first, i would remove all of the blinds, personally.

are you on a 2nd floor? if so, my preference would be cafe curtains on each of the windows.

the door sounds functional, so i wouldn't put any curtain on the door or hang any from that curtain rod. maybe just some frosted contact paper on the glass of the door, which will give you privacy while letting light in.

p.s. what a nice transom!

I have window this close together in my little Kenmore Square apartment, and drapes actually work nicely--especially if you get a simple color/pattern. The small space between the windows didn't seem weird on mine. As far as the balcony door, I'd just take the hardware down and don't put coverings on it--you don't want to cover the stained glass!

I'd remove both the blinds and rods all around -
Then and install inside-mount Roman Shades on the two windows, and frosted glass on the entry door.

Look at what this woman did in her bedroom, after shot. these are inside mount roll shades from Lowes. I did the same thing in my front room and it worked out great.

http://www.hashai.com/?p=164

I think an attempt to do something with the door will just look overwrought, and, as ssarts11 mentions, will cover the lovely glass. I agree that you should remove that hardware.

You could put two curtain panels on the main window and just a single panel on the side window, like this (minus the left-hand window). You probably only need a single panel to cover the narrower window anyway.

Looks like you get a lot of great light from those windows! First, the door: I would remove the top curtain rod on the door, it takes away from the beautful stained glass! And for the door window, I would maybe do a frosted effect on the glass, or maybe a simple roll shade. As for the windows, great molding! You could hang some sheer or light colored panels, and hang them more towards the top of the wall, instead of from the molding. A metal wire type of rod could possibly work as one rod for the two windows, to simplify the look. http://www.potterybarn.com/products/cable-system-window-hardware/?pkey=csale-drapes-shades-hardware, but may a little more engineering to adapt.

@ssarts11 - I had those windows in Boston too! But no door, just windows. I wonder where this is?

Anyway, enough about me. If I lived here, I'd skip window treatments altogether. Unless you need the privacy. Otherwise, I'm with bepsf. Roman shades on the windows would probably be very nice. Whatever you do, definitely treat the door and windows separately. Try not to let the bay configuration (and those three rods) throw you off track. You don't *have* to have a symmetrical arrangement. (Using a photo program, you could erase the rods, remove the blinds and start from scratch. Try playing around with some different ideas.)

I agree with bepsf. Cleanest look, allowing light and privacy.

I have a very similar arrangement of windows in our bedroom, and we're on the hunt for window coverings as well.

Just be sure to measure the height of the windows, not just their width!! On our first attempt to purchase roman blinds, they were about 8" short!! We really wanted no light coming in because we enjoy sleep. We have 14' ceilings and the windows turned out to be 80" tall—the same height as sliding glass doors. (Luckily, we were able to install the first set of blinds in our living room.)

We just temporarily hung up dark bedsheets on the windows, but are still on the hunt for a real solution.

Agree 100% with bepsf - inside-mount Romans. I have similar windows, and that's what I did. You won't necessarily have to drill - you may be able to hang them from the existing hardware for the blinds. There are lots of lovely fabric choices out there for Roman shades, available in custom sizes.

I think curtains just look messy.

If you need coverings for privacy then remove the rods and put outside mount roman shades on all 3, hung at the same height and let down to the same length on all ( let down enough to cover the transition from transom to the window on the door). You will cover the stained glass, but you will have a unified look. And, not all stained glass is good stained glass...if that isn't just stained glass film...

If you do not need to cover all 3 for privacy, do long drapes on the windows (yes, they will fit, just mount the rods on the walls not the woodwork so the drapes fall to the sides more, they will even touch between the windows). Do not swag them, long and lean will be good to emphasize height and not add confusion. Do not do anything on the door except take off the stuff that is currently there. Frosting that glass with a film or the spray is an option, too.

At the risk of sounding unoriginal, my first and only thought was roman blinds.

I guess I'm going against the grain here, but if it were me, I would do a crisp, white, somewhat sheer drape on each of the 3 windows (either remove the existing blinds or just go in front of them if you can't take them down). If you can hang the new window treatments from closer to the ceiling, that would be great too (as Butterfly suggested). With a light drape, I don't see why you can't just open it up when you want to use the balcony door and also see the nice stained glass. This also gives you more of a symmetrical look, which--personally--I tend to prefer. Also, I think the small space between the 3 only adds visual interest (certainly not a detriment in my opinion).

