Rita St. Clair

How to Block Glaring Sun but Not the View

I'm often amazed at our obsession with covering windows. No sooner do we move into homes with good views and good natural light than we're wondering how to dress the windows. When clients pose that as their very first question, I'm tempted to tell them to just leave the windows alone or, if they can't restrain themselves, to hang up some sheets until they decide on the rest of the interior design.

Whoops! Looks as though I've now given into that temptation!

QUESTION:

A seat under a bay window in our new home allows us to enjoy a stunning view. The window faces west, however, which results in some annoying afternoon glare. The seat needs to be covered with fabric, so should the window covering be a match for that? And can you suggest a treatment that won't interfere with the view? One complication is that there's a bulkhead above the window that extends up to the ceiling.

ANSWER:

Blocking the sun's glare yet not interfering with the view? That qualifies as Mission: Impossible. But I can offer a couple of general possibilities. If there's any space between the top of the window and the bottom of the bulkhead, you could choose a fabric valance or a swag-and-jabots treatment. The effect will be to frame the window and to soften the appearance of the room.

The fabric for the window seat should complement the window covering, though it doesn't have to match it. Keep in mind that a treatment of this sort is decidedly traditional and may not go with your room's overall design. And while it will help reduce the glare of the afternoon sun, that annoyance won't be eliminated. For a window that offers a good view, my own preference is for a minimalist treatment or none at all -- as you can probably deduce from the introduction to this column. But I acknowledge that glare is an issue that has to be addressed.

The best option in these circumstances may be a type of shade that can open from either the top or the bottom. That's the case for the Hunter Douglas "Duette" shade shown in the photo. It can be easily adjusted to block most of the glare while still allowing at least part of the view to be seen. A Roman shade is also worth considering. One with fabric and pleating could make a pleasant decorative addition to your room while functioning effectively as a glare reducer. Again, the fabric for the shade and the window seat should be coordinated.

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