Blinds and Shades

Windows decorated in yards of silk and trimmed with tassels or fringe can make quite a statement. But factor in preference and practicality, and the dressy look doesn't work for every situation. Enter blinds and shades. They combine glare control with the patina of wood grain and woven fibers in a neatly layered package. Inherently useful, they can help correct a room's proportions or screen out undesirable views. And in a theatrical twist, shades and blinds can turn filtered light into a vital decorative element. Here's a look at the irresistible qualities of these enduring window treatments.

SHADES

With their neat borders and trim lines, natural-fiber shades are well-suited for crisp, tailored applications. They fit equally well in shallow or deep casements, where they fold or cascade for a compact presentation. Featuring reeds, bamboo, rattan, and other tactile materials, shades highlight the transition between exterior and interior spaces.

Shades are welcome throughout the house. In the more public rooms, unlined shades let in more sunlight, while a sheer backing or blackout lining provides additional privacy in bedrooms. Often layered beneath curtains, natural-fiber shades also look fantastic by themselves, tightly set within the window frame.

A knack for orchestrating proportions makes shades especially valuable. Shades may be mounted high to lengthen windows visually or used to connect windows of irregular size or placement. "If you place a single shade over two or three windows on a wall, it's like dropping a sieve over dissimilar information," says architect and designer Bobby McAlpine.

Designers on Shades

• For a client's bay window, designer Stanley Ellis combined shades with draperies to avoid fabric overload. "If we had used enough drapery to pull shut over the windows, the bay would have been all fabric," he says.
• McAlpine specified a fitted shade to envelop the windows in his living room. "The panes no longer function as windows. I sacrificed the view for this magical illumination," he says.
• Atlanta designer Suzanne Kasler believes that pleated valances can feel overly styled. She marries custom shades with straightforward fabrics. "It's a casual, elegant look. Paired with simple drapery, they provide texture and warmth," she says.

Return of the Roller Shade
Architect and designer Bobby McAlpine favors a once-notorious icon: the roller shade. Banish the memories of poorly textured vinyl and cartoon-grade flapping. Modern examples feature natural woven materials and smooth operation. "It's one of the least-used forms today, almost a forgotten option. But roller shades are wonderful -- compact and spontaneous. They can provide a lampshade quality of light, and there are reputable vendors who make custom versions," he says.

BLINDS

Wood blinds boast the flexibility of a workable and moveable surface, and their wider cross sections make them a natural choice for recessed windows. The slats, so adept at moderating light, also form a de facto artist's canvas when treated with stain, paint, or glaze.

Atlanta designer John Oetgen often explores the creative possibilities of blinds. "In one home, we painted blinds to match the walls to create architectural extensions," he says.

Blinds can work wonders in rooms with challenging features, such as deep-set niches or tall banks of windows. By warming these unusual elements with the richness of wood, blinds help establish a softer scale.

Options abound in terms of construction. Two-inch slats prevail, though a range of widths is available, and wider slats result in a better view when open. Customized tape and cords add punch. Hardwood slats are preferred for durability, and with a stained or painted finish, they look appealing from inside or out.

Designers on Blinds

• Designer Phillip Sides advises against dated slat widths. "I never use blinds with slats less than two inches. One-inch blinds were a fad of the '70s and '80s," he says.
• Blinds don't have to cover windows. For clients with an open floor plan, Oetgen placed blinds between the kitchen and living areas. "The blinds hang over a buffet, between two beams. They can be louvered to hide kitchen work, or lifted halfway to serve under them," he says.
• McAlpine uses blinds to heighten drama in his library. "The sunlight throws slatted shadows into the room, like something from a 1930s movie. The light patterns alter everything they fall across," he says.

Blind-Shade Hybrids
When special challenges arise, blinds and shades may be merged. To accommodate round-topped windows, for example, designer Betsy Massey prescribes artful shade-and-blind combos. "With unusually shaped windows, you don't want to do anything too tricky. We often build a stationary top shade for the arch using unlined sheers, with blinds mounted underneath," she says. The concept works in bathrooms, too, where half-and-half treatments offer a good blend of light and privacy.

PLACEMENT POINTERS

Blinds and shades offer wonderful solutions for managing light and proportions, but the mounting options can be confusing. We asked designers Stanley Ellis, Bill McGee, and Phillip Sides for advice and recommendations.

Inside the Casement

• Works best when: You want to showcase decorative moldings, or when you are layering blinds or shades with curtains on well-proportioned windows.
• Considerations for shades: Take careful measurements for an exact fit within the frame (larger gaps allow more light leakage). Measure the window diagonally to be sure it is plumb; if it isn't, consider mounting outside the casement for smoother operation.
• Considerations for blinds: Measure dimensions carefully, as with shades. Also, make sure there is enough mounting depth inside the frame for slats to hang flush with the trim.
• Designer's tip: "Big cornices and heavier window treatments are not in fashion at the moment. This is a lighter style of layering. You have just a shade, rod, and curtain," says Stanley Ellis.

Outside the Casement

• Works best when: You want to enlarge the scale of a window or create a false dimension. This approach also allows you to match the placement of the accompanying draperies.
• Considerations for shades: They will look best if they match or slightly overlap the dimensions of the frame; blackout linings may be used to limit escaping light.
• Considerations for blinds: Blinds with wider slats will stand out farther from the wall when open. This treatment is best suited to windows in niches or recessed areas.
• Designer's tip: "Try to make the blind or shade exactly match the size of the frame, so that the frame disappears. It should fall from top to sill and cover completely side to side," says Phillip Sides.

Above the Casement

• Works best when: You want to visually lengthen a window, or when you need to establish consistent proportions among windows of different heights in the same room. This approach also works well for French doors, so that the blind or shade clears the doors when it is retracted.
• Considerations for shades: If you are layering curtains and shades, this approach will look more polished if you mount the shade and the curtain rod at the same height, and let the draperies overlap the edges of the shade.
• Considerations for blinds: Ideal for niche or recessed windows, as with outside-the-casement suggestions above; follow mounting considerations for shades -- hang blinds and drapery rods at same height, as gaps will appear unflattering.
• Designer's tip: "I've raised treatments up to ceiling height to improve proportions and uniformity. I don't like to see window treatments at different heights in a room," says Bill McGee.

RESOURCES: Bobby McAlpine, McAlpine Tankersley Architecture, 334/262-8315, www.mcalpinetankersley.com; Stanley Ellis, Stanley Ellis Inc., 404/872-5510, www.stanleyellis.com; Suzanne Kasler, Suzanne Kasler Interiors, 404/355-1035, www.suzannekasler.com; Betsy Massey, Cathy Kincaid Interiors, 214/522-0856, www.cathykincaid.com; John Oetgen, Oetgen Design Inc., 404/352-1112; Phillip Sides, Phillip Sides Interior Design, 334/240-3333, www.phillipsidesinteriordesign.com; Bill McGee, Circa Home Inc., 302/645-9633.