/27.5.21 U/:L7/J1i ~ ~ 9 ., ¥ II " I' I \ I" I I I " I I ' I I ''\ I I \ I I I ' I ,. ' \ I '' I I LIB R .A R Y ' I '' I CURRENT SER IAL ~~[CORD '\ ,I I MAY' . 6 1960 . ' I ''\ ,,• \ , '' ,I U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGr<iCULTURE ' , '' I '' I' I ' '' '' '' I I I / I I , I ,. I I r I I I l II 'l ' . ' - / ' I I .. :. / /' : I .I tI I / I / ./ :; / I I I ' I 1 ' ,' l I ' ; : I ~ I I I I I TABLE OF CONTENTS Page To Help Determine Your Special Needs, Consider • . 3 Cafe and Cottage Type Curtains • . 4 Sheer Glass Curtains • . 4 Draw Curtains and Draperies . 5 Stationar.y Draperies • . • • 5 Fabrics . • • • 5 Shades and Blinds . 6 Cornices and Valances .. 8 ' . Adequate Fullness for Curtains and Draperies . .• 9 Correct Lengths . 9' Hardware • . 10 Ready-Made, Custom-Made or Make at Home 10 Check Points for Curtain and Draper.y Fabric 12 Required Label Information • . 12 Other Desired Label Information 12 Fiber . 13 Durability Factors • . 13 Use of Pattern • . 15 Color . 16 Texture • 16 Will You Be Your Own Decorator • • . 17 When You Go Shopping • • . 17 . ' ' March 1960 E.M. 2071 WINDOW TREA'IMENT By Dorothy M. Clark Extension Home Management Specialist A pleasing window treatment can contribute much to the attractiveness of a roam. For most windows a treatment that enables you to see the view, control air and sunshine, regulate light and privacy, soften the lines of the window frames, provide same insulation, and add a touch of decorative interest are desired. Your particular choice or\ a treatment is usually determined by such factors as where you live and how you live, the architectural style of your house, the character of the room decoration, the size, shape and number of windows in the roam, as well as your personal likes and the size of your budget. For examples, draw curtains or draperies m~ be the ideal solution for large window areas in some contemporary homes but unsatisfactory for narrow, single windows in some of the early homes in the state. A working mother m~ prefer attractive cafe curtains for an informal atmosphere that best fits her busy schedule. These, in a material that will shut out the light, could be used without ~ other element as blinds, shades, etc. A more formal treatment would probably be more satisfactory in the home of a busy e:x-ecu tive. Elaborate window treatments such as those that include overdraperies, valances or c.orniees, draw curtains and glass curtains, all of luxurious materials,. create a feeling of formality. They may be used in large formal roams with other rich furnishings but should not be too elaborate as to interfere. with light and air from the window. Informal roams call far less elaborate treatments and less luxurious fabrics. Informal E.M. 2071 Page 2 A decorative treatment such as this calls attention to a window and establishes it as one of the centers of interest in a roam. This can be achieved by a variety of w~s such as using ve~ beauti­ ful fabrics, unusual cornices and valances 1 colors in contrast to the wall, patterned fabrics or l b,y skillful use of trimmings. I Decorative treatments can be 1 pleasing if the roam is of ade­ I quate size, the windows are of J----f I good proportion, and the other I I furnishings are rather subdued ' I in color and pattern and if the treatment is not overdone. ~W' When you choose simple treatments and use colors near the same. value as the wall color, the window treatment seems to become a part of the background in the roan. This is usually desirable when the room is very small, when there are many windows and odd-shaped ones in the room, and when there are many pictures and accessories in the room. You will also probably prefer a background treatment when you have a very beautiful view. E.M. 2071 Page 3 TO HELP DETERMlNE YOUR SF$CIAL NE#EOS~ OONSlOEa ~~ose~ of Tr~~~~~pt Regulation of light, air, or privacy To· frame a view To screen ~n unda~irable one To soften a~chitectural features ~f!!