<strong>I am about to purchase silk dupioni drapes from Pottery Barn for our great room. The walls are a mustard gold, and the room has shades of olive. Should I buy dark brown panels, ones that would match the walls or should I choose lighter panels?</p><p>| Betsy Petri, Lenexa</p><p></strong>Since you have so many darker items in the room, it would be nice to use a medium color to calm the look. We would recommend custom drapery if the budget allows because you will get a better result, more tailored to your room. </p><p>We assume that because you are considering retail drapery panels that don&#x92;t always come in oversize lengths, you are planning on installing your rod at the top of the lower windows and leaving the upper windows bare, to let the light in. </p><p>If you were to use custom drapery, a dramatic option would be to run simple French-pleated panels all the way up to the ceiling. Remember that retail panels are usually only about 50 inches wide, so if you go that route, you will need to buy multiples and have them sewn together.</p><p>Consider using woven wood blinds with your drapery. They will filter the amount of light coming in during the day and add texture and dimension to the room, plus offer privacy at night.</p><p>Other than your beautiful massive windows, the first thing we notice is a problem of scale and not enough color. Think about paring down your accessories and brightening up the room with a little more color. </p><p>With windows and a fireplace this large, it&#x92;s important to use furniture and art that can stand up to the scale. This means using fewer but larger-scale accessories. And while we understand that you are attempting to bring in color with the area rug, we don&#x92;t advocate rugs over carpeting. Area rugs look best over wood, tile or stone floors.</p><p>&#9733;&#9733;&#9733; </p><p><strong>I am at a loss about treatments for my master bedroom windows. I have ordered blinds for the three windows pictured. However, because of wood rot, we had to take out an arched window above the three vertical windows, leaving us with a lot of wall up to the 12-foot ceiling.</strong></p><p><strong> I am thinking about incorporating drapes somehow, but there would be a gap above the window seat, with the rod floating in midair since there is a break in the wall up to the ceiling. Is there an option for drapes outside of the window seat? Or would I need to keep within the seated area? Are there options I am not exploring?</p><p>| Jennfer Hensel, Parkville</p><p></strong>Our first recommendation would be to install a replacement arched window in order to restore the intended architectural interest to your bedroom and the outside of your home. </p><p>One option is to put wallboard above the top of the windows to fill in the recessed area, leaving a recessed area for the windows and window seat only, not the wall above. A drapery rod will look much better if the wall is straight across. </p><p>The drapery panels would be mounted onto the sides of the windows and cover the trim. A custom boxed window seat cushion would add interest and comfort.</p><p> You have hard angles in this contemporary room, and simple drapery will help soften the lines. </p><p>Be sure to mount the rod high enough to work with your high ceilings and tall armoire.</p><p>Since you indicated you do not want to replace the lost arched window, another idea would be to replicate it as much as possible. </p><p>You could do this by having a handyman build an arched frame the same size as the missing window. Paint the trim white, just like your remaining windows, and install mirrors into the sections. Mount it above the vertical windows in approximately the same position as the window you removed. This will create an interesting feature that restores the scale of the room and reflects light into the room without glare.</p><p>Another suggestion would be to paint the left and right angled ceiling walls the same taupe color as your side walls to lessen the hard angles. </p><p>Next time you paint the room, we recommend choosing a color light enough to paint the walls and ceiling for a more integrated look.</p><p><strong><span class="infobox-head">NEED DESIGN ADVICE? </span></strong><br /> We&#x92;re here to offer suggestions on picking a paint color, injecting glamour or adding curb appeal. Send an e-mail to <a href="mailto:designpostkc@gmail.com">designpostkc@gmail.com</a> and tell us your name, city and a daytime phone number. Attach photos along with your question. Design Post appears the second Sunday of the month in House + Home.

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Ruffles in lightweight fabrics work nicely in this theme; check out Urban Outfitters and Pottery Barn for frothy, watercolored shower curtains and bedding. Z Gallerie has a spherical lamp made of hundreds of oyster shell tiles; its iridescence is both

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Dying curtain panels--need suggestions and information?

I have these cranberry/wine curtain panels from Pottery Barn that are 60% silk 40% cotton. They have become faded from the sun along the edges that hang in the window (versus the outer edges that hang along the wall). I am on a strict budget and don't

Even if you do dye them, they will still be lighter at the edges. You can find some silk/cotton and sew edges on them (doesn't have to be the same colour-maybe pick up wall colour). Another suggestion I used in my bedrooms is to buy queen or king sized

Even if you do dye them, they will still be lighter at the edges. You can find some silk/cotton and sew edges on them (doesn't have to be the same colour-maybe pick up wall colour). Another suggestion I used in my bedrooms is to buy queen or king sized

Dying curtain panels--need suggestions and information?

I have these cranberry/wine curtain panels from Pottery Barn that are 60% silk 40% cotton. They have become faded from the sun along the edges that hang in the window (versus the outer edges that hang along the wall). I am on a strict budget and don't

Try this website: http://www.ritdye.com/Choose+a+Technique .8.lasso
It should answer all your questions. Good Luck!!! :-)