Drapery Dilemma - A Problem of Proportion

I was browsing Erin's blog http://design-crisis.com today and saw a post titled "Pink Curtains, Or Why My Husband May Divorce Me" discussing the color of drapery panels.  Oh, I feel her pain.  I have gotten into the whirlpool of color A vs. color B with no end of possibilities.  I drew up a quick comparison for her, thinking that she is not alone in this Drapery Dilemma, and with her permission, I posted a possible solution here. The color selection is still hers to make, but the biggest problem, in my eyes, isn’t the color of the draperies, but the proportion...Take a look.  I owe her one for the inspiration.  Thanks, Erin!

The proposed drawing with featured flax drapery panels.

What I notice is that the panels are too tall for the French Doors.  By dropping the panels down, even if it entails alterations, this is what you would see...

The upper windows are left untreated, but the balance of the panels is pleasing to the eye.  If I were going for a budget friendly solution, I would go this way.  But wait...What if the homeowner purchased an extra pair of panels and used the fabric for a top treatment on the upper windows?  (WARNING:  Watch the weave and pattern of your fabric.  If the fabric has an obvious up and down pattern, the weave would run lengthwise down the panels and run across the cornice!)  

The upper window treatments look a little like eyebrows, don’t they?   Hmmmm,  now it is the proportion of the cornices that are wrong.   The ideal solution, as the homeowner identified in her blog, would be to treat the upper and lower windows as one.  How do I know?  Experience, of course...taught by the school of hard knocks!  In my own home, I have a two story foyer and made drapery panels for the bottom window and another pair for the top window.  I spent months regretting my decision until I finally bit the bullet, purchased the extra yards of fabric and lining  and made a new set of super long drapery panels, choosing to treat the two windows as one.   I like this solution....

I want to thank Erin for the inspiration to address the problem of proportion in window fashions.  Experience is the best teacher...especially when it is someone else’s experience.

p.s. In case you are wondering, here is what Erin's had to say:

Double height is definitely the way to go, but it's not the most budget (and time) friendly solution. So I'll save that for another day.  I will, however, take your suggested hanging height into account when I mount the brackets for the lower windows.  Thanks!"

Big Statements for Small Windows

A great decorating statement doesn’t always take yards of fabric and trims.  These flat panel designs are simple in form yet bold in graphic shapes.  Check out these designs that were created from yardage left over from larger projects. 

This window treatment used the last ½ yard of trim.The flat panel shows the beauty of the floral fabric and coordinating piping sets the outline of the design.
 

  This Keystone & Arch inspired panel is made of faux ostrich leather.You may recognize the materials from the “BOLD & BEAUTIFUL” post. Large covered buttons add just the right detail.This color pallet works great in the spring and summer months – and even into fall.

SEASONAL WINDOW TREATMENTS? Sure! During the drab winter months, this wonderful graphic pattern adds interest and life to the views outside the window. The blue, taupe,& brown color pallet accents the icy river and barren trees growing on the shore line. The heavy texture evokes coziness on cold winter days.

Changing your look is easy when the flat panels are fitted with the loop side of hook & loop tape at the top edge. The corresponding hook side is stapled to a mounting board supported by angle irons or L Brackets. Wa-la and Presto-Chango...grab a stepstool and pull one panel down and pressing on the next. When Spring blooms, change the neutral pallet with a bold spring green, peacock, and chocolate design that is as fresh as the day outside. 

The designs photographed were created and fabricated by Karen Bow of KBow Designs LLC. Please be courteous and remember to include this information when using pictures in your blog, Pintrest board, etc.