window treatments for 100 year old house

5 years ago

I am in the process of purchasing a 100 year old house and need suggestions for window treatments. The windows are the original ones with bubbles and wavy glass, so I would prefer to keep them.

I need help to select window coverings that will help insulate, and choose ones that will suit the style of the house. Any type of blinds, shades, etc. will need to be mounted outside the frame as there is very little depth on the interior side the windows. I am including pictures to show the some of the windows in the house. Thank you in advance for any suggestions!

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Patricia Colwell Consulting

5 years ago

This was a house built in 1905 we kept the windows sizes and trim original but we replaced all the windows with proper insulated glass , no drape will really help much with insulating. I just used simple linen drapes with the rod mounted outside the frame and there is no reason why those drapes could not be lined with insulating fabric I guess.

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Comments (9)

bpath
5 years ago
Patricia, I like those drapes. Classic, but contemporary with the large grommets.
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beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
5 years ago
mkschu, are you looking for window treatments for insulation primarily, or for privacy, aesthetics, or something else as well?

If for insulation primarily, what's your climate and what are the heating/cooling bills for the house? It's hard to make any recommendations without knowing that sort of information.

I understand wanting to keep the original glass, and I will be one of the first people to argue in favor of conservation, but it may be time to update the windows to help in maintenance of the house, your long-term budget, and environmental sustainability.

How many windows in total? Do you sew at all? Or know anyone who does?
threers
5 years ago
Hang your drapes as Patricia has shown; find your fabric/style/color/pattern on the many, many sites on line. For daytime, keep the drapes open to see the pretty old glass.
Sarah Gold
5 years ago
I'd recommend using nice linen drapes. There's several home improvement stores that have great selections of drapes. I agree with Becky it's difficult to advise you on how to keep the windows insulated without knowing about the temperature outside and inside your home.
Judy Mishkin
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
if you live in a cold climate, with single pane glass, window coverings can make a room feel visually cozy but wont warm you up much.

(i have the original single pane wavy windows in just two places, a kitchen window and back hall.... freezing cold in winter, blazing hot in summer, but 'cool' as all get out.)

houses in my area (greater boston) with original single pane still use removable storm windows. they will make a world of difference to you and allow you to have more choices for window treatments. you'll still need to cover west facing windows in summer or you'll roast.

depending on your insulation... your exterior walls will be pretty cold, too. furniture arrangements that dont put a couch or chairs right by the wall will work best.
mkschu
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for the comments. I am looking for privacy as the house is in town, aesthetics that will be suitable for the style of the house, and insulation. I live in central Texas, so it is hot in the summer and can get cold on the winter. The house has large oaks and pecan trees in the yard, so the shade helps with the summer heat. The house is rock and has recently been updated and insulated. I’m hoping with the updates, the windows will be the main source of inefficiency.

There are 12 large windows, the bathrooms and utility room have stained glass windows so I will not cover them.

Again, thank you for your suggestions!
beckysharp Reinstate SW Unconditionally
5 years ago
I would definitely check into storm windows as ninigret mentions.

You could get inexpensive Aina linen curtains from Ikea (they come in white, natural, gray, blue) and add an insulating lining and/or a shade; that would probably be one of the more inexpensive and better looking options. The Ainas come in a long length (98") and are $60 for a pair.

For winter you could switch out to velvet curtains; West Elm carries some, and I think Pottery Barn. If you wait for sales and discounts, you could do it for a decent price, I think.
mle0782
5 years ago
I live in the Midwest where we are blessed with real winters and buggy summers. We put triple track storm windows on our last house because we weren’t staying and didn’t want to invest in thermal windows. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy they were to put on and how really well they insulated. We were able to match the exterior color of our house trim and the sash height so they looked appropriate on the outside. Not replacing the window meant that we didn’t have to worry about messing up the interior aesthetics of an old house. Plus, screens are great for summer so you can open up your house. Honestly, if the windows in our current old house had been in good shape and functional I would have considered using triple tracks again. The only real downside is washing but I can hire a lot of window washers for the cost difference. So much better than what I remember as a kid!!