A BAY WINDOW!!!!
Your heart sinks at the thought of dressing this beautiful architectural feature.
Even thought they have been around since the medieval times they became popularised in the Victorian era and are still used today even in modern architecture.
Medieval Bay Window
Victorian Bay Window
Modern Bay Window
There are several types of bay window.
1. Splay bay. As the first two that are 135 degrees aprox. These are generally in three panes.
2. Multiple Splay. Several panes.
3. Box Bay .90 degrees.
4.Curved Bay / Bow.
5.Half Box.
6.Half splay.
7. Triangular
All come with slight variances, some have additional wall sections on the side some do not. Some have sills that come out of the bay, some do not. Some bays have a section of wall between each window referred to as a mullion.
Plan view with and without walls.
C shows the way a bay can end on its extreme end left and a different way on the right. See the additional wall piece.
A bay either has its own ceiling that drops down into the bay from the main ceiling in the room , or it shares its ceiling with the room.
This bay has its own ceiling. Face view 1.
This bay shares its ceiling with the room. Face view 2
The profile of these bays can also vary quite a bit. See ……….
Profile Bay 1. Own ceiling no cove.
Profile Bay 2 .Shares ceiling and has cove.
Profile Bay 3. No cove and shares its ceiling.
Profile Bay 4. No cove,shares ceiling, frame of window projects.
Profile Bay 5. Frame projects, cove. ceiling.
With number five it can be quite tricky with only a small gap between window and cove but sometimes you are lucky and can fit a pelmet board in the gap and support the board with a T bracket fixed to the face of the top of the window frame. Additional support can be given where curtain will be heaviest at sides using an L bracket after the window frame.
Quite a few I know, and there are more but these just give you an idea.
All These have to be tackled differently and for this reason I recommend that a professional is used to advise and measure them. They are almost like human beings, they have to be treated as individuals and approached as such.
If you are going to attempt to measure your bay you will need the following.
- Strong tape measure (I recommend a FAT MAX)
- Pad with a simple line diagram on as above to mark sizes on with (I would not recomend measuring without a diagram, sizes can and do get mixed up if this is done in my experience)
- Pen / pencil
- Angle measurer (I use one that was sent to me by Silent Gliss) they are fab. http://www.silentgliss.co.uk
Take your time!!!! Measure in only one unit. Inches or cm’s do not mix.
- Be aware of any picture rails and their positions in relation to everything else.
- Take note of the sill and picture rail projections that may stop you having long curtains.
- Look at the casement of the window and if it projects as well as the handles.
- You cannot got across the front of a bay with a pole if it does not have its own ceiling. See Face 2 unlike Face 1.
- Look at how much space there is for a bracket and if there is coving giving you space to lift the pole into the brackets when in position.
- Measure all broken up drops (ceiling to window, window top to sill etc)
- Measure overall drop and see if the broken up sizes add approx up to the whole. (I normally give an allowance of 1/4 “. Any more and I double check sizes).
- When measuring top of sill to floor measure floor up it is easier, put you eye in line with top of sill to get the size off the tape measure. It is far more accurate to measure this way.
Bow windows are very different.
Plan view of simple Bow windows.
If you want a pole in the bow you need to make a template of the bow using paper, measure in to where rail is required and mark on paper. Double check vertical position with a laser measure. This whole template will then need to be sent to the people making the pole. This type of measure is needed if there is a channel recess in the ceiling .
Plan view of Bow channel.
If there is no channel the following measure can be done.
Measure a bow plan view.
A= Soft length measure.
B= Evenly spaced back to front measurements.
C= Wall to wall size across bow front.
I must stress again that I would recommend a professional to measure these windows, mistakes can be costly.
The results can be wonderful and interesting when measured correctly.
An Uber Interiors Design Valance and curtains in bay.
Half bay pelmet and blinds.
Metropole in bay
We can go on and on. variety is the spice of life.
Please post any questions or photos you have about bay windows and I will respond asap.
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