 |
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Treating Your Windows Part 2: Curtains and all Their Parts By Melissa J Wantuck  |
| |
Continuing our series on window treatments for your home, this week’s issue will look at curtains and the many different parts. You can mix and match the different kinds of curtains or just use one or two of them on a window. Here is the name of each part and where on the window they’re hung.
Panels
 Curtain panels are one of the most basic types of window treatments. In they’re simplest form they are a pair of long rectangular strips of fabric that are hung lengthwise on each side of a window. Some panels are the length of the window starting just above the top of the window trim and falling to just below the window sill. Full-length panels start just above the top of the window trim and reach to an inch from the floor. A third style of panel length is from ceiling to floor. This look has been used to give the room and windows a taller feel.
Panels can be designed to simply decorate a window or to double by concealing a window. With decorative panels, you might not be able to pull them completely shut and the fabric might not have a liner to block out exterior light. Panels used to conceal windows can be opened and closed and will completely cover the window. They will also have a liner to block out exterior light and protect the fabric of the curtain from fading. The heaviest liner that blocks out the most exterior light is called a blackout liner. All liners will provide privacy when the curtains are closed, block exterior light, and protect the fabric of your curtains as well as rugs and upholstery in your home.
Sheers
 Curtain sheers are made from a lightweight fabric that can be seen through. It lightly filters exterior light and provides minimal concealment. Sheers typically are hung over the entire window. They have only a little gather so they’re not stretched tight. Sheers have the same three lengths as panels including a fourth length that fits inside the frame of the window.
Valences
 Curtain valences hang across the top of a window. Valences have many different design styles from straight to scalloped. We’ll describe a few basic styles of valences:
Straight: using a rectangular piece of fabric, the long side of the curtain is hung horizontally across the top of the window. The curtain’s length can be twice the width of the window for a gathered look or can be the exact length of the window to hang straight across.
Swag: the curtain fabric is cut to hang partway down the side of the window, curved up and across then back down the other side of the window. The swag curtain may be one solid arc from side to side over the window or there may be another curve down over the window in the center of the curtain giving a scalloped look. Larger windows might have more curves.
Scarf: a window scarf is created using a long rectangular piece of fabric of sheer and draping it across the top of the window around a rod or finial.
Café
 Café curtains are curtain panels hung halfway down the window covering the bottom half. Café curtains can be used alone or combined with a valence to decorate the top half of the window.
Cornices
 Window cornices are placed at the top of the window and often made with wood or plaster. The top of the frame is like a window box and may or may not be open at the top. The bottom of the cornice can either be straights or scalloped is many different patterns. Wood cornices are either carved and stained or covered in fabric often matching the curtains or using a complimentary fabric. Plaster cornices are typically carved and painted. Think of window is old mansions and palaces when you think of cornices. Today’s cornices are much more simpler in design.
Our next article, Part 3: Hardware and Fanciful Trimmings, will discuss the different kinds of hardware used to hang curtains and some combination ideas of the different types of curtains.
|
|
 SafeQuote is the latest breakthrough in online shopping: for home improvement projects. It is a free tool that makes finding contractors an easy (even fun) experience. Site users can search for contractors from the member list or by job category, such as Kitchen, Bath, Finished Basements, and more. You can also post jobs and receive no-obligation quotes to choose from. Click Here to Get Started
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|