~a~c~.Fe~z2rs Char~cter CJ! eJther furnishings Design of draper.y or curtains TJll'e e>! window Col ott Type of tre~tment Fabric Decora;ti,ve- Rods Bac kgrourl<l Do we wish to create .a design or adapt an existing one? What· will. be used in it a~ draperies, blinds, shu.ttersl Any special requirements? s~ades? Economic Considerations Initial cost C~re :required Cost of 'ij.pkeep Expected life Whether to make, have made, or P~y reidY mad~ Resources avail~ble E.M. 2071 Page 4 CAFE AND COTTAGE TYPE CURTAINS: Blend well with informal living. Have many design possibilities. Suitable for modern or traditional decor. Can be used alone or with another treatment. Are easy to make and launder. Fabrics Are available rea~-made in a great chintz muslin denim variet,y of fabrics, colors and gingham sateen sailcloth designs. percale homespun casement cloth poplin cretonne Indian Head corduroy and many novelt.y weaves fn cotton and man-made fibers. SHEER GLASS CURTAINS Soften and diftuse the light. Give partial privacy. Contribute to a light, cool effect. Are informal in nature. Are available in many thin fabrics, in a variety of colors and in white, cream and ecru. Are usually used with another element as bl.inds, shades, draperies. Are fairly inexpensive. Should be laundered frequently to remove the dust that shortens life of fabric. Are very unattractive when they · are uneven, droop, or are dirty. Materials bobbinet casement cloth dimity organ~ dotted Swiss voile lawn Marquisette gauze ninon scrim theatrical gauze and sheer man-made fabrics E.M. 2071 Page 5 DRAW CURTAINS AND DRAPERIES Are very good for large window areas .Are used mU:ch in contemporary hanes STATIONARY DRAPERIES Can be used alone or with another element Are for deQoration only Can be made from maqy fabrics Contribute to a for.mal look Are available ready-made Are little used tod~ except in roams of period style Are custom made by many firms Should usually not cover the window glass when open c·an be lined or unlined Headings· are. generally French pl.eated, although box and _ o~er variations m~ be used FABRICS It is a1Jnost impossible to give a canplete list of fabrics for draperies. Drapery yardage displayed in the average stores does not always give the fabric- name, so selection is usually based on weight, color, pattern, texture and care required. Some of the -fabrics suitable for heavy draperies include brocade, broca­ telle, damas~, monk's cloth, hopsack~1~, serge, ticking, sailcloth, some boucle, corduroy, velvet, and velveteen. M~ of the fabrics that are suitable for curtains are also used for lighter weight draperies. Other satisfactory fabrics include burlap, osnaberg~ crash, sailcloth, denim, duck, ticking, moire, rep, satin, antique satin, Jaspe cloth, India print, and a var~ety of novelty weaves. E.M. 2071 Page 6 SHADES AND BLINDS Venetian blinds regulate light and Roll-up blinds of slender strips air more effective~ than aqy of of bamboo, plastic or other interesting the other elements in window treat­ materials can be used effectively in ments. The,y are available with informal roans. They do not give the vertical or horizontal slats and privacy of venetian blinds nor regu­ in many colors. Their disadvantage late the light and air as well. is that they collect dust and dirt which are time consuming to remove. Wood fabric draperies and roller Metal and plastic ones are pre­ shades are on the market in a variety ferable to wood. Lacings and draw of colors and combination effects. cords should be washable. White ones are more economical for those who change color schemes often. Roller shades are available in a variet,y of colors and textures. Printed patterns are also avail­ able. Some, as the vinyl-coated plastic ones, are eas.y to wash. They offer privacy but do not regulate the air and light very well. Less durable ones begin to show signs of wear in a few years if regulated daily. You m~ design interesting shade treatments b,y selecting material and making them. I I , "Bottoms-up" shades let you have I light or see a view from the upper portion of the window while enjqying I I! privacy. Mount shade rollers at top of window sill or baseboard. :j__ ----:::::t l Cords and pulleys are used to adjust shade to height desired. "Bottans-up" shade In living areas the above treatments are usually softened b,y the addition of curtains or draperies or occasionally b,y both. E.M. 2071 Page 7 Austrian shades or curtains are enjqying a wave of popularity. Th~se can be suitable to modern or traditional decor depending on the character of the fabric chosen. Light weight fabrics that drape well are satisfactory. On the market now is a tape that shirrs the curtains with the cord rings attached in position to raise and lower the curtain. Tapes are also available to make a more tailored version of the Austrian shade as that shown here. This version requires much less fabric and time to make them. An Austrian type valance can be used over plain curtains • .......... .--~- -t- -+ Inside wood shutters can be used + ~ effectively in a variety or w~s 1- without curtains and draperies -+ for attractive treatments, last - ~ indefinite~, and have been very "* acceptable in t·ecent years.