The art of a window is that it is both useful for living and metaphorical for life.

A consistent complaint that my husband, born and raised in England, has about his homeland is window-gazing. His claim is that the English spend an inordinate amount of time standing at and staring out of windows. If Jane Austen and E. M. Forster have taught us anything about the English character through their heroines, it’s that window-gazing is a sort of national pastime, like baseball.

Strolling through a tiny village in Suffolk last month, I had further evidence. I did witness at least five sets of eyes peeking out of their windows as if to assess the intentions and rhythms of me, a stranger and wanderer.

But what, if anything, is wrong with a healthy dose of window-gazing? We look to windows not just to spy on our surroundings and passersby. We look to and out of them for inspiration, color, insight – an appetizer of the world when the main course is solitude.

In the spirit of our staircases worth pondering, here are ten windows into the souls of beloved thinkers, writers, artists, musicians and more.

“Being a good songwriter means paying attention and sticking your hand out the window to catch the song on the way to someone else’s house!”
- Grammy Award winning singer and songwriter, Nanci Griffith

“A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.”
- Poet, essayist and journalist, Walt Whitman

“A smile is the light in your window that tells others that there is a caring, sharing person inside.”
- Author and motivational lecturer, Denis Waitley

“A window of opportunity for me usually involves a rock.”
- Comedian, Jay London

“An actor entering through the door, you’ve got nothing. But if he enters through the window, you’ve got a situation. ”
- Academy Award winning filmmaker, Billy Wilder

“Art is the window to man’s soul. Without it, he would never be able to see beyond his immediate world; nor could the world see the man within.”
- Former First Lady, Lady Bird Johnson

“I feel that it is healthier to look out at the world through a window than through a mirror. Otherwise, all you see is yourself and whatever is behind you.”
- Singer, Bill Withers

“I look out the window sometimes to seek the color of the shadows and the different greens in the trees, but when I get ready to paint I just close my eyes and imagine a scene.”
- American folk artist, Grandma Moses

“I used to go and flatten my nose against that window and absorb all I could of his art. It changed my life. I saw art then as I wanted to see it. ”
- Painter, Mary Cassatt

“It was morning; through the high window I saw the pure, bright blue of the sky as it hovered cheerfully over the long roofs of the neighboring houses. It too seemed full of joy, as if it had special plans, and had put on its finest clothes for the occasion. ”
- Poet and novelist, Herman Hesse

Images: Un mélange de choses; Extra Fingered.; schramcrackers;Sabrina E; marcus p; Catie Wandell; Joanna Pallaris; I’m Doing Cartwheels; Fumihiro Toda; musings

The evolution of windows toward sustainability.

It’s something you probably don’t think about very often – windows. They tell us a lot about a building, from its age and style to how energy efficient it is. An average home may lose 30% of its heat or air-conditioning energy through its windows, which is inexcusable considering how technology has improved since the first windows.

It wasn’t until the late 17th century that glass windows became common in homes. They were strategically placed and sized depending on geography and the sun (south-facing windows let in more light) to keep the home a comfortable temperature year round. Windows were small because glass was expensive and small meant less chance for heat to escape.

The current technology can be overwhelming and there are entire courses offered on the intricacies of the energy-efficient window. But suffice it to say that preventing air leakage, reducing condensation and increasing insulation are part of the package. Glass is stronger and thicker allowing for the use of larger slabs – entire walls can be windows. The Farnsworth House is a prime example.

Over time, windows have evolved from a mere hole in the wall to crucial components of a building’s energy efficiency rating. Here are a few of the ways that windows have changed for the better:

1. Stronger glass allows for larger windows. More natural sunlight helps regulate a building’s temperature, as in the new Virgin America’s new eco-luxe terminal at SFO.

2. Sealed window frames prevent condensation and air leakage.

3. Non-toxic gases (i.e. argon) used as filler between pieces of glass prevent loss of hot or cold air.

4. Double or triple glaze windows (storm windows) drastically improve insulation and temperature regulation.

5. Low-e glass coatings let in just the right amount of sun – because in warm climates we want the sunlight but not the heat, while in colder areas we welcome the sun’s heat and want to capture and keep it.

All of these factors improve the energy efficiency of our buildings and add credits toward LEED certification. And you thought windows were just for pretty views.

Image: dorena wm

As the long days of summer filter light through your windows, take the opportunity to amplify the golden rays through your space with a well placed mirror (or two, or three). Hang a mirror directly opposite a window to reflect sunlight through the room, resulting in a lighter, brighter, larger space – and who doesn’t long for a lighter, brighter, larger space? Pro tip: Match the size of your mirror to the size of your window.

Here are some mirrors from VivaTerra to gracefully bounce light through your dwelling. (Every once in awhile I find a resource that makes my heart swell with love and my knees weak from pure aesthetic overload. VivaTerra does this to me.)

The Talisman Mirror Collection ($598) boasts antiqued mirrors nestled into mango wood frames while the Classic Floor Mirror($925) is big enough to bring in lots of light.

