TheDesignFile

Design Dilemma: Some bay window suggestions

On Thursday, I asked for suggestions to help Katrina of Indianapolis pick window treatments for her living room's bay window. You can read about the details of the room and the challenge here.

In short, she wants to get rid of her mini-blinds but maintain some privacy. And she likes the look for floor length drapes.

I suggested a double curtain rod hung over the length of the bay with a set of sheers and drapes -- sheers for privacy, drapes for decor.

But readers of The Design File offered up some great other suggestions as well.

Here are some of their ideas and photos they suggested:

Reader DesignerWannabe didn't like the idea of sheers because it would require blocking the entire bay for privacy.

"I like the idea of keeping the mini-blinds or going with shutters or Roman shades plus the drapes as described above," Designer Wannabe wrote.

Wannabe linked to the photo at right -- from RafterTales -- as an example.

"Or what about bamboo blinds on each of the five windows and then drapes on either side," Designer Wannabe also wrote. "Bamboo blinds are great because they let a ton of light through while providing just a little privacy."

Wannabe included another link, this time to a photo from Better Homes and Gardens, one of my favorite sources of inspiration. It's above left.

Reader Joy suggested white curtains.

"It would brighten everything up," she wrote.

She linked to a photo from the Interior Design Blog, which took it from Fresh Locations. I don't have permission to use the photo -- although you can see it here.

But I loved the idea and found a photo at Pottery Barn (at right) using the same idea.

Finally, reader Steph wrote that shutters may be a good option.

"I love shutters on these kinds of windows -- maybe with curtains too," she wrote.

She linked to two images from Changing Curtains below right and from Drapery Crafters in Pennsylvania below left.

Thanks for your suggestions. Do you have more? Feel free to leave more suggestions here.

Design Dilemma: Dressing a bay window

Give us your best answers for this problem

I always love to hear about the projects readers are struggling with because they tend to be the same things most of us have dealt with from time to time. That's certainly true of the issue faced by Katrina of Indianapolis: She's trying to find the right window treatments.

Kat has a bay window in her living room, a space that includes some modern decor with a mid-century sensibility. But she's not sure how to dress the window (which you can see at right) without spending a fortune!

Currently, there are mini blinds on each of the five windows, which Kat doesn't really like. But she does want privacy.

Here's what she had to say about the room:

"The walls are a warm gray (it is called pussywillow - see it below). The sofa is white and right now it has olive green pillows and some floral lime green, turquoise and red pillows. I am planning on painting the wood around the window and the rest of the trim in the house white. Also, I am going to try to craft/sew a tufted cushion to put in the window seat. The flooring is a dark brownish grey (it is called black forest - see at right).

"I tend to lean towards grays, blacks and whites in my likes, but am trying to find ways to add more bold colors. (I am taking a chance and doing my dining room in turquoise.) The window area is 116" x 64". The wall it is on is 182" wide and it is at the bottom of a vaulted ceiling."

So what should she do?

Curtains, shutters, blinds? Neutrals or colors? Patterns or solids? Tell us what you think by commenting below!

Meanwhile, I have a few suggestions -- keeping a budget in mind.

First, I'd hang a double rod over the entire length of the window -- high and wide, like the BHG photo on the left side of the collage.

I'd hang floor length panels on either side of the window frames on the outer rod, making sure they can hang completely wide of the windows, so they are just covering the outer woodworking.

Then on the inside rod, I'd hang sheers (like the photo above right) -- probably something with a modern twist, a tone on tone white, geometric pattern. The sheers allow you to gain some limited privacy without blocking out all the light.

If Kat wants to make a statement, I'd go for outer panels in a strong, mid-century pattern that blends with the gray walls. The curtains at right are the Madison Square Rod-Pocket panels from Overstock for $39 each and available in a variety of colors. Click the photo to see more.

If she wants something simpler, she could try a tone on tone look, with panels that are virtually the same shade as the walls. Check out the options at right.

On the left side is the Woolrich Grommet Window Panel in gray from Target for $27 a pair. It might take four panels -- two on each side -- to get the right fullness.

The sheer at right is the Home Decorative Burn Out Sheer, also from Target. The panels are $20 each. I love the little white dots on the sheers. Click on the photo above right to get a closer look!

I have the tone on tone look in my house and I love it. It keeps my drapes from making my rooms look smaller.

So what do you think?

I know you've got some great ideas as well and Kat & I really want to hear them!

