Are we missing a larger photo that was included with the e-mail? There's no furniture that I can see in this photo, so I'm hoping there is another view that's supposed to be in this post...

I think those windows look amazing without curtains.

Those are difficult windows. I don't see how curtains to the floor would work with the stairs. Unless you have a heating or cooling issue I would leave them be.

I vote "no." Its architecturally interesting, but would be obscured with curtains. Less is more.

I probably wouldn't use curtains or shades with windows like those. The only thing I could really envision making sense (if, for instance, privacy is a concern) would be shutters sized to each portion of the window - so 3 total on top, one for the bottom windows.

You need curtains, definitely. It will add such a dramatic focal point, and I think you'll be so happy with the results. See the long curtains in this loft, they look amazing! http://blog.diggerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/drapes.jpg

Keep them neutral, and they will last you a long time.

I would say yes, if only to soften and define that area of the room. I would say panels on either side of each window, extended from the top of the window to the floor. They will be exorbitantly expensive; that is a LOT of fabric. If you have any sewing skills at all, now would be the time to use them.

you certainly need something on that wall. even if you don't decide to put up curtains, please add some color to that wall.

this is precisely what is wrong with new construction. The designer/ builder didn't think it through to how to cover the windows or how to make them a focal point. For what you might normally consider an "architectural element" they're not even architecturally interesting.

And if they were going for architectural interest... why would you make them compete with the stairs for interest... and for where the draperies are supposed to land?

It's just bad design.
I don't see how these sorts of places sell!

My suggestion, move.

Well, if you make curtains for these windows you could always cut the fabric later and make into curtains/tablecloth/whatever for every single part of your next home. Perhaps choose a fabric that can be dyed?

One big window would have been easier to deal with...

Oh... and I bet the windows open either to the exterior wall of the house facing it... or into THEIR windows.
Silly silly new construction/design.

@AT - could you PLEASE include reasonably-sized pictures in the full post; I can't see a darn thing. Sloppy.

I hate these sorts of windows in new houses. I don't think I've ever seen anyone cover them, but it would be the first thing I did if I lived there.

You can give curtains a "traial" by buying muslin by the yard (6 yards should do you). Muslin is usually $2/yard. Sew (or just pin or glue) a sleeve at the top and stick a tension rod through. Fit them at the top of the windows et voila! Trial curtains. I can't tell how wide those windows are but you could probably just cut the fabric in half (length-wise) to get two curtains out of one cut off the bolt.

That of course should have been, "...give curtains a 'trial'**..."

Since it's a low-light area and I'm guessing people cannot see inside, I would go without curtains. I once saw a picture on a blog of a house that had curtains for similar windows, and I have to admit that it looked really strange, like the person was just trying to hard. There are some homes in my neighborhood with similar windows, and I've never seen someone get two-story length curtains for them. I think you could find some ways to work around it, and just celebrate the natural light that does come in.

Sorry, should have been "too." Mom brain here. :)

Find a discount fabric store, and hit the $1/yard section. You'll (hopefully) find something you like! Just buy a million yards of it, and have somebody hem them up! (You could also put your project on etsy and have crafters bid on it).
Definitely worth a try, but I'd keep it low-budget unless you're sure.

I agree with ebarrett3: I would do muslin down each side and one in the middle: 18 total yards at about $2 per yard: less than $50 with hardware. Not bad. I also think you could do cutting in half lengthwise.

Then, if/when you move: cut them in half, sew in a rod pocket, and voila! You have double the 8' curtains!

I just don't see how you can make curtains look right with those super-long windows separated by the lower ones by an expanse of wall. It just isn't going to look right. Just putting them on the higher windows would look very strange, and I agree with Carrih that it would be very hard to pull off bringing them down to the floor, even if they were solid, long windows, because of the stairs.

Maayyyyybe some roman shades would work instead? I'm having a hard time picturing it, but it might give you some added interest on that wall without being quite as awkward.

try this:

http://www.windowtreatments-ideas.com/tag/long-window-curtains/

The stairs float so there's about 2 inches of clearance between them and the walls which the drapes could fall, but then that runs the risk of looking weird as well. As for the house, it's a 14' wide rowhome built in 1902, so locations for stairs were limited and the windows are original. Also I've thought of building out the stairs to be solid and getting rid of the railing to avoid visual competition, thoughts?

