WINDOW TREATMENT// MAIN ACCESSORIES OF A WINDOW

 

A Window treatment is an interior decorating element placed on, in, around, or over a window. These are used to protest privacy, insulate heat and cold, and filter light and for aesthetic purpose.

It may more specifically refer to:

·      Curtains

·      Drapery

·      Cornice board(Pelmet)

·      Window Valance

·      Window blinds

Curtain: Curtain is a piece of cloth intended to block or obscure light, or drafts, or water in the case of a shower curtain. Curtains hung over a doorway are known as portieres. Curtains are often hung on the inside of a building’s window to block the travel of light, to protect privacy and insulate heat and cold. Curtains come in a variety of shapes, materials, sizes, colors and patterns. Curtains are a form of window treatment and complete the overall appearance of the house. Curtains can be made from varying thickness of fabric, each with a differing degree of light absorption and heat insulating qualities.

Sheer or net curtain is one that is made from translucent fabric, such as loosely woven polyester voile or a cotton lace. Sheer curtains allow a majority of light to be transmitted through the fabric, with the fabric weave providing a basic level of UV protection while retaining maximum visibility through the curtain. During the day, most sheer fabrics will allow people inside the home to see outside view whilst preventing people outside the home from seeing directly into the home. Due to the loose weave in sheer fabrics, these types of curtains offer very little in the way of heat insulation.

Uncoated curtain provide the next level of heat insulation and light absorption. Uncoated fabrics constitute the vast majority of fabrics used in curtains, and are composed of a tightly woven fabric, most typically a cotton/polyester blend, which is mostly opaque when viewed in ambient light. Uncoated fabrics provide a reasonable level of heat insulation due to the tight weave of the fabric; however the fabric itself is typically not thick enough to completely absorb strong light sources. As a result, when curtains made from uncoated fabrics are closed in an attempt to block out direct sunlight, light will still be visible through the curtain.

Coated curtain consist of a standard uncoated fabric with an opaque rubber backing applied to the rear of the fabric to provide improved light absorption. To create a coated fabric a liquefied rubber polymer is applied in a single coat to uncoated fabric and subsequently fused dry by means of a heated roller.

Lined curtain typically consists of an uncoated fabric at the front to provide the feel and look of the curtain, with a separate coated fabric attached at the rear to provide the insulative qualities. The coated fabric is typically referred to as a lining, which simply refers to a coated fabric that does not have any particular colour or pattern. Maximum light absorption and heat insulation in a curtain is created through a lined curtain.

Curtains may be held back with tie-backs or may be closed and opened with sticks called draw pulls or curtain rods which are attached either to the runner or to the first hook. On some curtain rails/poles, there is pulley system for opening and closing called corded curtain tracks. The knobs at the end of these cords are called cord pulls or acorns. A curtain hook stopper is a device used to stop the curtain from falling of the end of the curtain rail.

 Drapery: Drapery is a general word referring to cloths or textiles. It may refer to cloth used for decorative purposes- such as around windows- or to the trade of retailing cloth, originally mostly for clothing, formerly conducted by drapers. There is general agreement that drapery in design is more substantial and weightier than other window treatments such as curtain panelling. Drapes are also normally lined, whereas cyrtain panels normally are not. Drapery is also considered a relatively permanent installation, adding an integral element to the room’s design by adding color or pattern to complement the rest of the architectural and soft elements.

There are different types of Drapery___

1.Ripple Fold Drapery

2. Tailored Pleat Drapery

3. Inverted Pleat Drapery

4. Goblet Drapery

5. Grommet Drapery

6. Rod pocket Drapery

The Benefits of Draperies for Homes:

·  Draperies add a certain level of style to the home, they can also provide several function benefits.

·   Along with providing more light control, thicker fabrics in dark colors will also provide more privacy, which makes them better for bedroom.

Pelmet: Pelmet (also called a “cornice board”) is a framework placed above a window, used to conceal curtain fixtures. These can be used decoratively and also help insulate the window by preventing convection currents. It is similar in appearance to a valance which performs the same function but is made of fabric. A pelmet can be made of plywood, and may be painted, or fabric covered.

There are two main types of pelmet: wood pelmet and a drape pelmet.

