When is a window treatment more than just a window treatment? Perhaps that question can best be answered by those responsible for designing the “discreet window”, a modern union of window blinds and ambient display. Designed by Ishac Bertran and Gizem Boyacioglu, the blinds were created with a dual purpose in mind; to diffuse the sun’s rays (obviously) and to provide a visual representation of a person’s work activity. The way it works is simple enough: the more work is done by the user, the less light will shine through the window.
The discreet window is comprised of four, manually controlled settings, including open, half-open, closed, and graph (which displays the user’s historical work habits) – thus allowing co-workers or passersby to non-intrusively gauge your productivity relative to the time of day, resulting in conversations like this one:
“Should we ask Bryce to lunch?”
“We’d better not – his blinds are open.”
Silly? Perhaps. But it does speak to the trend that a household staple that might’ve traditionally been seen as completely functional in nature can serve a variety of purposes above and beyond its primary objective.
Modern Window Coverings Are About Style, Security, and Eco-Friendliness as Much as Keeping the Sun Out
Vertical blinds, cellular or roman shades all serve multiple functions in the modern home. Yes, they all keep out the sun to varying degrees depending on the material used, but they can also play different roles depending on the desire of the homeowner.
Window Treatments Create Stylistic Focal Points
In many rooms, your windows are a key visual focal point that attracts the eye. Depending on your approach, your room’s style can be greatly enhanced by the type and style of window treatment you decide to incorporate within the space.
Burlap, for example, is just one unconventional material that seems to be enjoying a surprising amount of popularity as a window treatment option. Whether it’s to tie together a rustic theme or to act as a stark juxtaposition to the rest of the décor, it’s easy to see how these window coverings are essentially killing two birds with one stone.
When it comes to style, you can throw out the notion of standard textiles altogether if you so choose. Many avant-garde homeowners are adorning their windows with glass beads, stained glass, and reclaimed barn wood of all things to give it a visual pop.
Window Treatments Maintain Privacy and Promote Security
A set of roman shades constructed using an opaque or semi-opaque material will definitely keep the sun out, but so too will it prevent curious glances from entering your private quarters, making them ideal for ground floor windows. If you opt for the motorized variety, you can even choose a set that can be controlled remotely, which can give your home a lived in feel even when no one is home.
Window Treatments Can Help To Lower Your Home’s Heating and Cooling Costs
Cellular shades in particular have a unique energy savings quality. Essentially, the pocket of air within the cells traps heat, reducing the amount of heat that’s lost through your windows in the winter. Not only does this help to lower your home’s heating and cooling costs, it can also play a role in reducing your home’s carbon footprint. Again, taking advantage of a solution that can be controlled remotely using a smartphone can help you control the amount of sun entering your home at different times of the day.
Truth be told, alternative window treatments are a viable solution capable of satisfying all of a homeowner’s needs. Though some may judge the merits of a product like the discreet window harshly, it’s important to remember that no matter the style or functionality of a window treatment, there will be someone who will respond favorably to it.