Kitchen Window Treatment Ideas to Enliven Your Kitchen

The kitchen is that room in the house where everybody feels the most comfortable. It is also the place where everybody spends most of their time at home. People prepare the food there, eat there and also gather there to discuss various issues and simply to hang around.

This is why it is important that the room is looking and feeling warm and cozy at all times and having the right type of kitchen window treatment is an important part of achieving it. You need window covering that keeps the sun away when the sun glare is too strong but also lets it in when the kitchen needs to have adequate lighting and sun.

One way to achieve this is by having curtains made of light fabric which allows light to filter through but not completely. At the same time it should keep your privacy by not allowing outside views to your kitchen. Also due to the nature of the kitchen, where heavy cooking takes place, the curtains need frequent washing. This is an additional reason for having light fabric curtains at the windows. This is where using heavy drapes should be avoided.

For modern spaces that have metal and reflective surfaces, marble, glass and granite, you can use Venetian blinds, faux wood or hardwood blinds and Roman shades. Having these types of blinds will ensure safety in case of any fire that might destroy the curtains easily.

Some people prefer minimalist treatments with simple Roman shades that can be very easily pulled up to allow sunlight in, or simple swags to give their plain windows some extra color. Other people want more functional types of window covers at the expense of style. Using regular shades and vertical blinds achieves this by giving them control over how much light the kitchen should get at any time. These window blinds are definitely not as fancy as curtains would be, however they do serve the purpose for which they have been bought.

Getting the right type of kitchen window treatment is a personal matter for everyone. We are all different and our tastes differ from each other as well. What works for one won't work for the other, and what pleases one set of eyes might leave the other unimpressed.

To learn more about the different types of shutters for windows for your kitchen, visit my website at arch window treatments

Should I Invest in Kitchen Window Treatments

If you are considering selling your home or just trying to spruce it up a bit then you may want to consider investing in some kitchen window treatments that can easily bring life to your home. Many people neglect to realize that the kitchen is one of the most important rooms in the home.

In fact research shows that people who are buying a home tend to focus on the kitchen first. If your kitchen is uninviting then chances are you are going to have a difficult time selling your home.

People who take the time to add kitchen window treatments to their home to make it livelier will have an easier time selling their homes. This is a great way to bring life back into your home as well. We all know that we can easily become bored by looking at the same blinds, curtains, wall paper or anything else that we have on our walls.

In fact some times it can be fun and exciting to add new kitchen window treatments to our home. The best part is that if you take the time and do your research then you should be able to find some great discount window treatments both online and offline that will help you get your home back into a great living area without overspending.

However before you begin spending your money you first have to decide what type of atmosphere you are trying to achieve in your home. This can take some creativity; however there are several places or people that you can ask for advice on how to begin redecorating your home.

For great tips and advice about curtains and window treatments then you should definitely be aware of this. There is no reason to overspend on kitchen window treatments if you know what you are looking for and where to look first.

Bay Window Curtain Pole

If any window presents a challenge then it is the bay window curtain pole selection and proper treatment or dressing for the bay window. Bay windows tend to have many sides while some are angled, some are curved others project and jut out more while others project out only a little. Every home has its own unique needs and these openings to the outside world reflect the home of which it forms a big part.

These curved or angled openings provide a much-needed lung space for many homes. They are able to bring a little bit of the outdoors into the home. The window is designed to slightly jut out with angles or is curved. When you look through these you can see more of the outside and you get a wider view of the garden or the outdoor lawns. It give a much uninterrupted view which is not possible for ordinary windows that are flush with the walls. These windows are special as they are large and usually start from the floor. Some can be designed even at the usual level a few feet above the floor.

With arched windows some people would like to create a secluded private space for themselves or their children inside the living room. Still others would like to take advantage of the extra space created by the curved space to make the living room larger or more spacious. Depending of these needs the curtains and bay window curtain pole needs to be chosen.

While creating a private space, the curtain pole needs to just follow the lines of the room and will mostly straight as if the extra space did not exist. But, if the window is an attempt to create more living space then the curtain pole needs to follow the curvature and angles of the bay window. Once the purpose of bay window is decided it is easier to select appropriate window treatment and select the right curtain rods for it.

Till recently bay window curtain poles were not designed to be customized. So, people had to buy flexible poles and bend it to their requirement. Recently, there are more options for them in terms of curtain poles. You can choose from many ready to use models that are easily customizable to your window design.

