It’s been awhile since I had a chance to do a Decorating Dilemma, but I’m getting back to this series in the new year. YAY! It was fun to tackle a few of these last year and hopefully give some women a few great ideas on how to solve their decorating problems.
Here’s what LeeAnn here in Acworth said about her wall of windows:
“I have these beautiful floor to ceiling windows with transoms and I don’t know how to treat them. I really don’t want to cover them up too much and take away from our beautiful view of the woods and golf course but the area just looks so cold and bare without anything. On the right hand side you can see there is a door to the terrace which complicates things too on how to address it with the wall of windows.”
So, let’s take a look and see what we can come up with collectively on how LeeAnn might treat her windows.
I had to lighten these pics and enlarge them, so they are a little grainy, but you can see what grand architectural details LeeAnn has in this light-filled dining area. She said the view is wonderful too, so definitely doesn’t want to block that.
It’s a beautiful space and on this side is the door that leads to a terrace outside. Gorgeous room!
So, let’s give LeeAnn some ideas!
One thing that I’m noticing in the pics that I found with all windows is this: all of these spaces are white on white, which really opens up the space and makes it look even bigger. With the dark walls in LeeAnn’s space, it sort of closes things in a bit. The darker color shows off the beautiful trimwork, but maybe doesn’t showcase the room completely. LeeAnn, I love your beamed ceilings too.
(via Homedit.com)
Here’s a beautiful room with a wall of windows (swoon!) looking out on water. These have large transoms above and no covering at all, which I totally think is the only way to go in this room. Fabric would definitely take away from THAT view! LeeAnn has a golf course view that she doesn’t want to block either.
(all 4 of the next pics from Pinterest. I try to find sources, but so many Pinterest pins are a dead end on finding the source!).
This room is solid windows and doors too and again, white on white for the walls and trim. Check out that soaring beautiful planked ceiling! I love how simple, yet beautiful this room is, even without a lot of color. They used a light colored drape to just frame the windows and I like the look. Even though LeeAnn has one window that is curved, I still think she could raise the rods above its curve and still have panels flanking that window too. So, 3 sets of panels on all 3 walls. Mirror it on all sides to flow, using one set of panels on the door side. I also like how the rods blend into the wall in the above pic.
Here’s another beautiful, yet simple look for a dining space with walls of windows. Simple, curved dark rods and very flowy sheer curtains, taking nothing away from the view of the windows.
And yet another white on white space with a few simple white panels in place, that just adds some softness to the room.
So, what do y’all think? I think some of these ideas could definitely work for LeeAnn and still keep her room nice and open. No need to block a beautiful view! I’m sure LeeAnn would love to hear more ideas so chime in with your thoughts!
I’m still taking submissions that I’ll be going through this year on Decorating Dilemmas, so if you have an area in your home that is stumping you, send some pics to me with your story and I will be getting to more of these this year! It’s always fun to try to solve a problem for someone.
I love your ideas of a lighter paint color and drapery at the sides of the windows. Oh, to have that dilemma!
I’m so glad I followed my decorator-friend’s advice for our sunroom. It faces west, and gets beautiful light all day. She pointed out that I will want to control the light and heat in the afternoon, and suggested 2″ blinds. She was so right! All windows and blinds are creamy white, and the remnants of walls and the ceiling are one shad darker than the trim. We topped the windows with a continuous, simple valance to add color and a little definition. It’s one of our favorite rooms, and it’s where I keep my desk.
After reading the ideas and then looking at the dining room photo again, I wonder if the only window treatment should be on the large arched window. I would go with textured sheer panels hung just on the sides just below the arch that could puddle slightly and use a small rod just for those panels. Maybe in a color that plays to the ceiling color instead of a bright white, if the wall color needs to stay. I also think the other windows ( not the doors) could have beautiful tall palms in coordinating color pots flanking the windows, it brings a little of the outdoor view inside and will add interest and definition to the room.
I agree with Janet and Kathy P. LeeAnn has asked for help with the windows so I think we can assume she likes the color, as do I. The arched window is the focal point and it can be dressed without detracting from the view. Another option for hardware is to mount stationary panels on medallions following the arch, as drawn here: http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL94/100083/23169458/408569817.jpg
I agree with Merlyn and Cathy. I think the panels should only be to the right and the left of the focal arched windows. (There is not enough wall space to facilitate panels on the other walls without covering up part of the windows).I would also have the top of the curtains at the height of the bottom of the arch. This way there is a connection to the other flat top windows and the eye is not drawn to the top of the drapes. I like the idea of using medallions (in a complimentary colour to the wall colour), or a window treatment that would hide a short rod. The eye should not be drawn to a rod.
