Linen Drapery for a Sloped Ceiling in Venice Beach
This modern addition to an early 20th century California craftsman bungalow off of Abbot Kinney in Venice ran into issues when the architect failed to account for how to cover large, sloped windows in the primary bedroom.
I have written about the challenges of covering odd shaped windows to allow for livability in the past. This is the type of call we get quite often. In the case of Mark and his wife, home owners who added additional living space to their nineteen-teens craftsman bungalow right off of Abbot Kinney in Venice, the conversation went something like this:
“I’ve got large, angled windows that we have been unable to cover since adding on to our house a few years ago. We’ve had a few people look at them, but nobody seems to want to help. Can you guys do it?” The answer is, yes, of course. And while all of our work is custom, in order to pull something like this off and do it right, it requires going above and beyond with detailed measurements and on-site work to finish the draperies. This is not something you will get with a direct to consumer online window treatment company, or simply be able to order on Amazon.
As someone who lives in a 1922 craftsman home, I’ve got a soft spot for these California classics, and particularly liked Mark’s approach of adding a distinctly modern addition to an original, 1900’s home. This is in contrast to trying to replicate a style and materials that were used over 100 years ago with modern solutions, creating a blended mash-up that never feels quite right in my opinion…but I digress.
In this case, the question I always have to ask is, “What was the conversation with the architect?” Angled windows are something I’ve discussed at length with architect friends and it usually just goes something like this: “What is the obsession with angled windows, they are incredibly challenging to actually live with, especially in bedrooms and private spaces?!” What renders and photographs well is very different from what is practical and nice to live with day in and day out.
In any case, covering angled and odd shaped windows will always require some degree of compromise from the home owner. In this case, we were able to tackle all of their primary concerns, utilizing one of our house European Certified, Oeko Tex natural linens (which saved them money), and create a beautiful solution that fit their lifestyle and aesthetic.
A few more details on the final result. In this case we selected a rarely utilized oval-profile ripplefold track in an anondized aluminum finish. The profile and finish worked perfectly in the space. While we also almost exclusively use ball bearing ripplefold carriers, in this case we elected to use friction based sliders to allow the drapery to better stay in place when in the open position. Friction was our friend.
After an on-site hem and some careful planning, the end result was a tailored, perfect set of draperies that after years of sleeping in an open and exposed space, now allow our clients to rest easy…in privacy.
While angled windows and trapezoid shaped window openings can pose challenges, often pushing other window treatments companies that are purely “plug and play” away, we welcome the challenge and opportunity to create something unique and livable for our clients.
