Do you know what has been catching my eye lately? Aluminum blinds. Seriously. There is something about them that just seems right for right now. I'm not talking about white or black aluminum blinds, nor do I mean vertical ones either. It's both silvery polished and brushed aluminum blinds that have been on my mind.
So why the interest? These are tough- not tender- window treatments. We've seen a lot of sweet and tame design lately; maybe it's time for something edgy, a bit raw, and a little provocative. Now, I do realize that these blinds can conjure up images of that dated Miami Vice look. In fact, as I was typing this, I thought of the movie poster for American Gigolo, above. Some remember both the movie and the poster for a very handsome Richard Gere, while fashion mavens think of the Armani suits. For me, it's the shadow of those blinds reaching out across Gere. Leave it to me to think of the window treatments when referencing a movie about steamy...well, you know.
So if one were to indulge in something like this, in what type of room would one put them? Obviously, contemporary goes without saying. A room representative of the school of Billy Baldwin and Albert Hadley would be another great venue. Even a Miles Redd maximalist interior- couldn't you see these blinds in a room or two of his? And speaking of Miles, I think Nick Olsen could completely rock the aluminum. Whether he wants to is another matter.
Look how the light bounces off of the blinds in the late Stanley Barrows' apartment. The surroundings are pretty traditional, and yet these blinds totally worked.
Again, the blinds serve as yet another reflective surface in this "nighttime" dining room.
In another dining room, this one in the home of the designer Ruben de Saavedra.
And though I'm NOT advocating a return of vertical blinds, I did have to include this photo of the home of one of my favorite eccentric designers, the late Valerian Rybar. I've never seen steel blinds that were so polished and glossy.
(Barrows photo from Manhattan Style
Wow, you may be on to something here -- very rock 'n roll -- and yet polished and put together too.
ReplyDeleteAnon- So true. They're very New Wave...and yet in certain surroundings, they're pretty sophisticated. At least that's my take on it :)
ReplyDeleteThat nighttime dining room is so striking. Really interesting contrast with the sleek blinds and antique trumeau. I can see these making a come back, especially in the hands of someone like Nick! (And let's face it, blinds function more easily than most shades.)
ReplyDeleteI just did a post on wallpaper and I think we make a mistake when we banish a design element forever from our lives just because we lived through one of its incarnations already. I am always mystified why women will let fashions in clothing and hairstyles be brought back over and over, but are so stubborn about it when it comes to decorating. I think your take on metal blinds is great.
ReplyDeleteI just did a post on wallpaper and I think we make a mistake when we banish a design element forever from our lives just because we lived through one of its incarnations already. I am always mystified why women will let fashions in clothing and hairstyles be brought back over and over, but are so stubborn about it when it comes to decorating. I think your take on metal blinds is great.
ReplyDeleteFascinating post. Those blinds were the favorite trick to goose a traditional room, the way we use b&w photography now. And let's not forget Joe d'Urso -- he used them brilliantly. I'm ready to revive High Tech.
ReplyDeleteStephen- I did find a d'Urso photo with aluminum blinds, but unfortunately it was B&W so the point seemed to get lost. I would like to see more edginess in design today. The fashion equivalent would be wearing an Oscar de la Renta dress with a really aggressive shoe.
ReplyDeleteHonestly, I hope this is one peak prediction that doesn't go. I don't relish the idea of ever having a client say-I want those aluminum blinds, or I want to keep them.But I do like the Oscar dress with something dominatrix like stiletto. The rooms here are gorgeous-especially the Barrows apartment. pgt
ReplyDeleteI had them in my loft in Manhattan. Brushed aluminum. So 80's. White walls, black leather sofa, big grey industrial carpeting, a black lacquer table from Bloomingdales, Z chairs and touches of bright color in artwork and Fiestaware, and a really bright modern quilt on the wall. Oh, and black metal office cabinetry for the stereo equipment, because we still had record players. Ah, memory lane. :)
ReplyDeleteYou got it - "tough not tender" ... very urban, pavement oriented. Cop on the beat, gumshoe investigator, male escort...My grandmother duplicated the look from her county-treasurer office to her home sunroom amidst cool blue and green cut-velvet upholstery, in the 70's and the windows wore them thru the early 90's.
ReplyDeleteAugury- It's definitely not a look for everybody! I think that in order to make it work today, it would need to be in a room like that of Barrows. :)
ReplyDeleteI think you are certainly onto something, very Joe D'Urso/Ward Bennett. design could use a shot of testosterone right about now. Just be certain not to add the Nagel print in the scheme!
ReplyDeleteI am so glad you use the old Arch Digets books. I have collected the complete series and find them an invaluable resource for inspiration.
