27 WINDOWS AND WINDOW TREATMENT

Devi Manohar

Objectives

1.      To know the different types of windows and window treatments

2.      To understand the factors affecting the selection of window treatment

3.      To be aware of the care of window treatment

4.      To acquire knowledge of construction and materials used in window treatment

Introduction

Windows are narrow openings in a room to serve three functions like ventilation, light and view. In olden days, windows were covered with hide or cloth, stretched over the opening or with wooden shutters. Modern windows are generally made in any shape or size with glass surfaces. The size and shape of a window generally depends upon the activity performed in a room. The top of the door and windows are in the same level and the sill level of the window is usually about one metre above the floor level. The window comprises of the following parts as depicted in the image given below.

Frame
Window Frame is the open structure that holds the window panes as border.

Head

It is the horizontal part forming the top of the window frame.

Grilles

It is the metal bar with or without design which protects the windows frame.

   Glass

The glass covers the window frame and protects from dust or air entering the room.

Stiles

The edge of the vertical portion of a frame is called a stile

Sash

The frame holding the pane of the window is called a sash

Jambs

The jambs are the upright side part of the frame and the sash is the moving part of the window.

Casing

The casing is a large frame to which the inner window is attached.

Sill

The sill is the bottom part of the window on which the casing rests.

Apron

Apron is usually a piece of a casing turned upside down beneath the sill.

Rails

It is the rabbed horizontal or vertical sash

Types of Windows

Based on the operations and materials used, windows are grouped under two types namely movable and fixed windows.

Movable windows

They are more familiar, versatile as they provide light, view and control climatic conditions. Major types of movable windows are

•  Double hung windows
•   Horizontally sliding windows
• Casement windows
•  Awning and projected windows
•    Jalousie windows
•   Bay Windows
•   Ranch or stripe windows
•  French windows

Double Hung Windows

These windows have two sashes that slide up and down. The frame of the window is usually moveable in which the panes of glass are set. They are easy to install, less expensive and are long lasting. These windows can be opened from top or bottom.

The major disadvantages are that not more than half the area can be opened and there is no protection from rain. Apart from this, it is difficult to clean from inside unless the sash is removed. It is also inconvenient to operate when huge furniture is placed underneath.

Horizontally sliding windows

They are similar to double hung windows, which are made of shutters, which can be moved horizontally or vertically on small roller bearings. They are simple in design, easy to operate and have more longevity. The disadvantages of these windows are that they reduce air flow and difficult to clean from outside.

Casement windows

These type of windows are hinged at one side and swings in and out. The whole window area can be opened and can also be adjusted to direct good ventilation into the room. Operation and cleaning of the window is easy.

They also have some drawbacks like they interfere with furnishings and offer no protection from rain. Tight weather proofing is difficult in these windows.

Awning and projected windows

They are similar to casement windows, hinged at the top and rarely at the bottom. These windows provide an attractive contemporary look, good ventilation, light and are a good choice in damp climates. The main drawback of these type of windows have more to do with maintenance issues and location than construction.

Jalousie windows

Jalousie windows are made of narrow strips of glass. Apart from the advantages of awning type windows, they also take little space, appear in odd shapes, and are less expensive

The drawbacks of Jalousie windows is that it is difficult to clean and small panes of glass does not give full outside view.

Bay Windows

Bay Windows projects outside the external wall of a room

They are large curved windows designed to fit a given space or a group or three of more windows placed at an angle to each other. The window projects outside the external walls to a projection called as a bay. These windows are more versatile, allow natural light to enter the rooms and provide good ventilation. The unique configuration of these windows make window treatment difficult.

Ranch or stripe windows

The ranch windows are made of horizontal window strips fixed on sliding or swinging casement. These windows are wide and set high in a room to allow space for furniture and to provide privacy. The position and proportion often make window treatment difficult.

French windows

French windows are made of glass doors that open like casements often into a yard or terrace. They differ in style and have single or double door with small windows either at the side or above the door. They are generally left undecorated but when privacy is needed, special methods are employed.

They are more familiar, versatile as they provide light, view and control climatic conditions. Major types of fixed Windows are

•   Bow Window
•    Picture windows
•    Dormer Windows
•    Clerestory Windows
•    Skylights
•   Arched Windows
•    Round and octagonal windows
•  Semi-circular windows
•  Corner windows

Bow windows

These are curved windows having the same problems as the bay window. The best ways to treat these windows is by one-way draw curtains. The tracks for installing these windows need to be bent to an appropriate shape. Soft sheers or nets gathered in simple style can be up on a coated metal rod to correct the shape.

