Curtain question

[Mury]

Hey. Thought I 'd post this here since it's not really old house specific. I'm wondering if it's okay to layer cafe curtains with full length ones. My house sits right on the street so I have cafe curtains for privacy that remain closed pretty much all the time. At night though, the upper portion of the windows is a black hole and the neighbors across the street can see in. I really don't want shades. The roman shade in the picture has been hanging there for several months. I still don't like it. Would it look okay to hang full length drapes as well? I know back in the day they loved lots of fabric. I've just never seen these two curtain styles together. Ideally, I would have put up interior shutters in the bottom half, but they are so expensive! I'm not formal enough for sheers.

[Leslie Ap]

I think you can hang the cafe drapes and full length drapes, together, and it will look fine. If you don't like it, you could get frosted or wavy film for your widow panes, or sheers.

[mrscramer]

Could you do one curtain and swag it to one side so that you get the benefit of letting the light in and then when you want privacy you just let the curtain down?

[Mury]

I hunted and hunted for pics last night. The best site I found was http://www.changingcurtains.co.uk/gallery.html and I think I can get away with it. I've got the bay and another single window in the room. The problem is that I need the privacy on the bottom half of the windows ALL the time. I did look into window films at one time, but don't think that's right for us either. The doggy and kids are always peeking out. I am picky, huh? Basically, what I would have loved was shutters, but for budget went with the cafe curtains, which I like, and are very easy to throw in the wash. Now, to find 15 yards of fabric I can afford!

[S Melissa]

Here is a tried and true option - and I have the "easy to sew" directions if you want this look. Great fabric makes a huge difference in the look - along with the trims. It won't cover the entire window but really - how much comotion goes on in your bay that your neighbors can see? Sometimes I wonder if we're not too nervous about such things - but I have barely any curtains on my windows - so I'm not much to judge such things!

Anyway - here's a choice:


HEre's another look


HEre you can barely see - I have lace panels and a topper - diffuses the light and gives some privacy


Last one -

[Mury]

Those are very pretty, Melissa. How long have you been in your house? I never realized what a process decorating could be. I'm a do it yourselfer, but still, the expense of materials alone is really slowing me down. And then just living in the house and feeling what you need. These particular windows have been open at the top for about 6 months now. Like you said, there's not that much interesting going on that anyone would want to watch. But just living with it like that, I know I'm still not comfortable with it, I feel exposed. We have other windows with no coverings but they face the woods, they don't bother me. It's an odd thing, on 2 sides of the house we are just feet from people, the other 2 we have privacy galore as it is city owned land, woods and a river.
The reason I am inquiring particularly about full length drapes is that the other window (not in the pic) is behind the sofa. I think drapes might widen the window visually and look better back there.
I finally found one picture similar to what I'm thinking of, just without the valance. http://www.myhomeideas.com/idea-houses/favorite-ideas/7-ideas-your-windows-10000001727044/vintage-style-curtains-10001391557995/

[matchbookhouse]

Mury, if you're going to make any of the curtains yourself, have you tried the remnant piles at fabric and upholstery shops? They are so inexpensive compared to the dry goods on the roll. The only problem is finding a material and pattern you love and then discovering that there's not enough material to complete the project. Good luck! I just wish I could sew!

[PowerMuffin]

I have seen cafe curtains used with full length drapes in several window treatment books and i love the look. I have considered adding full length drapes to my dining room windows that have cafe curtains on them, but I can't bring myself to drill into the plaster.

I have seen examples with white cafe curtains and print drapes (with white as part of the print). I have also seen red print drapes with yellow cafe curtains. The curtains are fabric that have the same formality or informality as the drapes and I think that this consistency between the curtains and drapes is what makes it work. Go for it!
Diane

[Kansas. 1911.]

I did that idea in an upstairs bedroom. The only thing I didn't like was how it looked from the street, so be sure you look at things from both sides.

I'm in the process of getting the white linen roman shade and having just that shade on the bedroom window without any curtains at all.

I want my woodwork, which is white like yours, to show. Well, the real truth is that after I buy the linen shades, there is no more budget for "overcurtains." I want to get the blanket shades from Country Curtains.

[Mury]

I have seen cafe curtains used with full length drapes in several window treatment books and i love the look. I have considered adding full length drapes to my dining room windows that have cafe curtains on them, but I can't bring myself to drill into the plaster.

I have seen examples with white cafe curtains and print drapes (with white as part of the print). I have also seen red print drapes with yellow cafe curtains. The curtains are fabric that have the same formality or informality as the drapes and I think that this consistency between the curtains and drapes is what makes it work. Go for it!
Diane

Oh, I'm glad to hear some others have tried this! The cafe curtains are just muslin, cheap, white, can be bleached. I won't be using fancy fabric for the drapes either. I'll keep you updated on my fabric shopping. When we first moved in, I didn't want to cover ANY woodwork, but I'm realizing there are plenty of other places to enjoy it and I want drapes!

I did that idea in an upstairs bedroom. The only thing I didn't like was how it looked from the street, so be sure you look at things from both sides.

I'm in the process of getting the white linen roman shade and having just that shade on the bedroom window without any curtains at all.

I want my woodwork, which is white like yours, to show. Well, the real truth is that after I buy the linen shades, there is no more budget for "overcurtains." I want to get the blanket shades from Country Curtains.

I'll line the drapes in white so it should look fine, I think, and I don't want to cover much glass anyway. Kansas, can you get someone to copy the shades you want for a better price?