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!

gastroc, your window trim is very similar to ours. I love it! Though I've not used this type of rod on any of our windows yet I'm thinking about doing so in the guest bedroom just to show off the gorgeous trim. There are a few different styles but they all fit inside the trim leaving just a small little hole. The photos in the link below are not all Twist n Fit Rods, but you'll see the style in all the ones on the top row and here and there through out the rest of the page linked below... Here is a link that might be useful: Twist n Fit rods.

What do you all think about a small 3/4" inch rod (to keep minimal) with the plain end cap finial (to also keep visually minimal and save on space) using also the bay window corner rod connectors like Pottery Barn has to line the inside windows. Maybe have a single panel altered to make two since the two outermost panels are such a small space. Then two full curtain panels on the outside of the larger window. Thoughts?

I showed a photo upthread of a round drop-leaf table. If you have another dining area, I think most people looking at your room would wonder why the heck it is so important to smoosh everyone into THIS room to eat? The only table I'd have in this room is one that (a) doubles as a work surface, and (b) folds up and/or slides over easily out of the way of the cooking zone, and I'd think of it as a space for reading and having coffee, or kids having a snack after school. Maybe one kid could do hw there. A kitchen is a work room...especially a kitchen on the smaller side. Imagine having 6 (or even 4) people dining in your kitchen with that table in there now--how would the cook grab the desserts or a forgotten condiment out of the refrigerator? The aisle would be impassable, imho.