Treat close-set windows as one

DEAR GAIL: We have a bay window in our breakfast nook and want to dress it up with a window treatment. There are two windows in the center that are just 5 inches apart, so we feel that we can’t put two valances over the windows and need to make them look as one. We’re open to any design suggestions that you have. — Ann D.

DEAR ANN: With the windows just 5 inches apart, I would treat them as one. Normally, when mounting on the outside, we go about 3 inches beyond the window’s edge. Even if you had 6 inches in between, the two treatments would butt together, which just is not a nice look.

Before I give you a couple of suggestions for outside-mounted treatments, know that you can mount a valance on the inside of the window if you do not already have a blind mounted there. If you do, you can consider these options as if they were to replace what you already have and function as your privacy, light control and decorative window treatment.

One option is a Roman shade. Roman shades can be made in a variety of styles and you have an unlimited selection of fabrics or natural wovens to coordinate with your room.

My personal favorite is a soft fold style. When the shade is down, this style has soft folds down the shade. It is a softer style that is fuller on the window and works nicely with small prints and solid fabrics.

Another nice style is a flat Roman shade. When down, the shade is flat; when pulled up, the bottom comes up in folds. This is a nice style when you have a larger scaled pattern.

There are many other styles of Roman shades that you can customize for your windows. Depending upon the light control that you want, you can add different weight lining to block out the sun or for privacy.

Another decorative inside-mount option that is gaining popularity is roller shades. These are very different than the old-time white ones that your grandmother might have had in her house. In addition to the traditional vinyl, although it is more decorative, you can have them made in any fabric as well as adding decorative hems.

Now that you have a couple of inside-mount options, let’s look at what you can do with an outside-mount valance treatment.

To keep the treatment from being too boxy, select a style that has a softer bottom edge, like swags and cascades. I have used these treatments many times on bay windows and run them from one edge of the bay to the other.

You can add the cascades on each end of the bay or between each window to cover the wall space that you have. It just depends upon how much fabric you would like on your window. Just be careful not to block too much of the window in the center of any light or view.

Swags and cascades are not just a traditional treatment. They can be mounted on a box, which is the traditional way you see them, or you can use an iron rod that is made for bay windows and casually drape fabric over it.

If you have a more contemporary style, consider a cornice box with a shaped bottom edge. Or, you can use a mock Roman shade, which softens the window with its folds. You can add panels to any of these treatments, either in between each window or just at the ends.

Additionally, you could use the panels alone, but make sure they drop down to at least just below the window sill or to the floor.

No matter which treatment you decide on, look for softer fabrics and stay away from anything that is too stiff, like an upholstery fabric.

There are many other treatments that you can use, just consider those that are not perfectly straight along the bottom or those that have folds to give you an overall softer feel and a visual break and movement in your bay. Please, don’t forget to send a picture when you’re done.

Gail Mayhugh, owner of GMJ Interiors, is a professional interior designer and author of a book on the subject. Questions may be sent by e-mail to: gail@gmjinteriors.com. Or, mail to: 7380 S. Eastern Ave., No. 124-272, Las Vegas, NV 89123. Her Web address is: www.GMJinteriors.com.