Design Diaries: The Installation Nearly 17 Feet of Linen and One Very Tall Ladder
There are regular curtain installations.
And then there are nearly 17 feet of linen, four custom drapery panels and a 30-foot ladder. 😂
After two weather delays, installation day had finally arrived.
I was excited, nervous and relieved. And when I saw Charles, our installer, pull up?
Sir, come on in. We've been waiting for you. 😂
Because after years of looking at two completely naked, nearly two-story windows, I was finally going to see if everything I'd envisioned actually worked.
And while the finished drapery is beautiful, installation day taught me a few things worth knowing if you're considering custom drapery, especially for tall windows.
Measuring Tall Windows Is a Different Ball Game
Our finished panels are approximately 197 inches long.
Once Charles used his laser measuring tool, we realized we potentially could have gone another two or three inches.
Almost 200 inches of drapery. TWO HUNDRED. 😂
That's why I would strongly consider professional measurements for unusually tall windows.
You're not simply measuring the glass.
You have to account for the rod placement, rings, heading, desired relationship to the floor and even whether the floor is perfectly level.
At this scale, a few inches can make a difference.
Don't Forget About Finished Width
Length gets all the attention with tall drapery, but finished panel width matters too.
Our panels were originally going to finish around 27 inches wide. I increased them to approximately 31 inches because I didn't want almost 17 feet of fabric looking skinny against the architecture.
But wider isn't automatically better.
Too much fabric creates more stack back, the space the gathered drapery occupies beside the window.
With stationary panels like ours, too much stack back can unnecessarily cover your glass.
You want enough fabric to look substantial without overwhelming the window.
Two Panels or Four?
Technically, we could have used one panel on the outside of each window.
But with the scale of this room?
No ma'am. 😂
We used four panels, two per window.
That gave both windows a more complete, balanced appearance and enough visual weight to hold their own against the height of the room.
We also chose a Triple French Pleat because I wanted something classic and timeless.
Traditional Southern Girl over here. 🙋🏾♀️
And Then There Were the Rings…
I thought we didn't have enough rings, so I ordered another pack which delayed us another week.
Then Charles explained that we didn't need an additional ring and hook at every leading edge the way I'd assumed.
Our final configuration was seven rings per panel.
Lesson learned: before ordering hardware, have your fabricator or installer confirm exactly how many rings and hooks your heading style and number of panels require.
Sometimes the smallest detail holds up the biggest project. 😂
Of Course, We Had an “Oh Lord” Moment
Before anything went up, Charles inspected the drapery and hardware.
Good thing.
One of the metal attaching anchors was too tight for the wooden bracket to fit properly.
Oh Lord.
But Charles made the adjustment and kept moving.
It was a perfect reminder:
A professional isn't valuable because nothing ever goes wrong. A professional is valuable because they know what to do when something doesn't work exactly as expected.
And considering he was working from a 30-foot ladder?
Hiring a professional for this installation was one decision I never questioned.
Linen Is Going to Linen
Once the panels were hanging, they needed steaming.
Our TWOPAGES Patti Linen blend has the relaxed character I wanted, which also means it's never going to look stiff or overly perfect.
Charles explained that moisture from steaming such long panels can temporarily affect how the fabric hangs before it dries and settles.
So give linen a little time.
The wrinkles, movement and natural texture are part of its beauty.
As I like to say:
Linen is going to linen. 😂
A Few Things I'd Know Before Ordering Tall Drapery
If you're considering extra-long or custom drapery, keep these five things in mind:
1. Get the measurements right. For extremely tall windows, consider a laser measurement and professional verification.
2. Think about width not just length. Your panels need enough visual weight for the scale of the room.
3. Consider stack back. More fabric isn't automatically better, especially with stationary panels.
4. Confirm your hardware. Know your rod size, brackets, finials and exact number of rings/hooks before installation day.
5. Decide whether your drapery needs to function. Ours is stationary because privacy isn't an issue and who's opening and closing 17-foot curtains every day without automation? 😂
And Then That First Panel Went Up…
WOW.