Wood pelmet is where, as indicated, the main body of the pelmet is made of wood. This is cut into the design of your choice and covered with interlining to give an upholstered luxurious feel. Your fabric is then fitted around and lining is added to the back, making the pelmet look as neat from the front as is does the back.

Drape pelmet is made in a similar way, however, instead of wood; a softer, lighter material is used. This is used to give a slightly less structured and less formal look. Pelmets can be made in many styles and finishes from straight to stepped, arched to scalloped. At JS curtains and blinds we also have a variety of trimmings and braids to finish off your design.

Window valance is a form of window treatment that covers the uppermost part of the window can be hung alone or paired window blinds, or curtains. Valances are a popular decorative choice in concealing drapery hardware.

The length of the valance should be ¼ the window height plus one inch. Using these measurement, cut a rectangle from your fabric and lining. Place the fabric and lining right sides together.

Most valances should be 1-1/2 to 5 inches wider than the window if the valance hangs by itself or over a Roman shade. It should be 10 to 30 inches wider than the window if it’s hung over a pair of custom drapes. If the valance is gathered its total, flat width should be 2 to 3.5 times the width of the window.

Valances can be manufactured with any type of fabric, but most are made of jacquard, silk, faux silk, poly/cotton, linen, satin, velvet and polyester. Many are lined with an extra piece of fabric sewn on the back to prevent the solar radiation from damaging the fabric.

For most windows, a valance should cover about 2 to 6 inches of the top of the window and window frame, with the rest of the valance covering the wall above the window. If there is not enough room to do this, then the valance should be hung immediately under the ceiling.

Window blind: Window blind is a type of window covering. There are many different kinds of window blinds, using different systems and materials. A typical window blind is made with slats of fabric, wood, plastic or metal that adjusts by rotating from an open position to a closed position by allowing slats to overlap. There are also window blinds that use a single piece of material instead of slats. There are several configurations these blinds come in: standard corded, continuous cord loop, top down/bottom up, and top down only.

Window Blinds & shades colours:

Beige

Black

Blue

Brown

Copper

Cream

Dark Finish.

Window Blinds’ mechanisms perform two basic functions, they either completely side the blinds out of the way, stacking them in the corner, or they simply tilt the slats to allow more light to come through. The blind wand or cord is connected to a mechanism that causes the axle that runs along the headrail to turn.

The main difference between curtains and blinds is their coverage of the window. While blinds cover the window directly, curtains are usually hung in front of the window, and often drape to the floor. Blinds also come in a range of different options including roller Venetian blinds, Vertical blinds and cellular blinds.

Varieties of window binds

Persian, or slat blind

The most common window blinds are slat blinds, which consist of many horizontal slats, usually of metal or vinyl, connected with string in a way that they can be rotated to allow light to pass between the slats, rotated up to about 170 degrees to hide the light, or pulled up so that the entire window is clear.

Venetian blind

A venetian blind has horizontal slats, one above another. Venetian blinds are basic slatted blinds made of metal or plastic; wooden slats are sometimes used but in the US these are now usually referred to as wood blinds or bamboo blinds. They are suspended by strips of cloth called tapes, or by cords, by which all slats in unison can be rotated through nearly 180 degrees. The slats can be rotated such that they overlap with one side facing inward and then in the opposite direction such that they overlap with the other side facing inward. There are also lift cords passing through slots in each slat. When these cords are pulled, the bottom of the blind moves upward causing the lowest slats to press the underside of the next highest slat as the blind is raised. Slat width can be between 16-120 mm, with 25 mm being a common width.

Vertical blind

Vertical blinds consist of slats of stiffened fabric, or metal hanging by one end from a track; like the horizontal versions, the slats can be rotated 90 degrees to allow light to pass through or to fold up on one side of a door or window. vertical

Blinds are very good at controlling how much natural or exterior light comes into a room, due to the ability of the slats to close tightly.

Cellular blind

Cellular blinds, also known as Honeycomb blinds, get their name from their shapes which are made of individual cells glued together. From this side, it has the look of a honeycomb. Cellular blinds are very energy efficient blinds. They get their energy efficiency from the pockets of air that the cells create. Cellular blinds come in light filtering as well as room darkening fabrics.