Window Treatments For Two-Story Windows

Greetings from beautiful Cancun, Mexico! As you read this, I am enjoying a getaway for just me and my hubby. For Christmas this year, I surprised him with a four-day trip for the two of us to Secrets in Cancun.

We’ll be back next week, refreshed and ready to dive into our plans for 2022. What about you? How was your holiday? Do you have big plans for this year? I’d love to hear all about them.

 

Email me at vita@vitaliainc.com – I read and respond to all my messages!

Don’t you love the drama of a great room with two-story windows? Or do two-story windows cause the wrong kind of drama for you?

 

It can be challenging to choose the right window treatment for the two-story windows in your design projects. Today I’m going to share some inspiration and tips on how dress these beautiful windows without the headaches.

Here, we worked with the talented Rose of Z Domus Designs and her team to fabricate and install these gorgeous two-story drapery panels. We used a technique called blocking to combine three different fabrics. The fabric blocks are perfectly aligned with the upper and lower windows, and the wall space in between. This highlights the architectural details of this beautiful room and fireplace.

PRO-TIP:

Because this was an open floor plan, you’ll notice that the window treatments in the adjoining room are fabricated from one of the fabrics used in the drapery panels. This creates cohesion in the two rooms.

In this project, we chose a light, see through sheer to provide light filtration. You’ll notice that there is a French door next to the two-story window that our client also opted to cover with a sheer drapery panel. Yes, you can mount drapery panels at two different heights! To mount the drapery hardware for the doors at the same height as the two-story windows would have felt like overkill. These very pretty drapery panels are operable with a cord draw on a traverse rod, allowing the client to enjoy the drapery panels open or closed as needed.

Pro-Tip:

If you are ordering your own hardware, it is very important with two-story windows to specify the correct length for the cord-draw. The standard cord draw will leave your client reaching for a step stool to operate their drapery panels. Save yourself the headache of having to reorder hardware and delay installation. Most two-story windows are 220” and you must specify the longer cord draw when placing your order.

Here, we have two story windows set above doors. These are transom windows and we worked with the talented Gacek Design Group to install the perfect window treatments.

The window treatments are not operational – they are for aesthetic purposes only. This is a clubhouse, and because this wall has three sets of doors, it didn’t make sense to have functional drapery panels. These stationary panels offer the perfect highlight to the space and keep the doors clear and lets the light shine in.

Pro-Tip:

Sometimes the best solution is leaving the top windows uncovered! This is especially true if the client wants to preserve the natural light in the space.

Want to see more examples of two-story window treatments? Check out episode #7 of Window Treatment Friday Live!

Window Treatments are complicated, and mistakes are costly. That’s why a supportive workroom partner can make your life easier and your design projects more profitable. If you are in need of support on your next project, we’d love to hear from you. We’re only a phone call or email away!