Motorized window shades can control light streaming through large windows

Homeowner Pamela Porter learned a few things about renovations when she and her husband Lee moved into a 1923 craftsman-style bungalow in Des Moines, Iowa.


The couple wanted to retain the historical integrity of the house, but lighten up the look of the bungalow, a style that traditionally features dark wood trim and built-in shelving.


"We used oak trim, added to the original oak floors and introduced white by way of painted pillars, a hutch in the kitchen and a splash of subway tile on the kitchen walls and island," she told Country Home magazine.
 

To maximize their view of a nearby park, they built a new family room addition with an exterior wall of large windows. A new gas fireplace was given an older look with a reclaimed barn beam for the mantel and redstone used for the hearth, the magazine reported.


Adding a second-story dormer also gave the homeowners a chance to bring more light into a master bedroom suite.


With large windows or skylights, motorized shades or blinds allow the homeowner to open or close the window treatments with the push of a button. They can be controlled by a hand-held remote control or through wall electrical switches.