Asked on Aug 01, 2016

Need help with curtain ideas

Ann7680670
by Ann7680670
I have a lanai (condo) that has one wall of glass. See photo. This wall is 20 ft long.
In the photo you can see a "ledge" that comes out over the windows. The dark line is the "front" at 3". The ledge comes out from the wall 8". Above the window you can see the hurricane shutters. The dirty top needs to be hidden - since the windows don't open, no one can figure out how to clean that shutter support, so I want what I use to cover the ledge to also hide the dirty shutter top.
I hope I have explained my problem..... I just know the creative ladies of hometalk will come up with something!
I hope I managed to "tell it like it is". 20 ft long. What can I hold anything up?
  17 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on Aug 01, 2016
    Have verticals installed in front of the shutters with a valance.
  • Donita Grace Donita Grace on Aug 01, 2016
    Why not mount rods from the underside of the ledge, as you call it? Or, using the ledge, create a cornice from which to hang rods.
  • Talk2cathy Talk2cathy on Aug 01, 2016
    Maybe ceiling mounted curtain rods and use floor to ceiling curtains.
  • MaryElias Lopez MaryElias Lopez on Aug 01, 2016
    I just read in another post about a lady who used twin size flat sheets for curtains. She cut them in half lengthwise. Maybe you can find the post.
  • Jean Myles Jean Myles on Aug 01, 2016
    How about getting some frosted window film and place a strip across the top of the glass, and hide the dirty support. Then you can cover the Windows as you. Piease
  • Diane Blank Diane Blank on Aug 02, 2016
    Use 2 ten foot sections 1/2inch pvc pipe as your rods purchase the standard metal brackets to hold them up. Decorate the windows with a valance or drape to hide the top of your windows. PVC can be easily painted .
  • Mag Mag on Aug 02, 2016
    I have seen great DIY cornice window treatments here on hometalk using lightweight foam board covered in batting and an upholatery fabric. If you use fabric in a block colour or a pattern that can be used horizontally you could run the cornice the full length of the 20'. You could mount it on evenly spaced blocks or brackets attached to the ceiling or the ledge above the windows. These cornices could look nice on their own, or in combination with some curtains of your personal choice. Lucky you with all that natural light.
  • Cheryl Markus Reynolds Cheryl Markus Reynolds on Aug 02, 2016
    You could cover the dirty part of the shutters without covering the ledge. It looks like you have five individual windows. You could purchase 5 tension rods and put a valance on each one. That should hide the dirty part of the shutters. You could paint the ledge to match the valance and hang light weight plants like ferns or ivy in between each window.
  • Betsy Boeve Betsy Boeve on Aug 02, 2016
    I assume you live in a tropical climate. If you have a beachy or tropical decor you might get bamboo blinds and attach them at the top of the ledge and just continue to attach the blinds to the wall, then let the blind come down to cover the top of the hurricane shutters. You might be able to use hot glue to attach the bamboo, or U shaped tacks/nails.
    • Ann7680670 Ann7680670 on Aug 02, 2016
      Thank You Betsy Boeve, unfortunately I've tried bamboo - the windows get too hot and the bamboo gets too "curly"!
  • Reb7441931 Reb7441931 on Aug 02, 2016
    Any color and size of tension rod thick or thin to each window then put your own style of window panel curtain..tropical.. Or..Lacey..or..plain print. Good luck
    • Ann7680670 Ann7680670 on Aug 02, 2016
      Thank You Rebecca14 - you and Cheryl had the same idea. So I looked at my problem again - using the tension rods would leave the wide window frames showing. But - you gave me an idea: what about attaching fabric (somehow) just covering the dirty part and then, with a "dip" in the fabric, attaching it to the ledge? Could make it look a little 'blousy', but it could look like fun if I use the right fabric.?
  • Leisa Yeager Leisa Yeager on Aug 02, 2016
    Use a wire rod screw eyelets into the ceiling and thread your curtains and wire through as you go , tighten wire .done...
  • Ranger Ranger on Aug 02, 2016
    Just make a pelmet - may need be fixed in several places owing to the length of the window. Curtaining of either drapes or nets can hang down from behind the pelmt.
  • Jean Thompson Jean Thompson on Aug 02, 2016
    Paint the frames so then you can use the curtain idea...
  • Lynn Palmatier Lynn Palmatier on Aug 02, 2016
    You could use conduit and attach to the wall with their flanges. Metal pipes could stretch across the whole window. Use shower curtains (many beautiful ones these days and are wider than normal window panels) using the shower curtain hangers. You could also use pvc, but would need to glue lengths together and paint to a desired color. May need extra support or two shorter lengths to cover the whole window. PVC has a tendency to bend/sag unless using thicker PVC. http://www.hometalk.com/diy/-4265535
    • See 1 previous
    • Lynn Palmatier Lynn Palmatier on Aug 03, 2016
      You could even use flat sheets. With the curtain rings they make these days you only have a pressure clip them across to create a swag across the rod as well. They would be a lighter cloth than the shower curtain and about as wide depending on whether you use a queen or king...
  • Marilyn Marilyn on Aug 02, 2016
    You can hang curtains from the ceilings. You can make curtains from canvas drop cloths; very cheap.
    • See 3 previous
    • Marilyn Marilyn on Aug 04, 2016
      I don't see why you couldn't tie dye them. Some are heavier than others. They come in several sizes too.
  • Mkaredmon Mkaredmon on Aug 03, 2016
    We have extra long window areas & have used the longest PVC pipe available as curtain rods & rod supports along to keep it straight. Super cheap!
    • See 1 previous
    • Crystal Meyer Griffith Crystal Meyer Griffith on Sep 07, 2016
      I had a large sunroom and I used the conduit to make a "rod" from. Used a very long heavy nail at various points to prevent sagging. The valance I hung did not gap at those points.