Interior Design: The Window Space

The window space is an important area for interior design. Yes there is a space here. There is an area and it is an area that is important because the window itself is important. Before curtains and maybe valances, there is the window itself and the window, with its function of allowing natural light to enter the interior space, creates a specific space around the window , which you can call the window area. Curtain design or cover design for the window is important as well as floor design and a specific wooden floor can mark out this area in contrast to carpeting in the main space. Maybe there can be some contrast in the ceiling area.

If the windows are French windows or the window is a door also, then the window is an entrance and the window is not just allowing a view to the outside. Yes the window is really an entrance to the outside; it gives a vista or a potential vista if there are blinds for the window or perhaps the use of netting as well as curtain fabric. Indeed because of the whole function of the window, a whole area, a whole design space can be created thus around the window.

The fact that the window space can be given design important made me think of specific fabric blinds for the window. The distance from the window is open to question although these blinds should have a battan at least but the battan would be located outside of the window alcove. This whole concept of the window area made me think of a space that opens up a vista and thus you have 'fabric blinds'. These are probably already on the market. They are akin to the 'bead doors' when you swish past the beads into the room but here you have fabric blinds, long and wide fabric blinds, with some finish i.e. pleating and suitable drape. An individual fabric blind can be pulled back to reveal the outside. A basic drawing of a fabric blind is my blog( http://interiorizing.blogspot.com/) under the entry Fabric Blinds. This type of design is a nice way to complete the window area.

Thus each individual fabric blind can be pushed to the side so that you can see the outside. Thus there is real manual control of the blinds as they are fabrics pieces. There would be control at the side so that the blinds as a whole can be pulled to the side. Thus they truly drape like curtains and can be controlled like them. They can be lined also. This merging of the blind and the curtain has been done with the Austrian blind.

When you think of windows, you may think of curtains or blinds as they are the main 'extras' here. But there is a window space, a window area, which has a function in itself. It is a space that is created by the window itself but also by the dimensions of the room, width and length as well as whether the windows are French windows ; whether there is an alcove space etc. It is as if you created a new space or area in the interior and this is the window space which is dominated by the window but there are other variables that control this area and which are important for its design e.g. room dimensions. The window space can be large as in a restaurant where the window stretches along a wall on one side. Inside the window you could have columns and maybe you can have long cafe curtains or simply a curtainless window. Instead you can put a long batten inside the window area -perhaps inside of the columns so that fabric blinds can be pulled to hide this area and the beauty of fabric blinds is that each individual fabric blind can be pulled back so that light can be allowed to enter. I drew a simple illustration on my blog of a fabric blinds but different window areas require different types of blinds. Finally in a restaurant space, a hardwood floor can be used for the window area compared with carpet or rugs in the main part of the interior.