STEP BY STEP: Beautiful Blinds
Step by Step is the blog of Kate Kerin Interiors. In addition to following some of my clients’ projects, I examine some of the latest issues of interest in the world of interior design.
Regular readers will remember my client Joanna, whose bathroom in Petersham, Sydney was transformed into an oasis earlier this year. I was thrilled that Joanna invited me back into her home, this time to undertake a small but crucial job – designing and installing the perfect window treatment for her kitchen.
Joanna’s spacious apartment in Sydney’s Inner West has a modern, functional kitchen with just one shortcoming – the only window faces west. For those of you familiar with Sydney, you’ll know that western sun can be unforgiving. In this case, the sun beats down on the sink and prep area next to the stovetop and oven; not ideal when this is the logical place to leave food to defrost, or to prepare meals. Joanna is seeking an interior design solution to reduce heat in the kitchen, particularly in the summer months. And if it delivers beauty as well as functionality, that’s an added bonus!
Joanna has asked KK Interiors to recommend an appropriate window treatment, utilising the gorgeous hand-printed fabrics from Publisher Textiles & Papers, who provided the feature wallpaper in Joanna’s newly renovated bathroom. Having fallen in love with their wallpaper designs I am excited to be able to work with the company again, this time selecting the perfect fabric for Joanna’s window treatment. After chatting with Stephanie at Publisher it is clear that the window only needs one width (or “drop”) of fabric, and that the best options will be either a cotton/linen blend or Tencel/linen. Steph has helpfully recommended a company to manufacture the blind, add the heat-repelling backing fabric and install. I’ll provide more information about that process in the weeks to come.
Joanna and I have discussed options for the style of blind, and my suggestion is to use a Roman shade. This clever design is relatively unfussy and will allow the fabric to be the hero even when the shade is raised. And when down, the beautiful panel of fabric will function almost like a work of art. The fabrics that Joanna has shortlisted include designs by First Nations artists from Top End art centres such as Merrepen Arts and Ikuntji Artists. When the fabric is selected I’ll share links to images for readers who are inspired by Australia’s Indigenous artists.
After a quick measure of the window and taking some photos, I race off to Publisher to get samples of the fabrics that Joanna has shortlisted from their website. They are all gorgeous and very difficult to choose between. Joanna has spent a thoughtful weekend with the samples, looking at them in different light through the day. We are hoping to be able to squeeze the job in before Christmas, meaning Joanna’s kitchen will be protected from the majority of our Sydney summer and will look like a million bucks for the holidays!
When considering window treatments for your home, there are many options available. Roller blinds are a popular choice, with their simple mechanism and options for sheer, translucent or block out fabrics. Some designers specify a double blind, with a blockout at the back and a sheer or lighter weight version at the front. I prefer to avoid this if possible, as the fixtures above the window will protrude at least 125mm and can be obtrusive if face-fixed (ie not recessed into the window frame).
Another option is the Roman blind, often made from a single piece of fabric that folds or pleats up in a stack as the cord is pulled. This is the kind of blind I have specified for Joanna’s job; simple, elegant and able to be backed with blackout fabric to block light and heat. Like roller blinds, Romans can be face fixed or recessed, and in this case I’ve recommended face fixed, with the fabric slightly larger than the window itself. There are a few reasons for this; it will be in better proportion with the rest of the wall around the window and additionally, it will showcase the beautiful hand-printed fabric Joanna is considering. Also, the fabric isn’t sturdy enough for a roller blind mechanism.
Plantation shutters are another functional and attractive option. Hamptons or beach-style houses particularly feature this look, which is generally recessed and is known to add value to homes. I find it can be more difficult to control the amount of light coming into the room with shutters; they can make a room feel dark even when open, due to the amount of wood that blocks the window even when the shutters are open. And when fully closed, they never quite block out all the light, making them less ideal for light sleepers like me!
Good old venetians never really went out of fashion and have better light control than plantation shutters, in my opinion. Venetians are usually timber (natural or painted) or aluminium, with slats available in a range of widths. Venetians can be comparatively inexpensive, but bear in mind the regular need to dust! I remember one of my jobs as a child was to help my Grandmother dust her aluminium venetians on the back verandah. If you prefer your lines to be vertical rather than horizontal, another classic blind style is the Vertical blind, perfect for regulating light or providing privacy in front of sliding doors.
Regardless of the style of window treatment you choose, you should also consider its functional purpose. Is your goal to cut light (for instance in a bedroom, for sleeping), to reduce heat, or for privacy? Depending on your answer to this question, different types of blinds may suggest themselves. And aesthetically each has a different look and feel. KK Interiors can help you choose which window treatment will suit your needs and your space, and work with your budget to provide options that will look beautiful as well as being practical, functional and long lasting.
Kate Kerin Interiors specialises in working with residential clients in Sydney, particularly people who are considering downsizing or other major milestone moves. Contact Kate for an initial consultation to talk about your project.
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