out of the way in the daytime, but pulled at night? Like this:
If you cannot hang a rod like those above, you could hang from the ceiling:
Kendrah
last monthM Miller
last month@Kendrah - what you should look for are "blackout shades with side channels". The side channels keeps the light from coming in through the sides of the blinds. See photos below for illustration.
I had an interior designer install these in one of our bedrooms that has a southeast exposure (during summer the sun comes in at 4:30 AM). I don't know brands personally, but here is a link to one that came up when I googled. If you don't want to buy online, you could look locally for a place that sells "blinds with side channels".
https://www.zebrablinds.com/blog/why-side-channels-for-blinds-are-a-necessity-01-2020-04/
Kendrah
last monthOlychick
last monthlast modified: last monthKendrah
last month
Jilly