Luxurious Window Treatments

Archive for the ‘Window Sill’ Category

Running horizontal against the bottom portion of the window frame, there is a ledge that protrudes from the interior and, sometimes, exterior wall, and it is known as a window sill. Primarily, the window sill portion on the exterior of the structure functions as a channel to direct water away from the building. The window and window sill can be constructed piece-by-piece when installed or they can be bought in a prefabricated form. In today’s market, the window sill can be constructed of a variety of different materials.

Features of Window Sills

As already noted, the key feature of a window sill is to provide a means of draining water away from the home or building. However, through the years, designers and home owners have found decorative uses for the window sill and have been able use this simple structure to incorporate a sense of style and beauty to compliment its function. Window sills are generally square or rectangular and can have decorative angles and curves or streamlined straight with decorative caps.

What Can Window Sills be Constructed From?

The window sill, as already stated, is that horizontal shelf-like ledge that is next to the window sash at the bottom of the window, and it can be constructed from a variety of different materials. The material chosen could depend on the purpose and look that is trying to be achieved. It could be a simple look or a look that will draw in attention.

Today’s window sills are constructed from wood, aluminum, vinyl, PVC, slate, marble, granite and limestone. Some windowsills are even constructed from masonry brick and concrete. If you are looking for durability and a long lasting window sill, you may wish to choose one of the natural stone choices, which require fewer joints, are low maintenance, more durable and go a long way to reducing water penetration.

Incorporating the Aesthetic Value into a Window Sill

In today’s design and construction world, the sky is the limit with respect to what can be created with the style of a window sill. Window sills can bring an eye-appealing beauty or a modern artistic feel to the home or building they are attached to. It could be a simple and humble look, or an elaborate detailed look. Window sill manufacturers are aware of the demand for specialty window sills and can meet the choices for different shapes, colors, textures and material. The cost of window sills can range from affordable to quite expensive, depending on the look you wish to achieve. Having a broad range of choices can truly enhance the appeal of the home as well as add a useful purpose for your window sill, such as a kitchen garden.

Window sill lighting refers to the lighting used by gardening enthusiasts who use their window sills for small quaint gardening spaces. Some use their kitchen window sills for herb gardens, while others use them for their prized plant collections. However, not all windows filter in the proper and adequate sunlight required for the plants to survive, making a window sill light a necessity.

On average, most herb gardens will need five to six hours of sunlight, which can be delivered with a fluorescent light or sunlamp. This will allow the herbs or plants to sustain life and make their required nourishment. You can purchase fluorescent lights or artificial sunlamps that will work for an average of 15 hours a day, providing the quality lighting needed by your potted windowsill plants and garden.

Dress Up Window Sills with Holiday Inspired Lighting

During the festive seasons of holidays, it is often tradition to illuminate the window sills of a home with the twinkle and sparkle of colorful light to ring in the holiday cheer. Through the years, it has become easier to install window sill lights. This is mostly due to new and innovative products used to attach the lights to the window sill replacing the commonly used thumbtacks, nails or staples. You can use candle cup hooks, which are placed between the sill and window frame, allowing you to fasten the long cord of colorful lights to each hook. The strands of lights conveniently have a thumb switch and come in a variety of lengths and cord colors such as white, brown and green.

The window sill lights can also be used to decorate shelves, stairway railings, tables and covered patios, and, when the lights are switched on, they cast off a gentle glow that shimmer and dance, almost candle-like. These types of lights are not overpowering and bright for the eyes, and are energy efficient; so, it will not run up a huge electrical bill. You can even use these types of lights for special occasions, when the night needs to be illuminated for a birthday party or if you are trying to set the stage for romance. Be creative with window sill lights because they can really dress up an event, occasion or holiday.

If you are handy and have a basic knowledge of tools, you can install a window sill yourself. This can drastically save you on the cost of having someone else do the work for you. Remember, a window sill is not just a decorative adornment to your window; it does have a specific function, which is to channel excess water and moisture build up away from the structure. So, it is essential that the task of installation be done correctly and with the proper slope.

Prefabricated – Installation Easy

Window installation will take time and the time it takes will depend on the size of the window, and whether or not there were any structural damages that need repairing first. If you have several windows that need replacement, you may want to start with the smallest sized window first, as it will be easier to install, and give you the confidence and know how to do the rest.

The installation of windows into a new building is very similar to replacing windows. Today’s modern window structures will have an exterior mounting flange, which means you will no longer need wedges. Prefabricated windows make installation of windows and window sills easy and convenient because today’s manufacturers are prepared and able to make windows to the builders specification.

The Steps Involved in Installation

Prefabricated windows create a freedom and convenience to the home owner who can now plan and design to their desired specifications. When placing the order for new windows, make sure you take and give proper measurements. The measurement should be an inch or an inch and a half shorter and narrower than the openings because this will leave an adequate amount of wedging space around the window. If the window has a mounting flange, it should be set into place from the outside, and make sure to caulk the flanges before they go in. Also, it is recommended to line the opening perimeter with a plastic window sill protector plus flashing, which will help keep moisture and water from getting to the wood and causing damage.

The Low Cost and Convenience of  installation If you do your own installation, you can save a great deal of money, and, in this day and age, saving money is an essential. Remember to evenly support each side of the window with wedges or shims and then mount the window in place for a more secure and even fit. Flashing, sill covers, 3M-spray foam and or pink fiberglass insulation in the spaces between the wall frame and the windowsill will make for a more energy-efficient installation, and that will save you in the long run.