I made curtains for windows like this for a friends' house and while they did the job as far as privacy and light control, the scale of them was always strange. They were like 3.5 feet wide, and I think about 16 feet tall, so they were so incredibly tall and thin, they never draped well. Have you considered plantation blinds, roman shades or honeycomb shades that would fit inside the window frames? I feel like that would be a better solution, rather than one big, long banner.

I personally would not put anything on the windows, but would make the wall pop with a bright accent color and some great art.

If you must have something on the windows, what about a simple swag over each of the 4 windows, with a single Jabot cascading down on the outside edge of each. You could easily do this yourself with inexpensive hardware and some hemmed fabric.

Do something theatrical: I imagined those windows being on the *outside* of a building... the top windows belonging to the first floor, the bottom windows belonging to a garden apartment. So...

Do a horizontal faux masonry treatment up to the dividing area between top and bottom windows.

Imagine "tenants" for upstairs and downstairs and decorate accordingly: You could put shutters on the upper windows, simple drapes on the lower ones. You can even put objects just outside the windows (lighting treatments, mobiles, colored glass bottles, chimes, etc.) to suggest that someone is living "in there." Or continue to play with perception and put those items on the inside.

I'm bummed by the people who say "bad architecture" and "just move." That's not helpful. And I know my idea will not be used, but I had fun writing it. Maybe you'll at least take the inspiration I intended - i.e., think outside the box!

I'm thinking a shutter-style covering would look better over these windows than would curtains.

I am guessing that, even if you did install drapes on these windows, you would never open or close them...so if they would not be functional, why install them?

Typically I am all for curtains, but really only when they are functional.

I'd make curtains using discount fabric in either a bold print or a plain fabric that works with your decor. Rod pockets are simple to sew, hemming can be done by machine or hand or using iron-on tape. I would run them from just over the windows to the floor, and with enough width for them to gather, probably two panels wide. Because you don't want to have to remove them, I'd look for fade resistant fabric, although on north windows that might not be a big problem.

You might not get away with dollar or even two-dollar fabric, especially if you want something beautiful, but you can definitely locate something inexpensive, and since it's such a large expanse of glass, it will make a huge impact on the space -- so it's worth a little investment.

I had huge, like 15 foot, windows in my previous 2 story loft. I didn't want to spend a lot of money but did want curtains. I will say the dramatic impact of 20 feet of curtains was fabulous. I looked for nonexpensive curtains and actually found some fabric shower curtains I really loved. So I sewed 2 panels end to end to make it long enough to hang and viola - long cheap curtains.

We have to deal with that at my cabin - big windows on a big wall that gets lots of sun. We've - in my mind - taken the wrong approach, and put up some really crappy shades to deal with the light. The hardest part of it is having to deal with "do I want them open or closed?" And it takes FOREVER.
You might want to do a swoopy valance or something up above to soften it, but you don't need much. They're gorgeous windows.

I just don't see curtains on those windows. The stairs complicate full length drapes from top to floor, and separate drapes on the uppers and lowers would look odd. It looks like there is some depth between the actual window and the actual inside wall. This "cove" could be offset with a different paint color on window inset. If others seeing in is a concern, the windows could be covered with rice paper, which would still allow the light, and provide some privacy. If the windows don't need to be opened in the warm months, a frame with an interesting pattern of squares or diamond shapes could be made, and that backed with rice or other paper and inset against the windows. Or it could be installed at the front of the inset, with light behind. Sort of a stained glass look, except a geometric pattern out of thin wood strips and paper, either against the window itself or in line with the inside wall. Or such a framed piece could cover both windows and hang on the inside wall spanning them. Along the same vein, some kind of grille with or without a colored backing. The final thought that came to me was a roll-up canvas that spanned both top windows, and when unrolled is a piece of art. My mind's eye saw something like a cornice on top spanning both windows, under which the roll-up canvas would reside when rolled up. Unfortunately, that would leave some kind of string dangling down unless the roll-up was electric.

Like another user suggested, if you wanted to go with draperies I would suggest using muslin or an inexpensive cotton. Simple, long, to-the-floor panels on each side of the windows would lend a dramatic effect to the room. Depending on your color preference you could dye the muslin panels. But, I alsways think a nice neutral drapery that matches the wall color or is just a shade darker or lighter is the best option. Do you want the drapes to be the focus of the room or do you want your furniture? If you go with a color the draperies will pull focus - especially given their length. Muslin or cotton sateen drapes with a simple pole pocket at the top would be the least expensive option and would provide a lovely effect.

