Red Threads Home

Wonky Windows Solution

Sat, 09 May 2026 13:56:16 -0700

Wonky Windows

Fun fact: New York City boasts 25% of the oldest large rental buildings in the United
States and over 37,000 historic landmark properties. They ooze charm, have an air of
mystery are often highly coveted apartments. They also often come with very wonky
windows. These are subtle off-kilter situations caused by buildings settling over time,
causing window frames to sag and become uneven and isn’t obvious until installing
window treatments.
We recently helped a client with this very problem. He and his partner live in an
apartment in a building that dates to 1929, with windows that face east. “We had old
solar shades that were getting tired and ratty,” he explained. “The window shape wasn’t
a perfect rectangle, so the shades never fit properly. They would roll up unevenly, and
fray on the edges.”
Over the course of a century since the building debuted, it settled. Our client’s bank of
windows was off-kilter – each one...Read More

Let's Be Transparent About Solar Shades

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:46:25 -0700

Let's Be Transparent About Solar Shades

We love solar shades for many reasons. They can becustomized to fit pretty much any type of window, even odd shapes like bay windows, corner windows or angled windows. They protect art, furniture, rugs and other furnishings from damaging UV rays that can cause fading or discoloration. They also reduce glare from computers and televisions.
We’re in a city experiencing a construction boom and are seeing a similar uptick in clients specifying these shades, especially in modern buildings with floor-to-ceiling windows. They’re a great choice for architectural, minimal spaces. If you look closely, you’ll see them everywhere.
They’re especially noticeable at night. Why? Because people often do not think
about something very important when choosing these shades – the opacity or
“openness” factor. We hear a lot of people say they want to be able to see
through the shades to a view outside. But depending on the set-up, this could
mean that at night, when interior lights are on, that the space is very clearly
viewed from the outside, even with the shades drawn. Some don’t have privacy
issues and are comfortable being on display. But many do, and don’t realize how
transparent their shades are.

Here’s an example. The left is during the day, the right isat night.

Our Interview With Charm Su

Sun, 03 May 2026 13:30:43 -0700

Charm Su

Charm Su is a New York City-based designer who studiedarchitecture at Carnegie Melon and went on to work for Ralph Lauren, Gensler and BAMO before starting her own firm in 2007.

What were your childhood experiences with window treatments?
I was born in Taiwan but grew up in Rhode Island, becausemy Dad was affiliated with Brown University. We had the biggest picture window because our house was on the waterfront. But we didn’t have window treatments. Who has the luxury not to wake up when the sun is up?

What’s importance of dressing windows?
Window treatments, to me, are not really something that oneneeds. Except in New York or other cities, for privacy. It’s an amenity. That’s
the way an architect would approach it. A window treatment takes away from the
window. If you think about window as an element – a window treatment is
distracting. It wasn’t until recently that we feel that treatments make a room
softer and cozier. I’m talking from an architect point of view. It was an
amenity, not a live or die.

What’s in your own home?
My heart is really still an architect so I do like minimal.I have solar shades, but the dense kind. Except...Read More