Dear Joe,
My apartment has odd windows that are high off the floor and only about 18' high. There are several of them together‚ opening in the living room and my bedroom. I thought about curtains but don't think it would look right for them to go to the floor. What is the best way to treat these?
View From Below
Dear View,
This style of window appeared in the late fifties, and was used a lot in the sixties architecture. I have encountered them even today in new construction. They always seem to puzzle my clients.
Drapery of any length on that style of window just looks bad. If they are floor-length, it looks ridiculous. If they are sill-length, they look very dated. This is because when these windows first appeared, short curtains were about the only choice of treatment on the market. And please don't even think about some cleverly swaged diaphanous fabric as a valance!
The best way to handle these windows is to keep the treatment as inconspicuous as possible. Their peculiar size and placement is usually not an architectural detail to be featured. The window treatment should be generally flat and contained within the window box.
One very simple and inexpensive way to do this is with mini-blinds. These would have to be custom-ordered since they are not available in ready made for that window proportion. They can be ordered in a large range of colors. If you want the window to be inconspicuous, the best idea is to order the shade in the color of the wall. If you have a contemporary interior style and want to feature the window, you may consider a specialty finish, such as brushed chrome.
There are also a lot of other types of custom-pleated shades on the market in various materials. I am not a fan of these in terms of function and style, but they are an option.
Another good treatment involves wood blinds. These are also a custom-made product and come in a large variety of wood finishes and colors. The expense is greater than other blinds, but they offer a way to blend the windows into more traditional style interiors.
If you want to have fabric on the window, the best treatment is a Roman shade. These can be custom-ordered in just about any fabric that works with your decorating scheme. Roman shades add a softness to the window and work well in both traditional and contemporary interiors.
By the way, you may have a problem treating this type of window if it cranks open with a large handle at the bottom. I have found that often these protruding handles can be replaced with a smaller knob that will leave enough clearance for the window treatment.
Dear Joe,
My living room needs to be painted. I have lived with white walls for many years and would like to use peach this time. A friend says that peach is 'definitely out of style' and I should be looking at a color like sage green. The sofa is a floral print. I just can't get into green walls but don't want the room to look dated. What is your advice? Also, would a pattern on the drapery be out of place?
Peachy Gal
Dear Peachy,
I never advise my clients to use a color in decorating just because it is in style.
Color is a very personal choice. We all have a favorite color, those we like, and those that we can't stand. I can't think of a faster way to create an uninviting atmosphere for yourself than painting the walls in a color that you don't really like. Remember, you will be looking at those walls for several years to come. They will be there when you wake up in the morning, come home after a hard day, sit watching television and entertaining.
You need to paint the living room ( and all of the rooms ) in a color that makes you feel good. If your heart's desire is peach, then paint the walls peach. There are many different shades of this color and one of them could add a fresh twist. Or perhaps there is another color in the sofa that is not dominant and could possibly work for the walls. Don't let trends control you!
As for the draperies, a pattern could work nicely with the floral print on the sofa. Stripes and smaller geometric prints in tone on tone or multi color could be just the thing to pull the whole room together.
Send your questions to jos.riceinteriors@att.net . In the subject box, type 'WCT Design'.
Joseph Rice is a full-service interior decorator. With 24 years of experience, he specializes in 'hard to treat' windows. To contact him, you can visit www.josephriceinteriors.com or call him at Joseph Rice Interiors, Inc., 773-271-2361.