Picture windows

Picture windows are very popular windows fixed on wall and are excellent for showing the outdoor views. They are generally made of large fixed piece of glass or of a fixed pane with a movable section on the sides.

Dormer Windows

These windows are small, usually situated in the sloping roof of a house. They improve the building appearance. Dormer windows often require a special treatment to integrate them into the room. For example, a darker shade of a particular colour is used in these windows if walls of the rooms are finished in a single colour.

Clerestory windows

These windows are set high on a wall between two roof levels. Without reducing the wall space, more light is permitted inside the room as they are placed high on the wall. They generally save solar energy and hence widely used as a passive building design element.Glare alone should be taken into account while designing these windows.

Skylights

Natural light like sunlight and moonlight are let inside the room without hindering privacy. They are set on roofs. Light can be reduced by sheer or net curtains. They are made of glass or plastic and add intent to the dwelling because they provide a new dimension to forms and space as well as illuminates dark rooms.

Arched Windows

Windows are made of series of covered panels arranged at the top of a window. Architectural interest is created through curved arches, which add beauty to the room and an ideal solution for an arched is not to have a window treatment. Shutters are preferred when warmth is required at night.

Round and octagonal windows

They have striking architectural features generally left as such without any treatment. when the need for privacy is overwhelming the usual clear glass is substituted for opaque or sand blasted glass

Semi-circular windows

They are rare type of windows usually set high on walls or above doors to illuminate the hallway. Either the window is left uncovered or covered with opaque or stained glass.

Corner windows

Though difficult to provide treatment to these windows, they are functional and attractive. These windows are of various types, designed to form corner of the room. They provide good light and view and may be an interesting architectural feature to emphasize in decoration.

Window Treatment

• In a room, windows along with the walls, floors and ceiling form the layout of a room.
• Treatment to windows can cover faults, create illusion or become a focal point of a house.
• They provide a large unit of colour, texture and styling in a room.
• The size of the room plays an important role in deciding the window treatment. If the room size is small, then the treatment to the windows should be more than the size of the window, light in colour and simple in style in order to make it proportionate to the size of the room.
• Window treatment is classified as exterior window treatment and interior window treatment.

Exterior window treatment

The purpose of Exterior window treatments is to protect the windows from extreme climatic conditions and therefore they are less emphasised and not decorative.

Some of the exterior window treatments are:

Ø  awnings or shades

Ø   Blinds

Ø   shutters

Ø   grillers

Ø   overhanging roofs

Awnings or shades

An awning or overhang is a covering attached to the exterior window of a house to protect from rain, sun and wind. They are composed of yarn made of canvas woven acrylic cotton or vinyl laminated to polyester fabric that is stretched tightly over iron steel or aluminium rods. Awnings help to control the weather. It provides shade, comfort and protection to the house.

Blinds

Window blinds are made up of several long horizontal or vertical slats of various types of hard material, including wood, plastic or metal which are held together by cords that run through the blind slats. This window treatment are generally manoeuvred with either a manual or remote control by rotating them from an open position, with slats spaced out, to a closed position where slats overlap and block out most of the light

Shutte rs

A window shutter can be used to temper the heat, light, and cold. They provide privacy and security to a room enhancing the beauty of a building. Though expensive, they are durable and require less maintenance. We can conceal an air conditioner and radiator inside a shutter. Shutter panels are made of cane, mesh, solid panel, stained glass, perforated hard boards or fabric inserts in the form of sloping slats, which are fixed or movable.

Grillers and fences

These are placed close to the windows or some feet away to control privacy, sun and wind in any degree desired depending on the design and location of the window. They are made of masonary, wood, plastic or aluminium.

Overhanging roofs

Overhanging roofs is a permanent exterior shading window treatment with less privacy. It is made of transparent plastic or glass or merely a framework vines. If carefully planned, it enhances the aesthetic appearance of the building.

Inte rior Window Treatment

Window dressing within the room is done by using curtains, draperies, blinds and shades.

Interior window treatment are meant to serve the following purposes:

Ø  They provide privacy to lighted rooms.

Ø   Control the light inside the room and make it dark when necessary.

Ø   Reduce the heat loss and noise levels inside the room.

Ø    Provide a theme to a room

Ø    Create illusion in terms of length, breadth and height.

Ø   Add aesthetic appearance to a room

Curtains and Draperies

Curtains and Draperies are categorized as soft window treatment and are conventional ways to decorate a room. Depending upon the requirement of a room and one’s personality and needs, curtains and draperies are of various types.

