Windows: Eyes to the World

Written by Miles Johnson

If eyes are the windows to the soul, then windows must be the eyes to the world.

Often-times people will neglect their windows, choosing either function or aesthetic but rarely both. Typically a window becomes that place where some fabric, horizontals or (gasp) verticals are thrown in place just to “get the job done” and left because, well, the job is done. But honestly, it doesn’t take a lot of effort or a ton of money to make your windows truly part of your room rather than an obligation. One only need ask themselves two key questions when beginning the journey:

How should my window treatment function? Three primary considerations are privacy, light control, and insulation.

How should my window treatment co-exist with my existing décor? Certainly a window treatment should complement the décor. In addition, a window treatment needs to define the area it’s covering, much like a picture frame defines the boundary of art. Finally, a good window treatment neither retreats nor creates such an visual impact as to supersede all the other elements in a room. Instead, the hard or soft treatment you choose should be at one with the space. The first step to striking this delicate balance is to create a list of priorities for your treatment.

Designer’s Tip: There are two sides to every window treatment. A thoughtfully-executed window treatment will look as good from the street as it does from the inside of the home. Note that some picky neighborhoods may actually require that all window treatments have a uniform (often white) appearance from the street. When in doubt, check with your neighborhood association or CC&Rs.

With this particular situation, there were a number of considerations. The foremost was maximizing window space.

Additionally, the windows in question received brutal afternoon sun which made that part of the living room uncomfortable during the summer months. Thusly, lining the heavier fabric with a chemically-treated lining is a must; it preserves the decorative quality of the fabric as well as gives a modicum of insulation from the penetrating heat.

Knowing the challenges helped to create the list of priorities: an opaque treatment to block the most direct sunlight, and a boxed valance to maximize window space and light. And since accessibility was also a high priority, we needed a treatment that could be swept to the side with a minimum of effort.

The result is a radical, yet functional, change from the look of blank windows to a warm and tailored look of layered drapes with a tastefully designed valance.

--photos by ©istockphoto.com/woogies1/susabell,

Article appeared in our 26-5 Issue - December 2009