apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Lauren I think its a good idea to have individual blinds or shades on each window. Depending on the color scheme in the room (specifically what color your painting the walls with) you might wanna go with a bamboo/rattan style blind on each window. You can even get them cut to fit the smaller window.

I am looking at replacing my blinds as well and planning to go with natural woven style shades made from bamboo/grass style natural weave. Smith and Noble has some nice ones and you can get free samples of all of their materials:

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/product_detail.jsp?sch_cat=Natural%20Woven%20Flat%20Fold%20Shades&prod_oid=160684&nav_cat=-18001

You can upgrade and get them lined to keep out more light.

I have a similar corner window except mine has 2 windows at along the longer side. I feel having individual shades at each window might break it up a bit too much. It would look more unified with just one along those 3 windows. Also, you will have cords dangling down when the shades are open. And you will have to do each one individually which takes up more time. The problem with Roman shades is they take up a bit of space at top even when completely open, and it would block some of your view and light. You do need to go with something that is not too voluminous or the shades will hit each other at the corner when open. Right now I've got cheap West Elm Roman shades on my windows (the measurements just happened to fit each individual window size), but they are getting really dingy. I'm going to trade up to custom roller shades - probably in a solar screen or something that can be wiped clean.

What about top-down, bottom-up shades? They're so versatile and you might even be able to get one long enough to fit all three side windows.

Something like:
http://www.hunterdouglas.com/product_options_template.jsp?id=36

Maybe skip a traditional window covering for the corner window, and instead use decorative film? (it was mentioned last week on this website)

I have inexpensive white roman shades from IKEA. I've had three of them for three years now (one of those years was in storage due to a temporary relocation). I just bought a new one to replace one that got misplaced during the move. Same shade of off-white, can't tell the new from the old. Maybe it depends how dusty your area is. They don't completely block the light but they mute it to prevent glare on my monitor.

The color I'm painting is the color you see -- Benjamin Moore "Dried Parsley." We're talking major dust -- NYC-style.

I have a friend who own's his own roman shade company.
www.bluesage.biz
There are lots of photos there to give you ideas.

In your situation, he would do one shade on the left and a single longer shade for the right - there's no need for 3 separate shades and the resulting light gaps for 3 shades would not make you happy.

If you need complete blackout there are interlinings (between the face fabric and the lining) that would completely block the light - otherwise the light would be diffused depending on the thickness of the face and lining fabrics.

Given your situation, I would definately call in an experienced professional to go over your fabric and style options and do the installation for you. The additional $$$ spent would definately be worth it.

have almost the exact window set up as you, and the Ikea roman shades - but my windows don't open, so not as much of a dust problem - here's a link to the photo.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24354747@N00/2320950769/

I like the idea of grass or bamboo shades or roman shades. We had them in our bedroom and while they didn't or show dirt they didn't block out a whole light of light since they were cream colored. If you got a darker roman shade or one with a thicker liner then it would block more.

N.

laren: I have the exact same window set up, except that mine makes a right angle on the right, not on the left. I wanted regular curtains that 1. cleared the right angle 2. blocked out the light at night and 3. let in the light but blocked the view during the day (I have a hotel across the street).

So I went to Harry Zarin's fixtures store, and had two curtain rods made to orders--one that attaches to the ceiling and one that attaches inside the window--that both make the right angle turn, allowing the curtains to open completely on each side.

I made the curtains myself--they attach to plastic snaps on the rod--and I have to say, they satisfy all of my curtain requirements.


Here are some snaps that I took of them:

http://flickr.com/photos/74912900@N00/sets/72157604276060249/

I have the same set up too, and I wanted individual blinds also. However, I ended up going with one long blind on the long side because of the gaps there would have been, the multiple cords, and the messiness if they didn't all hang exactly straight.

We have medium dark colored matchstick blinds from Lowes, which we bought because we could cut them to size ourselves, and because during the day they're almost completely transparent from the inside and opaque from the outside - we wanted privacy while keeping the view, and didn't want to have to roll them up and down each day like we do with the roman shades we have in other rooms. We have the shades fitted inside the window surround.

Outside the window surround we have dramatic white grommet top curtains, hung pretty high and wide. We pull them at night for privacy when the lights are on. Rather than bother with ugly track or a corner piece (we would have had to support the lengths anyway), we just put up two poles, meeting at the corner. We hung one of the three panels across the corner, hiding the join. I was worried about losing light during the day, but because the curtains are single layer and grommet top, they fold up really small. I only have one picture (of them closed) right now, but I'll try and take some more, we thought long and hard about this, and we're glad with how it worked out.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hollywoodandwestern/2343898984/

I inherited creamy white roman shades from the prior owner of my house for a similar window configuration. They are super heavy and block a ton of light. I think that depends on the particular shades you choose.

If you are interested, there are some resources for corner windows:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/good-questions/good-questions-how-do-you-put-curtains-on-a-corner-window-021118