Today, let’s throw it open for ideas and suggestions for window treatments for a wall of windows. Home designs incorporating walls of windows were common in midcentury America, especially in midcentury modern ranch houses. However: How to cover the windows from the spooky black hole of night… from fabric-fading ultaviolet rays… or for simple privacy from the outdoors?
Sarah is grappling with this exact question and has sent photos from 1961 raised ranch in Vancouver, which appears to have been designed for and still features original window treatments — pinch pleat draperies over pinch pleat sheers, both set on traverse rods. And in most parts of the house, the traverse rods seem to be hidden behind wood valances built into the very architecture of the house. Let’s look at Sarah’s house — which I think is pretty typical — and then let’s talk about options.
Sarah writes:
Hi Pam,
We are the proud new owners of a 1961 raised ranch in Vancouver Canada. We have a stunning tongue and groove cedar and white beam clad cathedral ceiling in our livingroom, but I am stumped on what to do about window coverings for the room’s big triangular wall of windows.
Currently we have the previous owners double track of white sheers and “wall coloured” pinch pleat drapes that cut the wall in half (at the standard wall height to match the other windows in the room), which I am not so keen on. Surfing the web has only turned up images of similar rooms with no curtains on this type of window (which is beautiful to look at but according to my DH is not an option for privacy issues- our faces the street!).
As this is such a typical MCM feature, I am hoping that you and/or your lovely readers may have some advise on what to do. Thanks for taking a look at our little dilemma, to give you a little idea of what we are dealing with I’ve attached a few pics
This photo shows how it was when we toured the house before purchase 6 months ago, all of the window coverings are still there for now except that terrrible little ruffly job at the top of the “triangle”- that went on day 1 of owning the house!
This is the front of our “smurf house” (changing the exterior colour is a project for this year), and you can see the wall-o-windows and the sunny deck it leads to. We are in the middle of a 1961 development in North Vancouver called Westlynn Terrace.
The other three pictures hopefully give you an idea how our living/dining is post move in (still lots to do and lots to buy to better suit our new place).
As you can see, even when the curtains are drawn back, because the triangular window runs right to the corner, the curtains block a pretty big section of the wall. The adjcsent wall has another big window that runs into the corner that runs almost floor to ceiling, so we lose a lot of the light, and the curtains end up distracting from the amazing design of the living room.
Because we are a corner lot, and the two walls filled with windows are facing roads, leaving them bare is not really an option for my dear hubby.
Any suggestions on how to be true and respectful to the house, but still keep us from exposing ourselves to passersby would be a great help.
GORGEOUS house, Sarah! Yum to that ceiling, especially. Okay, here goes with a long answer — because there are numerous ways to address this issue, with various pros and cons IMHO.
- But first of all: The Retro Decorating Gods have blessed you with architecture to hide most of the window treatments. Go with this flow, of course.
Option #1: Pinch Pleats over Sheers:
- Pinch pleats over sheers: This is the “classic” midcentury window treatment. It is generally my all-time favorite, because it is so flexible.
- Pros: You can open up everything for full light. You can close the sheers for filtered light. You can close the draperies over the sheers for full coverage. The fabric adds softness, and there are thousands of fabric choices for both pinch pleats and sheers. There is pretty much nothing easier than opening and closing with a traverse rod. It’s hard to “break” curtains.
- Cons: The stackback (the width of the curtains when you must keep them open) takes up wall space. Custom-made pinch pleats — and even “off the rack” — are ridiculously expensive.
Option #2: Sheers only:
- Use only sheers. Turn on all the lights. Close the sheers only. Go outside and peer in. Can you really see the people inside? If not: Perhaps you can go with only sheers.
- Pros: you could change these out to match your wall color… get sheers in that color but also with some texture, and they will read soft and neutral but still give you the coverage and privacy you need.
- Cons: You would not have 100% blackout. You would still have stackback — but I’m guessing it would be less of a visual issue than opaque fabric curtains, and remember, I’m suggesting you get sheers that blend pretty seamlessly, in terms of colors, with your walls. Once you did this, no changing the wall color. You would not have 100% blackout. Cheaper than making new fabric curtains, although, still is gonna cost you.
Option #2a: Sheer style fabric — lined:
- This is what I did in my office, shown above.
- Pros: Kinda best of both worlds, light and sheer looking from inside the house, but no one can see inside.
- You still get stackback, but if you choose the fabric to match your wall color it will sort of blend in.
Option #3: Vertical blinds:
- I think that vertical blinds were invented for exactly this situation. While they have kind of a bad reputation today (plenty of *hideous* bombs thrown at them), they certainly would accomplish the functional objective you are seeking.
- Pros: They are on a rail that’s easy to manipulate… and they store “flat” so you have minimal stackback. I went at looked at the variety of vertical blinds available at Smith & Noble, which has a good website for this kind of research. I was surprised at the diversity of vertical blind options. The image shown above, for example, shows vertical blinds made out of fabric.
