Path: bloom-picayune.mit.edu!snorkelwacker.mit.edu!americast.com!americast.com!americast-post Newsgroups: americast.twt.misc From: americast-post@AmeriCast.Com Organization: American Cybercasting Approved: americast-post@AmeriCast.com Subject: Point of view Date: Thu, 12 Nov 92 14:51:51 EST Message-ID: \SE F;TODAY'S HOME \HD Point of view \BY THE WASHINGTON TIMES Windows are actors. Like silver-screen thespian Lon Chaney, they have a thousand faces. Let's look at this. Their original purpose was to let in light. Now windows are supposed to let in light, block ultraviolet rays, keep out cold, keep in heat, quell drafts, save energy, soundproof, stay clean and be a design statement all at once. New windows have risen to the challenge of these new roles with style and innovation. High-fashioned window frames - or "grilles" - come in myriad configurations, with wood on the interior side and low-maintenance metal or vinyl for the exterior. Glass is glazed or argon-filled for insulation; some can block out up to 95 percent of outside noise, while others have a finish that cleans with water alone. Plus windows are fun to dress up. We offer some ideas this week for a real glass act. (Photos A & B): A REAL GLASS ACT What kind of window wins awards? Glickman Design Build in Rockville recently won Outstanding Performance from the Vinyl Window and Door Institute for designing a new wall of windows for a house in McLean. The company removed the roof from the kitchen, raised it one story and filled the gable end with glass. The end of the room was extended with a 10-foot bow window. Low E-glass, vinyl sashes and redwood posts were used in the remodeling - which also included a newly configured kitchen, breakfast nook, powder room and trellised deck. For information on this project, contact Glickman Design Build, 301/670-9700. (Photo C): INSULATED LIFE The grand expanse of glass here hides a lot of extras. InSol-8 and Heat Mirror windows from Hurd provide up to four times the insulation rating of typical double-paned glass by incorporating a double sheet of clear insulation inside the 1-inch-thick window. These windows provide 92 percent of the insulation performace of a wall, in fact. They also block out 95 percent of exterior noise and 99 percent of ultraviolet rays, which can fade furnishings. And of interest around here - these windows can also help control condensation. For information on these new windows, call 800/2BEHURD (Photo D): CONDITIONED RESPONSE Is the faithful old room air conditioner letting in a mite too much cold air during the winter? Solve the problem with ENDRAFT, a quilted, machine-washable insulator made just for air conditioners. Available in beige, dark brown and medium blue, it bundles up the unit until next spring. Three adjustable sizes fit most air conditioners. Measure the dimensions, the company suggests, before calling. From Jebb Products, ENDRAFT is $20 and can be ordered by calling 800/JEBBINC. (Photo E): GLASS MENAGERIE DecoBlinds from the Evergreen Corp. offer window options to be reckoned with. These aluminum mini- and microblinds come in 90 colors - and a goodly number of imaginative, often humorous designs, including fish, teddy bears and singing penguins. All blinds are custom made and available in widths from 42 to 126 inches. For information, contact Evergreen at 703/335-8685. (Photo F): WINNING COMBINATION Among the options of new replacement windows from Anderson are custom-made grilles with a prefinished exterior and a natural wood interior. White interior hardware is also new, as is a "Sandtone" finish on the frame itself, which was developed by a team of color specialists to coordinate with a wide range of lighter color palettes. Designs may look dramatic, but Anderson's Feature Windows line comes in standard sizes - which means they are often in stock, rather than on special order. For information, contact area locations of Windowland in Rockville (301/468-4833) and Springfield (703/451-0877). (Photo G): KIT AND CABOODLE Want new windows without a complete replacement? Window sash replacement kits can offer an affordable alternative. From manufacturer Barber & Ross, the Window Restoration Package is an all wood sash and balance replacement kit that creates a double-hung window that tilts for easy cleaning. The kit includes insulated glass, fully weatherstripped pine sash, jamb liners, mounting brackets and head parting stop; it can be painted or stained and the exterior features a low-maintenance enamel finish. Barber & Ross has a factory/showroom in Leesburg - for information, call 703/478-1970. (Photo H): WASH AND WHERE Reston architect Jim Lozowskie of Dreamspace saw to it that the 1,000-square-foot, 2 1/2-story living room of one luxury residence in Potomac had plenty of light with floor-to-ceiling windows and ceiling-sized skylights. How to have the same effect in a master bath? Shown is Mr. Lozowskie's solution. A double wall of 3 1/2-inch Pittsburgh Corning glass bricks and yet another skylight over the whirlpool handsomely offset the black Italian marble tub platform. The marble is heated from within for chilly days and needless to say, the plants love it. For information on Mr. Lozowskie's work, call 703/742-0931 (Photo I): AHEAD IN THE POLES If you get confused with the complexities of all those window dressings, Kirsch now offers "Swag 'N Tails" curtain pole set, which keeps things simple enough for beginners. Fabric is attached with Velcro and threaded through oversized rings - multiple swags, poufs, puddled hems and all the other ornate goodies can be added. The pole sets are available in four finishes in widths from 38 inches to 120 inches. For a dealer, call 800/528-1407. This article is copyright 1992 The Washington Times. 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