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Wow Windows
These Treatments Are a Real Treat! By Kelly Burgess
Many years ago, when Barrett's mother was doing window treatments, the drapes were the same color as the walls, which were the same color as the carpet. It was merely background for the furniture. Now, window treatments are an important part of the overall d袯r of a room. But it's still important to follow some basic design principles such as proportion and scale. "Usually, you start at the ceiling and work down," she says. "This adds height, formality and drama. Also in general, window treatments should stop at one of three places sill, apron or floor. Anything else looks awkward."
Here are some of Barrett's guidelines for effective window treatments:
- Top Treatments Barrett says the biggest mistake she sees is making the top treatment too short. It should be at least 1/5 or 1/6 the length of the total treatment.
- Rule of Three This is a basic decorating tenet that any grouping of three is more aesthetically pleasing. This applies to window treatments as well.
- Pools and Puddles Draperies should always touch the floor. Puddle them for dramatic effect.
- Mounting A window treatment should never be mounted right on the frame; it should be at least three inches above a window. For windows topped with transoms, the treatment should start above the transom.
Politi agrees with these rules of design, noting that using as much of the floor-to-ceiling space as possible can give a room vertical dimension as well as hiding the flaws in a window. However, when it comes to creating window toppings, her only rules are to express the personality of the room and its owner. "It's important to think outside the box and not to be limited by what you can buy in the window department of a store," she says. "You can get your inspiration from nature, from looking at magazines, or from the interests or hobbies of the person who uses that room. Try to be inspired by the room."
Some examples that Politi has used in her decorating:
- Kid's Rooms Politi painted baseball-sized Styrofoam balls to look like baseballs and stuck them on the end of a plain curtain rod instead of purchasing finials for a sports-loving child's room.
- Valances To create a room with an Arabian theme, Politi purchased a table runner made from a satiny material with tassels, stapled it above the window, and then glued faux gems to the staples.
- Curtain Rods Rather than store bought, Politi suggests using tree branches (for a garden room), hockey sticks (another idea for a sports fan) or anything else that will hold a draped material. Again, let the room be the inspiration.