With the bookshelves right up against the window on the right side, it's going to be hard to put up drapes and have it not look cramped. I actually think they look quite nice as is. If you want to soften the look, you could get flat-front roman blinds, but those are often quite expensive - especially for 5 windows.

I would replace the roller shades with relaxed roman shades. You could have panels made that have less fullness when in the closed position, then the stackback would not be so much of an issue. Grommet panels might be an option. In any case, keep the fabric on the lightweight side; no blackout lining or interlining.

You don't say if you own or rent - but I agree that those built-ins are a problem...

...if you own, consider installing matching bookcases on the other side of the window to balance this out (or removing them altogether) then mount a single rod outside the window bow on the soffit above the bow to support heavy lined floor-to-ceiling draperies.

I think it's fine the way it is. Don't crap it up with Ikea.

I love the look, actually.

Do you get a lot of traffic on your street that you're worried about privacy? It looks pretty quiet from what we can see in the pictures.

Can't you pull the shades down for privacy? If you really want to get some fabric up there you could put some hooks/brackets at the corners and center of the molding around the outside of the bay, then just get some muslim or other lightweight yardage and drape it over the hooks to frame the bay, extending to the floor on either side. If you used a couple more hooks in between, you could probably get the fabric draping nicely and sort of block out the tops of the roller shades, which are actually the only bad part of your situation. My friend had a rental with ugly sliders with ugly vertical shades she couldn't replace, and we hung a long piece of bright pink silk like this. It was a little short so we added a wide orange hem at the bottom on each side. It really improved things.

Thanks for the feedback. We own. We're not in a position to mess with the built-ins at the moment, but it would be nice to balance them with built-ins on the other side. Or to move them away from the window a bit.

Yes, I can pull the shades down at night, but when they're down the color is too much, they just scream "WE ARE HONEY COLORED WOVEN SHADES!" They were fine when I had a warm color on the walls, but with the blue/grey I don't think the shades work all that well color-wise.

I might try Roman shades. It's not that we get a lot of traffic, or that we're doing anything naughty in front of the windows, but at night we do feel rather...exposed. We don't need opaque coverage on the windows, but just something to diffuse the view.

Just thought of a truly budget friendly way to deal with this - put up just a single panel (6-12 inches long) at the top of each window and have rollershades hidden underneath. Rolled up, it will look like roman blinds that are pulled all the way up, but you can pull down the blinds in the evening for a little privacy.

I like it just as it is! Roller shades would totally be my choice.

I like it the way it is, too.

"Yes, I can pull the shades down at night, but when they're down the color is too much, they just scream "WE ARE HONEY COLORED WOVEN SHADES!" They were fine when I had a warm color on the walls, but with the blue/grey I don't think the shades work all that well color-wise."

The reason your shades are "screaming" at you is that other than the floors, there's nothing else in the room of the same color for these shades to relate to - and the room feels disjointed as a result.

Bring more of that color into the room with pillows, throws, accessories and/or wooden furniture and you'll have a more cohesive appearance in your room.

I agree with bepsf. Make them work by bringing in more of the same. If you don't want to do that, you could affix a panel of fabric on each shade so that the woven part becomes a "frame" and there isn't such a vast expanse of that material. Or what about painting them? If you hate them, there's nothing to lose.

I would keep the current shades and follow bepsf's advice of bringing in more of the honey color in accessories, etc.

Would you consider a different rug? I'd like to see a pattern of some kind that would incorporate the sofa color, the wall color and the honey.

It is a great room with great windows and simple changes will make a huge difference.

Melissa - you hate the shades down. Got it. So replace the shades with something similar - roller or roman in a different color - I always go neutral so that if you paint again, you don't have to replace. Roller is cheaper. You can add interest with a ribbon detail along the sides or bottom - with a glue gun. Alternatively you can do a solar shade - they now come in patterns.

I'm so glad I asked this, because I was all set to hang some drapes. You all are making me think twice.

I kind of like farmhousemoderne's suggestion of affixing fabric on the shades... I don't know if it will work, but I might try it.

Otherwise I may look into replacing the shades with something more neutral -- I'm not a huge fan of the honey color and don't really want to add more of it. (There is a honey stripe in the striped pillows, and some warm tones in some other accessories and art in the room that aren't visible in the photo -- but not enough to justify the shades, imo).

I really love this sectional. Where is it from?

what about a valance that brings the honey color and wall color together and hides the shades when they are up to soften the window?
http://pic100.picturetrail.com/VOL897/3536862/16617479/379030449.jpg

What about track curtains mounted on the inside of the straight edge framing the bow window? When open they could be pushed to the side, when closed it would mask the bow window and roman shades and provide privacy.

Aw, thanks Zandria -- it was a lucky Craigslist find. I think it was originally purchased at Strawbridge's.

Put away your glue gun and buy the exact same shades in a different color. The look of the shades is great--I was wondering why you'd want a change. Now I understand: you don't like the color. It would be silly to start buying honey colored accessories just so you'll feel better about shades. Then you'll hate your shades--and your throw pillows!

By the way, I actually think the honey colored shades look really nice. But I don't live there. :)

You got it figured out!, really!

Maybe... just maybe.. change the fabric for a more "zen, oriental" thing.. maybe a subtle print on white or off-white.

Fabric would definitely soften the look. Taking the roller blinds down and mounting drape rods above/outside the window frames will make the height of the windows seem taller. Personally I dislike rollers and they usually stop working after a year or so.

I have a smaller bow window and searched the internet and found a website that carries hinged corner "joining" hardware for curved or bay windows. They are the cheapest I was able to find and with a little ingenuity and a hacksaw you can probably keep the total price down.
http://www.countrycurtains.com