Design diaries

Why Window Treatments? A lot of clients ask how homes in professional pictures and magazines look so finished and luxurious. I tell them custom window treatments make a huge difference. Shutters, shades, and draperies can transform even the most humble of spaces into something fabulous. Because 1) it softens the hard edges and starkness of windows and 2) makes your room not look like a college student’s apartment. Number one is fairly clear cut - without window treatments, most rooms look unfinished and gives off the feeling of a “just moved in” look. The second reason resonants with many as we look back to our college years and admit we did NOT have the funds to invest in window treatments. There were better uses for that money (beer!), our housing was not permanent (how many different addresses did we have?), and there were existing window coverings (plastic/metal/vertical blinds). Somehow, we kept window coverings on the back burner even after college, and additionally we harbored the fear we were going to end up with our parents over the top traditional window treatments - lace, bows, tassels, jabots, and lots of unnecessary layers. Today, curtains don’t remotely resemble the fussy ones our parents had but come in varied sizes, shapes, and colors. They still provide color and texture which is a needed design element to bring a room together. These treatments can range from being ultra modern to traditional and everything in between. But, what really distinguishes the functional from the stunning is going custom. Custom-made for your window means it’s the right size, fabric, and function (like room darkening vs sheer). Most windows are not standard sizes whereas store bought window treatments are. For example, you will find store bought drapes come in 84”, 96”, or 108” lengths. However, the height of the window will not be consistent with those measurements and will lend the drapes usually being too short (inches off the floor) or very puddled (think early 2000 trend!). The correct length for your window is not a simple answer, but anyone who provides custom window treatments can help determine that. Shades have also come a long way in the past 30 years and like drapery, can be modern or traditional with added embellishments like trim. Lastly, shutters are still a favorite in many homes, especially because it offers a more permanent solution and a certain look (traditional, transitional, southern charm). So, if you want the magazine-drool-worthy room, don’t forget the window treatments. It’s all in the details.