The curtains are classified as follows:

Ø  Glass or Sash Curtains

Ø   Tieback Curtains

Ø   Criss cross curtains

Ø   Café Curtains

Ø   Tier curtains

Ø   Draw curtains

Ø   Ruffled Curtains or Priscillas

Ø  Casement Curtains

Ø   Swags and Cascades

Ø   Pelmets

Ø   Valance

Ø   Draperies

Glass or Sash Curtains

These are generally made from softly gathered, ruffled sheer fabrics that hang from a rod against a glass and provide a lovely compliment to a room. The purpose is to ensure privacy, soften the interior, diffuse light and create an elegant look to a room. Glass curtains may be used with panels or draw draperies and are generally simple in design with neutral colours. The curtains are 2 to 3 times the width of the window to meet the fullness of the window.

Tieback Curtains :

These types of curtains give a formal look and add dignity to a room. In these curtains straight panels are draped behind the valance and are held back to the frame of the walls with ruffles, ties or other decorative rings. Tieback curtains are usually made of sheer fabrics and are extremely ornamental. Since they appear more pleasant in a window, they are generally placed on windows which are high, low or centred.

Criss cross curtains :

They are net curtains more decorative in style. Two wide panel of the same width of the frame are placed behind the valance to hang these curtains. They generally over-lap each other partially or fully and are tied back. Sheer fabrics having ruffles or fringes in these curtains give a pleasing look.

Café Curtains :

These type of curtains are short and sometime cover only lower half of the window to provide privacy and to allow light / air inside the room. They also act as cover up for air-conditioners or radiators. They are straight curtains hung on decorative rods by means of hooks, rings, clips or loops. .

Tier curtains :

Two or more horizontal rows of short curtains are mounted on windows in such a way that they over- lap one another. Their edges are usually ruffled to add elegance to the room.

Draw Curtains

These curtains are mounted on a traverse rod which can be drawn, opened or closed. A formal setting designed in such a way to give privacy in a room and they are more or less opaque, the curtains are more or less left opened during the daytime and can be drawn by hand or cord whenever required. Fullness in curtains is attained through pleads. There are one-way and two-way drawn curtains. In one way drawn curtains, the whole width of the curtain may be drawn to one of the sides. Whereas in two-way drawn curtains, there are separate pieces hung on the same rod, that could be pushed off to two ends.

Ruffled Curtains or Priscilla

Priscilla curtains also called as ruffled curtains are generally decorated at the top with a ruffled valance. These curtains are known for the softness and feminity. These sheer curtains are usually short just covering the bottom of the window frame or up to floor length.

Casement Curtains

These curtains are generally used on casement windows that open inwards and on French windows and doors. Medium weight opaque materials are used for making these curtains, which may be used along with draperies. The main function of casement curtains is to give privacy.

Swags and Cascades

Swag is a formal decorative treatment done at the top of the window. They are generally used with cascade. Windows may also treated with swag along or with blinds, shades and draperies.

Pelmets

A pelmet is a stiff fabric usually hung above the curtains to cover the track and gives a balance to the proportion of window. They are either simple or grandly shaped and attached to a pelmet board. They are used to provide a dramatic effect or alter the proportion of the window.

 

Valance

They are frilled or pleated fabric or board installed across the top of the window. They give a softer and more informal look to a room. Generally the shape of the valance may be like the original line of a window or may be curved to fall on both sides of the window. The curved depth is made in proportion to the height of the window

Draperies

To produce a quick, simple and stunning idea for windows is to treat them with asymmetrical draperies. They are made of medium or heavy weight fabrics to prevent the entry of light and heat into the room. It generally extends from the top of a window up to the sill or 9” to 12” below the sill. The draperies are made with pleated headings and are usually fixed to the rods by hooks and rings.

Selection of window treatment

The following are the factors to be considered while selecting furnishing materials for treating windows

Style:

The style of furnishing a room affect the lines of the window treatment. Today we find curtains with bright prints, stripes and checks woven in bold patterns with beautiful colours.

In a living room with formal settings, it is preferable to have full- length draperies of opaque materials. Traditional rooms look good with the use of luxurious fabrics like damask, brocade or velvet whereas modern rooms are generally made of plain coloured fabrics. The visual effect is provided by the fabric texture and heavy linings, for example, heavy silk or white jacquard weaves with simple patterns.

In an in- formal settings, like cottage type living rooms, ornamental draperies and opulent fabrics are used.

