In my last article I touched on my love of floor-to-ceiling draperies, and several readers responded with questions about how to dress a window when there is a heat source underneath it. There are a few options in this situation, and it really depends on the type and size of the heat source. My objective when dressing a window is always to create something aesthetically pleasing but functional that does not trap the heat and keep it from coming into the room.

If the heat source is directly under the window but does not extend past it (like a radiator or a floor vent), I like to use stationary, full-length panels that hang to either side of the window. That way the heat source is not covered by the fabric. In this situation, however, the panels are purely decorative; they do not provide any light control or privacy. For that, I add a blind or shade. Now you have the best of both worlds: the decorative softness that fabric panels add to the room, the light control and privacy of a shade or blind, and nothing interfering with your heat source.

The situation becomes a bit trickier when the heat source extends beyond the width of the window (like an extra-wide radiator or a baseboard heater). In this case, the best window treatment option is a fabric Roman shade, not a short curtain that ends just above the radiator. Please not that. I prefer the look of an inside-mount Roman shade, particularly if the home has nice molding around the windows. I wouldn’t want to cover that up. Inside-mount shades almost always have to be custom made to ensure a perfect fit. If that’s not in your budget, you can certainly find ready-made Roman shades that can be outside mounted (to the molding or wall) and work just as well for privacy, light control, and decorative appeal.

I hope I’ve provided a few options for those of you living with naked windows. Have a question or comment? I’d love to hear from you.

Submit your questions and conundrums via Instagram by tagging me @honeyandfitz or using the hashtag #honeyandfitzaskthedesigner. You can also e-mail them to Address@globe.com.