Bay windows curtain pole is available in a variety of materials like aluminum, stainless steel, flexible plastics and chrome finished brass rods. When buying the poles for your curtains make sure you have the right measurements and dimensions ready. It is easy to place an order online or buy it from an offline store. Depending on your comfort level choose from either option.

Jane Sawyer is a interiors expert. She has written about Bay Window Curtain Pole on her website at http://www.baywindowcurtainpole.com

How To Hang Roman Blinds

Roman blinds are shades that add a decorative touch to any window or door while also blocking out the mid day super bright sunlight. They can be made of a variety of materials, from cotton or suede, to a variety of metals even. To complete this project, you will need: a tape measure, a drill, screws (2 inch screws, which usually will come with the roman blinds that you purchase), a pencil, and a small step ladder.

The first thing one must determine before beginning to hang their Roman blinds is whether they want to mount them on the inside of the window (jamb to jamb), or on the outside (bracket to bracket). Once you have made your decision, you must then measure your window to determine what length, width, and size roman blinds you should purchase. You need to measure the width of your window at the top, middle, and bottom. This seems redundant, but there is always going to be a slight difference, so you should measure all three places and pick the smallest measurement. (This is so that the blinds can easily go up and down).

Once you have purchased the correct size roman blinds, you are ready to begin mounting them. Most blinds come with brackets so that you do not have to buy them separately. If you chose to mount the blinds from the inside, the blind, should not make contact with the top of the window frame when it is raised and lowered. Test this before installing the brackets. Then position the brackets inside the window frame. Make sure the brackets are mounted perfectly evenly! Once your roman blinds are installed, they should move freely between each of the the brackets. For those of you who chose to mount to the outside, you begin the same way, meaning the blind should still not make any contact with the top of the window frame, when it is raised and lowered. Before installing the brackets, make sure you they are going to be placed completely level with one another. When the blind is installed it should move freely between the brackets, as with the inside-mounted blinds. You need to leave a small amount of room between the brackets so the blinds will move correctly.

After the roman blind is installed, you need to test the blinds and make sure they are properly aligned and are functioning properly. They should be able to go up and down with no friction. Now is also the time to install the child safety latches, (these usually come with the blinds) if there are children in the home, or kids who will be visiting frequently.

Hanging Roman blinds is not a very difficult task, but one that must be done with precision. Measuring is the most important part of the whole process. If you do not measure accurately, then the whole project will be thrown off. So precision is key! Once your measurements are correct, the rest is cake! Good luck!

Please visit Roman Blinds Direct for more information on Roman Blinds

Benefits of Duo Blinds

Have you ever purchased a set of blinds and wished that you could vary the amount of light that comes in as opposed to just blocking out the light completely? Well with duo blinds you can do this. Duo blinds are a system with two sheets. The first sheet is a thin translucent layer of fabric. It is thin enough to let a very small amount of light to get in but not too thick as to block out the suns rays. The second sheet is a thicker more opaque layer which often is used to fully block out light or even give full privacy to the room. Having a duo blind means that one does not have to totally sacrifice light or fully block visibility of a room.

Duo blinds have increased in popularity lately because they provide a great alternative to the normal shades or blinds which totally block out light. The main idea of blinds is to either block out the light or regulate how much comes in. But the only downside is you get patterns of light and dark as well as less natural light coming in. The benefit of using duo blinds is that there is a comfortable amount of natural light that seeps through but not enough to be blinding or to cast too much glare into the room. This gives rooms more lighting and can save on the power bill.

In the evening, it is often hard to see the edges of the house unless you own a set of floodlights, which are quite expensive. Having duo blinds means that you can leave the transparent layer up and just leave the lights on. This can give the illusion of people being home and also illuminates the outer parts of the house. This is most crucial when you have parties or events at home. Some might say, to get a few garden lamps and the like. But in reality not everyone can afford a whole set of garden lamps because they are expensive and consume a whole heap of power. With the light coming from your house, there should be enough ambient lighting to light the garden. This means that you end up spending less money on external lighting fixtures.

Duo blinds are also act as a bit of a screen to prevent insects from entering your house when you leave the window open. Having insects in the house can be annoying as well as dangerous to ones health as mosquitoes carry a variety of illnesses such as malaria, dengue and the like.