- Cons: Gonna cost you: I did a quick pricing experiment and got to $33 for a 72″ x 60″ window. And you have a lot of windows, dear. Also, I think that vertical blinds got a bad rap in part because they were so easy to tangle and break. So you are going to have to be more careful with them.
- Link: Smith & Noble vertical blinds — three styles.
Option #4: Sheer Elegance styles:
- I think that Hunter Douglas gets the credit for first introducing what Smith & Noble calls their “Sheer Elegance” style, shown above.
- Pros: Open and close like pinchpleats. These are so lightweight that I believe there is minimal stackback. You can control the amount of light coming in with a wand, and there is a blackout option.
- Cons: I think these are very expensive.
- Link: Smith and Noble Sheer Elegance blinds.
Option 4: Vertical Cellulars:
- Shown above: You can get vertical cellulars, too.
- Pros: Minimal stackback:
- Cons: Lordy, one bump and these would be over. Expensive, too, I’m betting. Too much cellular for my blood.
- Link: Smith & Noble vertical cellulars.
What I would not do:
- I would not do anything that needs to be raised and lowered horizontally. That is not a good solution for wide, floor-to-ceiling windows. People, traverse rods, rock.
What would Pammy do:
- Fabric drapery choices are so personal — like wallpaper — that I can understand why you want the drapes that are there, out. I would probably feel the same. Even so: Yours look pretty darn neutral. Draperies cost a Fortune. Are you sure you can’t learn to love them???
- If it were me, and I could not live with the drapes that came with the home, I would probably try Option #2 — Sheers only or #2a, sheer linen-look lined, like my office draperies. If the existing sheers do work, in terms of providing enough privacy at night, and if they are aesthetically pleasing, I would try and keep them. I am cheap. But, I also know that, if the exiting sheers did not cut it, I would likely be very picky about getting a design that were “just right” for creating the look I wanted. So, I’d start searching for fabrics. While I did this, I would also be scoping for price. A few years ago, when I had some curtains made for my house — including my office drapes — a fabric outlet that also had a sewing shop was able to make them for me at an exceptionally reasonable price. They closed up a few years ago.
1384 words so far. Sorry.
Lynne says
I have almost the same issue in my 1955 ranch. I have 5 floor to ceiling patio door sized windows in ONE room alone. I am currently living with the pinch pleat drape over a pinch pleat sheer. I detest the drape color and pattern, but the cost to replace is INCREDIBLE. So, we are living with them, until we can do better.
My first suggestion would be to convert the traverse hardware to a one way draw, like on a patio door. Good traverse hardware is expensive, so if the existing works-keep it! They make a silicone spray that you can spray in the tracks and it makes them glide super easy. You can easily whip stitch the panels together down the sides to make one continuous piece. Then, have the panels pull either all the way into the corner-or away from it, which ever you prefer.
I think this would give you a nicer continuous flow, rather than the chopped multiple panels dotted across room. As with ANY window this large, setback will always be an issue. The lighter the fabric chosen, the less setback there will be.
My other suggestion would be to rehang the drapes, making sure the hooks are all in the same place on the header. So they hang evenly. Lastly, I would steam them, and set the pleats for a crisper, more polished finished look.
I like the open triangle at the top.
I wouldn’t jump into replacing them just yet, as it will be quite an investment. This is especially the case if you are wanting to still get different furniture and things. Wait until that is done so you can be sure the window treatment will compliment the new things.
pam kueber says
Mastering traverse rods gave me one of the greatest senses of accomplishment ever! Yes: With patience, you can change from two-way to one-way pull.
Annie B. says
What a wonderful problem to have!
I vote for leaving the trapezoid curtainless and hanging sheers on the windows below.
Jessica Snell says
I do love the sheer and clean look of custom window shades, what about something like this? Illustrator Jenn Ski installed these in her house and I think they look very nice. http://jennskistudio.blogspot.com/2010/07/installing-blinds.html
lisa says
Try Ikea for heavier sheers that will give a bit more privacy and come in some pretty patterns. Many of the Ikea draperies now come with tape on the back that accepts pins, so you could put the Ikea curtains right on the existing traverse rods.
One thought: the window treatments don’t have to be exactly the same throughout. Those smaller windows in the dining area could have something a little different that coordinates with the curtains on the wall of windows — a cellular shade, maybe? Even the smaller windows in the living room could be different from the wall of windows, though in that case I’d make them the same as the dining room.
Jodi says
Rit Dye! If you don’t like the color you can play around with it. There’s color remover as well…
I have pinch pleat drapes over pinch pleat sheers on a dual traverse rod (only because I live in a town with a JCPenney Outlet Store – those suckers ain’t cheap) and I only rarely close the draperies: the sheers work wonderfully on their own.
pam kueber says
Wow, what a Retro idea: Rit dye! Good one, Jodi!