If I were trying to help I would also ask these questions: What has to stay and what can change? Does she love the colour? (If she doesn’t then a warmer colour will make the space warmer, the green colour that she has on the walls right now in is a cold colour). Does she love the rug, the dining set. The only thing I would point out is that the table and chairs look small in the space with the rug that is there at present. So I would change one of those. And I would suggest if she wants further warmth and softness to change the chairs to upholstered ones or to perhaps cover them with slip covers.
Can’t wait to see what she eventually decides to do!
HI Rhoda,
You have the most interesting blog. This little TinEye app installed in your Favorites bar allows you to enter an image address and it will search for you to find where it originated. Maybe this can help you identify origination. http://tineye.com/
Beautiful room! Personally, I would have lighter walls also, but I assume she is happy with the color. I am following this with interest, as I have a west facing wall of windows, 9ft. across, and 7ft. high, including the transoms. We also back to woods, and hubby won’t agree to cover the windows, since, as he says, “we PAID EXTRA for the view and windows” !! We did have a pro window tint applied, which, after 6 years is starting to look hazy. Glass constantly looks dirty now, and I want a new solution. Originally, I had considered a rod across and between the transom part and the operable windows, but decided that would look weird. We have the same setup below these, and I made drapes for those, running above the transoms. For her room though, I am stumped, because of the off balance on the left and right. I lean towards Roman shades, in something lightweight, same color as the teamwork. That is how I would do mine, if SOMEONE would just leave decorating to me! 😉 Gotta love a man who cares, I guess!
FRAMEWORK, not teamwork! Dang auto-correct!
Beautiful space Rhoda!
Being that the furniture and the floors are dark, I’d definitely lighten up the walls and ceiling, then install drapery close in color to the walls so they just add an eliminate of softness only. For the drapes, let me suggest hanging a tabbed panel on knobs on both sides of the arched window from the highest point of the wind, and a panel on both walls just to the left and right-sides of the adjoining windows. This will have an illusion of continued windows all around. If possible, install knobs at the same height. If funds are available, I would replace the rug with a lighter and more modern/transitional one so the eye is drawn outside and up to the company you’re keeping around the table. At the end of the day though, it’s a beautiful space regardless.
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/87960998945338878/
Not sure if this will work. I uploaded it from some magazine. Another way to add curtains to. Urged windows.
Curved windows! Not “urged!”
PLEASE, no all white room, this is an absolutely drop dead gorgeous room architecturally, I would probably paint the walls a soft neutral tone such as Macadamia or camel. That would be enough variation to still make the white woodwork pop but still not be as bold as this green. But if she does keep the color using white gauzy type of panels are the way to go with either wall color. I personally would not use a lined drape but something sheer with a tone on tone pattern for some interest, maybe a leaf pattern to incorporate the outdoor s into the room. I think the very formal rug should be changed out to a neutral sisal with a plain chocolate border perhaps. I also would change the light fixture. This would be the perfect spot for one of the chandeliers that look like tree branches in iron with a little pop of crystals on them that would reflective and be so beautiful in the great natural light. The room needs live plants and accessorizing to bring it all together and what a great room to grow beautiful large palms or trees. But again, I really feel white walls and white woodwork with so many windows will make this room seem too cold and cavernous. It needs to be warm and inviting. These are just my suggestions , people always can take bits and pieces of a decorator’s ideas or all of them and incorporate them I to making a living space their own. Good luck!
What a gorgeous space! I wouldn’t touch the windows. No drapes or panels Lighter wall color in a warm tone would be nice and all color to the accessories on the wall. Make them bigger or more prominent in the space and add a little more visual interest. Dining room chairs with new pops of color on seat covers.
But honestly, I would kill to have this room just like it is!
Good luck!
That should be “add color”…….not “all”. Heavy sigh.
