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Drapery for Bay Windows
Three planes, one cloth line — bay windows are a hardware problem before they are a fabric one.
The window in context
Bay windows are three windows in geometric relationship. Drapery for a bay either traces the geometry on a custom bent track or treats the bay as a single rectangular opening that closes off the entire alcove.
The brief determines which solution is correct — the studio resolves it during the on-site walk.
Design challenges
- Three planes meeting at angles require either a bent track or three separate rods
- Stack-back has to land at the angle returns
- Window seat or built-in millwork at the sill changes hardware mounting entirely
Recommended solutions
- Custom bent track that follows the bay geometry — single continuous cloth line
- Straight rod across the front of the bay — closes off the alcove
- Stationary side panels at the angle returns + functional center panel
Best fabrics
- Belgian linen
- Velvet in formal rooms
- Performance weaves on coastal exposures
Hardware considerations
- Bent track fabricated to the specific bay angle and depth
- Mount above the casing with returns appropriate to the bay depth
Motorization options
- Motorization possible on bent tracks — specified case by case
Privacy & light control
- Two-layer system if the bay receives morning or afternoon direct sun
Drapery styles specified for Bay Windows
Questions homeowners ask about Bay Windows
- Should bay window drapery follow the bay or close it off?
- Following the bay preserves the architecture and the view. Closing it off is appropriate when the bay is incidental to the room or when the proportion is wrong for the elevation.
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Walk the room with Olga.
Every consultation begins with the window — its shape, its scale, its exposure, and the program of the room it lives in. We will tell you exactly how the drapery should resolve.
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