covering any wine

WHAT ARE the first signs
of spring? In Greater
Vancouver it’s hard to say. I
sat in an outdoor cafe one
sunny afternoon in January,
and it seemed like spring to
me then.

When a little girl in Quebec
was asked the question, she said:
“when the ice begins to melt and
Mum asks us to remove all the dog
poop from the driveway, then we
know it’s spring!”

The crocuses and daffodils have
. bloomed and even the forsythias

- have lost their bright yellow
petals. We’ve started our pilgrim-
age to the garden centres and

: smelled the fresh soil.

3° Every day it becomes more
obvious that spring is here — and

Edith still hasn’t cleaned her win-
dows!

This article is for those who
have done the dreaded task —- and

‘the lucky ones who have had it

.° done — and are thinking of new
- window treatments.

You can have them made, you
” ‘can make some yourself; occasion-

,.ally you can even leave a window

‘ bare and not worry about privacy.

- There are many options to consid-
er before deciding on traditional

‘ curtains and draperies.

-. Let's look at some of these
today and deal with fabric treat-
ments later.

Window boxes full of trailing

_ Zeraniums and begonias, or climb-

‘ing plants, such as English ivy,
roses, clematis and wisteria, are

DESIGN OF THE TIMES

wonderful exterior treatments.

If they are combined with
wrought-iron grilles to protect
against break-ins, they can lend an
extra safety feature and a sophisti-
cated touch to a home.

Exterior shutters have a func-
tion — they were meant to have
hinges and be closed at night
rather than nailed onto the wall as
decoration. When closed they can
protect against heat, cold and
glare, while still letting in light.

Interior wood shutters are very
versatile. They are often divided

* into two sections and can be folded

to the side at top or bottom; their
wood slats are adjustable and
admit a woaderfuily soft light.

A trellis with climbers, posi-
tioned outside a street-facing win-

© ALL SIZES AVAILABLE
ALL MATTRESSES ON SALE
INCLUDING POSTUREPEDIC

FREE DELIVERY, FREE SET UP,
FREE PICK UP OF OLD MATTRESS

details in store

FURMITUREL

“OPEN 7 DAYS

111 East 3rd St., N. Vancouver

AL
936-1361

dow, can give enough privacy to
make interior treatments unneces-
sary or limil them to simple drapes
which can be pulled at night.

Or you might opt for indoor
plants; a ficus benjamina, hanging
plants, climbers and exotic flower-
ing plants are an attractive alterna-
live to window treatments, espe-
cially if the window looms 12 feet
tall. ;

Bamboo, matchstick ur woven
wood shades are inexpensive and
ideal for small windows, They can
be spray-painted to match the col-
ors of the room and lined with fab-
ric installed to fold or roll when
they are raised.

An awkwardly shaped window
with an uninspiring view can be
transformed with one or two
framed stained-glass windows,
suspended inside the frame on
chains or invisible nylon fishing
lines.

If track lighting is installed
inside the window opening behind
the stained glass, you will get
wonderful effects from the colored
glass at night and at (he same time
illuminate the exterior of the win-
dow.

In a modern home, rice paper
screens in black-painted frames

See Vinyl page 22

Photo submitted

EXTERIOR PLANTS or gratings can create privacy without the
need for interior window coverings. :

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' NO PURCHASE NECESSARY - - —
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