Welcome to Exciting Windows!

Any window opening that is not square or rectangular is reffered to as a specialty shape. These windows are usually used as an architectural detail in home construction and add to the beauty of the home. The windows themselves are beautiful and are usually quite expensive. When the homeowner decides that some sort of covering is needed, preserving the beauty of the opening is normally a priority added to the need for privacy, light control, UV or glare protection.

In this series we will tackle each of the common shapes of windows and the appropriate choices for that particular shape. For more information see our gallery of specialty shaped windows.

Although not traditionally considered by home buyers, architects or builders, the planning and budgeting for window treatments prior to the building phase is fast becoming one of the most important trends in residential construction today. There are many practical reasons for this shift, not the least of which is ensuring there is a sufficient budget for the home buyer to choose window treatments that adequately complement a dream home.

Available choices in treatments today are much more varied than ever before. The home buyer must choose from selections that include traditional draperies, simple blinds or shades, increasingly popular plantation shutters, or window film that reduces glare, fading and heat gain. Along with these options, the savvy homeowner is likely to ask that these treatments be motorized and possibly interact with a home automation system.

The last post in this series on maintaining privacy and view for ocean and lake front homes.

The window covering industry has developed a number of products in the last few years to address this need. Principally Hunter Douglas has developed what has become a whole new category of treatments called soft shadings.

These treatments are for the most part a combination of a blind and one or more sheer fabric layers. The best known is probably the horizontal soft blind called Silhouette. available in louver sizes from 2″-4″, the view through the sheer fabric is great, and privacy is assured by tilting the veins at night. The vertical pairing to the Silhouette is the Luminette. This beautiful treatment combines a fabric vertical blind with a crisp sheer outer facing. Open or closed this treatment is always beautiful.

The newest entry in this category is a product called Pirouette by Hunter Douglas again. This roman shade look alike is attractive as a shade, but continue to pull the cord and the roman ‘pleats’ gather together to uncover a sheer layer that provides day time privacy and UV/Glare control.

Continuing our discussion of privacy control for beach and water front homes we have our next option;

2. Louvered treatments, both horizontal and vertical blinds are very functional for water front homes. This category includes the common mini and vertical blind as well as the very traditional wood venetian blind. The most popular option in this category today is the plantation shutter. Shutters are ‘furniture for your windows’ . they are beautiful by themselves and are incredibly functional. The larger louver preserves the view, and a flick of the wrist ensures privacy. All Horizontal blinds and shutters should have the louvers tilt horizontal or up at all times to protect from UV damage.

Maintaining privacy for beach front homes is always a challenge. Any window treatment that can be seen through during the day, will allow those outside to see into the home at night. The solution for these situations is to choose a product that can easily close or tilt for privacy. There are a number of options to choose form today.

1. Traditional draperies with sheer under drapes. The sheer drape provides UV and glare protection during the day, and some level of view through. The over drape can be closed in the evening for privacy

We will explore other option in the coming days.