Bay window curtains.

[plasticpigeon]

Hello, I wonder if anyone can help. Our front room isn't very big, I think it is 11' x 12'. It also has a huge bay window at one end, which is 2' deep and takes up most of the front of the room. My partner would wants curtains that draw across the bay as she believes they will look nicer when open as the whole bay will be visible and the curtains will frame it. I am keen not to loose this significant part of the room when the curtains are open so would prefer curtains that run around the bay. I have been thinking about whether it is possible to run a pole or rail around the bay and then into the room so the curtains will still hang outside of the window when drawn. This would necessitate 2 90 degree bends at either side, and I am worried about the curtains not getting round the bends easily, and also whether a a pole could be supported at just 3 points without sagging in the corners, or alternatively if a plastic track could bend round a tight external corner.

Does anyone have any experience or ideas please.

 

[noj]

I'd think it's certainly possible - but probably not with plastic, a solid bar with a suitable radius would make drawing them back round the sharp corners easier. Guess you'd need more than three supports though?

Just had some lovely (and pretty reasonably priced) poles made by this chap:
http://www.curtainpole.co.uk/bay_window_curtain_poles.htm

 

[Penners]

You could probably get some poles or rails that would allow the curtains to run around the corners within the bay - this inside corner would allow a suitably open radius to be set into the rail. However, I reckon it's going to be much more difficult to get an open enough radius to get the curtains to run around on to the inside walls outside the bay. It could probably be done, but I think the extent to which the rail would have to stand away from the wall would look rather odd, and would probably get in the way - particularly in a fairly small room.

 

[plasticpigeon]

You could probably get some poles or rails that would allow the curtains to run around the corners within the bay - this inside corner would allow a suitably open radius to be set into the rail. However, I reckon it's going to be much more difficult to get an open enough radius to get the curtains to run around on to the inside walls outside the bay. It could probably be done, but I think the extent to which the rail would have to stand away from the wall would look rather odd, and would probably get in the way - particularly in a fairly small room.

Yep that is what I am worried about. Does anyone know what the traditional window treatment would be in this case? It is such a huge window for the size of the room, it must have had curtains of some sort to keep what little heat the fire gave out within the room. Or perhaps the room was only used once a week on Sundays!

 

[Penners]

The answer to that would depend very much on personal taste. I think my solution would be to have a main pair of curtains across the wide part of the bay, which draw back into the corners of the bay. I would then have a narrow curtain on each side window which would draw back on to the short run of wall inside the bay. In other words, one long rail and two short ones.

But don't tell Her I said that!

 

[kreyszig]

we've got a large bay window at the front of the house too, although the sides slope inwards rather than being perpendicular to the outside walls. We only have nets in so far (it has only been 22 months after all!), but there is a curtain rail installed that follows the line of the bay. (actually one rail from each side that overlap slightly in the middle)
That rail is hidden with a bit of ply that looks a bit deco in geometry, it hangs down in front of the rail and is far enough in front to let the rail curve inside it, while it is of course flat. I suppose that's an alternative to having a radiused pole, or separate poles.

 

[angrybird]

Thats a lovely looking bay window you have there.I have found a few ideas of window dressing on tinternet.
http://www.shelterness.com/25-cool-bay-window-decorating-ideas
http://www.antiquedraperyrod.com/howto-bay-windows.asp

 

[Feltwell]

PP, if you're after poles being made to measure I and several other forum members have had great service from Stuart at Genuine Forgery. Not too far from you either, he works out of an old farm shed near Kidderminster.

My bay pole is on this (very) old thread.

http://periodproperty.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=9837&start=0&hilit=genuine+forgery

Not sure he's on Ebay any more, I think he stopped advertising the poles some time ago to concentrate on other work, if you need his contact details let me know as I think he'll still do them if asked. He's done quite a few different blacksmithing jobs for me now, nice bloke and the quality of his work is excellent.

 

[88v8]

My partner would wants curtains that draw across the bay as she believes they will look nicer when open as the whole bay will be visible and the curtains will frame it.

Visually, she is probably right.
However, I agree that it makes no sense to lose the space, and I presume your radiators are in there as well? I say 'presume' because I can't see your pics which is why I'm now farting apart with attachments...

