Having created the illusion of an expansive corner window using smoke-and-mirrors in our Harlem space (below), we LOVE seeing other riffs on the theme of optical illusion windows. Granit Chartered Architects devised a brilliant faux bay window by building bookshelves on either side of an ordinary window, then buildt a window seat between them. They installed mirrors on the two vertical sides of the bookshelves and finished the whole thing with molding to look built-in Brilliant! This kind of…

A faux window in one of our basements

It's amazing what a little carpentry can accomplish. I am certainly not implying custom built-ins to be a DIY project, but more a quick update to a tired space without a full blown and costly renovation. Custom built-ins provide a stylish solution for display and storage needs without adding visual bulk to the room, not to mention demolition dust. So next time you feel your room closing in on you, don't blame your walls - look to them for inspiration, the results can be dramatic. BEFORE…

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Bay windows have some advantages and disadvantages, and you should look at them before you decide to get one or not.