Claude Monet is one of history’s most famous artists. A French Impressionist, his enduring paintings play with brush stroke styles and – most importantly – experiment with light. As legend has it, a critic once asked Monet to explain the subject matter of a painting. Monet answered as only a French Impressionist could: “The subject matter, my dear good fellow, is the light.”

Although you might not think of window coverings professionals as “artists,” we do have a few things in common with Monet. Light brings paintings and photographs to life with depth, detail and emotional weight.  Light has a similar effect on our homes. Just as Monet used his paintbrush to manipulate light, we use window coverings and treatments to enhance, illuminate, and protect the things we treasure.

The Importance of Northern Light

As an artist, Monet was aware of the importance of Northern light. The cool, steady light through a north-facing window allowed him greater control over the color changes on his palette. Direct sunlight, on the other hand, can create too much contrast, washing out the intricate details of a master’s work.

You can enjoy the flattering effects of Northern light no matter what direction your windows face with the right window coverings. Sheer drapes in a neutral color will diffuse the light, providing a soft, even glow that will make everything inside your home look like a masterpiece.

Art in Unexpected Places

Monet’s paintings are displayed in many famous museums across the world, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Louvre. While nothing beats seeing an iconic painting behind a museum’s red ropes, there’s an easy way to bring art into your own home – by putting it on your window shades.

Thanks to collaboration between Hunter Douglas Hospitality and Farmboy Fine Arts, a new collection of roller shades does exactly that. You can choose styles from four famous art movements that bring together the elegance of photography and the beauty of paintings with the magic of window shades. You can also reproduce any custom image, whether it’s a painting, photograph or drawing, directly onto a roller shade or a cellular shade, thanks to PERSONA Custom Graphic Shades. It’s a novel, artistic way to refresh and personalize any space.

Protecting what Matters

While light can bring out the best in our belongings, its strong rays also can harm everything from home furnishings to precious paintings. Too much ultraviolet light can weaken and discolor fabric and paper fibers, and the damage is irreversible. This is why so many museums rely on window coverings to protect their collections.

The Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas accomplishes this with the help of motorized roller shades by Hunter Douglas, while the Art Institute of Chicago uses Hunter Douglas white screens in its window to create soft, ghostlike light; the screens automatically extend when the sun is strongest for extra protection. These same window treatments can be used to defend the interior of your own home against UV rays.

Let There Be Light

As you can see, the art of window coverings is closely aligned with the art world. For more light-inspired information on window treatments, visit our company showroom on 2817 North 23rd Street.  There, you can see a number of the newest window coverings solutions on the market today.  You can also reach me and my team at Strickland’s Window Coverings by calling (910) 762-0944 or visiting us online at stricklandswindowcoverings.com.

Fred Kumpel is the owner of Strickland’s Window Coverings and Carolina Closet Company. Fred has over 30 years of experience in the industry. Strickland’s Window Coverings is a window treatment design center specializing in custom blinds, shades, shutters and fabric treatments for over 70 years. Carolina Closet Company provides professionally designed and custom built organization solutions. Its complete line of home organization solutions includes unique solutions to organize closets, pantries, garages, basements, laundry rooms as well as Murphy Beds. To learn more about our company, visit www.stricklandswindowcoverings.com and www.closetsbythesea.com. Fred can be reached at [email protected] or call 910.762.0944.