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Which Custom Window Coverings Should I Choose?

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Let the Home Decide

Building a new house, moving into a new home, or remodeling your existing home are among the leading life-changing events that lead homeowners to purchase custom-made window coverings. These major moments don’t happen often. The same is true for new shades, blinds, shutters, or draperies. But when you need them, you want to do it once and you want to do it right.

When we walk into a home, often the client hasn’t purchased window treatments since their last move, which could be anywhere from a year to 15 years ago (or even more). The first thing we do is get to know you. All these small to ginormous holes in your home called windows set the scene and, in many cases, the comfort level in your home. To treat them right, we need to know who is going to be on the inside of the home and how we can make you the most comfortable.

There are several schools of thought on whether you do the same thing throughout the home or different things in different rooms. (We, of course, have answers and opinions on all of your questions.) In doing the same thing throughout, the first factor we consider is whether you have an open floor plan. The default is to treat all the windows within view of each other with the same product or at least the same fabric. Yet there are great options for using two different products, but with the same fabric or color.

Some great pairings are Skyline™ Gliding Window Panels and Designer Roller Shades, Parkland™ Wood Blinds and Crosswind® Wood Verticals, Luminette® Privacy Sheers and Silhouettes® Window Shadings, and Heritance® Hard Wood Shutters and Parkland™ Real Wood Blinds. You can always design different window coverings to coordinate and complement each other. You are never stuck with doing the same thing in every window if this isn’t what you want.

If you don’t have an open floor plan and each room is uniquely its own, you can let each room decide what window covering works best. Often we’re invited into a home that has so much character in the millwork, the décor, the art, and the furnishings that the only thing the window treatments could possibly do is just enhance what’s already there.

Chicago’s South Shore

That was clearly the case when two professional clients in one of Chicago’s South Shore neighborhoods invited us in. We listened to what would work for them from a function and fashion perspective, working specifically with one room or one area at a time. We went with five different window coverings, each one perfect for its room. In each room our recommendations were based on listening to our clients and letting the room decide.

  • Both studies needed to both block the light and let light in.
  • The kitchen required something that worked with the cabinets and did not fight with the light.
  • The master bedroom needed something softer that would not allow the morning sun to become the alarm clock.
  • The dining room needed something formal, yet did not disturb the opulent chandelier.
  • And wait until we show you how we simply treated the grand two-story living room windows.

View some before and after photos.

The beautiful, perfectly appropriate rooms in this 100-year-old building deserved to have their windows treated with respect. We are going to do a few more fabric top treatments in select rooms to finish off, but so far our clients could not be more pleased and neither could we.

Blinds, Shades & Shutters in Elmhurst, IL

Beyond Shades is your source for window treatments, custom drapery and more! We serve the greater Chicago area, including Oak Park, Elmhurst, LaGrange, Naperville, Glen Ellyn and surrounding cities. Contact us today to schedule your in-home design consultation!

Rachel Gregersen
Rachel Gregersen

Owner of Beyond Shades and also an accomplished designer with 25+ years of experience specializing in interiors, architecture, and window fashions, dedicated to meeting clients' unique needs.

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