Depending on privacy and light, if it's not an issue - I'd take the hardware off, get a couple of white tension rods, get some lacey white cafe curtains/sheer panels and keep it simple and light - mount at the top of the bottom window sash. Repeat on the door with a small curtain rod for doors that go on top and bottom.

Ikea (and other places) carry tension rods. I bought mine from Ikea for my problem windows (all 3 of my bedrooms have the window in the corner of the room so one side of each window "frame" is the wall). Anyway - I bought nice white crisp roman shades for each (inside window measurements plus 1 inch or so). I removed the wooden dowel from the top of each roman shade, inserted the tension rod and shot some hot glue inside the tension rod to the back inside of the roman shade - not visible from inside or outside of the house. I did this step so the roman would not pucker when raised or lowered. (Note: be sure to adjust your tension rod to the correct size before doing the hot glue step.) Place your roman on the inside of each window and allow your beautiful moulding to show. For the door - I would do the same thing (at the same level as that blind) but in the case of the door, you could use the hardware the roman comes with. Final step - remove all that hardware and those blinds, wood filler the holes left by the old hardware, paint and whalla - clean and crisp window treatments.

I would do a bay window curtain rod (you use corner connectors to get the effect of one continuous rod across the three windows). Then use 4 curtain panels - 2 flanking the center window, 1 on the far right and 1 on the far left.

Extend the width of the rod beyond that of the actual windows on each side (I usually go 6 inches on each side, but you'll want to stop shy of the bend in the wall on the left and the bookcase on the right). This way, the curtains will hang so that the maximum amount of glass is visible, with the curtain fabric covering wall space and window frame. This will make your windows look even bigger and, on the side with the door, will still allow you to use it.

If privacy is also an issue, you can combine the curtains them with either roman shades or window film, as bepsf suggested.

This is an image of what I mean (although the fabric used isn't my style): http://www.bhg.com/decorating/window-treatments/basics/bay-and-bow-window-treatment-ideas/?page=5

Or this (scroll down the the bay window "after"): http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/email-answer-its-curtains-for-you/

... and put a tall plant beside the chair in the bay -- this corner needs vertical element to take advantage of the great high ceiling.

Roman shades for the windows AND door, in a suitable color or pattern. (A bold pattern might be all you really need as a decorative element in this space.)

Remove the hardware and the venetian blinds. You want the woodwork to stand out.

Alternative: Cafe curtains for the windows and door, all mounted at the same height.

I'm going to go with bepsf on this one, too.

If you're set on drapes, though, I'd leave the door alone, and let it be a door. Don't try to make it into a window. I'd do two curtain panels for each of the windows (it looks like you have room). And maybe still switch out the current blinds for inexpensive matchstick shades like so:

http://www.worldmarket.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3876377

If you can't drill then you're screwed.

Unusual? I thought every apartment in Boston had to have a bay window in front.

Thanks for all of the advice, everyone! I think I have decided to go with inside-mount Roman shades -- I think the existing blind hardware will work (we can at least make it look like we never drilled when we reinstall the old blinds when we move). I agree now that using drapes would detract from the woodwork that gives the apartment such character. While privacy is not a big issue in this third-floor apartment, it would be nice to block the glare for daytime TV-watching.

And here's a secret for everyone who admired the 'stained glass' above the door - it's contact paper! Stained glass like this is extremely common in buildings of this era in St. Louis so most people never notice that it's faux!

Roller blinds, roman shades, or Just Naked. I would take down the old hardware, patch, and just live with that for a while. You may find yourself wondering why you ever wanted drapes at all.

I would remove all the blinds and rods. I would use tension rods to hand draperies inside the window frames. I wouldn't cover a square inch of your beautiful casements. If the door has privacy issues, I would make the windows opaque with sheets you can buy and cut to fit, or paint with a clear glaze, which will dry to white, but let in light.

i'm with ghunt.

i do not see how this setup is either unusual or challenging - it's pure personal preference, virtually any window treatment option will work.

"If you can't drill then you're screwed."

LOL - In more ways than one!
;-)

why people mount curtain hardware on gorgeous woodwork continues to amaze and sadden me.

mount something on the plaster for when you need privacy leave it open otherwise.

(p.s. stained glass has dimension, home depot stickers do not ;)