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DESIGN SOLUTIONS

Holiday Grab Bag
Three Challenges, three solutions to these window treatment dilemmas.

by Sharon L. Anderson

CHALLENGE: I have a client with three windows in her living room about 48 by 64 inches each with about 24 inches in between each window. The wall on which these windows are placed is large. The ceiling is high, and 10 feet up is a half-circle clerestory window. I think three individual treatments would not look right.

I think I need fabric to soften the wall and am thinking tab tops to keep the lines simple. What is the best way to tie all three windows together, or do you think I should just do three separate treatments and forget it?

SOLUTION: You want the best for your client’s windows as they usually serve as the focal point in the room. You need to consider their visual affect with window treatments, as they can be an asset to any room! The best way to give continuity to an area that is busy with architectural and decorative elements is to create an even flow of color and texture. A treatment consisting of one overtreatment that starts on the left and continues without a break will bring continuity to the wall.

The undertreatment also can be designed as one. It could have a center opening or a one-way draw, depending on the type of treatment chosen. For example, if you chose to design center opening verticals or center opening panels of fabric, the treatment would appear as one and hide the break in between the three windows.

CHALLENGE: As visitors walk into the entry of my client’s home, they immediately see vertical blinds on the opposite wall that take up much of the space. The client does not have the budget now to change the windows and is in a dilemma. What affordable options can I offer?

SOLUTION: Think about taking down the verticals and making creative changes to them. One idea is to paint the vertical blinds using a color that will enhance the space. There are specialty paints now, such as Krylon, that adhere to plastic. Be sure to conduct a test first on an area on the back of the product.

Another creative change would be to adhere wallpaper to the verticals. Using a subtle tone-on-tone paper that would blend with other elements in the room would ease the effect of seeing a large expanse of vertical blinds.
Also, try adding a top treatment such as a decorative arched valance. It will work wonders!

CHALLENGE: I’m working with a client who just moved into a new home and she has no idea what she’d like me to do with a bay window, which measures 117 inches across by 63 inches high. It is in the middle of the wall, and the window faces south.

The other furnishings in the room consists of a television, two leather sofas and a matching fabric chair. Could you please help with some suggestions for the window treatment? This client is open to just about anything!

SOLUTION: This is an important challenge! This window is over 12 feet wide and about five feet high and, as it is located in the center of the wall, it certainly will be the focal point in this room. Designing the correct window treatment is of the utmost importance!

There are two ways to go with this: 1) Choose color and texture for the window treatment that will draw attention to the window and make it stand out using the wall as a backdrop. 2) Choose color and texture that will blend in with the surrounding furniture and wall color and make it become a part of the room.

The style of treatment you choose needs to be energy efficient as well as beautiful because the window faces south and will receive much strong sunlight all year round. Some choices to consider would be pairs of wood shutters, soft window shadings that offer fabric vanes and sheer fabric to control the light, or vertical blinds that could visually add to the height of the window as it is so much wider than it is taller.

I would definitely include a deep decorative valance. This would also add height to the window treatment and soften a hard treatment if chosen. Remember, too, that pinch pleated draperies and valances have come back onto the scene. Fabrics always soften a wall, as do soft shades and shadings.

But remember, the color choice is definitely an important part of this window design decision, especially because it is a large window area.

Editor’s note: This is a continuing series of articles written by Sharon L. Anderson that will answer some of the many questions we receive at Draperies & Window Coverings as well as questions Anderson has encountered in her own business. If you have a question you would like Anderson to address, please send it to:

Design Solutions
c/o Draperies & Window Coverings
1724 E. Grand Ave.
Lindenhurst, IL 60046
Fax: (847) 356-9013
E-mail: MsSharonAnderson@aol.com