Winsome Windows

By Lisa Arnett
Appears in the January 2025 issue.

When aging in place, accessibility is top of mind for every space. In this Oswego home’s primary bedroom, Joan Kaufman of Interior Planning & Design Inc. in Naperville combined custom window treatments with automation to meet the needs of the homeowners, one of whom uses a walker and wheelchair.

The homeowners preferred an entirely dark room for sleeping at night. During the day, they wanted to have natural light in the room, but privacy was key. “We installed two layers of shades: One is a blackout roller shade behind, and there’s another shade in front to filter light,” Kaufman says. “[The homeowner] could not lift those, so we put them on an automated system with a remote control.” To provide some softness and visual interest, Kaufman’s in-house seamstresses sewed custom-made curtain panels to flank each window.

Photo: Chip Haines Images & Photography