CURTAIN CALL FOR COMFORT
Choice window treatments: reducing exposure to
unwanted glare, heat and the eyes of the world

From the pages of CA-Modern magazine
By Tanja Kern

It's so easy to fall in love with indoor-outdoor living when the world is viewed through expansive windows of uninterrupted glass. When they're clean, these sparkling surfaces go a long way to enhance the outside landscape, allowing those inside a mid-century modern home to become one with the great outdoors.

But these transparent walls can also be a challenge when living with them day to day. Bright sun shines in during the summer months, letting in heat and potentially fading the furnishings and art that's in its path. During the winter, windows are one of the main sources of heat loss and may account for up to 30 percent of a home's total heat loss in a season.

Loss of winter heating is especially a big deal for Eichler owners, particularly for those who still have original single-pane windows and sliders. A single-glazed window has an R-value, or measure of heat resistance, of less than one (as opposed to much improved 3.5 for a typical dual-pane window). Window coverings can help make these homes more energy efficient and offer some much needed protection from the bright sun and privacy.

The 1950s brought a new era to window décor. Fussy ruffles and lace were replaced with a new Danish-modern style and printed fabrics in bold floral and Scandinavian motifs. The extensive use of plate glass influenced homeowners to skip installing undersheers, which simply added bulk to the windows.

Today, many owners of mid-century modern homes prefer to leave the windows completely uncovered, with the exception of bedrooms and bathrooms, where privacy is oftentimes a high priority.

Melissa Galt, an Atlanta-based interior designer born and raised on the West Coast -- she's also the great granddaughter of Frank Lloyd Wright -- points out that homeowners need to deliberate the purpose of window treatments before deciding on a style. Privacy, light control, framing a view, adding softness and color, acoustical benefits, and insulation are all issues, she says, that should be accounted for.

"The key is simple, tailored, and functional," Galt says. "In many mid-century modern properties, the less adornment the better. It is the geometry of the architecture that creates the drama and the impact. To cover it up with needless treatments defeats the architect's intent."

Determining viable window treatments is a careful balance of form and function. The simple act of blocking or filtering light from a window changes the ambiance of a room. A hard treatment, which can be a blind, shutter, or shade, is usually more practical in nature and bumps up against the window to create privacy or block out light, heat, or cold. A soft treatment is functional, too, but it also adds a decorative flair that can make or break a room's style.

We have hunted high and low to find some of the best options available for mid-century modern homeowners who want practicality and beauty without messing up the view.

Screens

Sliding screen panels are an attractive window covering that can add sophistication to any MCM home. For those who like an Asian flair to their interiors, custom Japanese shoji screens are available from a variety of online retailers. Shoji screens were originally used in Japanese homes to separate the living space from the porch, while allowing light through. In modern homes, the shoji screen doors are typically installed on the interior side of sliding glass doors.

Portland Shoji Screens offers custom screens constructed of Basswood and traditional rice paper for between $29 and $39 per square foot.

Window curtain panels are similar in function to the shoji screens, but with a Western edge. The panels are mounted to a track that blends into existing window frames, and the curtains come in a variety of styles and thicknesses.

Prices run from low to high; Ikea's Kvartal curtain panels start at $9 each, but specialty window treatment workrooms can also custom-make screens in any fabric and color one desires.

The company Domestications also sells window panel tracks that are backed with a thermal lining to keep warm air inside. These sets, which start at $79.99, can be mounted to open in any direction, and one can add panels to sets to get a specific desired length.

Shades

Window shades are a practical solution for homeowners who want a clear view to the world during the day and need to close up the home from prying eyes at night. Flat Roman shades, pleated shades, and woven shades are all sound choices.

Becky San Diego, co-owner of Rebarts Interiors in Burlingame, recommends the Silhouette shade by Hunter Douglas -- a treatment that is a combination of a sheer curtain and a blind. It consists of soft fabric vanes suspended between sheer front and rear fabric facings. The treatments can be made in dozens of textures and thicknesses.

"Like the centuries-old Japanese shoji screen, Silhouettes soften harsh glare and shadows to make a room peaceful, serene, and yet filled with light," San Diego says.

For the Silhouette shade, there are five lift systems -- two manual and a three motorized options that come with a remote control or a hard-wired switch on the wall. "The only time we really don't recommend Silhouette is if you have cats or dogs that like to climb or jump on furnishings, and you haven't been able to dissuade them of that tendency," San Diego notes.

The Architella Duette Honeycomb Shade by Hunter Douglas is another fashionable window covering that uses soft, durable, pleated fabrics to create hexagonal cells for an extra layer of insulation. These shades work for contemporary interiors because they are thin and streamlined. They also come in dozens of colors, including many shades of white. A Duette shade sized at eight by ten feet starts at under $700.