It's hard to tell from the picture, but those windows look like they're set pretty deep. I could easily imagine some tall, striking statues in whatever style you like filling some of that space so it's more of a showcase than a set of awkward but impressive windows. Drapes could still be used to soften the edges, or maybe just stencil something around the borders. But covering these like they were any other windows, no, I can't see that.

Really tall plants on each windowsill.
I think that the windows and wall do have architectural interest. Don't hide it.
The flowing plant shapes will soften the boxy geometry, while enhancing the significant depth of each window opening.

Absolutely no curtains please. The windows are fantastic and from what I can make out not a privacy issue. It would look bizarre to have curtains on the long, high windows. Just leave them. I would only put a roman shade on the bottom two windows if and only if... you needed it for privacy. Decorate with, as a previous commentor said, a beautiful sculpture or vase. Curtains would look ridiculous and take away from the dramatic look of these windows and the staircase.

Curtains: definitely YES.
And definitely from floor to ceiling.
I understand the worry about the expense, but perhaps you buy inexpensive Ikea (or some store in similar price category - if you are in Canada, try Jysk) ready-made windows and sew them into horizontal stripes (unevenly wide stripes). Some of them can be patterned.
I saw a similar project on Home to Stay and while I was sceptical when they initially described what they are going to do for the curtains, I could not believe how good the final result looked like.

I would suggest actually taking something away, namely the wood trim around the windows (I think that's what I'm seeing?). All 4 windows-- all those boxes just make that wall look too busy 7
& broken up. Of course, I have no idea if the plaster is "finished" around the windows or not, but judging from the depth of the recesses, I have a feeling it might be.
No window dressing-- just less boxy windows!

*er. I'll take that random "7" back now. Thanks.

This is tough! It would almost be better if they had continued the window down to the smaller ones and made two large windows. But, since that can't happen...I think you have a lot of options here. I agree curtains could look strange if it isn't done well. Something does need to happen along the wall, but maybe not curtains. I think shutters would work well on the two bottom windows. Adding curtains there would probably make it look too bulky, especially if paired with curtains on top, and the stairs would make it looked unbalanced. Since it may be hard to open them without a remote control curtain track, maybe some sheers would work well without being too bulky. Yardage is usually not too bad price wise. If you have any sewing skills I would use them. If you didn't, it would probably be cheaper to buy a machine and learn to sew rather than hire someone to make them. Good luck! If you go without curtains, some type of paint treatment might look nice, like a frame around the windows to make them stand out.

Well, these are some huge honkin windows.

I like that this isn't new construction, but a redone row house, and I think the posters telling you to move because of a difficult design choice are being just ridiculous.

Personally? I think the wall would be "softened" by curtains. I would treat each long window and the one below it as a single window and do curtains on both sides.

Off white, inexpensive muslin is a great choice and would be in keeping with the row house's more informal style.

OR painter's drop cloths at the hardware store are a great way to get a huge amount of fabric cheap.

eBay often has bolts of fabric for sale.

I would make the curtains myself, it would just be a matter of a simple hem.

After they're hung, *then* think about redoing the furniture, new curtains will probably change the whole feel of the room, changing your thoughts on the furniture.

Take your time, nothing has to be done overnight- enjoy the process of transformation!

If it wouldn't compromise privacy, and it looks like it wouldn't, then I'd leave them bare.

I relly like the honeycomb blinds for those windo2ws. Do vertical art on the wall space between the windows, The ox-yoke is too horizonalput a few century plant stems in a wonderful pot to stress the vertical!!Draperies are fine but will create more problems than they will solve.Avoid anything too busy in that area!

A friend of mine had a similar issue and actually used painting drop cloths as curtains. I haven't seen the final product, but I know she was struggling with high ceilings and I hear they're amazing (cheap, too).

Per the comment above, vertical art could also be another option and a dramatic way to make something awkward look striking.

We have a similar issue at our house. We painted the walls a bold color and for the light issue, constructed basic wooden frames that would fit inside each window and stretched muslin across the frames, then propped the framed fabric up inside each window to let the light filter through. You could also do it with a print if you like.

if you need the privacy the idea of shutters was good. But if not then definitely no curtains. you should paint the wall or better yet the surrounding window ledge/inset a popping color so that area is a focal point.

No curtains - unless you need something on the bottom for privacy.