March 23, 2009
We continue to work hard to find eco-friendly window treatment options for our clients. We have a very large selection of natural woven wood and grass cloth shades. And we have been adding drapery fabrics, blinds, shades and shutters that meet various definitions of being green.
When you decide that you want to choose ‘green’ products, you need to decide in what way will the product be green. You can choose a totally natural product with no manmade parts or pieces, but if it needs to travel halfway around the world to get to you; is it eco-friendly? Being green is not easy, it takes time and an understanding of the products offered and how you will use the products. We can help you choose just the right window treatment design for your natural home.
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March 15, 2009
We are always working on our website, trying to improve the look and feel of the site to improve your experience while visiting us. We hope that you will enjy these changes and the changes that will be coming on line in the next few weeks. We have loads of new articles coming on line to help you research your project. You will find loads of new information on draperies and soft treatments, plantation shutters as well as blinds and shades. We will be adding new areas covering drapery hardware, woven wood/grass cloth shades, and most exciting of all our new eco-friendly area. Check back soon to see all of the changes. Link
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March 4, 2009
 Enjoy the beauty of natural grass cloth shades. These shades are woven from eco-friendly sustainable materials. See our full selection.
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February 4, 2009
 The beauty of natural fibers adds interest at the window with this beautiful shade from Conrad
This beautiful hand woven shade is perfect for the natural setting and rustic interior of this Lakes region home. Eco-Friendly window treatment options are increasing all the time. Call today to learn how you can beautify your home while protecting the environment. Link
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December 20, 2008
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
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December 18, 2008
 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.
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December 17, 2008
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.
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December 16, 2008
Our first product for Green consideration is Drapery fabrics. These fabrics can be used for traditional draperies, but can also be used for valences and top treatments as well as shadings and even some upholstery and bedding.
Natural fibers are the obvious choice when looking for ‘green’. But the content is not the only thing to consider. How is the product dyed? does it have any other chemical additives like fire retardents? How is waste handled at the mill? Is the mill operated in an energy concious way? And finally, how far does the material need to be shipped?
We have a number of natural fiber materials that are dyed with plant based dyes and woven in state of the art Mills. Some of the lines of fabric that we carry that have made strides in this area include; Robert Allen, Kravet, Kasmir, Thibault and Tapestria. Link
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December 15, 2008
We are often asked about ‘Green’ products by our clients when we are designing window treatments. the problem is; how do you define green? Many materials that are totally natural will not stand up to sun rot, or the wear and tear of daily use at the window.
But, manufacturers are slowly hearing the call of the client and are developing a number of products that fill this much needed niche in the industry. Over the next few days we will discuss some of these trends and the options currently available. Link
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November 28, 2008
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UPDATE:
Greenguard® Certified
Window Coverings
Custom Shutter Collection Now Certified |
Environmental Awareness
Consumers are increasingly aware of environmental issues regarding products that they use. It is increasingly necessary to have options available for customers who are seeking products that are not harmful to the surrounding environment.
A number of Hunter Douglas products have recently been certified as safe for Children and Schools and for indoor air quality by the Greenguard Environmental Institute.
All of our products from the Hunter Douglas Custom Shutter Collection have recently been certified by the Greenguard Institute.
Other Hunter Douglas products that have been Greenguard certified are: |
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Pirouette® Window Shadings |
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Vignette® Modern Roman Shades |
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Silhouette® Window Shadings |
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NantucketTM Window Shadings |
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Duette® Honeycomb Shades
including Duette Architella |
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Applause® Honeycomb Shades |
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Alouette® Light Louvers |
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Luminette® Privacy Sheers |
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Park LaneTM Privacy Sheers |
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Heritance® Hardwood Shutters
Heritance Environmental Impact Study (PDF) |
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SummerwindTM Polysatin Shutters
Certified as Eclipse Shutters
Summerwind Environmental Impact Study (PDF) |
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NewStyle® Hybrid Shutters
NewStyle Environmental Impact Study (PDF) |
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Bridgeway Specialty Shapes
Bridgeway Environmental Impact Study (PDF) |
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Country Woods®
Wood Blinds |
Wood is a renewable resource. Forests can be managed to constantly replenish and promote renewed growth. Hardwood trees, such as Basswood, Oak and Cherry, will automatically sprout new seedlings when the tree is cut down. The unwanted seedlings are then trimmed in order to provide plenty of room for the chosen seedlings to grow. This provides endless life to the forest. |
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Chalet Woods®
Wood Blinds |
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EverWood®
Alternative Wood Blinds |
The alternative wood material used in the EverWood Collection is exclusively formulated and PVC-free.
Only high-grade materials are used in our extrusions. This material is the same grade and quality as materials used in food packaging, Petri dishes and test tubes.
The EverWood® Collection materials are proudly
extruded in North America for Hunter Douglas and are not shipped from Asia in mass container loads.
All scrap incurred in the extrusion process is recaptured and reprocessed with all the water used being recycled. |
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WoodMates®
Alternative Wood Blinds |
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Modern Precious Metals |
Hunter Douglas aluminum blind slats are made with up to 95% recycled aluminum content. |
About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute
The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) is an industry-independent, non-profit organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Program. As an ANSI Authorized Standards Developer, GEI establishes acceptable indoor air standards for indoor products, environments, and buildings. GEI’s mission is to improve public health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. A GEI Advisory Board consisting of independent volunteers, who are renowned experts in the areas of indoor air quality, public and environmental health, building design and construction, and public policy, provides guidance and leadership to GEI.
History of GREENGUARD
GEI was founded in June of 2001 to establish a true third-party product certification program based on proven emissions standards and to provide specifying and procurement professionals with a resource for low-emitting products.
About the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification Program for Low-Emitting Products
The GREENGUARD Certification Program is an industry-independent, third-party testing program for low-emitting products and materials. The first GREENGUARD Certification was awarded in the fall of 2002. In 2005 the Greenguard Environmental Institute announced the GREENGUARD Children & Schools standard, which evaluates the sensitive nature of school populations combined with the unique building characteristics found in schools, and presents the most rigorous product emissions criteria to date. To date, more than 100 manufacturers across various industries offer GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified® Products.
More Information:
Go to the Greenguard Environmental Institute web site to learn more about certification and for a list of other certified products. |
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Towns We Frequently Service
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire | Massachusets | Maine |
| Alton, NH | NH Lakes region | Andover, MA | Kennebunkport, ME |
| Dover, NH | Portsmouth, NH | Boston, MA | Kittery, ME |
| Durham, NH | Rye, NH | Cambridge, MA | Ogunquit, ME |
| Exeter, NH | Seacoast, NH | Ipswich, MA | Portland, ME |
| Hamptom, NH | Stratham, NH | Newburyport, MA | Wells, ME |
| Manchester, NH | Wolfeboro, NH | North Shore, MA | |
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