Master Class: All About Window Treatments

 

On Wednesday, April 3, Dering Hall and Zach Gibbs, Co-Founder of The Shade Store, presented a special Dering Hall Master Class for designers. Focusing on window treatments, this comprehensive information session included basic tips, best practices, and practical advice on optimizing your window designs for style, functionality, and efficiency.

Click here to view the slideshow

About Zach Gibbs
Zach Gibbs is the co-founder of The Shade Store. His family has been a part of the custom window treatment industry for 3 generations. He helped launch The Shade Store in 2006 as an online custom window treatment company with an intuitive website and simplified selection of “can’t miss” product and materials. Today, The Shade Store has evolved into a brand with 70 showrooms nationwide (and growing).

The recording, which can be viewed above, covered the following:

Decision Making

According to Zach, to help you navigate the decision-making process for finding the perfect window treatment that meets your needs and vision, you should focus on three key factors: Function, Form, and Fabric. Your ideal solution will take all three of these into consideration and help you make the final decision.

FUNCTION

A good starting point for any project is to simply ask: “What do I want my window treatments to do for me?” There are a million different ways to answer this question considering each window is unique, each design plan is unique, and each person is unique. Things to consider are:

  • How often am I using it?

  • Who will be using it?

  • What room is it going in?

  • Is there a specific need?

FORM

The form or “look” is usually something that is typically thought about before the process is even started. You may already have something in mind for the overall look before getting into the whole design aspect. Some questions to ask are:

  • Are we looking for minimal or modern?

  • Should the look be layered, soft, or tailored?

FABRIC

With so many fabrics, textures, and colors available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. However, this is usually the most fun part of the process as this really allows you to complete the look, which is a big factor in the overall result. With fabric, here are some factors to consider:

  • Am I looking to make a big statement (pattern, bold color, etc.)?

  • Am I looking to have the window treatments just blend in and soften the room?

  • How will this affect my amazing view?

  • How can I keep the natural light coming through while still maintaining privacy?


Approaching Window from Three Categories

Once you understand how your window treatments will work for you, how you want them to look, and what materials to use, you can figure out what types of window treatments will work best. The three main types of window treatments are shades, blinds, and drapery. Here are some of the most popular options:

Roller & Solar Shades:

  • Function - easy to operate; great for frequent use

  • Form - modern and simple; minimal stack

  • Fabric - patterns and textures; multiple transparencies; black/light filtering; easy to clean

Roman Shades:

  • Function - multiple custom styles; easy to operate; good for frequent use

  • Form - soft and tailored; meticulous craftsmanship

  • Fabric - cottons, linens, sheers, silks, velvets and more; designer patterns; ability to add lining

Wood Blinds:

  • Function - easy tilt operation; simple light control

  • Form - hard window treatment; incredibly durable

  • Fabric (Material) - American basswoods, durable faux woods, exotic woods

Drapery:

  • Function - multiple custom styles; good for frequent use; elegant and elevated

  • Form - soft and luxurious; lovely in layers; adds height and drama

  • Fabric - cottons, linens, sheers, silks, velvets and more; designer patterns; add a lining

Dering Hall would like to thank Zach Gibbs and The Shade Store for participating in our webinar and sharing his expertise, in-depth knowledge, and helpful tips for optimizing your window designs for style, functionality, and efficiency. If you would like to reach out to The Shade Store with any inquiries or questions, please send an email to trade@theshadestore.com.


 
Erin Gilbert