Window treatments are the kind of thing that have a huge effect on a space, but may not necessarily be the first thing you notice upon entering a room. When it came time to select our window treatments for #CSBungalow, we were working within a pretty specific set of needs: we wanted them to offer significant privacy from the outside, but still let in a ton of natural light for photos (and overall happiness!) We also wanted them to be pretty inconspicuous, and therefore versatile in the many photo shoots we produce in our space.
In the end, we partnered with the amazing folks over at The Shade Store to find the exact right roller shades for our needs. Working with them was a breath of fresh air amidst construction madness, and to top it all off, we love the finished product. We also learned a lot throughout the process, and we’re excited to share our newly found expertise with you guys today!
featured image by molly culver for camille styles
photo courtesy of the shade store
1. The basics.
Do you know your options? The most standard window treatments you’ll see are blinds, shades, and drapery. In case there’s any confusion as to what counts as what…
Blinds – These can be horizontal or vertical, but essentially, blinds are typically made of wood, plastic or metal. Think of your classic schoolhouse window covering — long slats connected by a cord.
Shades – These are usually made of some kind of textile — canvas, woven bamboo, cotton — and are typically roller or roman in style. Roller is what we have at the office, and roman bunch up more accordion-style.
Drapery – Drapery is really just another word for curtains, and there’s no more impactful way to go all out on your window treatment. Between different folds, rods, pleats and valances, there are a lot of decisions to be made when it comes to drapes. And to complicate matters even more: they also look great combined with blinds and shades, like in the photo above.
photo by molly culver for camille styles
2. You pay for what you get.
I love saving money as much as the next girl (well, probably more), but there’s no denying that for the most part, beautiful, high quality window treatments can be reflected on the price tag. I have IKEA curtains at my house, and they look fine, but they certainly don’t look nice. The same goes for roller shades. You can find them at the hardware store and install them yourself, but speaking from experience, those end up looking like projector screens and breaking a lot.
High quality window treatments are a big investment, but to me, having such a well done and pretty solution at #CSBungalow was worth every penny.
photo courtesy of the shade store
3. When it comes to drapes, do like Michelle and go high (and wide.)
It’s a simple design trick that makes a huge difference. When mounting drapes, go higher and wider than just the top of the window to make your space feel bigger and more open. I love referencing this illustration to prove the concept.
photo courtesy of the shade store
4. Roman shades are cool again.
For a while, people weren’t doing the “roman shade” thing. But now, they’re back, better than ever, and seem to have shaken off any stigma they once carried. I’m really diggin’ relaxed roman shades too.
photo by molly culver for camille styles
5. Consult with a pro.
When in doubt, take it up with a professional. As I said before, buying window treatments is no small decision, so why not do it right? We worked with The Shade Store in Austin on the #CSBungalow, and I’m not exaggerating when I say that it was one of the easiest, most enjoyable design experiences we had. We stopped by their showroom to look at samples and make our selections, then one of their delightful installers came by the house to take measurements, and a few months later, they installed all the shades seamlessly in just a couple hours. Just think of the measuring and drilling agony we saved ourselves!
