Windows value in a home immense

"The adventure of the sun is the great natural drama by which we live, and not to have joy in it and awe of it, not to share in it, is to close a full door on nature's sustaining and poetic spirit." Henry Beston (1888-1968), American writer and naturalist, "Midwinter," "The Outermost House" (1928)

When you are building, buying, renovating or decorating a house, one of the biggest design features is the window placement and the number of windows. They are not only decorative, but functional -- they must look good and provide light.

There are literally hundreds of types of windows, each manufactured for a specific room or purpose. Your job as a homeowner, renovator or decorator is to select the correct one. Given the large range available, it is not always an easy job. And if you are building, the main job regarding windows is their placement in your design. Just for giggles, when you're building or buying or just trying to impress your designer or builder, use the word "fenestration" (the design and placement of windows in buildings) when talking about your window placement. He or she will appreciate that you are an "educated" consumer.

We all crave light in our homes and want to let as much natural light in as possible. When there just aren't enough windows, skylights can provide light in dark rooms and solar tubes provide light in tight, dark spaces without the extent of construction necessary for skylights.

If you feel the need to renovate to get the desired amount of natural light coming into your home, you're looking at considerable cost. So if you are lucky enough to build your own home, put in lots of windows in the beginning. You will never say, "Gee, too bad there's all these windows!"

However, getting all of those windows is just the beginning. The next big decision for most of us is, now what? Do I cover them and with what? A lot of time, we defeat ourselves by covering up windows and blocking the light we fought to get.

If privacy is not an issue, it's great to leave windows uncovered. That is a very modern, contemporary look, but can also work well in other design styles. Conversely, fabric warms up a room, so even if you want the openness afforded by the window, but would like a touch of fabric, a valance or window topper is one option. Roman shades that go all the way to the ceiling are another. The shades are actually covering the wall space above the window and not blocking much of the window opening.

Curtain panels also can be used in the same way. Extend the rods past the windows far enough to accommodate the width of the panels when open. When the curtains are open, they are not actually covering the window at all, but the walls around them.

Most of us require window treatments to provide privacy and light control. Treatments such as shutters and blinds work well for both purposes. They can be adjusted to let in just enough light and can be closed off to provide privacy when needed.

On a personal level, I have two sets of sliders in my downstairs living area and basically the entire space is glass and opens up to the courtyard. I inherited vertical blinds in the space and, being unable to make a decision of what to replace them with, I have lived with them for about seven years, unhappily so. However, I do need the privacy and sun control and blinds fill those needs. Just recently, I finally bit the bullet, took down the verticals and installed new hardware and curtain panels.

I was unsure how they would "work," but I have been pleasantly surprised.

If you also are putting up panels, keep in mind that they don't have to be thrown open all the way. By opening the panels at different intervals, not all pulled to the sides, this will allow the same light and privacy control as the blinds.

One of the hippest, new trends in window treatments is the use of remotes to open and close window treatments. Remotes can control draperies, shades and sliding panels. Any treatment whose movement is tied to a rod or track can be outfitted with a remote. Talk about luxury. Imagine relaxing in your easy chair and being able to open your curtains without getting up. Just keep in mind, however, that anything with moving parts is more apt to give you problems along the way.

Prices to dress windows are all over the lot. A simple topper can cost a little as $10 and remote controlled shades or panels can cost thousands.

Whatever your budget or whatever your style, there are windows and treatments to satisfy your needs. Take full advantage of your windows -- their value to your home is immense.

Carolyn Muse Grant is a founder and president of the Architectural & Decorative Arts Society, as well as an interior design consultant/stylist specializing in home staging. Her Inside Spaces column appears weekly in the Home section of the Review-Journal. Send questions to creativemuse@cox.net.