Heritage Homes - Period Window Treatments

It’s done. You’ve replaced the roof, restored the wood siding and painted your house a historic color. The porch is level again. The hardwood floors are gleaming and the painstakingly stripped woodwork is beautiful. Now is the time to “decorate”.

For some reason decorating the interior of a heritage house seems to strike terror in the hearts of otherwise completely competent restorers. Understanding how to decorate a room requires creative pre visualization and this is often difficult for many people. In my work as a heritage home decorator I have seen the effect of a successful restoration completely lost through inappropriate use of color, furniture and, the subject of this article, window treatments.

I am not advocating for a museum restoration, but rather an interior that is sensitive to the building (residential or commercial), combined with the effect the owner wants to achieve.  Window treatments are one of the most crucial elements of an interior and it is very important to get them right.

Before we talk about window treatments, here are three things you should know before you start:

• 1. Different styles have always existed simultaneously.
• The clean pared down style of the Arts and Crafts movement has influenced design and décor at the same time as more ornate styles such as Queen Anne. This gives you more choices in window coverings.

  2. Rooms had “genders”.  Masculine rooms included the foyer, the dining room, the library, den or billiard room, and the “master” bedroom if spouses had their own room – a common occurrence in larger homes. Feminine rooms included the front and back parlors, bedrooms, children’s rooms, sewing rooms, or sunrooms. Keep genders in mind when you choose the style of window covering.

The kitchen, in the class conscious society of the late 19th century, was the domain of the servants and, as such, did not count. The 20th century saw women taking on more responsibilities in their own kitchens however its décor remained modest for a long time. Window treatments included simple rod pocket style curtains in solid or patterned cotton.

3. Styles had genders.

Queen Anne and Rococo Revival styles were considered feminine whereas Arts and Crafts and Renaissance Revival styles were decidedly masculine.

Matching room’s genders to style genders will provide you with one of the keys to understanding the concept of choosing appropriate interior elements in your decorating scheme.

Here are five more tips to choosing appropriate window treatments:

Look at the architecture details of the room you are working on.  For example, white woodwork creates a lighter more feminine look than heavier dark polished woodwork. Remember how gender affects your choices.

What is the condition of your windows? . Do they need to be restored, repainted or replaced? “Hard” window treatments such as wooden blinds, shutters, roller blinds require absolutely accurate measurements so do your repairs beforehand or you will end up with window treatments that won't fit your windows.

Look at the Style of your windows. Different window treatments suit different window styles. A casement window requires a different approach than French doors.

What are your Specific Needs.  What degree of privacy do you need? Do you like to wake up in the morning with sunshine pouring into your room or do you need to sleep during the day so you can work a night shift at your job? You should also consider the effect of sun damage on your furniture.

 What is Your Personal Style? . Some window treatments will appeal to you immediately. They should be in synch with your existing furniture and decorative accessories.

The successful result of a room well decorated exists in a marriage between the harder more masculine elements such as woodwork and floors and its softer components – fabrics, textiles and window coverings.  But the decor must also reflect who you are. After all, when all is said and done, it’s still your house.

 

Written By Johanne Yakula

Sources: From Times Past Antique Furniture and Accessories

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