Design tips and ideas for Draperies, Shutters, Blinds and Shades

The timeless beauty of Silhouette Sheers from Hunter Douglas adds a level of sophistication to any room. The sheer layers soften the light while affording a view; a simple tug on the cord provides full privacy.

http://www.excitingwindows.net/content/soft_shades/softshades.php

Soften the Light with Silhouette

Mahogany Shutters from Kirtz by Exciting Windows!

There is no comparison to the true beauty of mahogany. The color can be matched in other woods, but the grain of mahogany is truly uniqe. http://excitingwindows.net/content/shutters/shutters_long.php

The qualit of light that shines through the sheer fabric of Hunter Douglas’s Luminette privacy sheers is amazing. There is no product quite like this gorgeous treatment. When more light control or privacy is needed, a simple twist of the wand closes the vertical louvers attached to the sheers.

Call today to see how this beautiful product will work in your home. http://www.excitingwindows.net/content/soft_shades/softshades.php

Shape the light with Luminette Sheers

Wood plantation shutters are some of the easiest window treatments to care for. A simple feather duster or brush attachment on your vaccum is all of the maintenance you will generally need.

If the louvers seem a little loose or droop when you tilt them open, you can easily adjust the tension. Just swing the shutter open, and you will see a small hole near the center of the panel. There is a screw inside of that hole that goes into the louver. Hold onto that louver and fit a screwdriver into the hole. Generally just a small twist is all you will need to set the tension perfectly. You can learn more about maintaining your shutters at http://excitingwindows.net/content/shutters/shutter_care.php

Easily adjust the tension on any wood shutter

More and more, Architects, Builders, Zdesigners and Homeowners are asking about automating window treatments. As the technology has improved, and prices have stabilized; the option to motorize all kinds of window treatments has become more attractive.

Ideally planning will begin during the construction phase. Consult a window treatment specialist who is experienced and trained in automation. Your consultant will work with your builder or electrician to determine the placement of wires and the types of wires needed. Proper planning and executuin at this point is essential to assure the proper outcome, and to minimize cost.

Learn more about motorizing your window treatments at our site.

Stay warm this winter with Hunter Douglas Duette Architella shades! the R-value of more than 6.5 is hard to beat. The attractive new fabrics look similar to regular honeycomb shades, but have a second cell within the main cell. www.excitingwindows.net

Whether you live in the cold Northern areas of the country or the sun drenched South, window treatments are an important part of maintaining an eco-friendly home. In addition to the great potential to add beauty to any room, properly chosen window treatments should help in maintaining the desired temperature in a home.

Be sure that the treatment you choose will function as needed for your climate. Completely covering a window in colder areas may seem the best way, but be sure to take advantage of passive solar heat during the day. We suggest you choose lined draperies or roman shades for a traditional look, or in combination with newer offerings like Duette honeycomb shades. The newest version called Architella offers the highest insulation value available.

Solid wood plantation shutters are excellent insulators and allow the flexibility of allowing the solar rays into the home during the day, and closing out the cold when needed.

Learn more at www.excitingwindows.net

Probably the ultimate ‘Green’ window coverings are grass cloth, or woven wood shades. These shades have been around for literally thousands of years. They are produced from readily available grasses, reeds and bamboo. All of these materials are quickly renewed in the natural growing process and need little to no fossil fuels to produce.

Some materials are painted, dyed or stained, so watch for products in their natural state. These shades can be lined with a natural canvas or linen lining to provide more light control. Some major producers of eco-friendly grass cloth shades include Conrad Shades, Castec and Hunter Douglas.

Learn more.

As we discuss eco-friendly window treatments, a category that comes immediately to mind are plantation shutters made from wood. The wood species that are used most commonly for shutters are poplar and basswood. Both of these woods grow fairly quickly in farmed environments, and qualify as eco-friendly by most definitions. The question then becomes whether the manufacturing and finishing process remain ‘green’. Other hardwoods are also used for plantation shutters such as maple, cherry, mahogany and walnut. These slow growth woods are harvested from managed forests that actually promote new growth, and therefore are eco-friendly.

Does the manufacturer operate in an eco-friendly fashion; are scraps minimized and utilized properly? Is transportation minimized? Are the finished used water based and or low VOC’s?

Finally the product itself is very eco-friendly and remains so indefinitely. Shutters are a wonderful insulator for the home, reducing heating and cooling costs. The louvers can direct the sunlight into or out of the home to allow the sun to passively heat the home, or direct the sun’s rays back out of the home to maintain a cool home.

Learn more at our very detailed shutter information page.

As we discussed yesterday, the problem with finding eco-friendly window treatments is to understand the definition.

A whole host of products have been certified ‘Green Guard” by the Green Guard Environmental Institute. This group certifies that products are safe for indoor use and/or safe for children and schools. The primary concern of this group is indoor air pollution. In the window treatment industry, this is generally referred to as ‘off-gassing’, meaning the product will emit a gas or odor for a short period of time after installation. This is generally a factor with products made from vaious plastics or vinyls, or with painted products.

While certifying that these products are safe is quite important, this certification does not fit most definitions of ‘Green’, ‘Sustainable’ or ‘Eco-Friendly’. There is not a current organization that provides a clear certification for products in the home furnishings industry. this leaves the consumer, retailer and designer to do the research.