Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 11, November 2003

Copyright 2003 Seattle Sun. Please feel free to use the article below in your research. Be sure to cite the Seattle Sun as your source.

DECORATING DILEMMAS:

Ease the pain of single-pane glass

By ROBIN DALY

As it's getting colder outside, we start to notice little things in our homes that can become a major irritant. The breeze, for instance, that the letter below is concerned about, is something that was not a problem during the nicer months, but now that we've moved inside for the wet season, has become very important.

Window treatments are worth giving careful thought to. You can change the feeling of the whole room by what you do to your windows. The old adage "form follows function" is certainly true when it comes to windows!

Q: Dear Robin, I live in an older Seattle home with single-pane glass. I'm not ready to replace the windows yet, but I would like to be able to sit and watch television in the evenings without feeling a breeze all the time. Any ideas?

A: There are some great solutions for you to consider. Window treatments are not only decorative, but they can minimize problems, as well.

With single-pane glass, you might want to examine the shades that are insulating, creating a barrier between you and the glass.

Shades with honeycomb construction are very good at acting like thermal-pane windows. They trap a pocket of air, just like a double window does, to create a barrier from the breeze.

These shades have a delicate appearance, similar to a shoji screen, and they softly filter the light. Interestingly the fabric only looks soft; in fact it's quite strong, can take some abuse, and does not unravel on the edges.

Honeycomb shades can also be used in bedrooms where you need them to block out the light, if you choose the fabric that has a Mylar layer sandwiched in. The appearance from the street is not silver, just regular white honeycomb fabric.

One of my favorite features with these shades is you can have them built to pull up and down from both the top and the bottom! Why would you choose this? Let's say you live on a busy street and want some privacy, with this feature you can let the shade down from the top, allowing light to stream in, but still maintain your peace.

Another way to cut the breeze is with draperies. Curtain styles have changed a lot since we were kids, and one of the best developments had been the evolution of the decorative curtain rod.

It used to be that most drapes were mounted on a basic traverse rod, those ubiquitous rods that are almond colored and about an inch in height. When someone would open the curtains, this little rod would be exposed. Not a pretty sight. It makes me think of my first apartment and the cheapie curtains that were used.

Today, you can still have the draperies pull open and closed, but the rods themselves are attractive and can be incorporated into the overall decorating scheme. Most of us keep the curtains open when we are at home, so this is a vast improvement over the options of the past.

When making draperies for a cold window, we usually choose a lining that's a little heavier to provide a barrier to the wind.

Once you have solved the technical side your dilemma, you can start thinking about how you want the final treatment to appear. I love layering window treatments. This means you might have a window shade for insulation, and then add some decorative curtains and rods to complete the look and add interest to the room.

If you have a minimalist decorating scheme, then plain window shades might be perfect. But most of us live in older homes that can really benefit from a little extra something to frame the window and add visual (as well as physical) warmth to the room.

Since window treatments last a long time, really think about what you are trying to achieve with them before you go shopping. Identify the problem, find the best solution, and finally think about the appearance. Design as much flexibility into your window treatments as possible; over the long haul they will serve you well.

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Robin Daly is a third generation co-owner of Daly's Paint and Decorating, located in Seattle's Fremont neighborhood and in Bellevue. You can reach her at 633-4200 or news@theseattlesun.com. She loves to hear from you and answer your decorating dilemmas!