I had a sunroom with similar issues. (Boy, do I miss it.) Depending on whether or not light control is necessary may help determine a solution. Painting the room a light color will reflect more light. If that is a problem keep the dark walls. I actually love the look of the dark walls with the bright white trim. I agree with an earlier suggestion to hang curtains across the arched window at the bottom of the transom. Soft sheers with a white on white pattern could help with light without detracting from the view. I would use a rod that actually allows the curtains to be drawn-probably a white painted rod to blend in with the woodwork. If more control is needed on the side windows, use the same treatment that pulls into the corners. I see that there are light switches by the door on the right side of the room which shouldn’t be covered, that is why I suggest pulling into the corner. Covering the seats of the chairs with a patterned fabric would add some interest and softness to the room. The picture looks like the chandelier is higher than 30 inches off the table which is a common height for a light over a dining table. In spite of my suggestions I would love to have this room.
Like another contributor, I believe this room continues off the kitchen area, so I think that it’s too formal in that setting. If the chairs and table are not heirlooms, ditch them for a square table set diamond-wise, with the points towards the view and the kitchen. If the chairs can be painted and re-upholstered; use a bright, light shade for the paintwork, and a loud pattern for the fabric which has a hint of the wall colour in it. Rug should go and be replaced with something smaller and with much less pattern, as this one just confuses the eye. If money no object, a couch backing on to the kitchen area would be nice. As for drapes…….mmmm. I suspect that cold air is not a problem in this room, so no need to have heavy drapes (although if it was mine I would have wall to wall drapes to match or compliment the chair upholstery on each side, and leave the arched window bare for the view, with an outside light at night to stop that black hole thing, as others have said). Agree it is a lovely space.
I 2nd Marc Jones suggestions, I love all of those windows, they are stunners, I think the room needs painting more than anything else and made more inviting. I never liked those little short rods but that is my opinion. I cant’ wait to see what she does, I only wish I had a gorgeous room like that.
Beautiful room. I agree with those who imagine bamboo shades installed below the transoms. Those would add texture and de-formalize the room. There is not a lot of wall space; I can see how the homeowner might not want to lose that space to drapery. Not to mention that the wall on the right with the windows and door to the outdoor living space does not lend itself to a drapery treatment that would not look awkward/unbalanced.
I wish I had this dilemma! Such a beautiful room! Rhoda, wonderful job finding inspiration images. I agree with Marc Jones about using a lighter color on the walls, gauzy panels and large plants. Hope we get to see the end results!
Blinds that are bottom up blinds with a sheer for day and a solid for privacy.
Connie
I would agree with your entirely Rhoda re the colour of the walls, the dark colour draws the eye in, not extending it to the outdoors. I would use a soft warm white on the walls, not a harsh white. I am not familiar with the range of colours in the USA so won’t make an exact paint suggestion.
With regards to Pinterest, heres a little tip, not sure if you know it or not. You can download the image from Pinterest onto your computer, then ‘upload’ it to Google Search ‘images’ and it will pull up all the images on the web of that particular image which may help you determine its origin. It is something I use now and again when I am struggling to find a source or if I have an images saved on my computer, then forget where they came from.
With regards to the windows, I think a lovely soft sheer linen on either side without obstructing the windows to soften the look. A narrow iron rod could be hung above the window but it would detract from the lovely archway unless you match the rod to the wall colour as in lightening up everything. An example of a rod above an arch can be seen here:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/220254237995584095/
Three quarter )White shutters could be an option for privacy at night still showing the arch at the top. These could fold back during the day. They can be made to follow the arch but would be awfully expensive. Another example;
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/7177680627250438/ (but omit the shade over the arch)
Personally I would do away with any window treatment, go soft whites and maybe introduce some soft colours by way of furnishing and accessories, such as in your 1st image (homedit). With so many windows in this room it may look too much trying to hang curtains, even if they are sheer.
Hope this has been helpful, I think most above are in agreement that lightening up the room will make a difference to how it is feeling at the moment. Introducing a large white vase, maybe a French style, full of flowers on the lovely dining table would also bring some life to the room.
Lee
how about something like this?
http://www.houzz.com/photos/67235/Divine-Kitchens-LLC-traditional-dining-room-boston
I love the lighter walls and the idea of less fabric; however, if we view our furniture and hardwood flooring as investments, wisdom dictates we control that Georgia sunshine. The hardwood and furniture will be sun-bleached in a short time without a block (light filtered through sheers still damages). Panels hung high on rods with RF (motorized) controls would be my #1 choice. #2 would be RF controls on neutral Romans. #3 would be 2″ Wonderwoods from Lafayette.