What about woven woods for shades? Add simple side panels in the LR but left alone in kitchen & bedrooms.

I would love to talk to you about this because I have an almost identical dilemma. It looks like you have two sets of 3 windows, so floor length curtains for all would probably be too much fabric. I would go with floor length in that room that looks like a dining room, or even a 3/4 tea length just to the baseboard. For behind the couch, I would do an inside mount tension rod with simple curtain panels that go to the sill. Or use faux or wood 2" blinds in the windows behind the couch. I have pictures of mine I can send if you would like. We have a couch right in front of 3 double hung windows, and I tried everything. The blinds looked to cold; floor length curtains was too much fabric. I shortened the curtain twice and they are now to the sill. They blend in with the window frame and wall. They are okay for now!! Let us see what you end up with!

Since you can sew, would you consider an orange velvet for behind your couch? It would be nice for fall and winter and goes wonderfully with the (corduroy couch?) and pillows. Instead of staying inside the window buy a rod that goes six inches past each side of the window so the floor length will fall behind the side tables. It will make your window look way bigger too. here are good examples:

http://www.younghouselove.com/2008/06/curtain-call-2/

http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/email-answer-its-curtains-for-you/

As for the rest of the house, patterned roman shade would be cool for the smaller windows or even just bamboo shades. Hope this helps!!

I would definately go with floor length, just move the couch out a little so there is room behind. DUring the day they will look elegant framing each side of the window and at night they will fall behind the sofa making the room cosy and warm. As for cost, it's not original but Ikea have a great range of tasteful modern curtains, that are very good value - they look even better if you take the time to line them. I like the Kajsa curtain, which if lined would look very elegant in your room.

I would suggest floor length curtains for dining and living room as well and make some romans from a patterned material for the kitchen door and window. I would pick something with some colour. Not sure for the bedroom...

You're so right. Window treatments would really kick this up a notch.

These tailored pleat drapes in the DwellStudio chocolate dots pattern would look good with what you have in the living room: http://www.theshadestore.com/product/tailored-pleat-drapery?prcid=27551

These 2" wood blinds in Ebony would look nice in the kitchen: http://www.theshadestore.com/product/2-inch-wood-blind?prcid=4890

These Goblet drapes in the dahlia gardens pattern, driftwood colors. (I'm assuming the vanity is in the bedroom) http://www.theshadestore.com/product/goblet-drapery?prcid=3406

For the living room and dining room, probably some simple wood blinds with some either light fabric curtains or even sheers that only go to the baseboard. Floor length will go out of fashion anyways, like everything else.

For the kitchen window and what looks like bedroom windows, maybe some simple roman shades mounted inside the window - but wood blinds would probably still look nice.

I'm with *Sarah B above.

Move the couch a smidgey-poo away from the wall and then floor length curtains can hang nicely behind the furniture.

My sister has similar windows: she has one long curtain rod (reinforced in the middle) with just two floor length curtains on the side. She never really closes them -- they're more of a nice frame on the sides of her sofa -- but if you're making your own, you can make two oversized panels that together cover the whole width of the windows.

PS, love your couch!

start by determining what colors you want in each room. there is a huge lack of that. do you want them to feel warm or cool? how much light control? how much drama (i'm thinking of that vanity nook - simple pop of color on a roman shade? or sheer curtains all the way to the ceiling with tie backs on the walls?)

I agree with Akay. Long flowing curtains on a simple curtain rod would really soften the rooms and you could keep the shades and blinds you have now to keep out light, or install some new simple blinds. Gorgeous house!

I think that the clean lines of Roman shades would compliment the space and you wouldn't have to worry about the length. I would do them in a orange and tan pattern to really wake up the room!

I'd go with woven shades in the living room (I got mine at Target) and panels that extend to the floor. If you mount them (as already mentioned) to frame out the window, you'll reinforce that focal wall. I'd repeat the orange/chocolate you've got with the pillows. And I think the living area could also benefit from an area rug.

For the bedroom, I'd go with a relaxed rooman shades to add softness. Again, there's a lack of color in this room (maybe on purpose?) so the fabric is tricky to choose. If you are going for a white on white neutral look, add more texture with an area rug and maybe go with linen for the shades.

Christine

For warmth, I would definitely go long in DR.
Like Ikea, Overstock also has some very nice drapes inexpensively priced.
I think the texture in these would look warm but modern,
and would connect with the LR pillows.
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Retro-Polka-Dot-Jacquard-Window-Panel-96-in./3887588/product.html

For the LR, I love the combination of drapes
and nice wood woven blinds. http://brookegiannetti.typepad.com/.a/6a00e554d7b827883301053650ec9f970c-320wi
try something like
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Hopsack-Grommet-topped-52-inch-Curtain-Panel-Pair/4048582/product.html

or this
http://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Linen-Cotton-Window-Curtain-Pair-84-in./4071123/product.htmll

For the kitchen, I like the idea of 2" blinds, but more so, I like the idea of a nice print or stripe or something very textural. Maybe a roman shade or panels.
http://www.theshadestore.com/photo-gallery/product_line/panel-system/panel-system-lecirque

In the bedroom, if you want warmth, I would definitely go long. On the double window wall, I would do a panel
in between the two windows as well as on each side.
Only blinds in the bedroom and DR just don't seem "warm" to me.

