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Myriad Choices
Most homeowners, especially younger ones, are confused by choices in window treatments, says Wendy S. Marcus-Goer, a South Carolina interior designer. Marcus-Goer lists helping clients plan window treatments as one of her most challenging tasks and says she tries to make them understand that choosing styles and fabrics should be fun. " People shouldn't dread choosing window treatments," Marcus-Goer says. "Especially with decor as loose as it is now, you can do things with your windows that you never did before. Window treatments are really more of an accessory than they've ever been." To decide what kind of treatments are right for your windows, Marcus-Goer suggests first considering the intended function of each window. " Sure, you want to block light, but do you also want to frame a view or have some UV protection or have it match a really striking decor?" she says. "A window treatment can function as well as a piece of furniture can. There are some really great shades, for example, that can do everything but open and close the window for you." Marcus-Goer is fond of window treatments that "don't just sit there, but actually do something." A good example is a plantation shutter, which can be closed at an angle to allow in as much or as little light as desired. A pleated shade, one of the most popular window treatments, is another common problem solver; it can pull down from the top or draw up from the bottom, and its opacity can allow privacy or partially frame a view. Both treatments can be accompanied by a curtain, valance, or a combination of both. Window Treatments Roller shade: The basic purpose of this treatment is room darkening. Usually opaque, it can descend all the way down for total darkness or rolled all the way up for loads of light. It's available in all fabrics and colors, and don't worry—yesterday's snap-tight roller mechanism has been greatly improved. Balloon shade: This fabric window treatment features a scalloped bottom edge and draws up in soft, billowy folds. It operates by means of a series of tapes with rings, through which cords are threaded. Pleated or cellular shade: These can be lowered from the top or raised from the bottom for a variety of uses and effects. The term "cellular" refers to the shade's construction: It's made of small cells, or pleats, that insulate as they diffuse or allow light. Plantation shutter: A "built-in" shutter, this is placed inside the window frame. Its louvers can be tilted open or closed by manipulating a knob to let in as much light as desired. It's available in lots of colors and materials. Roman shade: This fabric window treatment is raised and lowered in horizontal folds by means of a series of tapes to which rings, threaded with cord, are attached. It pleats flat when raised completely. Vertical blinds: Usually made of wood or plastic, these blinds hang vertically from windows or sliding doors; individual panels open or close to allow or deflect as much light as desired. Lambrequin: More popular in centuries past, the lambrequin is enjoying a resurgence as people seek elaborate framing for dramatic views. Usually constructed from ornately decorated or painted wood, the lambrequin is essentially a frame for a window; this one mimics a swag-and-jabot treatment. It reaches from the top of the window down the sides to the floor and is anchored all around. It does not cover the window itself; additional treatments are needed for light reduction. Cafe curtains: These short curtains are often hung in tiers, usually from rods with rings. They may also be gathered on a curtain rod for an informal, semistationary treatment.
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Window Treatments...
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