Window Treatment Design for my small Den with a Big Window!

Hi Everyone,

Happy New Year! Before we get into the window treatment design for my den window, a little piece of business. I was supposed to send this out yesterday, and because I didn’t, I’ve extended the special deal where you can get a free 333 Rules & Tips You Need to Know and the new Etsy Guide for FREE, but only through tomorrow, January 2nd, at 11:59 PM.

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Okay, this is just a relatively quick post. However, I need to order some window treatments, so I’ve been working on this.

Oh my, it’s been quite a while since I designed some window treatments. There are numerous details to consider.

 

However, today, I have to decide on the basic design for the den window treatment.

 

Please let me know what you think in the comments.

I have decided that I want to do the Brunschwig and Fils Le Lac Chinoiserie print for a Roman Shade. However, I think that over-all the room will look better with a simple off-white linen curtain, as well.

 

Above is the window with only a Roman Shade. To the left is how much fabric I’ll need. However, 99% of the time, the shade will go up as shown. I know. That’s a lot of very expensive fabric to have folded away. Oh, I forgot to mention this is one of the most expensive prints out there.

Natch.

Would I need to make the shade go all the way down? Strictly speaking, it should; however, if one is sure that it will never go all the way down, then I think it would be okay to do a shade about 66″ long on this 106″ long window. Then, we can get away with only two yards and hope the top part starts at a good point. To be on the safe side, it would be best to order 2.5 yards. There would still be numerous folds, and the shade could go up and down a few feet without looking weird.

 

What about doing a faux Roman Shade, Laurel?

 

So far, I’m not a fan of faux Romans because they usually look faux. Plus, there is no option to use them as a working shade. Effectively, they are a valance. However, there is only one exception that I would consider for a window treatment design, which I’ll get to in a sec.

That is if we must do an outside-mount Roman Shade. Get this. If I do a real outside-mount Roman Shade, I’ll need at least seven or more yards. This fabric has a huge repeat, and because my window would need a six-foot width of fabric to make an outside mount, I need to add a piece to each end.

Now since most of it is hidden behind the curtain, could I cheat and use a solid fabric? This fabric retails for at least $500 a yard and sometimes more, so yeah, you can cheat all you want as long as the cheat is hidden.

 

The drape is a medium to heavy-weight off-white linen that must coordinate with the shade fabric.

 

I very much recommend getting a cutting for approval of both, if possible. If the color is a hair off, it’s okay because the eye will adjust for the slight discrepancy.

In addition, I prefer a linen that isn’t too heavy on the slubs, especially if one can see through it.

Both the shade and the drapes must be lined. My favorite lining, which I use almost all the time, is a thermal lining. Thermal lining is heavier than typical lining and has a slight nap, more like brushed cotton. It can be made of cotton, synthetic, or a blend of the two.

 

I ALWAYS use white lining unless the fabric is very dark or opaque, and it would look better from the outside to do ivory or another color.

 

The reason is that a cream color will make the fabric look YELLOW. Yes, it will. The same goes for cream-colored fabric. So, please be careful.

However, the thermal lining also blocks a healthy percentage of light. It’s not blackout, so a strong sun will come through, but not nearly as much as with a typical lining. Also, the thermal lining has insulating properties.

If it has been found over the years that using a thermal lining negates the need for an interlining, the exception might be for an exceedingly formal manor house with super high windows where an opulent look is required.

 

Let’s look at the alternative window treatment design (below).

 

This is the same inside mount Roman Shade as in the first image. I do prefer the first version, but here’s the thing: The perspective of this image is not accurate. That header is about 12 feet up the wall.

So, does it really matter?

 

Well, the view sucks. Ironically, the only nice part of the view is where the Roman shade is! Fortunately, no one will ever see this view unless they decide to stand right in front of the closet and look out the window. I don’t see that happening.

 

Could I do a top down bottom up Roman Shade? (please see example in the image below)

 

Laura Tutun Interiors

Sure, but I don’t see that happening. While the view is better higher up, that is also where I most need the light control. So, it would mean a lot of up and down with the Roman shade and I know I’m not going to do that. That style shade is good when the shade is mostly in one position.

Below is a fancier double border with a Greek Key corner. We could do the inner one in dark teal and the other one in black. I probably won’t do this, but it would be especially nice if there were no shade.

 

 

Laurel, what about the curtains with no Roman Shade?

 

Okay, great idea! Let’s look at that.

I like it better than with just the Roman Shade but not as much as the drapes and Roman shade combo.

 

Below is a widget with most of the items discussed in the post, plus a few other things I hope you’ll find helpful.

 

You might also enjoy Roman Shades weren’t built in a day!

One final thing to consider is what am I doing for the living room window treatments. To be continued…

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