Draperies and Top Treatments - Height for panels in front of sheers?

Howdy!

This site has a lot of great discussions and tips on it, but I could not locate the answer to my particular situation, so I will post it here in the hopes of either receiving an informed opinion, or a redirection to someplace where this has already been answered!

When we moved into our new home, we hired someone to come in and install custom-made sheers on all the main floor windows, as a temporary privacy measure. Now, we are going back and tackling each area. In the family room, there are a number of windows where we would like to put curtain treatments over the existing sheers. My dilemma is how high to position the new curtain rods.

The sheers are pinch-pleat style and can be opened, are white, on a white I-beam type track, and have been installed on so that the top of the shears are flush with the top of the window trim.

There is about 12" of headroom above the window trim, so there is plenty of room to locate the curtain rod high up on the wall. However, I am wondering if it will look foolish when the curtains are open if you can see that the sheers are not as high as the curtains. My other alternative would be to install the new curtain rod so that the tops of the new drapery panels are only 1/2" above the top of the sheers.

The new draperies being added are using rings with spring clips and decorative rods. The panel length is not a problem, as we purchased extra-long panels and will hem them to the appropriate length once we decide how high to mount the rod.

I would welcome any feedback on this one!
Thanks,
Anthony

Hi Anthony and welcome to the forum!
It looks best when the tops of the sheers and panels are about even, but since the top of the sheers are even with the top of the trim, then have the top of the panels about 1/2" above the top of the sheers.
Are the new draperies pinch pleats also? If so, the clips won't work on them or if not, and you're planning on opening and closing them, they may pull out of the clips.

Hi Shadeladie,
Okay -the 1/2" inch offset sounds good - I will go ahead with that approach and appreciate the advice.

You raise a concerning question though about the rings...
The curtains are not pinch pleat, they are flat panels of duponi silk, with cotton lining, and are not very heavy. We are planning on opening and closing them, thus the choice to use rings, and not put them directly on the rod (they do have a rod pocket at the top). Based on this description, are you concerned that the panels might slide out of the spring clips, and do you have any alternate suggestions for how I might handle this? (I am planning on using 7 rings per 48" panel).

Thanks again for your assistance!
Anthony
(Handy-Dad)

Hi Anthony, if they're flat panels, then clip-ons or removing the clips and sewing them on are your only choices. If you've spent a little bit of money on them, the clips should be sturdier, too cheap and no hold. So, if you haven't bought them yet, it pays to buy more expensive rings and if you have them, just try them and see what happens. If they keep pulling out, they can always be sewed on.
I'm just going to add that flat panels are best left stationary. Every time you open and close them they're going to be sloppy and messy looking and you'll always be fussing and fixing them.

Okay - I will test the rings, along with the whole installation setup and see what happens. Everything is already bought, so my fingers are crossed!
Thanks for all your help.