Draperies and Top Treatments - Want to add curtains to existing vertical blinds

I have some curtains that I would like to work with the vertical blinds I have iin my living room, and would like some suggestions on what approach I should take. The vertical blind dimensions are approx. 84" x 84". I was thinking of 14" rods on either side and using a couple of drapery panels, but am not sure if it would look right or not. Any suggestions or advice would be appreciated!

if you like that look, then it's fine. :) it'll work, so long as the rod brackets project enough to clear the verticals. you may need to get bracket extensions, which shouldn't be a problem.

thank you for your reply Annette! I'm not sure if I like the look or not, as I haven't actually seen it done before, I just happened to notice in the catalogue that you can buy 14#" rods. The reason for my "dilemma", is that we have finally added colour to our living room, after 3 years of all white in the whole house, so I'm wanting to add a little something extra to the windows and hide the apartment look I get from the vertical blinds. Ideally, I would also like to cover the hardware of the valance but don't know how to incorporate all together and yet give our room a casual and inviting look.

the distance I need to clear with the verticals, is a min 4 3/4 " from the wall, so I definetly need bracket extensions because the ones I have aren't near that long.

do you actually live in an apartment? and do the verticals have to stay?

no, we own a house, so the blinds don't have to stay, but, I am one of "Those People" who seem to enjoy changing curtains on a regular basis, and the blinds have been up and down so many times that the wall was in need of repair. So after painting the living/dining room, my husband spent a lot of time putting the blinds back up, so I feel obligated to keep them there for a good while before taking them down again.

i can't even relate to keeping something up that you don't really like! :o just because your husband put them up doesn't mean he likes them any more than you do!

and in my opinion, you'll never get rid of the "apartment feel" by keeping the verticals. stationary side panels won't ever really look right over verticals. the 2 just don't go together. so i feel like you're fighting a losing battle from the get go. but it's your house. the side panels will definitely help to soften them a bit and add some color & texture. maybe once you get the panels up, you'll love them so much that you'll realize the verticals are killing the look you're going for & you'll take them down & replace them with sheers or something more homey (ie "casual & inviting") and less apartmenty/officey!!! :D :thumbup:

Wow you're quick! Thanks Annette, for your opinion. Perhaps I shall work on the husband and see why we really did put those things back up! :D

As our summers here can be quite hot, and with the window west facing, they're good for blocking out the direct sun, but other than that.....

I'll keep you posted!