Patte rn

Though plain curtains are common, the patterned ones are more popular as t hey provide variety and a higher aesthetic value. The pattern can also be overall pattern, small neat pattern, bold sharp pattern, floral pattern and geometrical pattern. Decorative patterns are generally produced by weaving, embroidery, or printing patchwork.

Patterns provide some effects in a room. A wide upright striped pattern make the wall look higher and stripes across make the room look wider. The size of the room should also be kept in mind while selecting the type of pattern in selecting window treatment.

Texture

Difference in textures make a room very interesting and provide a good feel in the room. Certain textural qualities are related with particular colours for example bright gold and purple denotes luxury and elegance of textures when used in correct proportions

Rooms that are delicate require fabrics like silk, satin, chiffon, taffeta, velvet etc. Whereas Sturdy rooms need natural cottons, fish net, casement cloth, voile, gauze, organdy, coloured sheeting, handlooms fabrics etc. Modern rooms can use either the new sleek shiny composition fabrics or the boldly textured novelty weaves or polyester blends which can provide contrast for smoothness. Other fabrics and weaves are terry, pebble weave, jersey, cheese cloth etc. which are also found in the modem market. Window treatment in bathrooms like shower curtains are made of rubber, plastic or cellophane sheets

Proportion

Taking the line and proportion of a room into consideration while choosing window treatment, use of valances or horizontally placed pelmets in rooms with high ceilings will produce an appearance of reduced height. Another factor to be considered is the number of windows and similarity in treatment of these windows so that they appear as a single unit.

Fashion

Fashion keeps on changing and to meet the challenges in the modern world one must be alert by visiting shops, exhibitions, fairs etc. Plain coloured fabrics tend to be fashionable at one time, and patterns are in fashion at other times.

Durability

Depending upon the function of the room and the amount of usage, materials chosen for window treatment changes. For example, cotton draperies get bleached by the effect of sunlight which affect the durability of the fabrics. Though certain draperies like velvet and jacquard are expensive, they are long lasting and therefore they should be bought with consideration. Imitation of costly fabrics such as cheap satin, artificial silk and damask can be avoided as it spoils the entire look of the room and proves to be uneconomical in the long run.

Personality and personal preferences

Window treatment also depends on the personality and the likes and dislikes of a person who uses the room.

Colour

Colour harmonies are brought in a room by use of colours in window treatment Finely related colours in curtains and draperies are essential for creating harmony and beauty.When rooms are treated with numerous colours, window treatment should depict these colours to unify them.

 Cost

For most of families, the important factor for consideration is the budget allotted for window furnishings.. The cost of fabrics for curtains might be less as compared to the expenditures for other furnishings, because they need to be changed every often.

Care and cleaning of window treatment

•  The rod and track of windows must be kept free from dust by the use of a vacuum cleaner
• The curtains and draperies must be shaken often to keep it free from dust
• Reairs to linings, frayed edges and any difficulty in pulling the curtains, blinds etc. should be dealt appropriately.
• Exposure to sun must be minimized by reversing the position
• Lined curtains are generally dry cleaned and if the window treatment of a suitable material unlined, they have to laundered

Conclusion

In keeping with the changing trends, personal preferences and building design, some modification might be made in the existing window type and its treatment to pave way for creation of new types to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the building.

Bibliography / References

Publications

1. Rutt, A.H, ‘Home Furnishing’, Second Edition , Willey Eastern Private Limited, New Delhi,
2. Varghese, M.A., Ogale, M.M, and Srinivasan , K., ‘Home Management‘Willey Eastern Limited, New Delhi.
3. Joan, C. Margaret Lennox., ‘Hotel, Hostel and Hospital House Keeping’ BookPower 55tg Edition
4. Dr (Mrs) P. Parimalam, Dr (Mrs) A. Andal, (Dr (Mrs) M.R. Premalatha., ‘A Text Book of Interior Decoration’ Satish Serial Publishing House
5. Premavathy, Parveen Pannu., ‘Interior Design and Decoration’ CBS Publishers and Distributors 1st Edition
6. Faulkner (1965) ‘ Inside Today’s Home Hot,. Rinehart and Winston, Inc
7. Goldstein & Goldstein, ‘Art in Every Day Life’, Prentice Hall Inc., New Jersey

Websites

1. www.hgtv.com › Design › Decorating
2. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_treatment
3. http://theconstructor.org/building/types-of-windows/12776/
4. https://www.google.co.in/search?q=parts+of+a++windows+in+building+construction&tb m=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjQraP8xLrRAhWJOI8KHed2AqA QsAQIIg&biw=1067&bih=495
5. www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Window
6. https://www.designingbuildings.co.uk/wiki/Window