Master Class - Window Treatments

I happen to be a big fan of window treatments. I think that in most instances bare windows look just that–bare. Even when we are working on contemporary design projects in Los Angeles we will still insist that even a sheer drape is a great way to layer design in a room. Unfortunately, drapery can get expensive, so a lot of people tend to skimp or ignore them, but do this at your own peril. Here are some of my thoughts about why window treatments are a good idea.

Even in a modern interior drapery provides a great transition from wall to window, it helps to blur the boundaries, and helps to carry the eye to the view. Sheer fabric, especially wool is a great material to use in a contemporary setting, it still allows access to light and the view but will create a softness in the room that I find very appealing.

Drapes can be a very creative way of solving an issue of lack of view. By using sheer drapes to filter the panorama, even the most mundane outlook can become transformed. In this project in San Francisco there was construction happening right outside so we used the window treatments as a way to mask that but still take advantage of a light filled apartment.

You can use window treatments to help correct scale within a room. By taking the rod to the ceiling instead of stopping at the top of the door, you can make a room feel taller and more spacious. Another technique is to extend the drapery past the window to make it feel like the window is much wider than it actually is.

Drapes can help not only soften the visuals of a room, but also help the acoustics too. A heavier weight fabric can do amazing things in a small space, and can really help to create a quiet retreat, by reducing the harshness of the sound.