Gotcha Covered North

Shore window treatment expert shares what’s trending

BY CHRISTY HINKO

Far from the miles of dark heavy fabric and ornate cornices and double row curtain rods of the olden days, today’s homeowners are flocking to lighter and airy window treatment designs.

“People are going for simplicity, the cleanest, most simple look and they are doing that in a variety of ways from Roman shades with a crisp bottom or a clean roller shade and no valance,” said Graham Byers, president and window treatment expert for Gotcha Covered North Shore. “They are looking for subtle textures rather than bold patterns, seeking out fabrics for a cellular, roller or wood shades that have a wonderful texture in them, but that offers variations in color and density. It’s not loud or drawing attention to itself and it creates a luxurious feel without having it go overboard.”

Byers said the trends in window treatment choices are consistent with broader interior design trends as well.

“I don’t see homeowners going toward strong colors, in line with bold color trends that get talked about,” he said. “Homeowners want something that they’re going to like this year, as much as they’re going to like it in five years.”

Re-doing major decor elements, like furniture, window treatments and flooring, too frequently is not popular.

“People are choosing neutrals and subtler tones, even in reds and blues, but that are more muted,” Byers said. “You want to bring color into your room, but not so much that you are like, ‘Wow, this is great, but now I have to change it next week,’ it has to be something you can live with.”

Of all window treatment options, Byers said shades are the most popular choice for decorating.

“I’ve got a lot of clients who have got elaborate top treatments, valances, swags and cascades of fabrics; it’s just really heavy stuff,” he said. “They are choosing shades because they fit the window frame; they are not these big, huge pieces of fabric that cover so much more than the window; shades are light and airy.

He said the most popular choice is a single roller shade, minus the valance across the top. The roller shade is a low-maintenance choice because when it’s up, it is out of sight and when it’s down it is just a piece of hanging fabric.

“It barely attracts dust and dirt and now a lot of the new materials have a coating on the fabrics that repel dust,” Byers said. “They are much easier to clean and maintain.”

Long gone are the days of formal drapery, although Byers said he does still get occasional requests for drapery; if that is what the customer wants, that is what he is prepared to deliver.

“It is almost like window treatments are taking a step back so that other things in the room can shine,” he said.

The typical timeframe from consultation to installation is approximately four to six weeks.

Byers, who has been in the window treatment business for two years, said that post-pandemic production and manufacturing has nearly returned to normal, but there are times when a single component is not available and can delay the process significantly.

If you are planning a renovation project or making major changes to your windows, it is best to schedule the window treatments consultation for after the new windows are in place.

“Window treatments are custom to an eighth of an inch (shutters are custom to a 16th of an inch), so it’s really precise,” he said. “I have been in a lot of houses where homeowners have ordered something themselves from somewhere online and they do their own measurements. They have these huge gaps on the sides that just don’t fit the way they’re supposed to.”

He said they might have measured correctly, but they do not have the expertise of how the fabric falls or where the gaps in coverage will be.

“Maybe they did not know that this kind of shade has a deduction of two inches, or the fabric is an inch, and a half less,” he added.

If you want new window treatments, you want to do it after you put new windows in because inevitably, the size of the window might change by a half of an inch or the molding ends up being narrower.

“I always wanted to start my own business,” Byers said. “It was the right thing for me at just the right time.”

He works closely with his wife, who is an interior designer. The duo often collaborates on design projects.

“When I am working with any designer, I let them lead with the fabric,” he said. “I bring the vision to life.”

Ready to get started? Visit www. gotchacovered.com/north-shore or call 516-701-0141 to find inspiration and to book a consultation.