Kate says
The pinch pleats would be great if you are doing a retro look.
If you want a more modern look, you could try the IKEA KVARTAL curtains. They have two track systems, one that takes curtains and one that takes curtain panels. You could layer a sheer with a thicker panel or curtain behind it so you could allow as much or as little privacy as you wanted.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/Textiles/18891/
I used the panel curtains on my corner bedroom windows at my retro ranch and have put up a helpful tutorial on my website, should you decide to go this route:
http://retroranchrevamp.com/2011/03/19/ikea-kvartal-panel-curtains-for-corner-windows-in-the-bedroom/
I would also leave the upper triangle windows open!
pam kueber says
Super impressive story you did, Kate!!!!
Kate says
Thanks Pam!
suzann says
Form follows function. The geographical location of the house, the direction the windows face, and the consequential effect on the room temperature would all play a part in what I choose. Those windows are passive solar heaters if they are South or West facing. For Floridians, such as myself, we would require some kind of relief from that blistering heat in the peak of the day. For Northerners, the heat is welcome more often than not.
Vertical blinds seems like a really practical solution for South or West windows, as they can be pulled back with minimal “stackback” but, they are there when/if you need them. If these are North or East facing windows, just go with sheer pinch pleats! They really open up the room.
pam kueber says
This entire thread is making me lust for sheers underneath my fabric panels. I love the look of sun dappling through sheers. I MUST make it happen this year!
Sarah V says
Good point Suzann. The wall is south-east facing so in the summer sun and heat is an issue.
Queen of Fifty Cents says
I know you don’t like horizontals, but the wooden blinds that came with our house are working out just fine. They don’t need to be raised and lowered, just crank the slats to the angle you want. The entire front and most of the back of my house is floor to ceiling window walls. We’ve left the upper triangles uncovered. I imagine there originally was a great sweep of draperies, but I really like the simplicity and neutral color of the wooden blinds.
pam kueber says
Okay, so sorry, I don’t want to make anyone feel bad about their choices. You are right in that you can leave horizontal venetians down, and just use the rod thingie to adjust the panels according to how much light you let in. Here in my house, this option would never work, though: My husband always wants the windows wide wide open to the sun when it’s out. He loves our pinch pleats for this reason — so easy to open each morning, close each night, it’s a happy ritual here.
spoilsport says
Hi! I am new here and am just beginning to live the motto “Love the house you are in”.
I don’t know how this will go over, but Ikea has quite a bit of hardware for window treatments, and really lovely panels.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/Textiles/tools/textiles_rooms_ideas//#/20121_txsv04a_01
and
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/categories/departments/living_room/18891/
pam kueber says
Welcome to commenting, spoilsport, and so happy you are learning to LTHYI!
Mark Reynolds says
There were no pictures of the ‘view’ beyond the road…If there’s nothing spectacular to see…Textured translucent window film.
http://apex-window-film-store.com/store/home.php?cat=251
Lets in all of the light, maintains privacy. Can be put up only in windows, or areas of windows requiring privacy…
Very easy to keep clean, No stackback…the architecture remains exposed & clutter free. Many decorative choices, cheap(er), undo-able.
Problem solved.
pam kueber says
I did not know about these films. I will check them out — thank you!
Mark Reynolds says
Besides really not liking carpets/curtains/anything that collects dust, I live in a northern location…sunlight coming in the windows is a treat. I only have an adjacent neighbor on one side of my house, also the same side with an ‘ocean’ view (Hudson Bay). I placed window film in strategic locations to maintain privacy at certain angles, while allowing a view of thew bay that I wanted to maintain. The film is cheap enough to experiment with, and can be trimmed, after application, to fine-tune the view. Not a solution if one needs to block out light, though. You’re welcome!
Just another Pam says
I hate curtains or ‘window coverings’ but now I live in the city with a great view, the reason I bought the house, so I’m still working all this out almost 5 years and appreciate this forum lots ‘n’ lots. Luckily I’ve got pinch pleated drapes the former owner spent a small fortune on so I’m not suffering any.
Did use the film in the bathroom even though I do like me a brick wall to stare at, not joking, there’s one part of the bathroom neighbours down the way could see in to the huge mirror and therefore the whole bathroom. Love it, under the circumstances, but wouldn’t use it on the front of the house.
Sarah V says
Although our neighbour across the street might disagree, there is nothing spectacualr to see out the big wall-o-windows. I will check out the link you provided this may be the “win-win” we’ve been looking for.
Mark Reynolds says
There may be some combo reflective/textured films, or combo, that will both reflect heat during the day and provide privacy at night…
(can you tell I’m ‘sold’ on the stuff? lol, I’ll stop now!