I’m kicking off my “What Would You Do?” series with a question from Sonja:
Hi Emily,
I have a bay window that faces East that is also shaded. For almost 20 years I have had just the bottom half covered with lightweight curtains. I am sick of them and want something different, but don’t want to block the little bit of light and yet I need privacy as the windows face the street.
Help.
Sonja
I decided to address this question first because I just tackled a similar problem in our breakfast area. Bay windows seem like such a great feature, but they can be a booger (can I say that?) to decorate. Here’s what we recently did in our breakfast area. As with most of my projects, I was looking for an inexpensive–but stylish–solution.
Like Sonja, we needed privacy but didn’t want to block a lot of light. I used simple bamboo shades (from Home Depot) that we keep pulled up during the day but can lower at night. The window never seemed “finished”, however; so, I found 4 yards of one of my favorite fabrics (in a remnant bin) and decided to make curtain panels by using Stitch Witchery.
To hang the curtains, I used three inexpensive IKEA rods and sawed them to the desired length for each window, pushing the ends up against each other.
Since the curtains aren’t for function, but just to make things pretty, I didn’t have to worry about the curtain rings going over the brackets. In other words, I used shades for function and curtain panels to give the area some style.
The entire window treatment–rods, shades and curtains–ended up costing approximately $150.
Back to Sonja’s window for a minute. . . Although I used shorter curtain panels, I would actually opt for full-length panels (mounted close to the ceiling) on the sides of the windows here since she has the board and batten on each of the adjoining walls. I think a shorter panel would make things seems a little “off” balance.
Hope this helps. Now, it’s your turn. “What would you do” to Sonja’s bay window? Feel free to share your ideas or blog about it, leaving your link in the comment section.
Have a design dilemma you want me to address? Email your question, along with 1-2 clear photos, to info {at} emilyclark.com.
This is sort of “out there”, but what about doing that opaque privacy film on the bottom portion (where someone could see in) and then just doing a nice pelmet box on top? It would let it look finished, give privacy, and let some of the light in. I am thinking about using that film for a bathroom window.
Yes, I can easily see long panels on each side of the bay window. I would want them to be generous, two panels on each side, maybe with a pinch pleat at the top (not tacked in), a wide hem and 3″ puddle at the bottom, thin curtain rods at the top, as close to the ceiling as possible. Then, screens like Emily’s for privacy. Show us your after pics! Good luck!
I struggled with the same issue for years but finally came up with a solution I’m very happy with. I have plantation shutters on the lower portion of the window, with long IKEA drapery panels hung from a homemade rod.
Here’s a link to a post I wrote about how we made it “on the cheap”.
http://creativelittledaisy.typepad.com/creative_little_daisy/2009/08/add-ito-a-long-long-list-of-things-i-love-about-this-man.html
Love what you did…..gorgeous! I like the idea of panels and a pull down shade for privacy when needed. Love the fabric you selected. Also did a french kitchen with a full but not terribly long balloon and it can go all the way up if needed, its beautiful and very “french” and in keeping with the theme.
i love what you did-the drapes are my favorite! great pattern. xoxo jcd:: enter to win my jewelry giveaway !!
Perfect timing! I’m working on a bay window project too and over the weekend I saw adjustable bay rods on sale for around $10 at Lowes.
I love this series!! Such a great way to help lots of people with similar design issues at the same time!!
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I had a bay window area that included 2 side windows and a sliding glass door. I used 4 floor length curtain panels and found these corner connectors for the rods at JcPenney – sorry I couldn’t get the link to work. I could use a regular length curtain rod in the middle and then bought the shortest possible rods for the side windows and cut off what I needed to.
Oh My Goodness Emily, how exciting to wake up this morning and see my window on your blog!!!! I love your idea as I had missed your bay re-do. I will have to be on the look-out for a deal on blinds. In trying to keep the cost down, I think I will try and make some panels from drop cloths, although I love the patterned idea, as it can use some color in here! :o) I do not have a blog to show an after pic when I get there, so if you have an idea for me to show you the finished work, please let me know. And thank you again Emily, you have made my week!!! Sonja
I love Emily’s idea of full length panels on the sides. But instead of heavy shades, I think Sonja’s room would benefit from a light and airy shade alternative made from a burnout fabric. Both of my narrow bathroom windows are covered by a lovely white voile in a floral burnout pattern. They give us complete privacy, but sacrifice none of the light. Mine were cut and hemmed to fit inside the window sash using tension rods.
