This season, the House Rules teams helped rebuild the home of Graeme and Mary, who lost their home in a tragic fire. The renovation needed to create a fresh new haven for their family and take advantage of the new building’s abundant natural light, while still helping the family maintain privacy. Here’s how they tackled the key rooms – and found the right window dressings.
1. Dining room
Lighting is key when creating the perfect dining space. The dining area in the “Giveback” home is flooded with natural light during the day, courtesy of the large windows, while the ‘Silhouette’ Shadings, from Luxaflex, can be closed in the evenings to create an intimate family dining space. Jamie Durie says that his favourite things in this space were the blinds, which are made of sheer panels to allow light through when needed, but can look like shutters when closed, to keep the heat in and allow privacy.
"The blinds can be opened for a full view, adjusted for a soft-focus view or closed for privacy."
Vera Meharg
2. Living room
Roman Shades have long been a favourite for contemporary interiors because they frame a window beautifully without adding fussy details. Classic in style, the beauty of Roman Shades is their ability to adjust light in any room while making your windows look fantastic. Ideal with large windows, they’re simple, functional and attractive. They come in a wide variety of fabrics and weights, which means that you can choose lighter, sheer fabrics where privacy is not an issue, or heavier textiles for privacy, or if you need to protect furnishings from the harsh afternoon sun.
3. Bedrooms
Bedrooms are all about softness, calmness and serenity, so it’s good to look at blinds or window coverings that convey a relaxing feel. Think about how you like to sleep too – some people prefer total darkness while they slumber, others like a cool breeze in the room. If you do want to keep the room dark, talk to your window supplier about blockout fabrics. These can be combined with sheers, if necessary so you can allow light into the room during the day, for a softer feel.
4. Bathrooms
Wet areas such as bathrooms and laundries have special issues when it comes to window dressing – the moisture in the space means that regular blinds or curtains can be prone to mould and mildew. Vera recommends plantation shutters as a great option for this space as they close easily for privacy – critical in bathrooms. Where moisture is a factor, modern alternatives to traditional wooden shutters are water resistant and will not blister, peel, flake, corrode or fade. You can control light and privacy with shutters, allowing natural light in while maintaining discretion by positioning the louvres to suit your view.
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