What to do with these windows...?

[Woody3]

Rip the stone mullions out and replace with uPVC - I jest!



How would you dress these windows (we have 7 sets of these and 3 more slightly different)? Curtains don't seem to work - they stop too much light from getting into the room when drawn back and they cover the curved plasterwork.

Would shutters work with this type of window?



Thinking something simple, like this - fixed to the timber window frames. Problem is, when open, the mullions will be hidden from view.

Hmmmm - help!

p.s. yes, I know the stays are on backtofront - it's character :wink:

 

[Alex O]

How much space have you got above the windows? I'd go with blinds - Roman or roller:

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-cKgBZooDHPI/T3IFedEiyHI/AAAAAAAAAE0/NO8ZGvBbS8I/s1600/100_3138.jpg

 

[JoceAndChris]

Lovely mullions!

I think shutters would look odd, personally. Agree with the suggestion of Roman blinds! If there's space!

 

[Woody3]

Thanks for the replies.

Funny you should mention Roman blinds - we did think about this earlier, but there's only 50mm above the head of the window, so we'd lose a significant amount of window. I do like yours though Alex O.

The only other option is to put the Roman blinds on the outside of the reveal, but I don't think this will look right at all.

I've been doing some googling in terms of shutters, and found these images showing concertina shutters (not keen on the varnished one, but shows how it would work with a window seat).

Thoughts?

 

[Alex O]

To be clear - those aren't my blinds, I just googled for a pic.

What about roller blinds? They're very unobtrusive and actually have quite a long heritage...

They look pretty when done like this:

https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/aa/32/07/aa320744ce8c3a6bb682bdcfc4ff567e.jpg

 

[Minkeycat]

They're lovely windows. Personally, I'm a big fan of the shutter. A single and a bi-fold, plain designed, natural wood shutter should look lovely there.
Keep us posted on what you choose.

 

[88v8]

Depending how much space there is at the sides, curtain rails could extend beyond the window opening so that the retracted curtains do not impinge.

Rustic concertina shutters could be an excellent feature, if hand-made so they don't look new. Their hingeing would require a wood frame on the reveals, better perhaps hinged on iron pintles.

We addressed a similar but smaller opening, with a top-hung curtain that lifts onto the ceiling but we have plenty of overhead space.

Ivor

 

[Zebra]

I don't see how shutters, when folded back, would allow more light into the room than curtains, if the curtains were on a longer pole like 88v8 says.

 

[MikeG]

Phew...........for a second there I thought this was a thread about soft furnishings. I was just starting to feel a little woozy.

What would you plan to fix shutters to? There isn't a "natural" place for them, to my eye, and I'm really not sure that a timber fixed to the reveals would look right.

 

[JBean]

Do you have to "dress" them at all?

We have windows at the back of the house, where we are going to put some lights in the garden and just enjoy the view at night, rather than put up unnecessary curtains / blinds / shutters...

 

[Woody3]

Hmm lots to ponder!

First of all, yes I'm afraid we need to dress them as this is our front elevation and garden. The rooms become very cold in the cooler months without the curtains closed.

Longer curtain poles would work in certain rooms, but won't in the majority (another window or perpendicular wall gets in the way).

The issue with the shutter doors is the frame as someone says. It blends in ok when the sill is timber, but I'm not sure a timber bottom rail along a stone sill will look right. I wouldn't fix into the mullions. I was hoping my initial design would have worked so I wouldn't need a frame. A bit left field but would 'hook on' shutters work? Do they exist internally?

The more I think about it, the more I'm edging towards Roman blinds.

Might need to do a mock up of each and go from there.

 

[88v8]

Some musings here
http://www.buildingconservation.com/articles/shutters/shutters.htm

What about external shutters?

Ivor

 

[Owain]

Wooden brackets attached to the reveals with U cutouts. Curtains hung on length of pole / broomhandle / wardrobe rail. During the day, unhook the pole off the brackets, put it at the back of the windowseat, fold the curtains up and use them as padding on the windowseat.

I was thinking 'hook on' shutters too -- they may not exist yet but they will once you've made them.