Window treatment an essential element of room design
Window coverings have climbed higher on homeowners' priority lists in recent years. And it's not because glare or privacy have become greater concerns; it's because windows have become greater in size.
Even when the view from a "Hummer house" (an overly large home) qualifies as spectacular, its occupants almost certainly will not feel comfortable if the windows are always left uncovered. Still, the expense of treating windows purely for privacy purposes may be hard for many homeowners to justify.
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Design issues arise, as well.
Window coverings must be regarded as essential to the look of a room, not as an incidental element. Their visual prominence necessitates the same careful planning given to furniture and color schemes.
Q: I'm designing a guest room that will be used mainly by a gentleman. I envision a simple, quiet setting with modern styling. Most of the elements will be easy to select, but I feel less confident about the color scheme and window coverings. Any suggestions?
A: I recommend using rich colors of the sort seen in the accompanying photo of a guest room that appears to meet your design specifications.
Modern-style furniture in a dark brown finish was the choice for this simple yet elegant setting. The wood on the walls has been given a distressed finish and fitted out with orange-red tapes that match some of the stripes in the side curtains.
The pumpkin color isn't ordinary and does make a strong design statement.
It's my experience that a palette of red, gold and brown often appeals to men. They're earthy colors that, combined, produce a masculine atmosphere.
Wood blinds will be more suitable than curtains or heavy draperies in this sort of setting. The clear superiority of that choice illustrates my point about the importance of viewing window coverings as integral to a room's overall design.
These particular blinds are part of Hunter Douglas' Chalet Woods line. Because they can completely seal out light, these basswood blinds are often hung in bedrooms. The slats also allow a space to be brightened to the maximum extent, even when the blinds are not fully raised.
Rita St. Clair is a syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services Inc. E-mail general interior design questions to her at href=rsca@ritastclair.com.