For years, those windows had simply been tall, naked openings.
The drapery suddenly made me appreciate their scale.
It didn't hide the architecture.
It emphasized it.
Four panels gave the room the softness and balance it had been missing.
Dramatic without being heavy.
Elegant without feeling formal.
Restrained drama.
Now we had the paint, molding, fireplace, lighting, larger rug and nearly 17 feet of linen.
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Two additions from this renovation turned out to be great finds.
Rechargeable Up-lights — I used these beneath the fiddle-leaf tree, and in my use they lasted more than 12 hours on a charge.
Remote Wall Sconces — These gave us another layer of lighting along the stairs without adding another major fixture.
This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase through one of my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. I share products and resources that I use, specify or believe are worth considering for your home.
When Should You Hire a Professional Installer?
Could someone DIY extra-tall drapery?
Possibly.
Would I recommend climbing a 30-foot ladder while maneuvering an almost 17-foot piece of fabric?
Absolutely not.
No ma'am. 😂
For unusually tall windows, heavy treatments, specialty hardware or complicated wall conditions, professional installation is worth considering.
Our installation required working at significant height while managing large wooden hardware and extremely long fabric panels.
Watching Charles work only reinforced my decision.
Sometimes the best DIY decision is knowing what not to DIY.
My Extra-Tall Drapery Checklist
If you're considering custom drapery for tall or two-story windows, save this list:
☐ Decide whether the drapery will be stationary or functional
☐ Determine whether privacy/light control is required
☐ Measure the installation point to finished hem, not simply the window
☐ Consider professional/laser measurement for extra-tall applications
☐ Confirm finished panel length - (TwoPages has helpful instructions and video on their site)
☐ Confirm finished panel width
☐ Calculate desired fullness
☐ Calculate expected stack back
☐ Determine how much glass you want exposed
☐ Select an appropriate heading/pleat style
☐ Confirm fabric weight and behavior
☐ Choose properly scaled rods and finials
☐ Verify bracket projection and placement
☐ Confirm hardware can support the treatment
☐ Confirm exact ring/hook quantity per panel
☐ Check whether rings/hooks are included or ordered separately
☐ Unpack and inspect ALL hardware before installation day
☐ Confirm wall/anchor requirements
☐ Plan for steaming after installation
☐ Allow natural fabrics time to relax and settle
☐ For very tall installations, seriously consider a professional
That's a lot more than:
“How long should my curtains be?” 😂
And that's exactly the point.
Decide How Your Drapery Needs to Function Before You Order It
This should happen early in the process.
Ask yourself:
Will these curtains actually open and close?
Ours don't need to.
Privacy isn't an issue in this room, and realistically, without motorization or some other system, who's opening and closing nearly 17-foot drapes every morning and night?
Not me. LOL!
So ours are stationary.
That decision affects more than function. It can affect:
Panel width
Fullness
Stack Back
Hardware
Number of panels
Placement
If you need functioning drapery, your calculations may be completely different.
And if you're working with extremely tall windows and want operable treatments, this is where I would seriously consider discussing motorization with your window-treatment professional.
Watch Design Diaries Ep. 1 : The Vision → https://youtu.be/RiGAz6LHfo0
Watch Design Diaries Ep. 2 : The Renovation → https://youtu.be/VI7PRhUdS6o
There was only one question left:
Would everything work together the way I'd imagined?
There's only one way to find out.
Next in Design Diaries: The Reveal.
You've seen the pieces. Now it's time to see the room.
Southern Girl Interiors
Designing a beautiful home isn't simply about making it look good. It's about creating a home that works for the life you're actually living.
Stay Style Savvy & thanks for stopping by. 😘
Hugs & Love
The Southern Girl
Chantée Lavette
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