Editor’s note: This is Leigha’s first post on EcoSalon. Be sure to give her a warm welcome and say hello!

They say it’s a buyer’s market and agents love listing those dwellings with solar panels, efficient water heaters and appliances, good insulation and nontoxic flooring and finishes.

Here are a few easy green fixes for your property to reduce your own footprint in coming winter months while hoping to land an offer you can’t refuse.

1. Upgrade to Energy Star Appliances

The Energy Star Symbol on products such as the GE Profile Frontload Washer with Steam, is an important statement reflecting high environmental standards. Even if  you have to put out some cash on new appliances, you are letting prospective buyers know your fridge, washer and dryer are not energy hogs. If you own an Energy Star refrigerator, Smart Homeowner recommends you clean the coils to increase efficiency.

2. Repaint with Nontoxic Paint

There is nothing cheaper and more effective than repainting your walls as a design selling point and you’ll get kudos for disclosing you applied low- or non-VOC paint to your rooms, since we now know that lead-based enamel products emit harmful fumes.

3. Consider New Windows

While new energy-efficient windows can run several thousand dollars, the heat that escapes through poorly designed single-paned old ones accounts for as much as 25 percent of your heating bills. It can be worth replacing single paned models in the long run as they do increase property value and are good selling point for noise reduction, as well. Adding screens also is a good way to reduce air conditioning use in the summer and window covers help insulate in the winter.

4. Insulate Pipes and Water Heater

According to the Home Know it All, the process of insulating is easy by just buying a good insulation ($2 to $4 per strip), duct tape and a utility knife. Cut to fit the length and diameter of your pipes and secure every foot or so with the tape. Wrapping the exposed hot water pipes will reduce waste by increasing the temperature of hot water out of your faucets by as much as 4 degrees. Older models might require adding an insulation blanket (check the manual to see if advisable). Gas water heaters should be professionally insulated by a heating contractor.

5. Change the Lights

Talk about a quick and easy fix, something you should have already done by now but might have neglected. The Department of Energy figures green bulbs (CFLs) can reduce lighting energy costs by as much as 75 percent. Lighting adds up to 11 percent of your house’s energy budget, so the wearing of the green bulbs is a major statement about the efficiency of your property.

Sure, there are many other fixes such as adding those solar panels, replacing chemical treated carpets with sustainable bamboo hardwood and installing programmable thermostats and eco ceiling fans. Just remember, all these investments pay off in the end, even after you have moved on to a new place of your own.

Images: Cursed Thing, General Electric, New York Times

Know how to make your own milk paint? Well, you can refresh more than just your walls with this non-toxic blend. Instead of investing in that pricey new mirror you’ve been lusting after or those silk curtains you’ve been craving, be a little more creative and save some money with this fun and inexpensive green project.

Pull out that contact paper leftover from lining your drawers and put it to use.

Measure the mirror or window you plan to decorate and cut the contact paper accordingly.

Now, take a look around your home. What types of motifs dominate your décor theme? Flowers, birds, geometric shapes? Access the artist within and draw your favorite designs and patterns with a marker on the contact paper. If you’re like me and can barely sketch a stick figure, trace the outlines of images from coffee table books or old magazines.

Using an Exacto blade, cut out these images and mount the contact paper firmly onto the surface of your mirror or window.

Mix up several shades of milk paint to match the color scheme of the room.

Using the contact paper as a stencil, paint away. You can even use a small foam roller for a smooth look. When you’re finished, slowly peel away the contact paper and voila! Your windows and mirrors are now unique artistic elements of your living space.

If you redecorate or simply tire of these patterns, just carefully scrape away the paint, wipe down the surface with a mixture of white vinegar and water and start fresh.

Image: craftzine

Recycled polyester Roman shade in Eternal Sapphire

They’re rolling out friendlier fabrics for Roman shades, letting us cover our windows with panels woven of chemical-free substances that don’t give off toxic gases while we snooze. You get the same sophisticated coverage to block out the light and gain privacy when disrobing or sleeping – all the while avoiding those dreaded textile enzymes, harsh dyes and flame retardants. I can live with that!

Smith+Noble, one of the most popular window treatment catalog lines in the U.S., is leading the trend with a new line of eco-friendly selections, such as their Eternal line (recycled polyester) in earthbound shades of sand, spice, sunshine, leaf and mist, an organic cotton grouping of solids, plus a variety of pretty 100% hemps and bamboos.

“We introduced the fabrics last year with a focus on going green and there has been a great response ,” I was told by Janine, one of the agents at the catalog. “We have customers calling looking for that type of product. The natural lines are comparable to our other fabrics in quality and come in a range of colors and prices.”

I’m a huge fan of the Roman shades because they are the most tailored treatments, and can be layered with natural fabric curtains for more depth and insulation. Smith+Noble will come and measure your windows for a small fee which can be applied to your order. This is also helpful because measuring windows can be tricky, especially if you are unsure about which mount will work (inside or outside of the frame).

While this company produces the most upscale shade of pure fibers (made to fit and made well), you can find more relaxed, premade options at a few other sites, including Earth Runnings and Rawganique.