If you have casement windows, she said, Roman shades are an option. She recommended mounting them at least six inches above the casing, so that when the shade is up it doesn’t block the light.

But “my recommendation is to go with draperies,” she added, “as you get the full view of the window when open.”

That’s what she did for a library in Greenwich, Conn., where she chose a linen from Osborne & Little in a blue-and-gray ombre, to complement the color of the walls. For the hardware, she used a clear Lucite rod with rings, brackets and end caps in polished nickel.

As a general rule, she said, use a rod wide enough to allow at least six inches to each side of the frame for smaller windows; eight to 10 inches on each side of a double-width window; and up to a foot on each side for larger windows. You should also avoid pushing the drapery past the window casing, she noted, as “it looks better when the drapes cover the casing on each side and frame the window.”