At the end of the day the choice is up to you. Having duo blinds is great because of the reasons mentioned above. They are a bit more costly compared to normal shades, but in reality they are more versatile and useful than a normal shade or blinds. The money is yours, but would you rather spend your money on cheap shades or on high quality multi-purpose duo blinds?

If you wish to find out more on Duo Blinds as well as information Bespoke Shades, go to http://www.bespokeshades.co.uk.

Make a Difference With Stained Glass Window Designs

Stained Glass window designs are architectural features that have been around for ages. In the past, they were usually found in churches and monasteries. They usually depicted biblical scenes or resembled flowers or other geometric shapes. Despite being a design from the Gothic times, it seems that the popularity of stained glass window designs have not died down yet.

The difference today however is that the stained glass window designs are brought into homes. For the richer and the financially stronger home owner, installing these at home adds a sense of grandeur to the home and sets it apart from the rest. Rather than being limited to biblical scenes, they nowadays can be customized to cater to the home owners demand.

Installing them at home would be a really worthy one time investment for the interior decoration of the house. Whenever light passes through the window, the home would be immersed in a range of colors that would just add more life to the area.

Naturally, the cost of installing them at your house would depend on various factors. For example, the availability of the stained glass manufacturers, the size of the window and most importantly, and the design. Of course, the more complicate or customized the designs are, the higher the price would be.

There are various methods in producing stained glass window designs. The traditional method is where pieces of colored glass are cut to fit a certain drawing. Any gaps between the pieces produced using this process are then covered by inserting materials such as brass or copper in between them. The traditional method is the more expensive method due to its complexity. However, it lasts for a very long time and looks stunningly beautiful.

Another common method is called the Tiffany method. In this method, stained glass window designs were assembled by joining together colored glass plates using soldering or welding techniques.

Another low cost and more contemporary approach to producing them is the use of transparent colored glass sheets that are stuck on to plain glass. Being an easier process, this approach is much cheaper when it comes to producing them. Hence, this is by far the most common technique used in manufacturing these windows today.

Over the centuries, the techniques of making these Tempered Glass have evolved tremendously and they have changed as well. However, this architectural marvel is far from dying off. Instead with its current popularity in many American and European homes, it is safe to say that Stained Glass window designs are here to stay.

Custom Window Designs Come True

The America Window Co. takes a novel approach in offering its services to prospective homeowners, actual homeowners, do-it-yourself devotees, and builders. The company is based in Covina, California, and covers pretty much the Southern California area.

The company actively seeks out custom installations and invites prospective clients to suggest how they would like their homes to look. They state that if you can imagine it, they can find a way to make it happen. The company's designers will take a look at what you have in mind and come up with an estimate. Of course, if you're imagining something like the Taj Mahal, it might end up beyond your budget, but the challenge is out there.

The "how" of replacement windows extends to American Window personnel visiting your home to look around, measure, and make recommendations. They have in-house contractors ready and willing to bid on the job and if you have a hankering to go the DIY route, they can furnish the materials and expertise to make sure you get it right the first time. If you are a DIY person or living out of the area, you can skip the on-site analysis, just order the materials, and have at it. The idea of ordering goes so far as to offer shipment of whatever materials the company can come up with to anywhere you choose.

Visiting the company website reveals a long list of window and door manufacturers whose products are available through American Window, and based on customer feedback over the years, the company offers its own line of windows.

If you're looking to add value to your home and save a bundle on energy costs, American Window is a great place to start and you just might find a kindred spirit in doing windows the right way.

Ryan Stinson is a freelance writer with general home improvement knowledge, and expertise in american window installation and identifying quality door manufacturers.

Modern Double Hung Sash Window Design With an Eye to Historical Influences

Time has proven double hung sash windows to be an excellent design. In some cases these windows have lasted hundreds of years. The revival in the popularity of sash windows has caused many manufacturers to exploit this highly profitable market.

Many people are spending a lot of money on what they think will last them a lifetime. There is a problem, modern sash windows have a different set of criteria on the design from the traditional designs. Demands on a modern window can have a negative effect on the performance that made the traditional sash windows so successful over hundreds of years.

The new demands of maximising profitability and complying with current regulations are adding complexity to the simplicity of the original design. Adding complexity is a real problem for the maintenance in the years to come. If in twenty to thirty years time, components aren't available the window will have to be ripped out and replaced. A two hundred year old window can still be easily maintained and repaired to this day. The problem is similar to those facing plastic windows installed only twenty years ago.

