Dear Miss Cote de Texas

 

And today, we have a new decorating question!! 

 

Dear Miss Cote de Texas:   We built our dream home a little over a year ago on Clear Lake.  I am in a bit of a conundrum when it comes to curtains for our master bedroom.  During design and construction, I envisioned natural woven wood shades on each door.  I have since changed my mind and would prefer to go with hanging curtains.  I quickly sewed simple muslin panels when we moved in which are currently hanging on tension rods.  Unfortunately, the intersection of the ceiling with the door trim does not leave adequate room to install a curtain rod over the transom windows.  I am perfectly okay with leaving the transom windows uncovered, we are accustomed to the light coming in. 

What is your suggestion for how to hang curtains?  I have thought about an inside mount, similar to what we already have.  Or could we do an outside mount above the door/below the transom?  Help!

 

Here is the view out the bedroom – over looking a canal in Clear Lake, a suburb of Houston.  The canal actually leads to the Gulf of Mexico.  What a great view!!!

 

And here is the bedroom with the problem window/French doors.  There is a great, dark hardwood floor and a fabulous vaulted ceiling finished with bead board for cozy texture.  Outside the windows is the balcony overlooking the canal, as shown above.   The ceiling on the balcony mimics the one inside the bedroom.

 

And another view.  Well, all I can say is WHY??????

Why build the doors SO close to the walls that there isn’t room for a proper rod????  WHY???

This could be such a gorgeous vignette with beautiful curtains hanging from above the transom, but since the space is so tight, I’m really wondering if that is possible.  Hmmm…..

 

 

Here you can see how close the windows are the walls – but have no fear!  We will solve this issue.

Here are some ideas.  It’s hard to find a photograph that completely addresses your issues – but I’ll try the best I can:

 

Here are windows with transoms.  Instead of using textured blinds, they used fabric blinds which are softer and also bring in pattern.  It’s an option BUT your windows/doors seem rather short and I think using this option will only make the doors look even shorter.  Avoid.

 

And here are textured shades, hung under the transom.  Again, I think this will make your windows/doors look even shorter and I would avoid this window treatment.   IF you do decide you want to do this …. be sure to go with light, airy shades as opposed to dense ones that don’t let any light in. 

 

Here in a beachy bedroom, they mixed the textured shades with curtains but brought the shades up to the top of the rod, thereby elongating the look.  The problem with this treatment is you lose the transom.  Therefore I wouldn’t do this.  If you feel you DO want this look, again, choose an airy shade that lets light in and lets you see some of the transom.

 

Now, here is another fabric shade – that is mounted over the transom.  The fabric shade is not lined which lets in light and lets you see the transom behind it.  This also would make the doors/windows look taller.  And notice how close to the walls these curtains are hung.  By using a rod without a finial or a radius rod, you can hang curtains, just like these.   I like this look – if you want a fabric shade.

 

Here in a blue and white beachy styled room – striped linen curtains look so good against all the white trim.  When using curtains, think about stripes and patterns to add some pop to the room. 

 

 

Notice how close these windows are the wall – by using a rod without a finial, you can hang curtain just like this.

 

Here is a close up of a radius rod.  You can get radius rods that will actually attach to the wall behind it instead of sticking out to the side. 

 

See how these curtains are attached so close to the wall.  By hiring a professional window treatment designer, they will be able to order the proper rod for you.

 

And here, the rods are again – radius rods.  Look below to see the rods – available at the Antique Drapery Rod Company HERE.

 

 

I love this look and think this treatment would look great in your room.  White linen curtains hung to the top of the transom.  I love how these are lined – so the sun does not shine through allowing you to see the fabric.   I always order my curtains with blackout lining.  You can also use “bump” – a kind of flannel lining.  But, I prefer the blackout lining myself. 

I also order my curtains – with no ironed-in pleats.  That way you don’t get a tall column of stationary fabric, but instead, you get a loose, flowing look – like above.

 

For instance, here are curtains with ironed in pleats.  They look like tall straight, unmoving columns.  I really don’t care for this look.  To avoid it – order “do not iron in pleats.”

 

 

 

In this bedroom that I designed, we had a huge problem with the windows.  Instead of matching, one was a French door (that was never used) and the other was a short window.  The owner didn’t want total blackout, so the textured shades kept out enough of the light in the morning.    The door on the left had a transom, but the window didn’t.  In order to create a feeling of symmetry, I tried to make the windows look the same size by using the white linen curtains to disguise the disparate sizes.  As you can see, the windows were also very close to the wall.  We used a thin rod with a flat end finial.

 

Here’s a closeup of how close the window is to the wall.  Same as yours.   Also, if you do want a textured shade – see how these are airy and let the light through?  You can even still see the transom through the shades.

 

And, in the end, this is what I would recommend.  Hire a professional window treatment person.  I use Custom Creations by Monica HERE and highly recommend her.  I would probably use a radius rod, or a regular rod without a round end finial.  I would hang the rod right at the top of the transom.   I would use panels – 1 1/2 widths of fabric on each side, lined, no ironed-in pleats.   If you need or want a shade, I would use an airy, textured shade, hung from the transom.   But, I would prefer the window without a shade.   Also, I would avoid an inside mount completely.  An inside mount would cut the eye line and make your doors look too short.

I would probably use a plain white linen fabric so as not to take away from the view.    If you want some pattern and color in the room – you could bring it in with a duvet and or pillows.

And finally, I would have an electrician move the light switches from between the window.  Right now, the eye goes right to them, like a focal point.  Once moved, you could put a few prints there, one on top of the other, or a long antique mirror. 

I hope this helps you with your decorating issue!!

If YOU have a decorating question – please send it to me via email, along with a few pictures. 

My NEW email address is:  cotedetexas@aol.com

Don’t use the “Mrballbox” mailbox anymore!!!

 

 

AND, there will be a book signing for Leslie Sinclair’s newest:  Segreto Style on November 4th at Joyce Horn Antiques.    If you can’t attend but would like to buy the book, please go HERE.