I would have a custom unit built around it under the windows. Shelves or whatever with the unit hidden (a door that couldbe opened for maintenance when necessary).

Hi there, I originally submitted the question and just want to clarify. We're not actually looking to obscure the HVAC units, I'm just trying to figure out how on earth I would hang curtains that won't get in the way or look stupid with the units.

Also, it might be helpful for people to see a floorplan:

http://www.madisonbelvedere.com/2bed-G-5-18.php

Thank you, mtlyorel, you have understood what I'm trying to do. I'm trying to dress the windows, not hide the HVAC. But how can I dress the windows with floor length curtains when the HVAC is in the way? Do people in this situation just hang their curtains in front of the HVAC? In other words, further away from the window and out into the living room?

Kvartal window panels from ikea might be an option. Or Roman blinds. If you wanted floor-length curtains for looks, I would just hang them so they fall to the sides of the windows, but don't actually use them - have some blinds of some sort for privacy.

Try sheer panels down to the sill and put floorlength curtain on either side of the HVAC unit. If you try to cover it up you will block air flow.

I'm an interior designer and encounter this problem very often. If you do not want or need to hide the unit I would use a shade which is more decorative than mini-blinds, (such as a fabric Roman Shade, wood blinds, etc.) and hang stationary, decorative fabric panels/drapery that are NOT meant to close on the sides of the window. It still gives you privacy and is a very finished look. Often landlords don't mind if you put up a new shade if you keep them and re-install when you move out, or you could hang the new shades in front of the existing mini-blinds, keeping the blinds hidden behind the new shade. It all depends on your buildings rules. Hope that helps :)

Very helpful, Scout0216! I knew ours couldn't be the only apartment with this issue.

If you go with curtains, I'd use Ikea's Dignitet wires. You can ceiling mount them and add corner pieces to accomodate whatever angle you need. We have them on corner windows pretty much throughout our whole house, though we wall mounted them. They make corner curtain rods, but I'm pretty sure they're much more expensive. Scout's suggestion about stationary panels is good, too.

i have the same problem. I hung blinds that hit the sill for privacy and light control and floor length panels that aren't meant to close for dressing.

I had fabric vertical blinds and they worked beautifully, floor to ceiling, and could be angled so no air flow was blocked, but--verticals went out of style. Now I have simple blinds and a pair of transparent curtain panels on each side of the wall of windows. Not perfect, but it softens the blinds and gives a finished look without blocking light.

Long, raw-silk curtains are great. They hold their shape and volume, and don't cling to the unit. I have this window treatment in both rooms that house HVAC units and I don't even notice them anymore. It has a nice, tailored look and adds an elegant touch to the building-standard window.

I have similar issue with radiators. While I haven't done it yet, I decided that the best solution would be to have roll blinds (fabric ones from ikea or something clean and modern like that) and then drapes on the sides that would be decorative.

I think it is even more tricky because the position of the windows - they are both kind of in corners.

How about the curtains that doesnt go to the floor? I really dont know the word in english, but basically they only cover the top of the window? Or else blinds made of fabric (again, I guess there is a word for it).

I think hanging long curtains a bit further out from the window would not be a bad idea, but it all depends on what you want and what your style is.

I should think this was obvious - you use shades or blinds that cover the windows, and if you must have floor-length curtains, you hang them on the sides and don't close them over th HVAC.

You obviously can't hang curtains further out and actually close them over the HVAC, since the weeks that you won't be using it for heat or cool are very few in your climate.

But I think curtain panels that don't close, for decoration only, often look silly. I'm a form follows function person. So I'd probably skip the useless decorative-only curtains, go with nice shades or blinds. That's going along with the modern architecture of your windows, not trying to obscure them with curtains made for traditional windows without an HVAC in front.

And, though you didn't ask, the reason people said cover the HVAC and put shelves beside them are because this is what will actually make this window look good, with these under your shades/blinds. Decorative-only curtain panels on either side of the HVAC? - not so much - they'll just call attention to the HVAC sitting in the middle.

Liz- I had the problem with our windows. I showed a tutorial on my site. The drapes are suspended from the ceiling.

Wow, impressive work Susannah! Thank you for sharing that.

I feel curtains would just frame the unit and show it off more. I would go with some nice clean white roller blinds (Ikea's are easy and cheap) and just paint the unit to match the walls. The windows are a nice, unique shape, curtains will just hide that.

To me, the first thing that must happen is to paint the walls near the HVAC unit the same color as the HVAC unit. That will help it disappear at least a little. Because you can't paint that kind of HVAC unit itself. I've used KVARTAL at Ikea and they're kind of great; very flat and planar and they can overlap and create change the way the window area looks, entirely.

I would also forget drapes because the window goes right up to the wall, so you'd end up covering some of the window/blocking light, which would be a shame