Designing for Challenging Windows - Doors

Doors

The last challenging window type is a door.  Typically French Doors are the most difficult because they swing inward and can fight with draperies and valances.  The saying that “necessity is the mother of invention” paved the way for a couple of great hardware options developed specifically for these situations.  Swing rods are drapery rods that are hinged so that they can literally “swing open” along with the door.  When the door is closed, the rod can also be swung open independently so that the outside view isn’t lost.  This is a great way to incorporate draperies into your décor without losing functionality. 

Not a drapery fan?  Then opt for a valance that can be attached to the door and swing along with it.  Rowley Company, manufacturer of workroom supplies, has come up with this great invention so that you aren’t limited to shades on your door. 

No matter what your situation, there are an infinite number of choices and products on the market that can accommodate you.  Let us be your resource for all of your window treatment needs and offer our expertise and knowledge to find the best possible solution.

Designing for Challenging Windows - Two Story Windows

Two Story Windows

Two story windows are another difficult window configuration to treat.  Like the specialty shaped windows, clients are often confused about whether to treat them or leave them exposed.  Again, this is a difficult question to answer and depends upon other factors.  I often ask how the room is utilized or how the client wants the room to feel.  Bringing the eye down lower and treating only lower windows tends to make the room feel more intimate and inviting.  Incorporating upper windows accentuates the height of the room and can make a big impact and elicit a feeling of grandeur.  In either case, the effective use of window treatments in these setting always provides softness to the room and can often help with noise reduction since these rooms tend to echo. 

As with bay windows, adding window treatments can often unify the space and make sense of the grouping rather than looking at individual windows.  Adding window treatments doesn’t mean sacrificing a view, it just makes it prettier!

Desigining for Challenging Windows - Arched and Speciality

Arched and Specialty

Arched and Specialty shaped windows can be particularly challenging due to their unusual shapes and the inability to purchase something “off the rack”.  These windows typically require something custom made to fit the exact dimension of the window.  People often ask if they should dress the window at all or leave it completely exposed.  That’s a difficult question to answer and I think it depends upon many factors.  Things to consider are other architectural elements in the room and how the windows relate to it.  Typically window treatments are utilized to “dress” the window and not to provide any sort of functionality such as light control or privacy. 

Decorative medallions are often used for mounting window treatments on these types of windows because it gives the designer more flexibility in navigating around curves.    It also adds a decorative element that can be seen when viewed from far away such as on a two story window.  Rods can also be custom made to fit the exact arch of a window and rings can be welded to those rods to hold them in place.  These options are available “to the trade” only and would need to be purchased through your window treatment professional.   Since measuring can be tricky, you’ll be happy to leave this job to someone else!

There are hard treatments that can utilized for specialty shapes as well.  These would provide a functional treatment to control sunlight, provide UV protection and privacy.  Plantation Shutters and Cellular Shades are just some of the treatments available to fit arches, trapezoids and transom windows and most require a template for the product to be manufactured.

Desigining for Challenging Windows - Bow Windows

Bow Windows

Bow windows are different in that they are more curved and usually have one common casing around all of the windows.  There is typically a combination of four or more casement windows, which join together to form an arch.  The challenge of these windows is that they are narrow and close together with limited mounting space for treatments.  There are also multiple angles to contend with.

For these windows, we will typically recommend a functional inner treatment and dress the entire window by mounting the soft treatment on the outer wall.  By mounting the treatment above the window, it optimizes the amount of light entering the room but privacy isn’t sacrificed because of the shades.  Sheers, roman shades, cellular shades or blinds can be used on windows for privacy depending upon the depth of the windows and available mounting space. 

Designing for Challenging Windows - Bay Windows

We recently held a Wine & Design event at our shop entitled “Designing for Challenging Windows”.  We thought this was an appropriate topic because we usually get called to client’s homes for this particular issue.  The most common window challenges are bays and bows, two story, French doors, angles and specialty shapes. 

 Bay Windows

Bay windows are defined as a window space projecting outward from the main walls of a building either square or polygonal in plan.  So typically each window and the wall that it’s attached to are at a different angle than the other windows in the bay.  In this scenario, we try to unify the windows with the use of window treatments to create a more cohesive look within the room.  This can make the windows appear larger and soften the area.  It can also create a more inviting space. 

These windows typically are designed with an outer drape or jabot to “frame” the area.  Treatments are often mounted on a board so that the boards can be mitered to fit the exact angle of the window thus giving you a very custom look.