Add to Del.icio.us
Digg this Article
Add to Mixx
So many things – people, fabrics, a view – seem to look their best encased in natural light. As homeowners embrace the surroundings of their homes and learn to appreciate the beauty of unadorned architecture, their drapes are growing lighter and lighter. These days, a window can be a window, an arch can be an arch, a steel frame can be a steel frame; little or no embellishment is required. As Barbara Hawthorn, principal of Barbara Hawthorn Interiors, puts it, “People still want the softening effect draperies can give, but they want a lighter look.”
Designers and architects are seeing more and more walls of windows, floor to ceiling, forming effortless dialogue between the indoors and out. “Windows should be as tall as possible,” says Susan Rooksby, senior designer at Il Collezione, “creating an illusion of height and space.” With all those panes of glass, it becomes important to know how to dress them best to achieve the effect you’re after. “There’s a very different feeling now – everyone’s enjoying the outdoor space, the landscaping, the weather,” Rooksby says.
Light Dressing
“The magic word is simplicity,” says Ricardo Ramos, co-principal of Studio Nuovo. Sheree Friedman, also co-principal at the firm, agrees: “We look at window treatments as a complement” rather than a fussy focal point.
Especially during the spring and summer, there ought to be movement within the fabrics chosen for windows, suggesting breeze, light, and life. “[It’s] a less static feeling … a sense of grace and movement,” Hawthorn says. Natural fibers are in style, and linens and woven sheers are very popular, as are botanical patterns that are either dramatic or subtle, but never quite heavy.
For Architecture’s Sake
When a home is designed for complete synchronicity of architecture, lighting, and setting, it almost seems a shame to cover any of it up. Often, a view is what draws a person to buy or build.
“The solution is not always fabrics,” says Susan Anderson, senior designer at Il Collezione. Numerous ways to treat glass can take care of your concerns with letting your windows go completely undressed. Rooksby suggests speaking with a designer about alternative treatments. Opaque or one-way glass, shaded glass, or textured glass or acrylics can solve issues of privacy or sun damage in a minimalist fashion.
Shutters and Shades
Shades with an almost papery texture are a good option for bringing light in while keeping privacy. Hawthorn had success using a recycled polymer material laser cut with a leaf design in a dining room, shown on page 172. Bamboo, an eco-friendly option for its sustainability and short growth cycle, is a great choice for window coverings and is in line with the popular Asian look.
Natural fibers and woods are not always the best option, however, depending on lifestyle and look, a synthetic material could be a simpler choice with less upkeep. “Customers [often] already assume they want a natural shutter,” says John Gresh, owner and president of Perfect Fit Custom Shutters in Rockville, MD, but he continues that the quality and look of synthetics have improved to where many customers can’t tell the difference between a painted wood shutter and a Thermalite one.
Fresh Twists
If the utmost in privacy and coziness are still your preference, the trend with more traditional draperies is toward versatility – layering window treatments with different styles and levels of opacity so different effects may be reached – and automation. Smart-home technology may control the drapes or shades throughout the day to capture light and heat when it’s optimal for the home.
Traditional doesn’t mean tired – achieving a fresh look in a traditional environment can be done with an expert sleight of hand. In one bedroom, Hawthorn took an oft-used formula – a woven sheer paired with a heavier floral pattern – and inverted the positions of the materials, placing the sheer over the thicker drape. “We reversed what’s expected,” Hawthorn says.
