apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have a similar window set up in my apartment and also face south. I really needed protection from the direct sun. I had 2" metal blinds made in brushed aluminum (single run across to not look choppy). I then put up curtain panels on either side of the window covering the wall but very little of the window to make it look more expansive. Works great and looks great to me. You could also do a single, wide sun filter mesh shade. You can see some through but it will shade you from the sun. Then dress it up again with fabric on either side. The key is to do a single treatment for all of the windows, that will look best. Good luck!

PS. blinds were from Janovic Plaza and not crazy expensive at all.

I'm always a fan of woven shades. It's also nice because they don't get caught on the dust bunnies on the floor.

But, maybe an interesting "panel" treatment would be cool-flat panels that slide along a track. There are lots of options at the Shade Store online that might inspire you. (www.theshadestore.com)

I actually just posted some window treatment options here: http://mochihome.com/?p=250

You can send a photo and I'll try them out right your image!

Good Luck!

If the rods were falling it was because they were not properly affixed to the wall, not because the curtains were heavy. The type of screw/bracket depends upon what kind of wall you have.

I agree with the previous poster about treating the windows as one. If you're renting and do not own the property, you may want to consider doing 2 sets of woven shades, blinds, etc. I don't think you can get something "off the rack" long enough to cover the whole windows. Also, at 12' long, you'd run the very real risk of having the blinds bow in the middle due to the weight. Even custom blinds usually don't extend past 110" wide for a single blind. It would be 2 on a single header.

I'd mount the blinds just inside the frame, if possible. Try not to install any hardware into the window frame--it detracts from the windows. You could also hang a set of panels on either side of the windows to frame it out. Hang them right below the ceiling to increase the visual height of the room and negate that soffet. You can use heavier drapes, you just need to anchor the hardware first. Use metal wall anchors (mollys)--not plastic which are a big pain and are not particularly sturdy. They look like giant screws in the hardware store. You don't need to use them on every set of brackets, but I'd do it on at least 3 (each side and the center support) depending on the weight of the drapes you hang. Be sure to bring at least one of the screws you're using now to hang the hardware so you can choose a wall anchor of the right length.

Good luck and share the finished product!

enmnm is probably correct. I have an apartment that is probably REALLY similar to yours, and I had the WORST time getting curtain rods to stay up.

I also have 12' windows, and the walls are simply plasterboard over the masonry. Even with plastic anchors, we couldn't get the rods to stay in the walls! So I visited a local hardware store, one in the neighborhood and familiar with the local architecture. They gave (er, well, sold) me lead anchors and a masonry bit for the plaster/brick combo I was working with.

It worked GREAT! You drill the hole for the anchor, install the anchor, and then the bracket for the curtain rods, no problem at all. It was SUPER easy, and very secure.

So, check with local hardware stores, they'll know the neighborhood and can probably offer advice, and when all else fails, lead anchors.

Tada! http://charmedseed.net/fluff/curtains1.jpg and http://charmedseed.net/extra/021509-b/Image1.jpg

Your first priority is to figure out how to block the sun. The right products to enable this goal are going to be costly especially if you have one blind to cover the entire length of the 4 windows.

You could do a trifecta of sorts: bamboo or woven shades, sheers and finally, panels. I love the idea of a layered window. I orginally had this planned out in my home, but the triple layers were a bit too much for my particular space. You might be able to pull it off because of your quads and you have ample wall space on either side of your windows. Consider 3 bamboo shades: 1 on the left window, 1 for the right window and a wider one for the two center windows. Get 4 sheer panels to fill in the far left and far right windows. Add beautiful panels to frame the rest and make sure they fall from ceiling to floor. Your center window, then, is versatile: you can leave the bamboo shade up and have maximum sun, put the shade down and filter the sun, shade down and sheers closed to filter further and, if you must, you can pull the drapes for total black out.

I highly, highly, highly recommend that you raise the hardware and mount it closer to the ceiling -- as close as you can get. You'll need a double rod to hang both sheers and drapes.

floor to ceiling curtains in a bold fabric with sheers behind.
also, consider hanging the curtain rod from the ceiling, it's often easier than drilling into the exterior wall.

I have a similar window. I used the KVARTAL window treatment system from IKEA. It was inexpensive and easy to install. I purchased the panels from IKEA but you can use your own fabrics for a more customized look. http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/range/10374/13289/
Charmedseed is right: use a masonary bit and lead anchors.

Good Luck.

roman shades set into each window and an overall treatment to unify the area.

if you're handy with a sewing machine, roman shades are EASY to make!

Your curtain rod was installed incorrectly - place it nearer the ceiling using wall anchors and longer screws and your ecisting draperies will be fine (after sewing on some contrasting fabric at the base to lengthen the panels)

if you're feeling creative, consider wool felt, hanging by crocodile clips (or something more robust and attractive?). While I have no idea how to incorporate - industrial thickness wool felt would give you some insulation from southern sun when you need it.

There are some links on hanging wool felt on apartmenttherapy....

There are some very inexpensive woven shades that you can order that have light blocking panels attached to the back. I have them in one room and they work very well.

http://www.justblinds.com/dynamic/quote_results.cfm?catID=10

MochiHome....thanks for posting the link! I think it will give the poster of this question some great ideas.

Woven or roman shades are the best suggestions I've seen. Would be much simpler than curtains and would add even more privacy if you wanted it. Plus you could do one per frame and not to have them all up at once if you are getting too much of a glare somewhere.