The Best-Dressed Windows and How to Get Them

Any suggestions for a glass balcony door that opens into our room? The door opens onto the other door - mini blinds and/or roman shades just protrude too much and the door can't be open the entire way. Drapes across the whole wall block out too much light from the windows on either side of the door.

Our SC home has a very large sunroom/family room with individual windows on all three sides as I could not figure out what else to do with this space and did now want drapes to make the room feel "heavy".

My husband has dust allergies, and we’ve found that custom, painted wooden shutters have been easier to keep dust-free vs anything fabric (although we do have white linen blend Roman shades in one bedroom). Sometimes too much “plush” and “soft” also equals too many allergens for the inhabitants’ comfort.

Lovely rooms and well-dressed windows. But I'm with those who favor the functionality of blinds. Industry professionals: why not design a variety of attractive blinds?

This article reminded me of why I would rather eat glass than work with a designer. It is a measure if how lacking in common sense designers are that the insulation properties of different products weren’t mentioned, especially with all the huge glass expanses that many people live with. Even new builds with the most energy efficient windows available need protection from the punishing sun and the loss of heat that any glass causes in winter. But, hey, let’s just turn up the heat or blast the the air conditioning - we have fossil fuel (and money) to burn!

The shades on the first picture are placed incorrectly. They should always be at the top at the curtain rod level. There should be no white or wall space between the top of the shade and the curtain rod. Similarly with all curtains -- they should be placed at the top of the ceiling or just below the molding. In this article, Alexa Hampton has the position of the shades and curtains right. Also, please stop using the term "drapes." It's curtains, not drapes, drapery, or window treatments. Follow the British on this, please!

I just had wooden Venetian blinds installed on my kitchen bay window and plantation sliding doors on my patio sliding doors. They all provide light and privacy, as desired, as well as a stunning, crisp look. I was surprised that the column made no mention of these options but only suggested fussy treatment.

I have floor to ceiling sliding glass doors all over my ridiculously designed home (the architect was someone wearing a blindfold, with a piece of white paper in front of him, holding a red crayon). My kitchen has had vertical blinds since 1972. This gave me an idea to rip out the most grotesque blinds ever, and replace them with a fabric drapery, and tie backs. It'll be perfect. Thank you.

Love seeing the different ideas here - I have always lived in old homes with tall ceilings and (alas) a somewhat limited budget. My go-to window treatments have become inexpensive bamboo shades for light control and texture, paired with floor to ceiling white linen panels from Ikea to frame the view and soften up the room. I use basic unfinished wood curtain rods that I paint the same color as my white trim. I wash the curtains a few times a year, which keeps them fresh. I never seem to get tired of the look because it is so neutral and I always appreciate a frugal solution

I love using inside-mounted roller shades in contemporary spaces. They practically disappear when rolled up or down if you choose a color that matches the walls. Plus they come in a huge variety of light-filtering weaves that both add some texture and strike the right balance of light, privacy, and views.

Beautiful rooms. None of them appear to have radiators or HVAC units under their windows, however, which is the most common location, and the most difficult to install attractive curtains around. Hard to close full length curtains over them, impossible to keep blinds or shades from shaking when the air is on, and treatments interfere with the heating or cooling functions if they are on the room side of the units. I’d love to see how these talented designers handle this issue (besides Photoshop)

"how to figure out exactly what your windows need". -- I would have phrased this differently, "what exactly do you want to have on/in your windows?" Long and relatively heavy curtains add privacy, keep warmth in or prevent escape of cold air, and suppress sound. Spend some time on looking at fabrics, use your imagination, and save many on the intermediary -- i.e., interior decorator or, if you are unluckily taken in, a decorataster.

Books arranged by color is a dead giveaway: none of them will ever be read.

I designed a padded cornice for the top fit around my kitchen bow window. It is tacked with a pewter colored bead and looks exquisite.

I have a great Hudson River view but sometimes I want privacy and sometimes there's too much direct sun. The solution: blinds. I can tilt them to get exactly what I want and keep the view. Why not show blinds in the article? Mine are wood with an off white finish.

In most of these, the draperies seem claustrophobic. Windows with shades are more open and airy, in my opinion. Let the sun shine in! And think of all of the dust those curtains capture.

I'd guess very few of the books in that 'library' have actually been read.

"What’s the best way to play up the lovely leaded glass in those prewar casement windows while keeping out the draft?" Well, what is it? The casement windows in the article are not leaded glass. Of course, the answer is that you NEVER cover your leaded glass with drapes or shades. If you are worried about drafts or cold, consider storm windows.

As a 'regular' NYer who doesn't have the budget to hire an 'interior decorator' etc., but yet, who decided to invest in some 'decent' window treatments, I ended up using Smith & Noble. And while their approach and sales reps may feel a bit staid and dated, in the end I got exactly what I wanted, and could not be any more happy with the $1500 or so I spent on a balcony drape with matching valance to go across the top of the entire balcony door as well as the adjoining window. Smith & Noble's process was very easy, with great customizable options. I highly recommend them.

As a professional curtain designer for a manufacturer, I can advise that there are standard lengths for curtains that you can buy at a store: 63", 84" and 96" . 84" lengths usually go from floor to ceiling in a standard home or apt ( 9 ft ceiling), 96" panels can puddle or be used for a higher ceiling and 63" curtains will hang below a standard window sill. If any of these work for your space you will not have to buy "custom" curtains.

Great article with excellent suggestions. Beautiful rooms too; not just the windows.

Once upon a time i was walking late at night and the streets, lined with apartments, all had their lights on and their curtains drawn, APART FROM ONE WHICH HAD THE LIGHTS ON AND THE CURTAINS WIDE OPEN. Everybody was expected to SEE THE MAN READING SURROUNDED BY WALLS LINED WITH HUNDREDS, POSSIBLY THOUSANDS, OF BOOKS. Happily i doubt if that is expected to happen in the: "library" here. Nevertheless, the: "librarian" could do themselves and all book-lovers a favour by arranging the books on the shelves in such a way as to allow them to throw away the: "library ladder" or, alternatively, they could sell it and buy a better: "library light" to read by. Incidentally, books - be they: "library books" or no - are not written to serve as coasters, or dishes, or whatever is going on here, but to fall apart through having been read.

Great ideas. What I do not like about Roman Shades is that they cannot go all the way up -- so a good 20% of the light from the window is forever blocked. You can exterior mount the roman shade higher up, but that looks wrong in most situations. Personally I like mid century modern curtain length -- which is generally not to the floor but to the bottom of the window molding. It is a cleaner look. Few seem to agree with me since extra long drapey curtains are everywhere.