You need to delete the term "faux pas" from your vocabulary. You might enjoy Marco Pasanella's book, *Living in Style Without Losing Your Mind.* Don't be afraid to raise some eyebrows--What some call a faux pas, others would see as trend setting.

No reason to avoid floor length in living room--like others said, just pull out sofa a bit.
I would leave the kitchen as is.
In bedroom, a/c is obviously an issue, so maybe make some roman shades?
Your home is immaculate and bright, but I too would like to see more warmth and color--rugs if not paint.

You can sew, but I'll just mention that Pottery Barn's Cameron drapes are excellent and a great price. I believe there is an orange that would look awesome in your living room.

I was thinking of the 'Young House Love' Living room when I saw that photo too. Bamboo blinds and long simple white curtains. I think you should pull the couch away from the wall too (a couple inches) and get floor length curtains so that if you ever decide to rearrange the room they will still look good.
For the kitchen and dining room I would grab something with a white background and a big fun graphic pattern in red or orange.
The bedroom I think needs some a little more color would find darker solid curtains.
BTW, LOVE your couch where is it from?

I would do a 2" wood blind (something more substantial than the aluminum mini blinds currently in the windows) for privacy, along with "dummy panels," floor length curtains that look like they could close, but that you just leave open, framing the side of the entire window. They do a wonderful job of injecting some colour and pattern, and the rod frames out the top of the windows, but you don't have to worry about them getting in the way of the sofa.

These rooms need Roman Shades -

I think since you're in the Hamptons (near the water?) I'd emphasize a nautical theme and place the cords and hardware in the front of the shade rather in the back, and mount cleats to the window casings to secure the cords when the shades are pulled up. For fabrics, I'd choose canvases and twills in various stripes - including Navy, White and Red in at least some of the rooms.

Hands down my favorite advice for curtains:

http://www.younghouselove.com/2009/06/email-answer-its-curtains-for-you/

And if you browse YHL "how to" section they have plenty more to say about window treatments.

Good luck it is a lovely room already.
~k

You need to determine, room by room, what you need as far as function... light control and privacy. This "base level" of window treatment can then be roman shades, natural material shades, roller shades, or a combination (or variance by room) All these should be "inside mount" within your window casing wherever possible. Ideally, these are neutral, or share some attribute in common within the house even if styles or materials change room by room.

Then you need to address the color/texture issues that drapery panels will introduce. I always love the look of very simple (and stationary) side panels, with rods extending past the window width and hung about two-thirds the available height above the window casing.

But "inexpensive" and whole-house-of-window-treatments are not usually uttered in the same sentence... be prepared for the cost of this project to add up. But your main light control layer are really part of the house, so look at them as sort of capital investment.

I'd recommend The Shade Store or Smith & Noble. BUT... invest in THEIR measuring services (you get it credited to the purchase)

Or track down an in-home design/measure service.

Better yet, hire an interior designer!

PS: Your kitchen window is an opportunity for pattern... an inside mount Roman shade. Or white painted blinds with a faux-Roman shade or tailored valance up top.

Roman blinds would be great in all your rooms. As your home's so neutral, have fun picking bold colors you love.

I have to ask -- where did you get the *fabulous* lamps on either side of your couch???

Above the couch, dining room, & kitchen: I'd suggest going with a nice shade instead of a curtain. Get a Roman shade with beautiful fabric, or maybe a bamboo shade.

Agree completely with Queen Bee.

Woven bamboo or wooden shades in the living room and dining room. If you need privacy, drop the shades. Floor to Ceiling panels on either side of the window. Match them to those groovy pillows. The panels never need to be closed; they merely frame the windows, add color, texture and balance. Move that couch out slightly from the wall and if it keeps sliding back (and that might be a problem) find a little piece of wood to place between the leg and the wall to hold it in place.

Agree with simple, soft roman shades in the other rooms. I'm not so sure I would do anything in the kitchen but a soft roman shade would be just enough. Drop the shades for privacy. Bedroom is simple as is the spare room. Select your fabrics carefully. I don't think you'll need bold prints or stripes or colors or heavy weighted fabrics.

I'm not feeling any kind of a nautical vibe in your furnishes so I wouldn't go that direction. You have a mid-century thing going so stick with it. Textures like ropes, seagrass, canvas can be added in to give a nod to the Hampton's nautical but I wouldn't take it any further than that.

Cute house.

Thanks for all your advice! I go back and forth between wanting to keep our lines very clean with wooden or bamboo blinds, and wanting to soften things up (and add color) with some fabric.

To answer a couple of questions ...
SonjaRW, the "Kathryn" lamps are from Crate and Barrel and you can find them here: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1220&f=23757
They have a beautiful crackle finish.

Rolen the Great, the "Butterfield" sofa is from Jonathan Adler. http://www.jonathanadler.com/shop/product.php?productid=17871&cat=360&page=1&initial=
I'm not sure if they offer the camel courduroy anymore.

I concur with first poster about bamboo blinds. Then for a little layering, why not add a solid raw silk, 44" wide, pole pocket (not tab top) drape mounted on the wall about an inch or two from the ceiling. That'll make your interesting ceiling shape in the nook really stand out ;)

Its not only about the blinds or curtains - you need a lot more plants, pictures, pillows etc. It looks like nobody is living there at all. Start with the small things and the curtains will be easier to chose.

You could get blinds or drapes to match the rusty red in the Adler pillows.