Roman Shades for Victorian Windows in Winona and La Crosse

Roman shades suit most of the old windows around Winona's Windom Park. They fit inside deep wood frames and fold up neatly at the top of the glass. The fabric adds softness without hiding the trim. The trick is to match the fold to the window shape. The same advice holds for Roman shades in La Crosse homes of the same age.

Below, we go window type by window type. Bays, arched tops and roof dormers each get their own notes.

What makes the windows around Windom Park different?

Variety. You'll pass a lot of window shapes on one short walk.

The district covers about 20 acres. It wraps around a park that fills a single city block. The City of Winona's Heritage Preservation Commission form counts 29 historic resources there. Most of the homes went up between 1856 and 1900. The styles run from Italianate and Second Empire to Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival.

The form also describes the windows. A few examples:

• The 1857 Huff-Lamberton House is an Italian Villa. It has rounded windows, dormer windows and a three-sided bay. It went on the National Register in 1976.
• The 1890 Abner F. Hodgins House is a Queen Anne by architect Charles G. Maybury. It has a bay window and was listed in 1984.
• The Curtis House dates from about 1865 and is the area's only Second Empire home. Its upper windows sit right in the steep mansard roof.
• The Vila House dates from about 1870 and has a two-story bay. Its upper windows have shallow arched tops.

These are landmarks, not homes we've worked in. But plenty of houses nearby share the same shapes.

What are Roman shades, and why do they suit these rooms?

A Roman shade is one flat piece of fabric. When you raise it, it folds into soft layers at the top of the window. When you lower it, it lies flat across the glass.

That simple shape is why it works in a Victorian room. It doesn't compete with tall trim or carved woodwork over the window. It reads as fabric, like the drapery these houses had when they were new. But it takes up far less room.

February light matters here too. Winona gets about ten and a half hours of daylight on February 15, per U.S. Naval Observatory tables. The sun comes up at 7:06 a.m. and goes down at 5:36 p.m. A Roman shade raised all the way stacks above the glass, so you keep almost every bit of that short-day sun.

How do you fit Roman shades in a three-sided bay?

Give each window its own shade. That's the usual answer for a bay like the ones on the Huff-Lamberton or Hodgins houses.

One shade per window lets you raise the center and keep the sides down. Morning sun on one side? Lower just that one. Each shade mounts inside its own frame, so the posts between windows stay on show.

A few things to check:

• Depth of the frame. Old bays often have deep casings. That's good news. A shade needs some depth to mount inside.
• Matching heights. Old windows are rarely the exact same size. Measure each one in three places so the shades still line up when they're raised.
• Fold style. A flat fold gives the bay a calm, tailored look. A softer fold suits a bay with a window seat.

What about arched tops and windows in a mansard roof?

These two take a little more planning.

Shallow arched tops. Windows like the Vila House's upper row have a gentle curve at the top. You have two common choices. One is to mount the shade below the curve and leave the arch open. The other is to mount it outside the frame and above the arch, so it covers the whole opening. The first shows off the shape. The second gives more privacy and darkness.

Mansard and dormer windows. A window set into a sloped roof is often short, and it sits back in a little nook. On a short window, the folded stack takes up a bigger share of the glass. If there's wall space above the frame, mount the shade there so the stack sits above the glass. If not, pick a thin fabric and a flat fold. The stack stays slim and the nook still gets light.

Rounded windows are their own story. Some get a fixed arch covering. Some are best left bare.

Which Roman shade fold fits which window?

Should your shades be lighter or darker than your walls?

There's no single rule. In an old house, start with the trim instead of the walls.

Many older homes still have dark stained woodwork. A shade a few steps lighter than that wood keeps the window from looking like a dark hole. It also lets the trim frame the fabric. If your trim is painted white, a shade close to the wall color looks calm. Then the white trim does the outlining.

Think about the street side too. Older homes often have big front windows close to the sidewalk. A light, plain lining on every front shade gives the house one tidy face from outside. You can pick any fabric you like for the room side.

Simple test: tape a fabric sample to the glass at midday. Then check it again after dark with the lamps on. Old rooms change a lot between those two times.

What is the downside of Roman shades?

They're not right for every window. Watch for these:

• The stack covers some glass. A raised Roman shade still sits at the top of the window. On short dormer windows, that's a real share of the view.
• Light slips past the sides. An inside-mounted shade leaves a thin gap at each edge. In a bedroom, pick a lining that blocks more light or add drapery on top.
• Fabric needs care. Dust settles in the folds. A soft brush or a vacuum on low handles most of it.
• Wet rooms are tough. A steamy bath is hard on fabric. A different shade may do better there.
• Cords get in the way. Choose a cordless lift for homes with kids and pets.

When does drapery belong with the shade?

When the room is tall, formal or cold. A Roman shade handles daily light and privacy. Floor-length panels on each side add height and frame the trim. On winter nights, panels that close add a second layer.

Our post on insulated drapery for drafty old La Crosse and Winona windows covers that side. It explains lining, a closed top and sealed edges.

What should you check on an old window before ordering?

A short list for any home near the park or any older house in La Crosse:

1. Measure each window in three places, top to bottom and side to side. Old frames shift.
2. Look at the casing depth. It decides inside or outside mount.
3. Note which windows face the street. Plan one lining color for those.
4. Decide which rooms need dark nights. Bedrooms usually do.
5. Ask about cordless lifts if you have kids or pets.
6. Look at fabrics in your own light, not a store's.

You can browse fabrics and fold styles on our Roman shades page.

Where should a Windom Park home start?

Pick the window you look at most. For many folks near Windom Park, that's the front bay. Start there and live with it for a few weeks.

When you're ready, we can bring fold samples and fabrics to your door. We'll measure every odd frame. To see more on Roman shades in La Crosse and Winona, start on our home page. Book your free consultation.

Kevin Sill is CFO and co-owner of the family-owned Budget Blinds franchises serving La Crosse, Winona and the Coulee Region.