Katie and Dawn refer to a Case Study to talk about window types and window treatments.

A KHS Cottage renovation/addition project in Warren, RI serves as a window type and treatment Case Study. Those are awning windows in the original front dormer and original double-hung windows that we slightly relocated on the front.

In the dining/sitting area of the addition, new wooden double-hung windows of similar size to the original wooden windows infill between trim pilasters to suggest a wrapping enclosed porch. Small vertical casement windows in the kitchen above the counter are trimmed with flat panels below to complete the enclosed porch look.

The small squarish window toward the peak of the primary gable roof is an awning window.

The windows in the shed dormer are also awning windows. Those are egress casements next to the red door, serving the “man cave”. Their muntin pattern is designed to resemble double-hung windows. (A true double-hung sized for egress would have been too large for that location.)

Katie and Dawn decided to refer to a Case Study for this episode in an effort to make the vast topic of windows and window treatments a little more manageable. This cottage renovation/addition project (that you can also find on the Katie Hutchison Studio website) is chock-full of windows, representing three types: double-hung, casement, and awning. Double-hung windows have two sashes, staggered one above the other, that slide independently up and down. Casement windows hinge from the side and swing out. Awning windows hinge from the top and swing out. They are each best suited to different applications. Katie and Dawn discuss how the various types exhibited in the Case Study were selected in response to specific circumstances.

In the addition, large double-hung windows that serve the sitting/dining area transition to smaller vertical casement windows above the counter in the kitchen. (To the left, catch a glimpse of a custom pillow from Oliveira Textiles in the “Spiral Tide” pattern.)

It’s easier to open a casement window that’s above a counter than a double-hung window. Had these been double-hung windows, the sashes would have been very short, and the proportions of the divided lites would have been overly tall and narrow.

Those are small awning windows behind the built-in banquette. The same windows, seen from the exterior, appear in the lead photo for this post.

That’s an awning widow in the dormer that serves the upstairs bathroom.

Dawn considered hypothetical window treatments for the different window types and locations within the Case Study. The way your windows are covered (or not covered) will set the tone for your room. Whether you have double-hung, casement, or awning windows, you will take into consideration privacy, daylight, view, and, of course, style.

Dawn leads off by describing subtle roman shade solutions to consider for not only the larger double-hung windows, but possibly even the casement windows in the kitchen. Cascading roman shades can offer a crisp, neat look. Dawn has pulled images from the web and has also included a few images using her own printed fabrics from Oliveira Textiles. You can find a vast selection of styles at The Shade Store. Some images from their website are included in the images that follow.

A roomful of woven wood roman shades, outside mount (requires meticulous measuring). Image courtesy of The Shade Store.

Woven wood roman shade, wonderful filtered light. Inside mount. Image courtesy of The Shade Store.

Subtle pattern on this roman shade, inside mount. Image courtesy of The Shade Store.

Dramatic drapery panels layered with woven wood cascade roman shades. Image courtesy of The Shade Store.

For a bolder effect, below is an example of a custom roman shade in the “Ripple Effect” pattern in azure blue printed on organic cotton from Oliveira Textiles.

Roman shades - inside mount on these traditional double hung windows. All the measuring for this Long Island client was done through email and phone calls. Dawn sent ‘lots’ of images and instructions on the correct way to measure for inside mounting… — Roman shades - inside mount on these traditional double hung windows. All the measuring for this Long Island client was done through email and phone calls. Dawn sent ‘lots’ of images and instructions on the correct way to measure for inside mounting. Measure across the width inside the casing at the top of the window, across the middle of the window, and again across the bottom of the window. Dawn uses the shortest width measurement. The fit was perfect.

Next, Dawn suggests roller shades as an alternative clean and spare option that are easy to operate and often fairly affordable.

Simple minimal roller shades, slightly textured and neutral. These have the look of the “solar shades,” Katie describes, that filter light without completely blocking view. Image courtesy of The Shade Store.

Patterned roller shades on modern windows. In this case it’s a child’s room. Image courtesy of The Shade Store.

Alternatively, to suggest a dash of pattern and color along with a touch of soft fabric, a valence can be a good choice. They can stand alone, without any other window treatment, or they can be paired with another treatment like a roller shade to mask the roller mechanism at the head of the window.