Dressed To Impress: Stylish Window Treatments
Window treatments have been MIA of late, but they’re starting to make their return. Chrissie Jeffery, creative director at textiles shop No Chintz, gives us her expert advice on choosing window treatments that will frame your windows nicely and add polished style to your home too.
PLANTATION SHUTTERS
“These are less window furnishings and more an architectural feature,” says Chrissie Jeffrey of No Chintz. Shutters are chic and smart, and allow light and air in while maintaining privacy. They’re good in situations where curtains might not fare so well, such as bathroom windows. Consider using them in a boy’s room, if a fabric option isn’t the right fit, or to disguise an ugly outlook. “Shutters let in a lot of light, so if you wanted to soften the brightness you’d be better going for a translucent roller blind,” advises Chrissie. “Shutters don’t provide full block out for sleeping, but are good light filters.” Shutters are adjusted with a tilt bar, positioned in the middle. Note that the name doesn’t mean they are produced from plantation timber – in fact, many modern shutters are often not made of timber – but it refers to a style of house that they
were found on.
Tip: Look beyond plantation shutters for effective protection from light and heat. These heavy-duty shutters are ideal for west-facing rooms or for cooler climates.
CURTAINS
There are many lovely fabrics on offer for curtains and a million ways to hang them. Playing with length, texture – such as sheers, linens and cottons – and the weight of drapes is a great way to add visual interest. Two-fabric combinations can also act as insulation and soundproofing. If you’re doing the curtain measuring yourself, remember that you need more fabric than the width of the window. This could be anything from 1.5 to 3 times the width of the curtain fixture, depending on how much volume you want. There are also plenty of instructions and videos online about how to measure windows; try curtainsonthenet.com.au or blindsonline.com.au as a starting point. Apart from the look of your curtains, you’ll also want to consider the mechanics. A curtain rod with a ‘flick stick’ is a great fit for a small window in a study, while motorised curtains on tracks would suit an open-plan living area. “Motorisation is the ideal choice for style, elegance and convenience,” says Jenny Brown of Luxaflex Window Fashions. Decorative elements, such as finials for the curtain rod ends, ornate cleats to secure your cords, and pelmets that frame the window, are some options for finishing touches.
Tip: There’s no sign of rods or tracks with these curtains that are mounted flush with the cornices. Ceiling mounts give you maximum height and a neat finish.
ROMAN BLINDS
This option hangs straight but concertinas up in evenly spaced folds when you pull on the cord. As you raise the blind, the excess cord can be tied to a cleat at the side. Cord locks allow you to secure the blind easily at set heights. Choose stiff fabrics for a smart, crisp look, or soft ones for a relaxed feel. The top 30cm or so of a Roman blind remains in place, forming a kind of pelmet when the blind is fully raised, so be wary of using them on windows you like to leave open. In this case, wind will blow dirt and dust onto the back of an exposed blind, and rain will hit it, encouraging mould. It’s often better to face-mount these blinds – where they’re fitted over the architrave – well clear of the top of the window, as this is more effective at blocking light.
Tip: Don’t get hung up on keeping everything the same within a room. The vertical fall of the drapes versus the horizontal line of the raised blind helps define the space.
Roller blinds are an inexpensive way to cover your windows and achieve a clean, no-fuss look. Fabric options range from sheer to full block out, with features such as anti-fungal properties and UV filters available. Roller blinds are often used in conjunction with curtains to offer a different level of opacity, so you have more ways to control glare, privacy, insulation and outlook. Roller blinds can be hung in two ways: front roll, which hides the roll at the top of the window (important if the fabric is bonded at the back); and back roll, where the roll is visible and the fabric needs to be the same on either side, as it’s mainly the underside that’s on show. Blinds that roll back sit closer against the window, providing better light control. You can also install motorised roller blinds.
Tip: Many windows require two treatments to deal with the elements. Plain, white blinds moderate the heat and glare, while the sheer curtain adds colour and greater privacy when drawn.
For more inspo, check out these ideas:
Liked this? For more expert advice try:
* window treatments: a guide on the dos and don’ts
* Wayd’s kitchen dos and don’ts
* Sean’s kitchen design advice
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