How to Put Up Window Treatments

RON HAZELTON:
Now I'll admit, when it comes to taking windows out and putting them in, I know my way around a sash and a sill. But when the subject turns to window decor and Lynn starts talking about roman shades, swags and cornices, I know enough to go looking for some expert help.

Well here's a site here.  I can actually buy window treatments on line.

It's true you can get almost anything on the Internet.  And the Smith and Noble site that we landed on gave us tons of ideas and information.  But drapery dummy that I am, I have a hang-up when it comes to buying curtains in cyberspace.

I wish we could get some help. 

Now the company doesn't normally send experts to the house but in my case, they graciously made an exception.
KARA:
Since it is your formal dining room, I'd like to create a little formality in here.  I would do a nice panel, I would mount it and come -come out about 4 to 8 inches on each side. That will give you more width across. And I would mount it close to the ceiling.

So you get the higher - higher window.
LYNN:
So really it's creating the illusion of a much taller ceiling as well as a wider window.
KARA:
Exactly.
RON HAZELTON:
Kara Roberts is a design consultant with Smith and Noble.  Her suggestion for our family room is pretty straightforward.
KARA:
We can always do your traditional traversing drapery or side panels here.
RON HAZELTON:
In our master bedroom, Lynn lays out the situation.
LYNN:
Now we have the issue of a really wide window - view that I love - but this is our bedroom, so we really want to create privacy.
KARA:
I would recommend traditional draperies where you have a double layered drapery system, where you have your sheer underlay and - and nice heavy drapery that you can open and close.
RON HAZELTON:
Kara also has some interesting ideas for our daughter's room, the kitchen and the bathroom. So armed with Kara's suggestions, we went back on line to look at some fabric options. Now even the most confident e-buyers wouldn't dare make fabric selections from a computer screen.

It seems that Smith and Noble understands this and willingly sends us fabic swatches.  My confidence bolstered, we made our selections and placed our order.  A few weeks later, Kara drops in to check on us while we're putting things up.
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
KARA:
- great in here.   love this fabric.
LYNN:
Oh turned out -
KARA:
I love this fabric.  I love the natural roman shades. Really ties in with the warm colors of the floor, makes a little more -
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
LYNN:
- casual and fun.
RON HAZELTON:
So we did okay?
KARA:
I think it's great.
RON HAZELTON:
So we got the before and we got the after. So just one more of these to do and this room will be finished then.
KARA:
Great.
RON HAZELTON:
It really works. Extending the drapes beyond the window edge and setting them high up on the wall actually does give the impression of a larger window and a higher ceiling.  Next, we unveil the family room.
CARA:
Voila.  Isn't it gorgeous?  I love these.
LYNN:
I love it.  It looks fabulous.
RON HAZELTON:
This was easy to put up.  Just a single traverse rod. And then - and then the valance on top.  Nice frame effect. I like that.  And neutral. So we - we can put off our decisions on what else is gonna go in this room for a little while longer.

We're not forced in any direction with that.
LYNN:
Not committed.
RON HAZELTON:
Right. Right.
LYNN:
We already have a couple couches that I bought, honey.
RON HAZELTON:
I'm seeing a sea of black leather recliners myself.
LYNN:
Yeah.
RON HAZELTON:
With a big screen TV.
LYNN:
Dream, dream and dream.
RON HAZELTON:
The bedroom solution, I must say, is as good-looking as it is practical.  The plush drapery material blocks the morning sunlight, while the sheer panels give us privacy during the day without obscuring our view.
LYNN:
I think this was a really great solution to this huge window.  I think the cornice, I think it made a very big difference.  It really gives a very finished look, a very rich look.
RON HAZELTON:
And when it came to choosing fabric for our daughter Danielle's room, Lynn found exactly what she wanted.
LYNN:
It's not too girly, but it's feminine.
RON HAZELTON:
And here it is made into - that's right, a roman shade.
LYNN:
Other than the roman shade, is there any other decorative items that we could do, though?
KARA:
The only thing I could think of is that you might want to top this treatment again with a little fabric valance. The other thing I would suggest is to order extra fabric.  If you want to, at a later point, do a little decorative pillow, cover a seat cushion of any kind -

- it's nice to have extra fabric on hand.
RON HAZELTON:
I didn't think that's where you were gonna go with that.  I thought you were gonna say because your daughter's certainly gonna come in here with magic markers and decorate these, and you’ll want to replace them.
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
LYNN:
- also. 
[BOTH SPEAK AT ONCE]
KARA:
Possibility.
RON HAZELTON:
Now here in the guest bathroom, the challenge was to come up with a window treatment that would let in plenty of light. But also afford privacy.
KARA:
This is actually one of my favorite products, the Illusions shade.
  LYNN:
It looks so good here.
KARA:
It looks really great in here.  It's a nice clean tailored look. What's great about this is it's a solid product but it's - it's covered by a real sheer fabric. And then you have complete privacy when you tilt the blinds so you have total privacy.
LYNN:
I love it.
KARA:
And I really like how the little valance on top just kind of softens the room.
RON HAZELTON:
The kitchen is another place we used a roman shade.  Now of all the window treatments, these were probably the easiest to put up. Just an L bracket and a couple of screws to hold the shade in place. 
KARA:
I really wanted to put something up here that just had a little color and it gave the window a finishing touch.  For the most part, you're gonna have it drawn up like you have it right now.  It kind of creates the look of just a valance top treatment.  But gives you the option to lower it when you need to.
RON HAZELTON:
Well you know what I've learned from all this? Whether you want privacy, the illusion of a taller window, a room theme, a feeling of luxury, light control or room accent, there's a window treatment that will do the trick.