WEEK #7 Window Treatments

 WEEKLY SUMMARY 

In this week's  learning, we went through a thorough and extensive breakdown of window treatments in interior spaces and how they are applied and installed to bring the space together as a complete whole.   

While they do have aesthetic appeal and provide interesting visual features, the main purposes behind window treatments is to mitigate light in the space, give adequately desired privacy, and even can go so far as providing insulation for heat and cooling losses. When it comes to their construction, window treatments are made from a wide variety of materials consisting in many different configurations giving the consumers a great many options to choose from. These materials range from synthetics such as vinyl and polyester to more traditional fibers such as cotton, wool or silk. The type of fiber and the desisty used for the window treatment can determine the look, the amount of privacy, and natural light that penetrates into the interior of the structures glass openings. 

The kinds of configurations that are available for window coverings include a vast array of available options that differ from the manufacturing style and the design elements implemented to better perform in its intended space. These varieties come in fibrous fabric elements like curtains, drapery, and pleated shades providing a convenient alternative to soften up the visual weight of an interior of a space. In contrast more solid forms can be used such as faux wood blinds, panel track blinds and different types of wood shades. These more solid components tend to provide a different air to the space giving it more material and visual weight to help provide a different experience to the end-user. 

A very interesting factor to window treatments that was unbeknownst to me, is the intriguing factor of their ability to provide insulation to a space. As most of us know the areas with which windows are installed tend to contain less efficiency in keeping the desired cold or heat from entering and exiting the structure. The areas where windows are present tend to be more vulnerable in this instance, that is without the usage of window treatments. With their added laying to the window, their physical presence can help to maintain heat loss and cooling by interfering with the unwanted temperature changes through the glass. 

RESEARCH INTUITIVE 

In an attempt  to stay on topic with what we were learning in this week's topic I decided to choose an article by the USA Today, showcasing the new and innovative breakthroughs of window treatments today. The SmartHome roller shades are truly an interesting development in the world of window treatments in our current time. The sustainable fully electric shades move on command and use 100% solar power to function, proving to be no extra cost on the homeowner or their electricity usage. Though it is also a mechanical feature in the home, none of its components are visible to the inhabitants making them a stylish and convenient way to break up the interior of the space. 

USA Today Smart Blinds: 

https://reviewed.usatoday.com/smarthome/best-right-now/best-smart-blinds

Architectural Digest, Window Treatments: 

https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/window-treatments-starter-guide