Anyway, we had this issue of sharp bends in the bay of our library in our previous house. I was doing the room to sell the house and this was one of the issues I struggled with. Had I had time I would have put a pelmet in front of the rail, in the event I didn't but as you can see a plastic rail, quite a deep one, was persuaded to go fairly sharply around the bends - with the aid of a hairdryer iirc.



To get the sliders to slide easily I put silicone polish on the runner.
And of course a pair of these
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-x-Pairs-of-Bay-Pole-Matching-Curtain-Draw-Pull-Rods-Dark-Oak-74-cm-NEW-/301668486772?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item463cd7ce74
so one is pulling directly on the runners and not dragging on the curtain. All curtains of any height should have them, and any curtain of quality fabric as it obviates handling the curtain.

Our rail terminated in the reveal, but it could have been bent again to pull onto the wall. Not that I would have done as I didn't want to lose the wall space.
And because the revels were different widths we had curtains of different widths. It was all quite a faff and not very satisfactory.



That pic reminds me that there was also a problem with the (oak) window sill and the rad. It all seems a long time ago now.

Well, as has been said, in this situation a pelmet is your friend.

Ivor

 

[StripyCat]

John Lewis do a bendable aluminium track that I have on my square bays- but I think it would be a step too far to band it back out into the room.

Does it have to be curtains? You could have 'dress' curtains outside the bay and some kind of blind for actually covering the window. I've always had http://thermalblind.co.uk/ in mind if I ever need something for awkward windows

 

[mims&pip]

The large square bays in our current house had a set-up similar to Ivor's installed by previous owners - the morning room (downstairs) had a plastic track whilst the room above (our snug but formerly the master bedroom) had a 1920s pelmet board with attached metal track which we have since removed as the board itself blocked out valuable light from the room :roll:

When we moved in last December we installed a heavy bronzed pole across the bay in the morning room as your partner suggests, PP.....not how we have dealt with bays previously, but we happened to have the pole left over from our last project and it suits the style of the room. In our case these are only intended to be *dress* curtains, although they would close if we so desired, there being ample fabric! As it happens our oak Arts & Crafts breakfast table sits in the bay, rendering the closing of the curtains impossible anyway :wink:

In the upstairs snug we have addressed the window treatment similarly, this time with a reclaimed chunky (63mm) wooden pole and again whilst the curtains could close, this time an original window seat fills the bay.....although it would make a good hiding place

In our previous houses with bays we have gone for the *dress curtains with Roman blinds option* which kind of gives the best of both worlds, although not necessarily being 100% historically accurate

I was taught long ago that curtain poles/tracks should extend as far beyond the window reveal they can without compromising wall space and that the curtains hanging on the pole/track should be pulled right back to allow as much natural light into the room as possible whilst not skimping on fabric width.....

PP, I suppose it depends what you plan to put in the bay, furniture-wise.....and I guess due to the dainty proportions of your room you will want to put a piece of furniture there? Personally, I would fit a bay pole, but I'm afraid I would want to extend it round the corners into the room.....

Mims x

 

[CliffordPope]

Don't try to get the curtains to go round the tight 90 degree turns, but fit large elegant brass hooks just inside the room, and loop the curtains over them when open.
That way they attach just inside the bay, but hang clear inside the room to retain the wide visual splay.

Curtains traditionally sit on a pile of surplus material on the floor, rather than hanging clear. That enables you to better position the drawn curtains.

 

[Zebra]

Curtains traditionally sit on a pile of surplus material on the floor, rather than hanging clear.

Oh good. My bedroom curtains are too long, because I couldn't be bothered so shorten them. I shall leave them now.

 

[kreyszig]

Don't try to get the curtains to go round the tight 90 degree turns, but fit large elegant brass hooks just inside the room, and loop the curtains over them when open.
That way they attach just inside the bay, but hang clear inside the room to retain the wide visual splay.

Curtains traditionally sit on a pile of surplus material on the floor, rather than hanging clear. That enables you to better position the drawn curtains.

so *that's* what those hooks are for!

 

[billybuntus]

We have bay poles from dunelm. I wouldn't have those plastic ones given. I have two 90 degree bends either side and it's no problem.