JACKSONVILLE, Florida – Window treatments have undergone many changes over the past few years and become an integral component in a home’s overall interior design.

“Your grandmother’s generation considered draperies or curtains, as they were once called, as a means to control sunlight or provide privacy,” said Judith Sisler Johnston, president, Sisler Johnston Interior Design and ASID Allied Member.  “Fabrics and other material enhancements to windows, now called window treatments or window designs, are considered a decorative backdrop in the home’s overall interior design.”

There are so many window treatment choices today for function as well as style.  As residential and architectural designs have become more diverse, windows have also emerged in new shapes and sizes, necessitating a change in the way they are dressed. Sisler Johnston says many ask how to determine the right design for their windows.  She says there are often many answers to this question.

 “When our firm works with residential clients, we analyze several elements in the home including light requirements and taste preferences before recommending a treatment to meet their needs and complement the rest of the room’s décor,” she said.

It is important to budget properly for window treatments and enhancements since they add impact and value to the home.  To begin the design process, Sisler Johnston suggests looking at the way the home is situated on its site and evaluating how sunlight will impact key rooms.  For example, if the family room faces west it may be difficult to watch a large screen television during the afternoon without buffering sun exposure.

Some living rooms, great rooms or master bedrooms have feature windows that have been designed to provide architectural interest and are shaped so that traditional draperies or blinds are out of the question.  Horizontal louvers or shutters can provide privacy, sun control and add lasting value.  They can be custom built and adapted to any size window or door.  The blades come in different sizes and can be stained, painted or faux painted.  They also come in durable acrylics.

Builders of apartment homes and condominiums often provide window treatments in residences to insure uniformity and help maintain the property’s value.  Mini blinds, micro blinds and vertical blinds are common selections.  These same choices work well in residential homes since they offer privacy, sun protection and aesthetic appeal.  Blinds can also be surrounded by decorative fabric treatments, which are frequently more cost effective than the yardage required for a full set of draperies.

“If a room has tall ceiling heights, one way to accentuate them is to cascade flowing panels from the tallest height,” Sisler Johnston said.  “This helps make the room warmer and more inviting.”

Larger rooms can take more dramatic color on the windows.  For a smaller room, Sisler Johnston suggests coordinating the window fabric and wall paint colors to create a layered look that will visibly enlarge the proportions.  Some rooms feel more comfortable and inviting when the window fabrics are coordinated with other fabric applications, such as the upholstery or bedding, which extends the design impact for a pleasing look.

“When I design window treatments for builder show homes that do not have millwork window moldings, I always provide decorative side panels to frame the light flowing through the windows in every room,” Sisler Johnston said.  “The appropriate treatments give each room a finished look.”

Valances are soft treatments used at the top of a window while cornices are hard treatments since they are applied to padded plywood.  Textures, including bamboo or wicker, can be used as valances in multi-layered treatments.  Side panels can be stationary for decoration or closed for privacy.

If a room has limited architectural interest, such as a laundry room or secondary bedroom, the addition of a well-designed window treatment can provide everything from geometry to artistry.  Only the imagination and possibly the budget limits the designs or number of layers that can be applied to windows.  Sisler Johnston suggests starting with a basic privacy layer, such as drapes, blinds or shutters, and then adding additional layers as the budget permits.

Sisler Johnston Interior Design has two divisions.  One works with builders to design model homes, amenity centers and hotel suites.  The other works with homeowners to help them design the home of their dreams.  A licensed interior designer can help a homeowner make the best selections.  Many contact Sisler Johnston after visiting her model homes because they want to customize the design in their own home.

When homeowners visit the company’s design center, they meet with a licensed interior designer and review many different photographs.  Sisler Johnston says these visual images help the client and designer work together to define the best style for the home.  For the same reason, they ask clients to share photographs of their furniture and discuss what pieces they plan to add before recommending a window treatment for the room.  Whether formal or informal, treatments should be compatible with the furnishings.

“We stretch our imagination as far as it will go when we design window dressings and may utilize decorative rods and rings for a classic appeal,” Sisler Johnston said.  “For specialty rooms or themed areas, we have been known to drape fabric from golf clubs, fishing poles, and bicycle handle bars to add uniqueness to the setting.  In one sports-themed room, we used football pennants as one cornice application and kid-sized baseballs and bats on another.”

  When rooms are open and adjacent to one another, it is important to coordinate the design as well as the fabrics to achieve the most satisfying look.  They do not have to match but they should complement each other.  To achieve a pleasing design, Sisler Johnston says the human eye must appreciate all of the elements it sees without stopping or focusing on one item that stands out because it doesn’t fit or flow.

“We often ask homeowners who have visited our builder model homes what they remember most,” Sisler Johnston said.  “Usually it’s not just one item.  Time and time again they say the entire house flowed.  Its warmth and appeal made them want to live there.”

Sisler Johnston Interior Design offers comprehensive interior design services for residential and commercial clients, specializing in luxurious living spaces for exceptional homes.  The company designs residential and model homes as well as community centers, hotel and office suites.

ASID Allied Member Judith Sisler Johnston and her team of licensed, talented designers help clients enhance their surroundings with timeless elegance and classic style.  Sisler Johnston is Jacksonville’s leading authority on designing spectacular spaces that are beautiful, functional and reflect her clients’ personalities and lifestyles.

Sisler Johnston’s design work has been featured in numerous books, newspapers, magazines and television programs.  Sisler Johnston Interior Design celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2004 and has been recognized with nearly 100 industry awards.

For more information about Sisler Johnston Interior Design, call (904) 288-0908

Photography:

1. Covenant Cove Bonus – A race car theme was carried into the window fashions in Mattamy’s Covenant Cove bonus room.
2. Port St. John Family Room – Sisler Johnston used bronze medallions and floating panels in Brylen’s Port St. John model.
3. Cayman II – Floating cornice panels lend a tropical ambiance to ICI’s game room at Amelia National.
4. Pulte Fitness Center – Contrasting cornice shields add geometric interest at Pulte’s Sweetwater Recreation Center.