Shades are a good window treatment option for those looking to reduce heat loss in the winter because they rest close to the windowpane. Some styles are more energy efficient than others, so it is a good idea to check a product's R-value and SHGC (Solar Heat Gain Coefficient) rating. SHGC is the fraction of incident solar radiation admitted through a window. The lower a window's solar heat gain coefficient, the less solar heat it transmits.

San Diego points out that adding a Duette Architella window shade to a dual-pane window can increase the window's R-value to as high as 7.86 -- more than doubling the insulating properties of a window in cold months. In contrast, the SGHC of a bare typical window is 0.76 (76 percent of solar hear is transmitted through it). Add a Duette Architella shade and the SHGC drops as low as 0.15 -- only 15 percent of the summer's heat enters the room, helping to reduce cooling costs, San Diego says.

UV exposure is not only harmful to skin, it can permanently damage furniture, floors, and fine artwork. The Duette shade with a semi-sheer fabric option can filter out 95 percent of these destructive rays when lowered, yet can still diffuse soft light deep into the room, reducing the need for electric lights during the day.

Blinds

There are many styles of window blinds to choose from, but most readymade models aren't tall or wide enough to fit the large windows found in most MCM homes. Window treatment stores can make custom ones in several materials, including wood, metal, and vinyl.

While typically found in modern commercial buildings, motorized window blinds and shades can work well in modern residential applications. "These shades provide the clean lines necessary to complement the mid-century style," says Earl Trusty, owner of Ferrufino Interiors in Culver City. The shades come with manual or motorized pulls.

Two of the leading manufacturers of automated window treatment solutions are Lutron and Mechoshade. Their automated window treatments range from basic remote-control shade or blind systems to more sophisticated 'sun-sensing' systems that automatically raise and lower the blinds or shades based on the position and intensity of the sun.

These systems are low profile, quiet, and easy to operate. A downside is the cost: Lutron's Sivoia QS shading system sized at eight by ten feet can run in the $1,400 range, depending on chosen fabric. It includes the remote control but not electrician, wiring, or installation.

Drapes

Full-length draperies are a softer, less expensive option for windows, but the drapes need to be tailored to complement the architecture. Curtains can also help cut down on energy bills when constructed with an insulating inner lining. "The swags, fringes, and tassels that look beautiful in old-world styles are not going to work in mid-century modern homes," says interior designer Jeani Ziering, owner of Ziering Interiors in New York City.

For best results, hang custom-tailored draperies from a metal or wooden rod near the ceiling. Add a boxy, deco-style finial in metal, wood, or glass to the ends of the rod for a pop of accent. Ziering sometimes uses straight valences of soft cornices on top of smaller windows, such as in the bathroom or in the kitchen.

"You can also add cornices at the top of the window, at the ceiling, to give a room a graceful feeling and an illusion of more height," she adds.

While some homeowners choose elegant silk for a bedroom, most MCM homeowners opt for something more organic that ties in with the outdoors, such as a linen or cotton duck fabric in a neutral color. Window fabrics can start as low as $5 per yard, but the expanse of most MCM windows demands considerable yardage. Makers of window treatments usually recommend material that is two to three times the width of the window to allow for graceful gather when the drape is pushed to the side during the day.

"We hang them on tracks and sew the drapes with ripple folds for a clean look," Trusty says. Line the back of the drapes to create an unfussy appearance from the outside when drapes are drawn and to protect against heat loss.

Choosing window treatments can take considerable time and expense. Before jumping in, it's best to consider the size and scale of the room, the window shape, and personal preference.

As with anything that demands a custom touch, it's often best to call in the professionals. They can help choose window coverings that will complement a home's décor, and perhaps offer a functional touch that makes living in a modern home that much more enjoyable.

"Window treatments are a good investment because they not only beautify your home, but also serve a purpose for light filtering and energy efficiency," says San Diego. "This helps the homeowner save money on utility bills, helps conserve natural resources, and improves the look of the home."

Photos: Ernie Braun, David Toerge, Ravi Pankhania; and courtesy the window treatment manufacturers below

RESOURCES

Domestications: domestications.com
Ferrufino Interiors: ferrufino.com
Hunter Douglas: hunterdouglas.com
Ikea: ikea.com
Levolor: levolor.com
Lutron Electronics: lutron.com
MechoShade: mechoshade.com
Melissa Galt Interiors: melissagalt.com
Portland Shoji Screen: portlandsjojiscreen.com
Ravi Design: ravidesign.ca
Rebarts Interiors: rebarts.com
Ziering Interiors: zieringinteriors.com

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