Window Treatments

Window treatments come in many sizes, styles, patterns, colors, textures, and weights. Examples include horizontal blinds, mini blinds, Venetian blinds, vertical blinds, woven blinds, curtains and toppers, shutters, Roman shades, cellular shades, and roller shades. Choose your window treatment style and materials by how well they fit with your overall kitchen design, color pallet, ease of function, and maintenance. Some of the standard materials available for your window treatments are fabric, metals, wood, and plastic. If you do not have a ventilation system over your range, you will want to especially consider washable materials. You may also want to look at using Scotch Guard (or a similar product) on fabrics (test a small sample first for colorfastness). This will allow you to vacuum or wipe off the fabrics with a damp cloth.

As kitchen windows are a primary source of air movement and light, you will want to maximize the amount of air circulation and daylight. Design your window treatments so that they don't obscure your scenic views but can be closed when privacy is needed. If you don't have a "beautiful" scenic view, consider translucent blinds that allow light in while hiding the view.

Many treatments can be adjusted during the day to allow for differing amounts of light and heat, screen out glare, and provide privacy. A unique alternative would be to create a stained glass window treatment. Installation options include installing a stained glass insert into the window itself or hanging a framed piece of stained glass in front of the window. Glass has many features that will allow for varying amounts of translucency and privacy.

No matter what type of window treatment you choose, get a good set of directions on how to measure your windows or rely on your window treatment expert to do it for you. Start the process by thinking about these issues and completing some of these questionnaires from HomeStore.com: Planning: Questionnaire and "Raising the Curtain on Window Basics" which includes a guide to "Measuring for Window Treatments". Another guide for measuring horizontal blinds is supplied by Best Window Online "Horizontal Blinds: How to Measure (I) Inside Mount Blinds".

With an interest toward saving heating and cooling costs, insulated curtains and shades are an excellent option. Especially if your windows are old and drafty or are not well insulated. The insulated material used in these products will reduce heat loss in the winter and keep out unwanted sunlight and heat in the summer.

Keep safety in mind if you have small children or pets. Child and pet strangulation prevention can be aided by having 2 pull lines (which eliminates the "loop" of a continuous pull line). Many companies are now producing their products with this in mind or you can cut the loop yourself (after complete installation) and create your own 2 pull lines. Tassles or knot covers can be purchased at a local hardware or craft shop. Levolor has created blinds (in several styles) that have been engineered to be "cordless". They are adjusted by simply raising and lowering the bottom rail-the lift cord is completely eliminated. Whatever style window treatment is chosen, follow the manufacturer's installation instructions closely to make sure your window treatments are hung properly and safely.