If you find some great inspiration photos, include the links in your photos and -- if I can get permission -- I'll post them.

In the meantime, Better Homes and Gardens has a slide show with some other ideas for dressing bay windows, including the photo at right.

And tune in tomorrow when I'll show you a way you can make your own grommet-top curtains out of sheets or other fabrics.

Design Dilemma: A bookcase problem revisisted

It's been a few months since I posted about my friend Kim's desire to give her modern bookcases an updated look.

You offered some great ideas, including suggestions to use patterned wallpaper as backing for some of the openings, painting it a bold color and adding some bins to the shelves.

But in the end, Kim decided she needed to paint one of the walls behind the bookcase, not the bookcase itself. She used a gray-blue color that was leftover from a previous project (painting WALL-E tracks on the walls of her son's bedroom).

It was a great choice for the room and makes the light bookcase pop right off the wall.

Then Kim made several trips to her local Goodwill store to swap out some of her vases and bottles for others that coordinated better with the paint and furnishings. She also added musical notes to the walls, which go with several framed records that commemorate her husband's previous work in the music industry.

So what do you think? Did Kim make a good choice? And what would you do differently?

Modern baby bedding to spice up the crib

So here's the challenge: Find neutral baby bedding that is modern enough to please some hip parents, fun and colorful enough to stimulate the senses of a little one, and is just traditional enough to make the grandparents happy.

That's the dilemma facing my good friend Dee and so this post (and maybe a few others planned for the coming weeks) is dedicated to her.

Dee and Jason are expecting their first baby and are waiting to find out if it's a boy or girl. Under pressure from friends and family eager to start the buying process, the couple is starting to explore their nursery options.

Dee's first choice -- a black and white modern pattern -- was rejected as too boring for baby. But Dee is not much interested in the overly busy character patterns you see just about everywhere. Finally, Dee's search has made her a little weary of the green and brown color scheme that dominates many of the choices in the neutral bedding category (although I'm not above suggesting some anyway).

So here are eight modern, neutral bedding options that I think Dee & Jason, as well as other expectant parents out there, could consider:

Design Dilemma: Decorate this bookcase

My good friend Kim bought this three piece, curving modern bookcase years ago and has moved it from New York to Chicago and now to the Indianapolis suburbs, all the while decorating it with a variety of vases and urns.

Now, she's ready for a change and she wants help.

Tell us in the comments below what you think Kim should do. Give us colors, accessories, crafts or whatever you think would help. Include links to photos or ideas if you have them. Be creative!

You can click on the photo at left if you need a better look. And before you get started, check out some of the additional information and photos below:

Design dilemma: Seeking a modern pendant

A loyal reader of The Design File -- we'll call her "In the Dark" -- is trying to choose a pendant to light up her condo's foyer, which is about 10-feet square.

It's large enough that a tiny pendant won't do. She's looking for something at least 10-inches wide, modern and affordable. No $500 suggestions, please! It needs to be a light that can be hard-wired rather than something that plugs into an outlet.

The foyer's walls are a freshly painted tan/taupe color and the trim is white. She's also looking for a new entry rug in shades of brown and beige.

"In the Dark" is considering Pottery Barn's Calvin Pendant, shown lit and unlit at right. It's on clearance now for a mere $70 and she already has a tree theme in a nearby bathroom. But she's also considering some of the very popular, modern polypropylene lights as well.

What do you think? Do you like the Pottery Barn option?

If not, how about some links to lights you like. And don't forget to think about a rug too!

Question of the day: Help with a kids room!

I'm not planning to really start posting until May, when The Design File is scheduled to officially launch. But a good friend and one of my biggest supporters in this venture wrote to me with a problem that I'm convinced you can help her solve.

Dear Design File,

I have two children, a 5 year old girl and a 2.5 year old boy, who share a bedroom. Can you recommend a color scheme that's gender neutral but allows for personal taste?

My daughter is a girly girl who loves pink. My son doesn't have an opinion yet.

I'd like your thoughts on paint, carpeting, curtains and bedding. We're thinking of white beds & furniture. I'd prefer that the comforters coordinate in some way - I want to avoid princesses on one and cars on the other - maybe two solid colors, or coordinating striped / dot / patterned comforters, and let their personal style be reflected in different sheets.

Help! This task seems insurmountable!

Signed, Bummed About Bedrooms

Got some ideas to help Bummed About Bedrooms? Please post by clicking on "comments" below...