Q: I live in an old Victorian style home that was built in 1901 and later converted to apartments. The window moldings match the period and are about 6 inches tall. I'm not sure where to hang curtains or valances.
I would like to hang a valance in my kitchen, but am not sure if I should cover the molding completely or hang the valance lower so you see the molding above it. In my living room, I just want to hang one sheer over each window and am again wondering where I should place the rod.
Sent by Renee
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I like sheers that hang inside the frame where the blinds do.
This may not be the answer you're looking for, but I faced a similar dilemma with my new place that also has massive window moldings (see my own Good Question here: http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/will-white-walls-clash-with-darker-original-details-good-questions-169428). I decided to roll with the moldings and change my normal curtain plan completely -- in the living room, where I also planned to hang only sheers, I used a tension rod (in my case actually a shower curtain rod to span the 80+" window!) inside the moldings. In the smaller windows, I used Roman shades with an interior mount.
If you're dead set on curtains, I have hung rods *above* similar-style windows in the past, but I always regretted how it blocked the shape and best details of the window.
I was going to say what Sprayfaint did - to use tension rods inside the windows to hang whatever you'd like. No use in covering up that nice woodwork!
Great idea about the tension rods - thanks!
I wouldn't use a valance but hang the curtains above the molding with just one rod the whole length of the room and only two curtains. So when they're open the windows are completely clear.
I agree with an inside-the-frame hang... but if that doesn't work for you, then I would put the drapery brackets above and outside the frame, so that your nail/screw holes are in the wall not the wood. You could put the draperies up almost to the ceiling & it will visually keep the ceilings high.