Window Treatments = Art

During a recent client meeting, I launched into a full blown explanation (maybe a manifesto) on my love for window treatments…done right. Of course, people understand the basics—privacy, light filtering, and sun protection. But as a decorator, I see them differently. Beyond just functional, they’re visual anchors, adding warmth, color, texture, and scale. They soften hard window frames and act as large-scale art.

That’s why we never skip them. In fact, we don’t take on projects where clients won’t budget for window treatments. Yes, they’re expensive, but they’re essential and we often guide clients toward smart, affordable choices—but we insist they’re part of the plan. In Boston, we rely on Makkas Workroom, a professional workroom to the trade, that supports our design process and final results. Below, a few projects that show how a great workroom elevates the entire space.

A Textural Approach to Privacy and Proportion

I’ve said it before: (some) architects forget about window treatments—they just keep adding windows. At that phase of the project, clients are always open to more natural light. But in this South Shore family room, sunlight overwhelmed the space, the old furniture faded, and the glare was blinding—while the windows were beautiful, they were just tooooo much. So we layered the treatments.

First, we added inside-mount woven Roman shades. Not quite white, but not a full-blown natural wood tone—they’re light and neutral. They filter the sun and soften the space during the day, and add privacy at night… no one likes living in a fishbowl. Hunter Douglas, but Makkas represents many lines and you can choose from a range of vendors.

The ceilings were huge—almost uncomfortably tall. Enter our next add: custom tall linen drapery panels. The transom windows sat too high for shades, and the room needed more. These panels helped scale the space and brought the proportions back down to earth. They also add privacy at night and a touch of softness (great for noise—this is the TV room). The fabric, a neutral geometric print by Kelly Wearstler, offers a quiet pattern and acts like artwork, complementing the faux bois wallpaper from Nobilis. The matte black hardware was procured and installed by Makkas, and the drapes feature a classic pinched pleat detail.

Custom Shades and Drapery for a Brookline Classic

In this historic Brookline home, window treatments played a pivotal role. The homeowner—a textile artist—was especially attuned to all the fabrics we brought into each space, from furniture to rugs to pillows. And the window treatments were just as important. On the first floor, the original bay windows face a public park—great for the view, terrible for privacy. The inside-mount Roman shades pull in two directions: top-down and bottom-up. That allows the client to let in natural light without sharing it all with the neighborhood, a mechanism hand-crafted by the Makkas team.

In the adjacent media room, more top-down, bottom-up shades—in a similar charcoal linen—coordinate with the foyer treatments. Cohesion is key. These shades filter light during the day and add privacy at night, and combine with the dark walls to create a true movie-theater vibe when it’s time for Netflix or a film.

Lastly, in the family room, we used Spanish linen drapes that tie into the vintage area rug and the reupholstered sectional cushion—a denim-like blue. We opted for a modern install: ceiling-mounted hardware that disappears into the white ceiling. Ripple fold is simple and pretty much the only style that works cleanly with ceiling tracks. The drapes pool slightly at the floor—ideal for a room where urban neighbors sit just 20 feet away.

Layered Textiles for a Family-Friendly Basement

Lastly, Makkas helped at our modern home in Hingham, where we added window treatments to several basement rooms—the kids’ domain. In the open play area, they provided custom cushions at the bench—both a seat cushion and a back cushion installed on a simple black rod. Many (Broadway) kid performances go down in this space, and the adults need viewing spots.

Leading to the adjacent media room, you can see the back side of drapery panels installed to help set the mood for movie night. A full wall of linen striped fabric from Schumacher covers the entire wall—hiding unsightly cords and power elements from the TV. It all closes cleanly when the kids are playing video games or it’s time for a family movie.

In the basement bath, a fun pop of color: we pulled a brilliant green from the art. Pierre Frey’s grass-colored linen was the perfect match for a Roman shade at the (surprisingly large) basement window—again, balancing light and privacy.

Window Treatments | Quietly Elevate a Room

We turn to trusted collaborators when it’s time to add softness, privacy, and polish—and for years, Makkas has been our go-to. Their custom work shows up all over our projects: crisp Roman shades, tailored cushions, full-height drapery, and the kind of finishing touches that quietly elevate a room. In older homes and new builds alike, these are the kinds of details that matter. See more in how we make a house a home or learn about our interior decorator services.