my goodness those are beautiful

Sorry, no suggestions. But wow, those are gorgeous windows! What a great space. Good luck!

I have a similar loft layout with big arched windows. I hung curtain rods at ceiling height and bought silk Indian saris on eBay for curtains. (They typically come in 9-foot lenghts.) For about $50 a window, I have billowing silk floor to ceiling.

Saris aren't opaque, though -- they let in lots of light even when closed. And saris don't help at all with noise. You'd need a really heavy fabric like velvet or felt for that.

In my 4-year-old daughter's room, I used old quilts for curtains, to keep out both light and noise. That worked really well, but it's not exactly sleek looking for a grown-up space.

wow- looks like an amazing space!

i think that half-length (bottom half of the window) white sheer curtains would look really nice. thought they dont block out much light.. nor noise.

Beautiful windows. Personally if this was my space I would change the lower glass portion of the windows with opaque glass. No window treatment to cover these beauties... But you live there so noise reduction might be imperative to you.

I would hang a curtain rod across the whole wall, and then hang lined curtains that can either cover the windows, or hand next to them. Floor to ceiling, to match the drama of those windows. Congrats on a beautiful apartment.

Sorry. I meant to write that saris are nine YARDS of fabric, not feet.

A friend of mine lives in a loft with enormous windows and faced a similar situation. She ended up getting some rice paper floor screens to place on the sills, and when she wants maximum light in her space (she's a painter), she folds them up and places them in a corner in her studio. The nice thing about this is it doesn't take any installing, but her sill is one long unbroken line, about 25-30 feet.

You might be able to do something similar, and on a smaller scale, using a nice fabric and simple frames, if the shoji screen thing is a bit 80's Speigle catalog for your style.

Solar shades come in huge sizes, so that's not an issue.

The issue is that these windows are arched, so an inside mount (for any treatment) would not be possible.

Whatever you do, you're going to have to go with an outside mount.

why not those patterned "stickers" for the windows. There were some great pics on the decor8 website and I know they featured some here before.

I would also go with half-length bottom shades, something like a rolling shade. If the top arch is high, then it will give you enough privacy but also keep the light in and show off the arch. But if the tops are not to high, using frosting treatments could be another option.

Outside mounted curtains will give better noise control, but then you will lose the arch; which I believe is too beautiful to sacrifice.

I second sydneybristow, thats exactly what I thought of, I'd feel bad putting anything up that detracts from the beauty of the windows. If you do do something, I would also do floor to cieling, to echo the grandness of the window. Be interested to see after pics.

"go to a local metal fabricator and have three custom made iron curtain rods as well as brackets made that fit the curve the windows and can mount inside the recess..."

Theo - Unless you're suggesting a heavy Victorian window treatment with tiebacks and swagged panels that don't actually open, there's a couple reasons this wouldn't work:

First off, how is she going to get the curtains closed, then keep them closed? Those are huge windows, and gravity is working against her when trying to draw the fabric up the arch - particularly with the heavy fabrics you're suggesting...

Secondly, a rectangular drape would leave an arched gap at the base in the center when closed - or a custom arched-top drape would have an uneven hem at the base when the drapery is open (If she could even get someone to fabricate such a thing - that would be a nightmare to sew for even an experienced workroom - unless she goes for a victorian look with puddling fabric on the floor, etc)

The only way to do an inside mount with panels that would look right and work properly would be to have a valance made for the top of the arch and a straight rod behind the valence - that would block off those great double-arches and make the windows look squat and stubby.

Better to hang straight rods near the ceiling and have full-length panels flow all the way to the floor.

I like the sari idea - only cause I did it in our "mourning" room. Those windows are fabulous!

I'm in the custom drapery business... And, my first inclination is to LEAVE THOSE WINDOWS ALONE! They are so beautiful!

But, if you need the privacy, I'd just treat the bottom half. Solar shades or a nice sheer.

Man! I just am in love with your windows!!!

How about wooden shutters made to the size/shape of the glass? They could be mounted inside the inset our flush with the wall. It would maintain the beautiful shape of the windows and provide light/privacy control as well as help with the noise.