Glaze Forward

Any student of architecture, or any closet enthusiast of the history of building design, understands that the connections between form and function are very tight. This becomes particularly fascinating when looking at contemporary architecture, and discovering that it’s often the most decorative elements that have their origins in structural necessity. The little touches that educated designers make can turn a room from a useful space into a necessary space. It’s often these little touches that have the most elemental structural purposes in other times. Part of the unique appeal, then, to things like cornices, has to do with their role in house construction in the past.

In modern homes, the addition of wood shutters to any room can add a profoundly graceful and elegant touch to its interior and exterior. Wood does indeed have a very powerful effect, connecting the naturally introspective, urban sentiments of interior space to the outside elements. Just as the holiday tree has supposed origins in symbolizing nature in the middle of winter, wood inside of a house has a regenerative force on the inhabitants. Wood is at its most simple level a reminder or symbol of the tree, and the visual presence of wood is often enough to transport the viewer to an idyllic setting.

Wood shutters become even more complex when looking at the history of architecture in Tudor England . This period marked a shift in construction that allowed for a much wider use of wood shutters, and helped to make blinds in general a popular addition to homes in the modern era. Of course, the origins had very little to do with design, or at least design was a much lesser concern than function.

It’s probably no surprise that shutters do have a functional origin, considering how they are still useful. They can direct light in a startling way, creating dramatic and subtle effects that add a deeply resonant ambiance to any setting. In old England , on the other hand, they functioned in the same ways that glass functions today: to keep air out and allow light in. Glass was too expensive, and hard to find, so the common window covering was the shutter.

Today’s glass is a contemporary convenience, then, and one that most people couldn’t imagine living without. The shutter used to have the same functions, and also was used for security, but now it’s largely decorative. In a sense, decorative touches are essential for contemporary people, not because they are superfluous, but because they speak to a past as well as a perfectly elegant present.

Many home owners that can’t afford to completely redecorate their home may decide to give it a fresh look by changing just the window treatments. In the beginning it may sound like a simple task, but as they walk through their home, they realize that it’s not a one solution project. Each room has its own needs as well as its own style and shape.

There are a few questions to ask about each room that can help narrow down the choices.

Is light control necessary?
In the case of a kitchen or living area, light may be welcome, but a bedroom may need dark or heavy window shades to block out the light and allow enough sleep time, especially in those summer months when the days are long.

Is privacy more important than decoration?
Sometimes fashion is everything, in which case it doesn’t matter that the sheer curtains let people see into the home. Heavier blinds and shutters will protect privacy, but may sacrifice some fashion, though with today’s design options it is fairly easy to satisfy both needs.

Is a layered look appropriate?
In a bathroom or workroom, simple blinds can be both functional and attractive. Rooms with a more cohesive design may require layers of blinds or shades with curtains or drapery. It is even possible to create an attractive treatment that incorporates several layers of blinds or uses different colored curtains to create a new color.

Water is an element that has the potential to unify any garden. It’s one of the greatest and most versatile features in any kind of decoration, but in gardens, it can be particularly effective. A garden fountain can add a touch of impeccable grace to any landscape design. Because the relationship between water and greenery is so very closely linked, a fountain can serve as a reminder of the relationship with water. It also has a strong association with relaxation, calmness, and even the unconscious, adding some remarkably reflective qualities. It also relates directly to the origins of the garden itself.

The earliest gardens on the planet had elements of water running through them, because they were in fact the products of the relationship between the land and water. Where the Nile River gave life to the entire civilization in its valley, the landscape was cultivated and organized to benefit from the way this river would rise and fall. This direct relationship is one that may be lost in contemporary gardening, but it’s not a broken one. Every time people see the element of water represented in the modern garden, there is the reminder that the balance of life depends on it, and the graceful feeling that water can bring is a wonderful benefit of this balance.