Types Of Windows
Consider your windows. Look at them; study their appearance in relation to the room. Do they occupy a large proportion of wall space, or are they small rectangles punched into the wall? Are the part of the architecture of the room, such as a bay window or dormer window? Start by learning to identify the different types of windows, because this knowledge will narrow down your options for the types of blinds you choose.
Sash windows open vertically by means of a sash cord and are surrounded by a frame or moulding. Casement windows can be double or single, and usually open out. Both types lend themselves to a variety of blinds. French doors, however, usually open into the room, which presents a problem for curtains, shades, and blinds. Curtain poles and tracks need to be set wide and high enough over a French door to allow the fabric to stack away when the window is opened. Blinds or shades can work but need to pull high and clear of the window or be specially made to fit each frame. Bay windows consist of a series of windows that extend out from a wall either in a curve or a rectangle. If the windows are sash or outward opening casements, you can install a track or pole with brackets to fit so that the blinds follow the bay. Where such windows open into the room each one will need its own shade of blind, or curtains that stand clear of the openings.
The key to walls of glass, sliding doors, and large loft windows is to obscure as little of the architecture and view as possible. Concealed tracks pull up shades or blinds, and external shutters of blinds will work well in these situations because the practical designs allow the architecture to take centre stage. Likewise, circular and arched windows are beautiful architectural features in their own right, which are best left unadorned. Dormer windows can be dressed with curtains or window blinds that pivot and lie flat against the side walls when open. They can also be dressed with individual roll-up shades. Dormer windows which are slanted, are best treated with blinds on tracks installed top and bottom.
Whatever the challenge of treating a window presents, try to solve it in the most logical and simplest manner-the most complicated the solution, the more widely it will be the wrong one.
Creating The Effect
Once, long ago, we knew exactly what to do with a window. Householders in the 18th century essentially left their windows bare. Material was too expensive to be used in any lavish way, so people were content with a ruffle above the window, or cotton strung across the middle and relied upon shutters for privacy and warmth. As fabric became more readily available and cheaper in the 19th century, window dressing became de rigueur with lace portieres, Ruched shades, bales of patterned silk, and cheerful printed cotton creating layer upon layer of drapery and adding to the assortment of patterns and textures in a room. For many of us, that’s still the solution – covering the window in layers and tassels and swags like a well-iced cake, with the first layer almost inevitably, sheer. One of the reasons may stem from a practical need: all houses have old Windows – and all windows are often draughty.
But as we move into the 21st century, there is a new way of looking at window blinds and what they can bring to a room. This development is partly prompted by technology – there are better ways to keep ourselves warm than draping heavy fabrics against every window. Double glazing and central heating allow us to lighten up and uncloak our lives. And with this freedom comes a shift in focus to the effect we would like to create. Do we want high drama or simple serenity? Do we prefer a classic treatment or something a little more ideal or sympathetic to put a personal stamp on the room?
These days anything goes. Fashion trends and the availability of a vast choice of materials means we can choose fabrics and patterns, new accessories and trimmings for window blinds that might startle our grandmothers but perfectly suit today’s easier lifestyle, with its quest for the exotic as well as the familiar. The same freedom of choices applies to hardware. Tension wire kits with eyelets are virtually supermarket items can transport a room into the new century. Multitrack gliding panel systems mean versatile control of windows from a translucent covering during the day to a total blackout. Double-track systems render elaborate valances almost superfluous. The knock-on effect is that we need much less fabric, which means you we can buy an exquisite taffeta we couldn’t afford before, or go to the other extreme and install blinds that we can change with the seasons. Look around at what inspires you, what influences your taste, and head to the local department stores this research is the wealth of fabrics, trimmings and blinds on offer.
With the right combination of style and fabric, we can immediately establish a room’s atmosphere and mood. We can select blinds that draw the focus to the window by using strong colours and patterns next to more neutral furnishings. We can set this style by complementing period furniture with a sympathetic blind design. We can make the windows recede into the background if they are unattractive, or cover an inspiring view with softer colours and an understated design. Now, more than ever we can combine function with beautiful textiles and unique designs at 1st Choice Blinds Edinburgh.
