Article:
Designing window treatments for shutters
By Shelley Anderson
June 2008
Many times the challenge in designing decorative window treatments is not the actual window but the hard window treatment used for privacy and light control. The options available in blinds and shades can often dictate what style—if any—of decorative treatments can be used.
Most shading systems operate in an up and down motion, or can be pulled to either side of a window opening. These typical treatments can be hidden under beautiful valances or decorative drapery panels. One exception to this is shutters. They are certainly attractive on their own, but many times with newer home construction the ceilings are higher and there may be a lot of wall space above the shutters. This leaves an area that can cause an out-of-balance feeling in your room. The addition of fabric window treatments will conceal this large space and enhance the entire design of a room. Adding color and pattern to your windows will complete the look.
The challenge in placing window treatments over shutters is the fact that they open either into the room similar to French doors, or they slide to the side and may extend well beyond the window frame.
I recently worked with a long-time client who relocated from our Pacific Northwest climate to a much warmer and sunnier California location. The home faces Southwest and will get a great deal of direct sun. Shutters were the natural choice to tame the sunlight. The couple selected the French door opening style, so their window treatments would have to be designed to allow clearance at the top for the shutters to swing opened and closed.
In the family room and office I designed stationary drapery panels to be hung from decorative hardware. The panels were constructed to have a casual elegant appearance. The kitchen and nook area was a bit more challenging. There was about 24 inches above all of the windows to the ceiling-and it was just too much to leave open. In this case, I designed fake Roman valances that could be let down over the shutters just enough to create a 20-inch valance, or be pulled up just enough to clear the top of the shutter panels when my clients wanted to open them.
The requirements for the den included window treatments that would not hang below the sill of the window since the desk and credenza would be placed against that wall. The photo shows the windows with the shutters. The design I created incorporated a painted decorative rod with panels of fabric to hang alongside the shutters. The sketch shows how the treatment looked. The tassels at the end of each panel are just the right finishing touch.
The custom guest room bedding and window treatment had been completed in the couple’s Newcastle home for a while and unfortunately the fabric used had been discontinued. They had taken the old window treatments with them in case it could be reworked. I had about four 15x15-inch pieces to work with when creating the new treatment.
Again, the design had to accommodate the shutters and fill-in the area above the window. The result enhances the Asianinspired theme of this room. With planning and creativity, the window treatments were the icing on the cake in this couples’ new home.
Shelley Anderson has been creating interiors in the greater Seattle area since 1990.You may contact her at (206) 719-6814 or email her at
shelley.anderson@shelleyandersoninteriors.com.