Current Promotion!

Are Window Treatments Really Important?

Nothing can add to the beauty and value of your home like quality window treatments! Whether you are building a new home or renovating your existing one, you need the guidance only a well trained window treatment specialist can offer. Here's why...

Choosing the right treatments for your home goes beyond just what looks good in a particular room. Also to be considered is function, convenience and comfort. Is the room in need of privacy? How about light control? Or is there a need for both?

Here is checklist to help...

Are you:

• in the process of building a new home and will soon need window treatments for privacy and light control?

• considering an update to your current window treatments in order to refresh the interior of your home?

• interested in new & innovative window treatments that will add to the value of your home?

• searching for ways to cut your energy costs each month?

• looking to remotely operate a window treatment or group of window treatments with IR or RF motorization?

• in need of window treatments that are child and pet safe?

• a consumer that buys only when there is a great product warranty and customer service after the sale?

Do You Have Energy Holes?

The answer is a resounding YES! Unfortunately, we all do. We commonly refer to these "holes" as windows! Today's double-pane windows are much better at preventing unwanted air flow than windows used to be. However, even when closed, they still offer very little resistance to the flow of heat, allowing 10 to 15 times more heat energy to flow through them. And did you realize that while the walls of an average (newer) home typically has an R-value of 19, standard double-pane windows only have an R-value of about 2?!? So, despite the fact that windows make up only about 10% of an average home, up to 50% of the heating and cooling energy pours through them. That amounts to half of what you pay out each month in utility bills!

What can you do about it? One very important step you can take is choosing window treatments that will double as window 'insulators', taking advantage of natural lighting, while preventing heat loss in the cold months and cool air loss in warmer months. (See DWELL magazine article "At Home In The Zone") Honeycomb shades are at the forefront of this money-saving measure. With their innovative "pocket" design, you can add several points of R-value to your windows! Now, R-value may not mean a lot to you... but I bet the extra money in your wallet each month as a result certainly will!

November 2009 issue of DWELL!

Check out the latest issue of DWELL magazine! Interior VUES made it into the "Letters" section on page 24. I wrote in after the Swimme and Son seminar to let them know how much I enjoy the magazine and how I was able to incorporate their feature "At Home in the Zone" (May 2009) in my presentation on Green Design around the home.

Are Your Window Treatments Safe?

Prompted by an upcoming article in Consumer Reports, I decided, with this entry, to touch on a subject that should be receiving a lot more attention..

An unbelievable number of blinds and shades have been recalled in recent months... 5.5 million, in fact, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. These treatments were sold by retailers such as Ikea, Pottery Barn and Target and all pretty much had the same flaw in common... the CORDS! It seems the most guilty products were the roll-up blind and roller shade simply because of the way in which they are made and operate. And then throw in installation negligence by the consumer (as in failing to install cleats, etc.) and you have a real problem.

When you read some of the examples they cite of parents walking in to find their toddler dangling in his crib from a cord loop, the issue suddenly becomes very real and you realize how easily it could happen. It is estimated that about one child per months dies after becoming entangled in the cords of window blinds.

The aforementioned instance and a score of other tragic stories have prompted a massive recall and a public notice issued by the CPSC that consumers should examine all roman shades and roll-up blinds in their homes.

Consumer Reports quotes the CPSC as saying, "If they find looped pull cords, exposed inner cords, or exposed lifting loops and children live in or visit the home, they should consider replacing the blinds or shades with products that do not have exposed cords or inner cords".

What are the alternatives, then?

Many window treatment fabricators offer retractable cords (Hunter Douglas has UltraGlide that features a cord that always returns to the same short length and is available on most of it's shading treatments, including Silhouette and Pirouette), cordless and even motorized operating systems that are both child and pet safe. These upgradable options are well worth the extra money you spend... not only because of the peace of mind they give but also for their convenience of use. And even if you choose not to upgrade, the standard cord-loop operation on many of these products come ready to be fastened securely to the window, so that there is no way a child or pet could get caught or wrapped up in the cord.

Please contact Interior VUES if you would like more information about any of these products and options. As always, we offer free consultations, estimates and measuring!

Product Spotlight: Vertical Panel Tracks

Once upon a time, the only option for covering large windows and sliding doors, was the vertical blind. These blinds were typically made of vinyl and could be purchased quite inexpensively through your local DIY store. They provided needed privacy and light control and were easy on the pocketbook, but proved to be very irritating to operate and maintain over a period of time. Not to mention the fact they weren't very attractive to look at.

Although the vertical blind has come a long way in recent years and now offers a vast range of very cool finishes and options, it seems that the stigma attached to them for the aforementioned reasons remains and consumers have sought other alternatives for addressing their window and door covering needs.

Enter Panel Track...

Panel Track treatments infuse a modern, sophisticated breath of fresh air to the world of verticals! They are not only stylish but very functional and easy to use and maintain. Best of all, most lines carried by window covering fabricators such as Graber and Hunter Douglas coordinate with other products such as roller and solar shades and come in a wide array of fabrics, including natural, woven woods. Graber even coordinates products in the same room using reverse color fabrics. As shown in the picture to the left, their Lightweaves roller shades used at the windows in fabric: Spa, color: Dew are complimeted by a cassette valance in the reverse color: Showers and is also used at the sliding door in their Panel Accents panel track system. Featured also in the picture is a nice option for panel track... the Regal Wood Cornice, which is available in two sizes and in both stained and painted finishes.

Panel Accents feature a sleek aluminum track system with panels that glide easily into place, and a patent-pending attachment design that reduces the light gap between panels. They can be mounted as shown in the picture or on a ceiling to make the perfect room divider or closet door alternative. To personalize the look even further, you can also match different style fabrics and colors on one track!

The possibilities seem endless with this very versatile, beautiful treatment!

For more information on Graber's Panel Accents, please visit GraberBlinds.com.
And to learn more about Hunter Douglas Skyline, please visit HunterDouglas.com.