Window Dressings

2 years ago

Hi Guys, I would really appreciate some advice on dressing our floor to ceiling windows in our open plan. The windows are lovely during the day but not at night. I was thinking blinds with a pattern for the kitchen side and maybe a neutral curtain for the living area to add a softness at night. Would this work or would it be too fussy? Please help an interior novice😭.

Featured Answer

PRO

Elizabeth Dean Garden Design

2 years ago

Personally I would want privacy and a minimalist look. I'd go for plain white (or off-white) black-out curtains, as lightweight as possible. Keep it simple.

Light pollution is really bad news for our declining wildlife, especially bats and insects. Avoid blue/green lighting. If you do need outside lights, make sure they are down-lights with minimal glare and ideally with an orange tint and turn them off when you're done outside. Up-lights outdoors and PIR floodlights are just terrible (and ugly in my opinion!). Black-out curtains will stop all light pollution from indoors, whichever way you want to light up inside.

Note, I speak as a garden-designer and ecologist.

Fab windows and view! Good luck. :-)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

Ellie
2 years ago
Do you really need any, not like anyone is looking in? I think it looks fab without
hedgehog99
2 years ago
I wonder whether you don't like the windows at night because they are totally black and create a mirror? If so, you could consider having some lighting in the garden, eg some of those little solar powered lights which you could pop into your pots. Outdoor lighting isn't great for wildlife but you could have them on a timer for the short time you're in the room at night, don't leave them on all night. But no what you're proposing wouldn't look fussy. I'd look at a wave top curtain to keep the look minimal and neat. I don't personally love the fabric you've picked for the blinds - I'd be looking for something more modern to enhance the look you've already created. But if you love that fabric there's no reason not to go with it!
Related Discussions
Window dressing windows of different heights
Q
Comments (8)
I still think blinds at the bay window would look better, you can use a thick fabric and have a thick lining put in as well. I'm not so sure that hanging curtains from the crown detail would look right above the door.... I'd be more inclined to go from the picture rail height..... just personal opinion! Also, what colour are you thinking of doing the walls and are the window coverings likely to be heavy patterned or plainer textured fabric? Just thinking that if the walls were say a beige then a darker shade for the window coverings with a slight pattern or texture it would be less obvious that the windows were different heights, your eye wouldn't be drawn to it so much as a heavy pattern.
...See More
Suggestions on window dressing our 22ft x 8ft stretch of window
Q
Comments (18)
I think that is a double-track and they have a second, heavier curtain behind it. But even if they don't, I think that is what you should do for versatility and look. They actually have it built into the frame so it is hidden and super sleek, but I think you can achieve this look if you run it along where the angled ceiling meets the wall. I would take a picture of your room and what you like to John Lewis, or another high end store or specialist curtain maker and ask their advice for specifics. I was just trying to give you an idea that I hoped you would like! I'm sorry I can't be super specific, but I think you need to have these custom made to do justice to the room, the view, and to get exactly what you want.
...See More
Very high bathroom window dressing
Q
Comments (23)
I really think it's a great basis for a lovely bathroom as it is. Here's what I would change to make it into the lovely, relaxed and luxurious space you're aiming for: roman blinds, change the photo frame for framed art with green tones in it, change the mirror for a larger and more elaborate one, find a small cart/trolley that holds towels and the items for daily use that are now on the little planchet. If you have space for that? There are very narrow ones that might work?
...See More
Window dressing for a box bay window in the bedroom
Q
Comments (7)
I think some beautiful white voile for the day time, mounted on a very discreet ceiling mounted track, such as Silentgliss, which can be bent into the bay. I would then put a bay pole in front of this with whichever curtains go with your scheme, using a blackout lining. I would be careful not to have the curtains gathered too full though as you do not have a lot of space to the left of the window to pull them back. Although unconventional, to overcome this problem, you might want to consider having the curtains made to different widths, ie a shorter left curtain and a wider right curtain so that when they are closed they meet at the corner. On a flat window this would be very conspicuous, but your window is unusual.
...See More
Daisy England
2 years ago
That fabric is gorgeous. Even though we have an empty house opposite us and we are at the end of a cul de sac I like to have something to give me privacy. In your situation I would have blinds. You can then have them part way down or all the way down.
PRO
Elizabeth Dean Garden Design
2 years ago
Oh, actually, I like the fabric you've picked too. I'd go for full-length curtains over blinds though.
HU-270759108
2 years ago
What a fab room and view.
Having lived in a similar house with no neighbours I get what you say about the windows at night.

I love the fabric with the colours you've already got on the wall, etc. You could look for other fabrics in same colours to use with the Clarke and clarke fabric. This would give you some interest but keep the space looking uniformed.
If it was my choice I go for full length curtains with double pinch pleat on a round track in a similar colour to the windows.
I don't know what type of blinds you had in mind, but as you have a fabric I thinking maybe roman blinds, in which case they will have a lot of fabric in them to cover the height of the window and this can make them bulky when drawn up, plus they will need to be out the way of using the door.

Lots to think about, but a wonderful project. Good luck with it.
Ger Staunton
2 years ago
Are you new to the countryside/one off housing? I've rented in countryside with a few people who were new to it. They felt very uncomfortable at night with the thought of somebody looking in. But after about a month, it didn't bother them at all. Maybe give it some time and put nothing up. (I'd be no good at advising what to put up!)
John Partington
2 years ago
We have similar patio doors and chose blinds over curtains. We don't use them at night though, only to keep the heat of the sun out during the day. At sunset they go up so we can enjoy the night sky and the lights twinkling on the the Astra Zeneca manufacturing plant! With subdued lighting (Philips Hue) carefully positioned we get very little reflected light on the glazing.
We ran a continuous plinth across the top of the window to hide the roller blind mechanisms (Somfy battery powered motors) and added a strip of LEDs along the back edge which can be used to illuminate the blind if it's lowered a few cm.
Joanna Clayson
2 years ago
We have similar doors in our kitchen and dining room.and have had nothing.there.for 6 years now!!!! I prefer the minimalistic look and dont give it a thought as we arent overlooked at the back. If we put anything up it would spoil the look
gavin phillips
2 years ago
Have a look into perfect fit blinds, venition or wood. No drilling required. Will give you privacy at night and flexible options during day. Go for a tensioned system if asked,no cords. Good luck
John Partington
last year
Curious to know what you did in the end? Does it work?
gavin phillips
last year
PRO
Nancy Cusenza Interiors
last year
Lovely 😊 I would go for a curved, wave headed ceiling track, to continue the contemporary feel of the space similar to this silent gloss one, and either keep with your lovely fabric choice or go for something similar to the picture

Window Dressings

Elizabeth Dean Garden Design

Comments (13)

Ellie

hedgehog99

Related Discussions

Daisy England

Elizabeth Dean Garden Design

HU-270759108

Ger Staunton

John Partington

Joanna Clayson

gavin phillips

John Partington

gavin phillips

Nancy Cusenza Interiors

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US