If I didn't know you, Peak of Chic, I truly might think you were mad. However, as often in our conversations, you present me a with an idea to be considered and a prejudice to be reassessed. I'm trying to imagine them behind your drawing-room curtains, those lovely silver-grey .... waddaya think?
ReplyDeleteI think this can work nicely in a room to be used mainly at night as a reflective surface but they look really scary in the daylight. They look great in Barrow's apartment but if one were to use them in a room to be used in the daylight they should probably not be relied upon as a design element because they are best drawn up completely, at least in a residential application. They might be really nice in certain offices.
ReplyDeleteGreat pics. I hope these blinds can make a comeback.
I'm not feeling it. But I'm sure, you've just started a re-trend! watch out world, your 80s rented apartment just got chic again!
ReplyDeleteI wish I had never watched 'American Gigilo'! Richard Gere utters a line in that movie that forever ruined him in my mind.
ReplyDeleteYES YES YES!!
ReplyDelete"Nine 1/2 Weeks" also has some gorgeous, blind-heavy shots. Actually like, any and all Adrian Lyne productions.
My gut says this doesn't apply only to aluminum, but to colored vinyl as well. Glossy red set against a glossy black wall; matte green against polished white. A lot of this is clearly dictated by cycles of reference and nostalgia, but there's also something perfect about how cost-effective custom blinds are. You can usually knock out an entire room or small apartment for under $200 and a trip to Home Depot.
It's interesting that none of these shots utilize natural lighting, which has everything to do with the way we perceive their windows. For whatever reason, interior photography has shifted almost exclusively to capturing daylight; strange, considering how few of us actually see our homes during the day.
Not having to focus on the way light hits a space from outside means being able to shift attention to the effect it has on the window from within, which is where something semi-reflective like aluminum can be perfect.
I LOVE THIS POST
OK, some interesting comments. First, I could see how these kind of blinds might look best at night, especially when used as yet another reflective surface in a room. Also, I love interior photos that have been shot at night-adds a whole different dimension to the room.
ReplyDeleteYes, I could see them in my living room, Blue. I actually think they could work.
And no Nagel prints! That is something best left to that decade.
Casey- I actually don't remember much of that movie. You've got me intrigued as to what the line was :)
ReplyDeleteI didn't like the idea at first, but noe I see pretty good.
ReplyDeleteyvonne
Jennifer, you are so right! Miles actually turned me on to these via the Thom Browne store in Tribeca:
ReplyDeletehttp://lh4.ggpht.com/_F2n5QTNJnNM/Sh75doD7F7I/AAAAAAAABIg/J_aaMC4Wng4/s800/IMG_0134.JPG
Very Mad Men, but I agree they look SUPER chic in a maximal space. Young Zach has white aluminum in his windows:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2010/02/10/garden/20100211-location-slideshow_2.html
I just wish blinds.com carried the more robust American Gigolo/Thom Brown variety.
Nick- Glad I got your approval ;) I really like those in the Thom Browne windows. I agree, though, that a decent aluminum blind is hard to find.
ReplyDeleteI have used metal 2" blinds on two jobs recently when light control and the view were very important. None of the comments seemed to mention a new feature available called Magna View which affords twice the view as traditional blinds. It's really awesome - the views of New York and the Hudson from my client's high rise were maintained but they could still control the glare on the TV.
ReplyDeleteThanks for a great blog.
Mary Fran
Not my design style, however I see your perspective on this topic. It is what makes the world so interesting! Love your blog.
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea! You're so good at scouting design trends!
ReplyDeleteAhh yes...I installed copper metallic blinds in my first apartment. The furnishings included an upholstered parson's leg sofa in off white, a glass topped wrapped rattan cocktail table, a moroccan inspired patterned rug, 2 "leather" tufted wing-back chairs, a "Queen Anne" style desk with an eccentric pagoda backed side chair in black chinoiserie and a beautiful but damaged beyond redemption antique prayer rug on the wall. Oh, and can lights on the floor providing 'up-light' behind the ficus tree! I thought it was all so chic! I clearly remember how the room was transformed with the installation of the copper blinds and what a big deal it was for me since they were custom made and it was a rental and they were expensive to me at the time. It was the very early 80's and I could never go back! I did however enjoy your post...
ReplyDeleteI love venetian blinds - be it wood or aluminum. They let in such a great light. Some of the 'vintage' ones with the ribbon and really thick slats are charming! They conjure up all sorts of images of my grandparents house growing up.
ReplyDeleteHey, I was looking for some blinds for a friend in my country and guess what? I came across with your site it gave me great ideas! thanks you for it!
ReplyDeleteThe line comes at the end of the movie when Gere's says something like "Ill do anything! I'll do kink!".
ReplyDeleteCasey- Yes, that kind of ruins it for me too. :)
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