FURNISHINGS : Blinds Made 18-Century Venetians See the Light

Early Venetian blinds, believed to have arrived in late 18th-Century Venice, were made of 2-inch slats of wood or rattan. They were an instant hit, helping housekeepers cope with the Italian city’s mildew and salt air by letting in ventilation and sunlight without sacrificing privacy.

In the 1920s, according to Better Homes and Gardens Window and Wall Ideas magazine, Americans fell in love with Venetian blinds (then made of wood or aluminum), because they not only provided a low-cost alternative to custom-made draperies but also possessed light-control capabilities.

By the 1930s, the Lorentzen Hardware Co. in New York City, a manufacturer and supplier of parts for Venetian blinds, developed an O-shape gear that coupled the two sides of the blinds, making adjustment of the slats a one-cord procedure. The device was called the Lev or Levolor.

In the 1950s, when this 2-inch blind had become passe, manufacturers revived consumer interest with a new 1-inch slat. This style particularly appealed to architects, who found it in tune with the slick fenestration of office towers.

Like their Venetian ancestors, horizontal blinds--now offered in mini (1-inch) and micro (1/2-inch) permutations, remain one of the most effective window treatments ever.