Window Treatments - Part 2

These specialty window shapes include:

• circular (Figure 4),
• eyebrow (Figure 5),
• half circle (Figure 6),
• octagonal (Figure 7),
• quarter circle (Figure 8).

Figure 4 - Circular window

Figure 5 - Eyebrow window

Figure 6 - Half circle window

Figure 7 - Octagonal window

Figure 8 - Quarter circle window

Figure 9 - Casement window crank

Figure 10 - Hopper window

Figure 11 - Bay window

Figure 12 - Bow window

Figure 13 - French doors

Figure 14 - Decorative window trim

Figure 15 - Multi pane window

While these window shapes may create a lot of eye appeal, there are not a lot of alternatives for window coverings or window treatments, that maintain the "eye appealing" shape of the window. Of course, a homeowner can always install drapes, blinds, shades or other window covering over the window which in turn will hide the "eye appealing" shape that was desired in the first place.

Other window treatments or window coverings present problems or hindrances with certain styles and window designs:

• Handles that protrude from the window frame, especially crank handles (Figure 9) can be a hindrance when trying to install certain styles of window treatments or window coverings. The handle shown in Figure 9, protrudes 3 1/2 inches from the window frame, when it is in the crank position.
• Windows that open inward, such as a hopper window (Figure 10), require window treatments or window coverings to be opened in order for the window to be open. You can not use window treatments that install inside the window frame on hopper style windows.
• Bay (Figure 11) and bow windows (Figure 12), because of the internal window angles, can create problems with the mounting of window treatments or window coverings as the mounting brackets may want to overlap each other on the angle.
• Installing individual window coverings over each window tends to leave gaps that provide visual intrusion from the outside, especially at night when it is dark outside and lights are on in the room.
• French doors (Figure 13) have become very popular as replacements for sliding doors, primarily because they are far more energy efficient. However, most French doors are designed to open into the room. This can create problems with the homeowner's choice of window treatments, window coverings or drapes.
• Secondarily, the homeowner must consider the door hardware. Items such as handles and locks can protrude into the room and become a very large hindrance, when trying to choose window treatments or window coverings. The French door handles shown in Figure 13 protrude into the room more than 3 1/2 inches.
• Interior window trim can make the installation of window coverings or window treatments almost impossible. While detailed window and door trim adds a lot of class to the interior of a room, window coverings or window treatments that mount on the walls, that surround those window frames, can be extremely difficult to install.
• The detailed trim molding shown in Figure 14 would definitely limit the homeowners choices of window treatments or window coverings.
• If you are considering the use of shutters as window coverings, over multi panes of glass in a window it is prudent to have an even number of panes horizontally so that the shutters close over a vertical pane line.

Figure 15 shows a multi pane window that should not have shutters installed as the window covering, as there are an odd number of horizontal window panes. The negative visual aesthetics of an odd number of horizontal panes and window shutters are compounded on the exterior of the home.

Continued......