Quilted Window Treatments

Dress windows with quilts or quilted fabric.

Even without one of grandmother’s handmade quilts, today there is ready access to quilts and quilted fabric. Whether using that heirloom quilt or one purchased new from an import retailer, the quilt has many possibilities at the window. It is probably best to use the family heirloom as a protected wall hanging, though, and buy cheap imported quilts that coordinate with the design plan of the room. With the diverse selection available the quilt can be used with a design plan other than the provincial or pastoral.

Quilted Roman Shade

Quilted fabric used to construct a Roman shade is most suitable in those applications where the climate is extreme in summer or winter. The fabric industry and the window dressing industry also market reflective backed lining so that a portion of the heat or the cold never reaches the interior space. Combine the quilt fabric with the reflective backed lining for maximum protection. For sensitive sleepers use an exterior mount of this dressing six inches to either side of the window frame thus reducing street noise and light.

Quilted Tab Top Panel

The quilted tab top panel serves as an ornamental window dressing that has the added advantage of sliding to one side of its mounting. Use a thick wooden pole and simple finials. The pole must be able to bear the weight of the quilt with tab tops. The finials should not compete with the quilt visually. Select a quilt without a banded edge that might overpower the look at the wall.

Double-Hung Framed Quilt

Buy a large ready-made quilt of high quality. Make certain that the pattern is repeated at least once from side to side. Split the quilt into two pieces at the desirable pattern repeat places. Mount each piece in a separate window shutter frame. Mount each frame on three hinges inside the window if there is enough depth. If the shutter frames do not have closing mechanisms of their own install decorative knobs on each and use a length of decorative cord with appropriate tassels to simply tie the shutters together when closed.