ASK DEB NELSON: CAFE SHUTTERS

Window treatments can be tricky – depending on the window, light control you need and the privacy you're looking for – the perfect solution may not be obvious. Sometimes you may not have any privacy issue, but a window treatment like decorative drapery panels can add warmth and fullness to a room. These panels don't even have to function.

In other cases the issue may be privacy, I'm showing the image above of my dining room. Here I wanted lower window privacy where there is a lane outside, but there is actually an ocean view at the top of the window that I didn't want to block. So I opted for lower cafe shutters and on the upper half of the window a custom roman shade. This solution works perfectly for this window, although I don't close the roman shade that often, only sometimes in the evening after dark. I also love interior cafe shutters, they provide a lot of options for light control and can be fully opened, fully closed or fully closed with the louvers open. It can be hard to find shutters, mine are old antique ones that I had repurposed and customized to fit here.

Here are a few more rooms with interior shutters.

LARGE WINDOWS IN THE KITCHEN

I always like a bright kitchen with big windows. In these kitchens the window is right above the counter. It's a great look if you have the space for it. You sacrifice upper cabinets, but I think the window and natural light is well worth it! Washing the dishes in these sinks would't be so bad!

Images: 1: Brooklyn Home Company 2: Decor Pad 3. Unknown (Pinterest) 4. Brooklyn Home Company 5. Unknown (Pinterest)

ASK DEB NELSON: CAN I PUT A BED IN FRONT IN FRONT OF THE WINDOW

In some bedrooms you don't have a lot of choice when it comes to the placement of a bed, so you might have to put a bed in front of a window. In my own house I have a room with a bed in front of the window and I'm limited in the lay out options. I have been looking for a low headboard since I think this will help create a focal point in front of the window. Another option is to add drapery panels on either side of the window – this is another common way to deal with a bed in front of the window. Here are some rooms with headboards and drapery when the bed is in front of the window. As you can see this really helps to frame the bed and create a nice focal point in the room.

ROMAN SHADES

I really like roman shades as a window treatment, and I prefer a simple, tailored style. In my own house I have all the windows covered in roman shades, and all of mine are in linen fabric. I like them in the house because when they're fully open they show off a lot of the window detail and let in a lot of light. But they also are easy to open and close for privacy or light control. The living room and dining room have a vertical band of accent fabric on the sides. Like this:

The kitchen is solid, natural coloured linen like these on the windows on either side of the range:

And upstairs on the third floor I have white shades, all mounted above the windows. I wanted white here so it would blend in with the room and be a very subtle look.  Like this:

Many people ask about the shades in this house – they are all custom made with lined, solid linen.

CHARMING WINDOWS

I love old windows in houses, especially any of the swing open version. I'm fortunate to have some of this style in my own house – they add so much charm and character. The windows I have are all very unique and are custom sizes that fit specific areas. Here are a few of my favourite, opened on a hot summer day nothing beats the ocean breeze!