Windows: Shutters, blinds or curtains?

[cupboardy]

Hi

I’ve just bought my first flat (hurrah!) in a grade I listed building (built 1825) on the seafront in Hove.

It doesn’t have any curtains or shutters at the moment, and I want advice on what I can do - from a listing perspective and what I *should* do – from a style/taste perspective.

There are 4 windows. 3 at the front and one at the rear.

My initial thoughts are:

Study/office (front of building) – Venetian blinds
Living area (front of building) – period shutters from somewhere (where??)
Master bedroom (at the back) curtains.

So my questions are:
o What would you do?
o Are blinds ok or irredeemably naff/out of character with the property? It is a study area.
o Do you know any suppliers/fitters that can help me (Brighton/Sussex area)

TIA,

~Cupboardy

 

[biffvernon]

Is keeping warm and saving energy to important you?

 

[Nemesis]

From a listing perspective - ask your Conservation Officer if you are considering shutters, as if they aren't already there (often they are there but clogged up with paint or nailed back) retrofit may not be possible without too much damage/disturbance to the fabric of the building.

Venetian blinds are totally reversible, as are curtains, although the latter, lined and interlined, would conserve rather more warmth at night.

Lots of changes propsed for Brighton and Hove... can't say I'm over enthusiastic really.

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=412

although I think the Gehry proposals are not yet totally finalised...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3026837.stm

 

[cupboardy]

Is keeping warm and saving energy to important you?

To a point. However the flat is on the second floor of a terrace house so the windows aren't huge (130x150cm) Consequently I think the heat lost from the windows is less that it could be, say, on the first floor with floor to ceiling windows.

I would say that keeping the look of the property and functionality (I need to be able to see my computer screen in the office whilst still allowing light in) come before energy saving.

Anything will be much better than what's there at the moment (nothing) and I do recycle and carbon offset my flights.

 

[cupboardy]

Lots of changes propsed for Brighton and Hove... can't say I'm over enthusiastic really.

http://www.worldarchitecturenews.com/index.php?fuseaction=wanappln.projectview&upload_id=412

although I think the Gehry proposals are not yet totally finalised...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/3026837.stm

I quite like the development at the marina. Destroying a Fatty Arbuckles, a bowling ally and a McDonalds to build it can only be a plus. I think it will help the marina become what was envisioned in the 70s.

Apropos the Gehry development, the last thing I heard is that it was dead. It boils down to the fact that it would be quite awkward to get to.

 

[Nemesis]

I thought the Gehry development was still be under discussion but with a revised scheme, haven't heard the latest. It's not been too popular - Simon Jenkins wrote quite a scathing piece in the Guardian.

This was the last I heard:

News - 30/06/2006 - Gehry's Hove towers “stalled”

A last ditch bid to rescue Frank Gehry’s radical twin-towers on Hove seafront may still not save the project, observers have warned.


Yesterday Brighton & Hove Council revealed that new ideas had been submitted to Dutch finance house ING, the backers behind the controversial King Alfred redevelopment, in a move to keep the scheme alive.


However it emerged at yesterday’s Policy and Resources committee meeting that no new designs had yet been submitted despite urgent calls from CABE and EH for a major rethink of the project – dubbed Tin Can Alley by locals.


Among those present at the meeting was architect John Small, honorary secretary of Brighton’s Regency Society, who was unimpressed by the lack of obvious progress.


He said: "This was just a lot of waffle. The scheme has definitely stalled."


It is hoped developers Karis will come back with more definite plans at the next committee meeting on 27 July.


However Selma Mountford, Brighton Society boss, is not convinced that the project will ever go ahead. She said: "The scheme is fundamentally flawed – not just its design but the whole concept is wrong."


Sourced from Architects' Journal



The other development has caused a great deal of controversy; a call-in has been refused, although it was felt by many it did adversely affect the setting of a number of listed buildings, but I'm not a fan of iconic towers.

 

[Penners]

Providing you're not doing anything that will damage historic fabric, I think you should do whatever you want to do.

We had interior shutters on the windows of our Georgian house in Leamington Spa, when I were but a lad. They're very good for security, and not bad at keeping the draughts out. But I don't think you'd want them on their own - they're a bit stark and functional. Curtains are far more decorative and attractive.

 

[Nemesis]

We have shutters in the downstairs rooms, but they are secured within a frame and with an architrave and with other joinery above and in one room below too..

On a Grade I building I think retrofit may not be acceptable, and may prove complex. Simply putting shutters onto the frame will look a little odd if there is nothing to fold them back into.

http://www.findaproperty.com/displaystory.aspx?storyid=8201&edid=00&salerent=0

 

[Lime]

What about roller blinds?

 

[Carol]

If you are G.I you will need to tread carefully. I suspect you will only be 'allowed' shutters if they were there before, so research what was there originally. Have you got the sort of reveals to show that there were shutters? If not, you could probably get away with rollers with or without curtains, but most C.O's can be very fussy about these details. We couldn't have secondary glazing because we have working e.19th C shutters,despite being a medieval house! But they are lovely and cosy and keep out the worst of the road noise, and we haven't bothered with curtains. 1825 is 'bang on' for shutters tho', so you may be lucky. Talk to your CO!
Venetian blinds-please don't go there!

 

[Penners]

We have shutters in the downstairs rooms

They're gorgeous. Very like ours were in Leamington, except they were full length on French doors.

(What's the difference between French doors and French windows?)

 

[Nemesis]

Well, I did a quick google, and while I haven't yet found an answer, I came across this website.

Interesting. The prose talks the talk, but the picture...


Hmmmm.

http://www.frenchdoor.co.uk/



http://www.trp.dundee.ac.uk/research/glossary/frenchw.html

I suspect the term may be interchangeable.

 

[Penners]

I suspect that your suspicions are right.

I like this claim by the french door company you found:

We have been supplying and fitting sash windows and french doors for over 7 years which can give you peace of mind in our quality of service.

Wow - a whole seven years! The firm must have been passed down through the generations....

 

[L1zzy]

Hi not sure if this helps or not but I have very small windows in my 18thC cottage in Dorset and have thought long and hard about how to deal with the tricky problem of a bathroom which was moved by a previous occupant from down to upstairs.The loo is now smack bang against the front upstairs window so as one disrobes to avail oneself of the 'facilities' the neighbours all get a grandstand view of ones naked bits!! However one does need some light but modesty means one also needs some 'shelter'. I think I have resolved the problem. I'm having whats known as drapery rods made .They're kind of round poles 16cm in diameter which are shaped as a long arm with a right angle which slots into a sort of hinge with two loops which is attached to the wall surrounding the window frame.I'm having one made for either half of teh window.This enables me to attach two panels of linen (actually can't afford this so have found some gorgeous printed hessian) to each arm and 'swing' them back an forth to cover the window or one half of the window as required . Neat eh? Cost is £57 for both rods and they're being made by a blacksmith (Daryl whos been very helpful ) in Devon - see the Blacksmith Collection website .

 

[Sue Wilkinson]

We had interior shutters on the windows of our Georgian house in Leamington Spa, when I were but a lad.

So you hail from my neck of the woods then Penners. I'm heavily involved with the Loft Theatre in Leamington.

Sue

 

[Penners]

Not for many decades, Sue. I spent much of my childhood in Leamington. To show you how long ago this was - House of Fraser was then called Burgiss & Colbourne!

Leamington is a beautiful town - Britain's first fully planned town (but I expect you knew that). I still love diverting through the town (on the way to visit elderly parents in Claverdon) and driving up some of those avenues of chestnuts, with elegant Georgian houses.