Design Solutions for Window Treatments
According to local designer, Neil Peyroux, owner of Peyroux’s Custom Curtains, there are certain frequently asked questions about how to
decorate and cover your windows in your home. Most floorplans designed by builders heavily accentuate natural light by creating as many windows as tastefully possible within the space of each room of the home. However, it does become necessary to block out that natural lighting especially during Louisiana summers where the combination of sunlight and the heat can bring unwanted outside ambiance into your home. Below are some tips and trick to window covering recommended by Peyroux.
Shades or mini-blinds are a fast, easy way to cover light coming in from a window. There are many types of shades ranging from all different colors, shapes, sizes, and prices. How do you know if you should use shades or curtains. Peyroux recommends using shades for smaller, more tightly fitted windows that don’t have a lot of wall space. This is an easy way to shade the light without having billowing curtains swinging out into open space or swinging into each other if the window is in a corner.
How do you know where to hang your curtains? Peyroux recommends hanging curtains high above the window, almost to the ceiling. Most curtains these days are of lighter material and will fall from a high level gracefully to the floor making the window seem larger than it really is. Older curtain styles were of heavy, brocade material which really closed out the light and muddled the space above and around the window instead of accenting it. The same concept can be used with shades. You can purchase a shade that is taller and wider than the window itself and hang it above the window to give it height. However, if you own a historic or older home in the Greater New Orleans area, Peyroux recommends that you don’t cover up the custom millwork or woodworking around the window frame itself. If the window absolutely has to be covered, he recommends hanging the shade inside the window so that you can still enjoy the artistry of the architecture on the window.
Choosing the right curtain rod and accent rings can be tricky. There are many different styles and pricing for these items, so if you have a limited budget, you will probably be dictated by what you can afford. Even at that, you can achieve the same look as the real thing by using faux bronze, silver, and wood finishes – even if they are made out of plastic. Peyroux uses metal curtain rods, rings, and accents for his hardware. The reason for doing so is that he can make the window covering look more ornate or more simple just by the type of curtain or shade that he installs. Also, he uses 3/4″ – 1 1/4″ thick rods for durability so that they don’t bend.
For style issues such as the “puddling” of a curtain Peyroux usually installs his window an inch or two off of the floor, giving a break between the curtain and the floor. In older times, the puddling of the heavily damasked curtain – think Gone With the Wind – was a sign of wealth and decadence. These days, it’s just more stuff to move when you are vacuuming or something to keep away from the cat or puppy when they move into your home! To protect your window treatments from the sometimes brutal southern sun, there is now something called UV film which protects not only your curtains but also furniture and other cloths and fabrics from the harmful rays of the sun. This UV film blocks 90% of UV rays and can be very effective at making your accessories last. Plus, it is a film, so you hardly even notice it is there! These and other tips can be recommended by several designers who work with Ron Lee Homes. After building our new, custom homes in St. Tammany Parish, we offer “after construction services” by introducing you to our designer affiliates. These interior decorators can make recommendations for furniture or accessories in a simple consultation, or they can do a full-scale design solution for your new, custom home. Contact Ron Lee Homes at 985-626-7619 or E-mail [email protected] for more information.
