Window Wednesday: The Bench That Butts In

A few weeks back, a reader named Susan commented on my post How To Hang Window Treatments...

"I have a window treatment dilemma. In my living room, I want to use drapes mounted high, rather than shades. But on one side of the windows, there is a bench seat that begins where the vertical frame of the window ends. It is lower than the sill but would prevent keeping the drapes off the window. Therefore, the drapes would be partially stacked on the window. I am considering installing linen drapes anyway. What do you (and your readers) think? Any suggestions?"

After I read this, and invited Susan to send me some pictures, the light went off and Window Wednesday was born.   Windows can be tough.  Susan's is no exception.  Yikes.  Here is the picture of the sneaky little built-in bench that has crashed the window party in this room.

From this angle, it looks as though she could eek out a little extra space by pushing the cushion back, or having a new one made as it seems to stick out over the bottom frame.  Another angle, however, shows that this cushion is resting on crown molding and is in fact in line with it.  Darn.  Thought I had something there.

Here is a look at the whole window (and let's get one thing straight right off the bat -- sill length panels are absolutely not an option here, unless you're into squatty and dated as your look of the moment).  (Addendum -- there are exceptions to every rule, but this isn't one of them.)

When considering what to do with any window, you have to take in the whole picture, including the furnishings in front of it.  Here, and if a valance were used instead of panels, the table is too small for that expanse, and the lamps too close.  But when things change, below, the lamps become a purposeful focal point and distract from the bench butting in and breaking the line of the drapes.  (Ok, if we're talking more than windows, I would also loose one lamp to prevent over-crowding and do a nice, well-scaled vignette.)

Anyway...Susan figures that she would have to stack the drapes onto a good portion of the outer windows and she's right, if she desperately wants the panel look.  My suggestion, however, would be to completely cover the outer windows, and bring each panel's leading edge to the inside edge of the glass on the center window.  Why, you ask?

Two reasons: 1. It gives more importance to the center window and makes the window treatments look purposeful for that one window.  2.  The inevitable bunching against the bench cushion, combined with the bench breaking that side vertical line will be, in my opinion, less noticeable with more fullness. 

Now for those of you with a trained eye, you'll see right off that the panels done this way are a smidge too wide for framing that center window.  In my mind, I'd rather trade too cramped against the bench for a little more fabric in the panel.  Completely subjective (isn't everything in design? :)

Susan was spot on when she talked about hanging the rod high for more height, and certainly she has the space.  Given that the picture rail (extending out from the window casing) is already creating a strong horizontal line, however,  I would opt to hang the rod about one quarter to one third of the way up the wall between the top of the window and the ceiling.  Going much higher than that would feel too choppy to me, unless, of course, there was an element like bookcases on the other side of the room to warrant balancing out the height.  This is not an exact science -- the whole space and it's furnishings always need to play a part in choosing the right look for the window.

So, what would you do if this was your dilemma?  How about some debate in the comments today?  As time permits I'll respond to any questions :).  I've got an insane next three days, however, so I'll try my best!

Thanks for sharing, Susan, and I hope this helps.

Talk to you soon,
Carol

 If you would like me to solve a window issue, suggest a treatment,  critique what you have, or anything window related, please send me an email and picture to SofasandSage@gmail.com.  The only requirement is that you 1.  Become a Follower in the right hand column, or let me know that you already are, and 2.  Leave a comment on this post.