Treat your windows to a makeover

Whether you treat your windows for fashion or function, every window

needs a little something extra to give it a final touch.

There is a treatment for every room, every window style and every

weather condition. If you live anywhere outside of Alcatraz, chances

are that you’ve gotten window treatment catalogs in the mail:

Smith+Noble; Great Windows; Home Expo; Pottery Barn; and Restoration

Hardware -- all have chapters of choices.

The only hard part is deciding what material, what color and how

many layers you want to frame your view of the world.

A valance is a great eyebrow for any window. Valances look stylish

all by themselves, but they can also do double-duty by hiding roller

shades, duet shades or black-out shades. Once the shades are rolled

or pulled up, all that’s left is the original treatment, which can be

fabric styled in as fancy or plain as you like.

Natural materials like bamboo or grasses make great valances.

Custom wood valances can be elaborate, like crown molding or a simple

box painted to match or contrast with your room’s color scheme.

Shades have become sophisticated. The standard styles roll, fold

or pleat upward. But there are also styles that work from the top

down. A good application for a top-down shade would be in a bathroom

that you want natural light to come through, but also want privacy.

Top-down shades can be made out of fabric or natural materials. They

have a built-in valance at the top to hide the top-down mechanism.

Under the right circumstances, these shades are pure genius.

Roller shades prove that every old becomes new again. Roller

shades are a great way to give rooms a big look on a small budget.

With roller shades, the magic is in the details. Add French scallops,

neoclassic rectangles, or go for straight, sleek and simple.

Roller shades usually have trim at the bottom called gimp, which

gives the shade a lot of style. Consider adding a contrasting trim as

a way to dress things up. You can also add a unique pull to define

your room’s mood. Even adding a simple tassel can be all you need to

take your window treatment over the top. And roller shades don’t

necessarily “roll.” You can choose a continuous loop option that

makes pulling shades up and down a simple task.

Natural fiber shades are not just for the surfs-up set. Natural

shades come in a wide variety of moods, colors, weights and

materials. Natural shades can be as dressy or as casual as you want

them to be. Just choose the style accordingly.

And don’t forget about good old curtains. Stores like Restoration

Hardware, Pottery Barn and Z Gallery can make choosing curtains pain

free. Frame your view of the world. A little window dressing can have

a big impact. It might be the finishing touch that makes your room

feel complete.

* KAREN WIGHT is a Newport Beach resident. Her column runs

Sundays.