Are you asking what to call the thing that hides the curtains, or what the name is for the kind of curtain? Curtains that hang from a rod and close off the window by sliding left to right to center are technically drapes. The kind that closes off the window by sliding down are called shades, typically Roman shades. The thing above that hides the track of the curtains or into which the shade recesses is called a soffit if it is dropped down from the ceiling, or a recessed pocket if it is cut up into the ceiling. This is an example of a shade in a recessed pocket:

Here is a perfect example of how to hang simple panels. Rod is ABOVE the frame and extended onto the wall so that the fabric clears the glass. There is no need to cover higher transom windows. They look great unadorned. Here is another suggestion for transom and double hung. Transom plain and affordable matchstick blinds. And then there is the window treatment that takes care of it all. This is my #1 favorite…the plantation shutter. Not inexpensive, worth the investment, you can leave them as is or you can hang panels for more color, easy to clean, adjustable for any light/privacy needs and you will have them the rest of your life. If I were you and just starting out in a new home, I would do plantation shutters, and if budget-minded, do one room at a time.

Hi. There's a few things you're going to need to think about for your curtains. 1. Linen and cotton are natural fibres and will fade over time. Is this an issue for you? There can also be some 'movement' in these fabrics and depending on the heat and humidity, their finished length can change by a few millimetres to a couple of centimetres per day. So make sure you take this into consideration when choosing the length of the curtains. 2. Are the roller blinds fitted inside the window frames or outside/on top? If they're inside fit, that's great, you'll be able to put the curtains in front of the rollers. If not, you'll want to place the curtains behind the rollers, otherwise you'll have to have then sticking quite far out from the wall and it might not be a great look. 3. The pics you've supplied all have different headings. Work out what style of heading you like best, then work through your fabric options. 4. Make sure you purchase the right track/rod for the curtains (the heading style dictates the track/rod). I love the softness sheers add to a room and they look great over roller blinds. Good luck and have fun :)

another idea if you had a plain pelmet that was within the alcove that came from the bottom of the picture rail to the top of the window and flush with the walls on both sides painted the same as the wall colour., you could then run your black curtain rod across the alcove pelmet which would look like the wall. When I had my Ferderation House we painted the bedroom walls up to and including the picture rail in the same colour. The wall above the picture rail and the ceiling were painted flat white, along with skirting boards, an old painter told me about this and it looks brilliant. A couple more photo's for you with different looks This is similar to what I have tried to explain by running a plain pelmet across the whole alcove and then the black rod running from either side outside the alcove with the curtains against the outer wall, the pelmet would look like part of the wall.