Protect and Insulate
By Gail Baker

Lake Tahoe¹s elevation can cause many problems for homeowners due to the intensity of the sun and the cold. Within a very short period of time the sun can damage your furniture, carpet, area rugs, and even hardwood floors. It is important to cover your windows not only for the protection of your belongings but also to keep the heat in during the winter and to keep the heat out during the summer. Many people say they don¹t want to cover their windows because they want to enjoy their beautiful view. There are treatments such as the Silhouette window shading, sheerweave vinyl shades, or the bamboo and grass cloth that gives you some ultra-violet protection while allowing you to see outside. Another application is the honeycomb shade which has a very small stack so that when the blind is up the view is not being blocked. It is also the best insulator on the market which is so important to keep your heating costs down.
So many of the homes in our area have the odd shaped windows like the angle top which is usually high above other rectangular windows and can create a big problem during certain times of the year. The honeycomb shade is a good option for these windows because they can be raised all the way up into the angle and therefore, when the windows aren¹t a problem during some of the year you can still enjoy the beauty that these windows were supposed to provide. The other difficult window is the arch or semicircle which is also usually above other windows. These windows can be dealt with using shutters but it is difficult to open or close them and some of the louvers may be fixed. Another solution to the problem is to use a blind or shade with an outside mount that is rectangular and then cover it with a cornice that maintains the shape of the arch. Window coverings can be practical but also beautiful. I like to incorporatethe window treatments with other items such as bedding, pillows, table runners, placemats and napkins. This helps to pull the whole look together and gives your home a real custom feel for a reasonable cost.

Gail Baker is the owner of Discount Window Coverings. She is an interior designer with 23 years of experience. Call her for more information or a free estimate: (530) 587-5577, (775) 832-9076, (530) 544-3412.