Dear Joe,
I recently moved into a newly built condo. In my bedroom, there are two windows high on the wall that are only about 2' x 2'. This seems to be the only wall for my bed and the windows would be on either side of the bed. What do I do with those two windows?
— Stuck in the Middle
Dear Stuck,
These useless windows seem to be in just about all new construction! And always in the wrong place!
There really is not much that you can do with them.
My suggestion would be to use a treatment that fits inside the window frame. This is an approach to make the windows as inconspicuous as possible. With this idea there are several options.
One of my favorites is a Roman shade. This is a very simple treatment and can be made out of many fabrics ranging from light linen to upholstery weight. My suggestion would be to use a fabric that is close to or matching the wall color. This will help draw minimal attention to the odd-placed windows.
Another option would be a blind of some sort; mini blind, or folded fabric or many other options. These are custom made and give different possibilities for blocking light.
If your taste is a little more exotic, a natural woven shade of bamboo or other materials could be used. Again, these would have to be custom ordered and offer varying degrees of sun block.
Dear Joe,
I have a remodeling question. My place is a vintage condo. I am planning on remodeling the bath and would really like to make it very sleek modern. Would this be OK or will it look too weird?
— Jason
Dear Jason,
Unfortunately, I would have to say that it would look too weird.
I have seen too many kitchen and bath remodeling jobs that have been done in older buildings and have nothing to do with the rest of the architecture. Recently, I ripped out a terrible '70s-style bath for a client and restored the room to match the vintage look of the rest of his apartment.
There are two very good reasons for not going 'sleek modern' in your case.
First of all, a home should have a consistency throughout in the architectural style. Any additions or remolding jobs that are not consistent are just too jarring.
Another point is the question of resale. Most potential buyers want the original structure ( or at least as much of it as possible ) . This is especially true of people in the market for the vintage-style condo. Any additions that are not in keeping with the architectural style of that structure are seen as bad remodeling and something that will have to be corrected at great expense. In other words, it can kill the sale instantly.
Remodeling a bathroom in keeping with the vintage style does not have to look old, outdated, and inconvenient. There are many options in cabinets, lighting, flooring, countertops and other ingredients that are updated for today's living conveniences but have a classical look to them.
You can incorporate the bathroom into the rest of your living space and satisfy your need for a clean look by keeping it simple and very tailored. The best update for a bath is to make it as functional as possible.
Please email your questions to jos.riceinteriors@att.net . In the subject box, fill in 'WCT Design'.
Joseph Rice is an interior decorator who offers full decorating services. With 23 years of experience, he specializes in 'hard-to-treat' windows. You can reach him at jos.riceinteriors@att.net, or at Joseph Rice Interiors, Inc., ( 773 ) 271-2361.