Influences on a design have to be considered and understood before any re-design can be successful in the long term. Without this comprehension, the designer can't make the right choices so the original successful features can be lost.

The design of Double Hung Sash Windows evolved over time starting in the mid 1600's. Each stage in the Sash Window history has been tried, and proved. Advances in glass and glazing technology have driven many of the variations to the basic design. These changes where incorporated in preceding design. We can't identify any serious failures as these windows will have been scrapped long ago..

Current legislation requires the installation of sealed unit double glazing. This advance in fenestration is the biggest challenge so far to the traditional sash window. Large proportions of modern makers have chosen to ignore or are ignorant of problems that this new glazing can cause. The result will be many disappointed customers a few years down the line. They will have to pay for expensive remedial work or be even more disgruntled when the specialist components used are out of production.

There are some good manufacturers who have done well incorporating double glazing in to sash window designs. The existing solutions from modern timber window design have been applied directly to sash windows. These windows have a good chance of performing well over many years. Unfortunately the technology for glazing these windows is adapted from casement style windows where the frame design is fairly heavy in appearance.

Most sash windows with double glazing being produced today don't have the aesthetic elegance of traditional designs. Also a number of the details highlight the modern construction. Whilst making windows that comply with the modern demands of energy conservation, we have to accept some changes to the aesthetics. The latest double hung window designs should be see in the light of past changes. It's another chapter in long history. History will forget the failures, although many individuals won't. Modern windows don't have to be replicas but they do need to be honest.

When judging a new design, we should ask:

a) Are any of the details detracting from what looks right?

a) Is the design in sympathy with the building style and proportions?

c) Has the design been detailed to maximise longevity?

d) Is maintenance and future repair possible and straight forward?

The answers need assessing in a historical context. With continuity, a successful, evolving design can have the best chance of lasting hundreds of years. Good designs will perform to modern standards and survive the test of time.

A project to design and build high performance double glazed, double hung sliding sash windows should start with a look at the historical background. As I've been working on a design that combines the best of modern technology with traditional craft, reference to the past has been invaluable.

Working this way will give me windows with high performance that will out-last me. The cost per unit will be lower than equivalent PVC alternatives. They will add value to the house whilst the energy bills will be lower. The published plans and information will be invaluable source those with some basic skills and a desire join generations of craftsmen making sustainable architectural joinery.

Andy Bell is a designer exploring the application of modern technological advances to traditional craft based designs. The resulting plans can be built using basic woodworking tools and only require a moderate skill level. The History of Double Hung Sash Windows and project progress are on his iDoStuff website

Window Designs - Modern Or Old Fashioned?

Window designs occupy the minds of many homeowners when building their homes. Do they want to have modern, minimalist windows or go for more elaborate and ornate old fashioned windows that are works of art in themselves. If you have visited old style homes you would have been stuck by the beauty and intricacy that is involved in the creation of those masterpieces. At once they stand out and make a statement of their own.

Not the windows of today which are just plain openings with minimalist frames with glass inserted. Today's window reflect the times where people don't have too much time to maintain and clean intricate designs. They would rather have simple window designs that can be easily cleaned and kept dust free. Also, modern windows are more likely to focus on energy-efficiency and effective insulation. If the windows can perform these functions then the window is considered to have served its purpose.

The windows of the old were designed to be used to frame a view. When you look out of the window you are likely to see a stream flowing by or a calm waters of a lake or rolling hills. For such wondrous sites it would be a disservice to have plain windows. So, beautiful, elaborate windows with carvings and ornate designs were created. The times were leisurely and there were plenty of maids and men available to clean them. Beautiful window treatments enhanced the whole look fo the window.

Today, the movement is towards minimalist and neat look. With clean-cut lines and simplicity ingrained in their design the modern windows try to blend in with the walls and not detract from the interiors of the home which are the main focus of attention. There aren't many views to be had inside a thickly populated cities and towns where the window will likely frame the neighbor's house or the road with traffic rushing by. Only few home can afford beautiful gardens, lawns or artificial lakes. Also, old style homes consume a lot of energy to keep them heated and cooled. Such huge energy bills can't be afforded by most homeowners. That is the reason for the emphasis on energy efficiency.

Given a choice many homes will opt for beautiful window designs of the past. But they can't afford the high energy bills that are bane of such homes. It is also a criminal waste when the environmental impact of our various activities are considered.

Jane Sawyer is a interiors expert. She has written about Window Designs on her website at http://www.windowdesigns.org.