If cooking and gourmet cuisine is your thing, an herb garden is a must have. However, not everyone has adequate space to grow and maintain an herb garden, and, when space is an issue, you can utilize the kitchen window sill to create a simple herb garden. Not only will this allow you to enhance meals with the robust and aromatic flavors from homegrown herbs, but also it will add color and character to your window sill and kitchen. Another benefit of a window sill herb garden is it can be maintained all year round without the constraints of winter weather.

The Proper Location

When planting an herb garden, it is important to keep in mind that most herbs will require at least five to six hours of adequate sunlight a day. Thus, choosing a kitchen window sill that receives enough sunlight is essential. Another possibility is installing an artificial sunlight in the window where your herb garden sits or moving your planted herb pots around periodically to windowsills that will get adequate sunlight during the day. Artificial sunlamps or fluorescent lighting are good alternatives to natural sunlight because you can leave them on for the required amount of hours to encourage your herb garden to grow and thrive. If artificial sunlamps or fluorescent lighting is your choice, it is important that the lights are placed 12 to 18 inches above the herb garden.

How to Make Your Herb Garden Thrive and Grow

In order for your window sill herb garden to thrive, it will need to be in a room where the daytime temperature is around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit and the level of humidity should be between 30 to 50 percent.

Herbs will do better in a potting mixture of vermiculite, and, if that is not available, you can make a mixture of equal parts of peat moss, loam and sand, which you should place in a planting pot that has adequate drainage.

When planting the seeds, make sure to space the seeds and not plant them too deep or in too wide of a hole. Once the seeds are planted, place the planting containers into a pan of water, allowing the water to draw up to the surface, and then cover the containers with plastic bags, leaving them slightly open at the top to allow air and humidity to enter and leave. This will help create the greenhouse effect. On average, germination will take around three full weeks, and then the plastic bags can be removed. Finally, the herb garden is ready to be placed in the window sill of choice, exposing it to sunlight and adequate water.

The most common herbs to use in a window sill herb garden are oregano, mint, chives, coriander, basil, parsley, dill and anise. These types of herbs are hearty and easy to grow, and will transplant easily to a bigger outside garden.

We live in times in which the look and feel of ones home speaks volume. Because taking pride in your home is of great importance, the contractors, designers and manufacturers all put forth effort to bring new and innovative enhancements to the market and encourage that better way of living. So, it is not surprising that along with the physical structure of the home and the furnishing that go into the home, other intricate fixtures such as window sills and trim carry just as much importance.

Most people probably do not stop and take the time to ponder what sills are, and if asked, would describe them as the wooden horizontal ledges that run along the bottom frame of a window, much like the ones commonly found in older model homes.

However, through time and advances, the modern window sills have been greatly improved upon. They are not just made from wood; they are installed to bring an extra-added beauty to the modern home. The newer material used in the construction of window sills are aluminum, PVC, natural stone and vinyl.

The use of vinyl for window sills became popular in the mid 1960s when it advanced building by bringing a more energy efficient product onto the scene. This energy efficiency was quite appealing to home owners and was further affirmed by the reduced cost of heating they experienced.

Another benefit to using vinyl is the low maintenance that comes with them. Because vinyl sills do not require any painting, they do not bring with it some of the problems that arise when using woodenones. This also makes vinyl window sills appealing because they do not experience rot, which means you will not have to do replacement jobs on the sill. If there happens to be some rot in the wood, it can easily be fixed and repaired with a filler kit. Furthermore, vinyl window sills give the home a more clean and streamlined look and feel, which is very appealing to some home owners.

So, for the durable, low maintenance and energy efficient choice, vinyl window sills offer the best benefit for the home owner.

There are windows in almost every house, office or business building. The primary purpose of a window is to let in light. Many windows also let in air.

There are several component parts that make up each window. For example, the windowpane slides along within the window frame. The top horizontal section of the frame is known as the head, while the lower horizontal section is known as the sill.

Thus, a window sill can be defined as the flat piece of wood, stone or other solid material along the bottom of the window frame. Just as most people like a room with a view, cats tend to like a nice view.

Want a Happy Cat?

You’ve probably noticed that there are many cats that spend whole days looking out windows. Cats love not only the window view, but the varied temperatures they feel up against the window panes. Cat window sills are simply window seats with a view of the outer world for the pampered feline. The market for cat products is at an all time high. There are combos, soaps, bows, shampoos, ties and even window seats available for our felines.

Cats also gain a sense of security from being perched above ground level. Cat window seats can be fitted to window sills or can even be adjusted to fit in windows that do not have sills.

Cat window sill seats can be found made with many different materials in many different colors and patterns. Lets take a quick look at a few popular examples.

a) The cat hammock is a combination of a window perch and a sleeping hammock designed for your cat’s senses of security and curiosity. It is movable and can fit in front of any window. For best cat satisfaction, place the cat hammock near warm air ducts.

b) The thermo kitty sill uses a thick orthopedic pad to pamper your cat. It has a removable, machine washable cover. It contains a thermostat element inside of its orthopedic foam. In the summer the heater can be removed.

c) The heated window sill cat bed can support over 40 pounds. It is easily assembled and adjustable to any windowsill. The key feature of this cat bed is that it will remain between 12 and 15 degrees above the ambient air temperature. When in use, the heated window sill will remain at about 102 degrees. This cat bed is perfect for year long indoor use.

Keep Flexibility in Mind

When you purchase a bed for your cat, you want to be sure to get a bed you can shape and mold to your cat’s needs. When purchasing a cat window sill bed, buy one that is fixable with or without a window sill. It is also nice if that cat bed can be washed without having to remove the cover.