Give Your Windows a Treat(ment)

Warm up Cold, Fishbowl-like Windows
• The first step to creating this optical illusion is taking accurate measurements.
• Let your ceilings soar because some spaces just aren’t as high as you’ve dreamed them to be. So hang drapes high.
• Got molding? Use it. As a frame of reference, that is.  And hang your rods between six and 12 inches.
• Care to double up on rods?  Choose drapes that have different weight and texture. We decided to go with blackout lining for winter and switched to sheers for summer.

Add New Shape to a Boring Rectangle
• There’s hope! Adding an architectural detail creates a brand new style without you having to invest in a whole new window.
• First measure your window. Next, find a piece of wood that will fit within the frame of this window. (Try a local hardware store, Lowes or Home Depot)
• Decide on the design you’d like for your window. We went a little more Boho with our pattern.
• If you picked a more intricate design, then don’t let it keep you down.
• Draw it on a piece of paper, cut it out, and then trace it on your wood.
• Using a jigsaw, cut this detail out.  Be careful!
• Now it’s on to the color! We wanted a monochromatic look and painted the window frame and our “art” the same shade of java.
• Now the windows are ready to be dressed. Opt for sheers (go solid or jazz it up with a decorative pattern) so that you don’t mask the design but can gain adequate light and privacy.

This time it’s totally cool to hold back. This is a great way to incorporate a great flea market or vintage find into your décor. We took a tea saucer (never found that missing cup) and hot glued it to a hook that we picked up at restorationhardware.com. Voila! Streamlined and totally one of a kind.

Get Privacy Without Losing Daylight
• Let’s face it, you either have a nice view or you don’t.  Don’t sacrifice your style over it.
• First, measure your window frame (for this project we measured so that the panel would extend to meet the edge of the window’s molding).
• Then we got creative and searched for a pattern that was decorative, but not too graphic. (Remember privacy is key so keep the openings on the smaller size).
• Handpick a piece of decorative aluminum. We found our piece at the local hardware store. Measure it so that it extends to meet the edge of your window’s molding. Then pick a paint color to give it a finished look. Go for the same color as the window frame for a streamlined look or go bright and poppy to make a serious style statement.
• Screw the top corners of the frame to the window and tack the bottoms so that they sit flat.

Give a Small Windowless Room a View
• Cursed with a room that has a narrow window or worse, no window at all? Have no fear. This is the ideal time to let those personal faves take center stage.
• Pick your room’s focal point wall. Measure this so that you know how big – or small – a piece you will need. Generally you’ll want something that takes up about two thirds the entire length of the wall. Think window in the room.  We found a great dresser and a mirror that looked stunning on top. We approached this set-up as we would if it were a window. We hung a rod, grommets and geometric chocolate print so that we had the open and close ability.

Merge Your Styles
• Don’t throw in the towel just because you have different taste. Sharing a space is all about compromise. (We know you know!).
• Pick a plaid and give them a tailored look and hang them high, which will make the ceilings seem higher.
• Get creative and ditch the traditional rod and do something daring and different. Bring in a chunky bamboo stick like we did. Then add textures and shades to work with this new set-up.
• Lay down a natural sisal rug and toss pillows with deeper shades with louder floral designs.

Turn Windows into a Stylish Work of Art
• This look takes a little creativity on your part. Envision the look you want. Does it bore you to hang the same fabric on an entire row of windows? Us too.
• Start with one fabric you adore. Then work around it. We measured our windows and then had fabric made to fit the frame. We were into the modern look so used grommets and galvanized rods.
• Since this was a one of a kind print, we pulled green tones from the design and rotated on the adjacent windows.