What a great question, I also have bay windows that need some privacy. I like shesnotmartha’s comment about the privacy window film. You can use that on the lower half (or the whole window) and then put up shades on top top and/or panels along the sides.
I sewed sheer panels to look like blinds in our living room for the lower half of the window. They provide privacy and I’m still searching for panels. That’s an option too. You can see them in this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/asteriahanover/5418347667/in/set-72157626232247242/
Hope this helps!
LOVE this post series! Id like to expand on the question though. Our home was built in 1860 and still has all the original woodwork throughout. I have two sets of bay windows downstairs…in the living room and in my dining room. Id love to replicate what you did in our dining room area. But Im a little leary to cover up all the gorgeous trim around the windows by hiding it under the bamboo type blinds. Yet I love that look. Do you have any advice?
Sarah
Hi there Emily. Love your style and your work but do not love short curtains. I think I developed such a dislike for them after living in the UK for the past 4 years……they so over do the short curtain thing there. I cannot find the photo but will keep looking to forward….I’ve done quite a few window seats for clients and personally love shutters in a bay window! Nice clean crisp white ones would look great in your readers space along with a shallow window seat or even a cozy chair and nice long drapes on the ends just to close the space in if need be!
Love your new series, that is a tough call, we have a similar problem with our large bay window.
I would do light and airy white shades. I would actually have a track on the ceiling, and most of the time have the curtain panels pushed to both sides, but then when you need privacy pull the blinds shut.
I see light and airy long side panels–for show only–so no need for center window rod. I would install light colored Roman Shades so you could have privacy but let all the natural light in. If not Roman Shades then shutters only on the lower half. Can’t wait to see the transformation…
I am all about light so I hardly ever cover a window with anything that will not let the light in. I have a bay just like this in my living room. I have a bit more space on each side of the bay where the walls are. I put panels on the wall just to soften the angles. The rods are mounted at the top of the ceiling. I have a wood cornice above the windows where a roller shade hides unless I need privacy. I have had this treatment for years and it works out very nicely. I think a striped curtain will help give width it used horizontally. Kathysue
Autum – your windows are fabulous! I love what you’ve done!
thank you, emily! i have been reading your blog daily since december and have really enjoyed it. this post is very applicable to me.
I would do either plantation shutters or roman shades.
When I was browsing Brooklyn Limestone’s blog the other day, I read a post about this very thing (she posted it back in 2009, but it’s still applicable today). She put up white folding shutters along the bottom half of the windows and folds them back to let in light. She chose not to use curtains for detail, but you could put up panels on either side if you want to soften the look. You can see her post here: http://www.brooklynlimestone.com/2009/06/see-no-evil-living-room-window.html You could also use plantation shutters instead of the folding shutters to achieve this same kind of look. Good luck!
Love what you did. I’m such a fan of bamboo shades…practical and full of texture and character!!
I like you idea of ceiling to floor panels on either side. She could also add some simple Roman shades in a coordinating fabric to the windows for added interest. Perhaps a stripe for the shades and a fun pattern for the panels.
Great idea on your wednesday posts! I have a bay window in my bedroom that faces west so blinds are a must. I have 2.5″ expresso blinds and have some panels being made for the outer windows and panels in the corners of the inside of the bay as well. The panels will be hung on separate rods since they are not for function. Dwell Studio Gate is my fabric choice! Good Luck Sonja and let us know what you decide!!
Maureen
This is such a great series. I really like the fabric you used for your curtains. They are so chic yet stylish.
If light is the first priority I think some type of opaque film would be ideal. We did that in one of our bathrooms that face the street and the light it lets in is fantastic! Then you can put any type of window treatments on top (or not). If budget allows, some type of milk or bottle glass would also be a neat way to do it, but I don’t know if that fits in with the style and feel of the house…but it’s another option.
http://bjdhausdesign.blogspot.com/
I love the idea of the long panels on the sides of the windows would work really well. What about using a blind that pulls up from the bottom. That way she still gets light, but has privacy as well.
Great solution, and I love what you did with your bay, Emily. I still can’t believe you found that Windsor Smith fab in the remnant bin! I would pay big bucks for it!!
I love how you treated your bay window as one big single window, but it would work just as well to do panels around each window….just depends how much light you want (and how much you want to spend on fabric!!).
I’m struggling with the same thing! But my bay also has a window seat, so I’m not sure how panels would look/work, unless I just had dummy panels on either side of the window. The window faces west and has such great light, but during certain times of the day you can see right into the kitchen from the street.
I just realized that we have the same fabric for our living room/breakfast room drapes- but ours are in the greyish color! :)
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