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12:03 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Hi another problem for our eminent experts, what to do about hanging curtains when there is a window over a radiator and a door adjoining the lot.
[Image Can Not Be Found] It would appear the photo option is not working for me, so here is the link to my blog and a similar door/window combination. So if you can imagine hanging curtains to cover the window and the door without hiding the heat from the radiator, what would you suggest? I am thinking I may just do floor length curtains and tuck the curtains onto the window shelf when it is cold and the heating on. It is a cold room so as much heat from the radiator needs to get to the room but I would like it to look nice too. If you have any better solutions I would love to hear them.
2:31 pm
Expert
New members
Tue 9-Nov-10
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I would be inclined to go for floor length over the door, and window length over the window, both on the same curtain rail so they can overlap and mesh a bit - calculating the widths so they are both gathered to the same extent. Have you thought about one of those over-the-radiator shelves which are supposed to deflect the heat into the room. I don't know how well they work in real life, but one of those would certainly make me feel that less of the heat was escaping up behind the folds of the curtain. And it would create another dusting opportunity!
PS Yes I did see pictures of the stole - apologies for not saying sooner how impressed I was.
Shut up, I'm counting
7:38 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Jean - you've come up with the same suggestion as I'd thought.
My MiL had a similar problem - they were two windows though - a waist-high windowsill right next to a panoramic window with a sill that was just off the floor. We did exactly as you recommended - and they were thick dralon (it was quite a while ago!) and they looked fine.
I haven't tried those radiator reflectors, but it may be worth trying in this instance.
Good luck Joanna with your dilemma! 
8:02 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I had thought of that, just wondered how it would look when opened. It definitely has the advantage of less material to buy The radiators are topped with quite a wide windowsill, so I think that will deflect the heat back into the room okay. I am guessing that my decision will ultimately rest with how much the fabric is going to cost me, rough weaved linen here is quite reasonably priced and should look good with the white walls and the contrasting mulberry wall on the other wall.
Glad you liked the stole Jean
8:29 pm
Supreme Being
New members
Tue 22-Sep-09
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Have you thought of a blind for the window, which could fit in the window recess and therefore trap all radiator heat in the room. We have a similar problem in our kitchen and we love the blind. However I am going to make some false curtains just to finish of the picture as it looks a little stark.
You could then make a separate door curtain, or put a rail up along the whole length and do a door curtain, and a couple of false curtains.
8:39 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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That was my first suggestion to hubby but he didn't like the idea 
10:58 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Perhaps Joanna, when you hang them, maybe arrange them so that the window ones open on to the wall furthest from the door, and the door one opens behind the door, so that when open, they are not near each other. If they're not too thick, that is, otherwise it may look a bit bunched up!
Not sure if I'm making sense here 
Janet's idea is quite a good one - though it doesn't have to be a blind - it could be some fine curtains within the window frame, and a slim strip to match the door curtain, full-length for decoration. The long curtains could tone with the little ones. Drape them off the window giving light.
When we lived in Holland, we had 4 full length sliding doors in the main room - I used a pink chintz for the open/closing curtains, and in front of them I used a single strip of navy-with-pink-flowers draped at each side with pink rope tie-backs.
Though perhaps too much of a faff to do this, Joanna?
7:29 am
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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I like the idea of the double curtains and I may have to look around for something that would work to do that. They often have double curtain rails to hang nets up as well as curtains but not so sure what weight they will take.
12:28 am
Councillor
Tue 22-Sep-09
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I'd go for the one long, one short option, but make the short one long enough to tuck behind the radiator.
Kateuk makes things at http://www.etsy.com/shop/finkstuff and sometimes she does this too http://www54paintings.blogspot.com/ and also this http://finkstuff.weebly.com/
9:31 am
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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Well I think it is shopping for the bits and pieces and seeing what is available - that often determines what happens in the end here as it is not always possible to get exactly what I want or need and improvisation is the name of the game but at least I have plenty of ideas to work on.
7:32 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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JoannaS said:
Well I think it is shopping for the bits and pieces and seeing what is available - that often determines what happens in the end here as it is not always possible to get exactly what I want or need and improvisation is the name of the game but at least I have plenty of ideas to work on.
Joanna, I found this: a great way to recycle, and you get a door 'curtain' to boot!
Not sure that it would keep out the cold, but what a great innovation! 
7:46 pm
Supreme Being
Mon 21-Sep-09
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It looks gorgeous. I don't think it will keep out the cold but maybe in summer it would keep out the flies?
8:16 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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Joanna, I have been searching on google images to see if I could see a similar situation to yours, but obviously that combination doesn't seem to appeal to designers!!
8:17 pm
Supreme Being
Wed 30-Dec-09
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similar situation - by that I mean curtains, of course! 
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