October 31, 2011
Large sliding doors always present problems for our clients. For one, they are alot square feet which ineveitably translate into multiple dollars. Here in Florida where light and an open air lifestyle is optimal there can be as many as 6 or 8 in a home – and this just piles on the cost for window treatments.
There are several factors to consider, apart from price, before making a decision. What is your tolerance for stack into the window? Do you want the treatment to go up and down or traverse side to side? What is your decor – contemporary, transitional or traditional? What do you want the treatment to do for you in terms of function – light control, privacy, etc. That’s alot to take into consideration before making a decision on the right window treatment for you.
So that being said, here are some ideas – minimal stack, middle price range is the Hunter Douglas Vertiglide. It is available in both their premium Duette line and the price point Applause line. The stack is only 6 1/2 inches! This is one of its main selling points, but in some of the fabrics available it is also very energy efficient.
Last, but not least are vertical blinds. Now don’t say “I hate verticals“. They really do have a place in the decor. They look terrrific in contemporary enviornments and their functionality is hard to beat. They also are the best choice for those with a tighter budget. Good luck on your window treatment hunt for those pesky (and expensive) sliding doors.
August 12, 2010
IIt’s August and the sun is blazing down. That is particularly the case here in Florida – we are in our dog days that for sure.
In our homes we have some intriguing window shapes that are architectural gems that add light to the house and give fabulous views.
These raked windows at the end of a family room are a great example. They overlook the intercoastal – a scenic view – but they also face west. In the summer months the heat is brutal and you cannot see the television for the glare. My clients called and asked what can we do. They requested an operable shade that could be lowered during the winter months. Unfortunately there are no options that do not leave quite a large portion of the shade in the opening. The client did not want this. So I came up with this is the solution – a sheerweave solor shades in a 3% openness factor.
Sheerweaves allow for some view but the 3% prevents 97% of the UV entering the room and the light color sheerweave reflects heat and the glare is non existent. I had the shade custome made to fit the opening and mounted them with tension rods. If the client wanted to remove them in the winter months he could, store them and then put them up again for the summer. What do you think of the final result?
July 16, 2009
Keep the Dog Days of Summer Outdoors with Beautiful New Custom Window Fashions!
August brings with it the long, hot, sultry days of summer, which often stay that way well into evening and nighttime. It can feel like no air is moving at all, inside or out, and that the strong daylight sunshine might just never settle down and be civilized again. Here in Florida, summer feels like it will never end. Where can you go to get away from such oppressive conditions? Indoors, of course!
Your windows provide a perfect place to allow just as much of summer in as you deem fit, keeping out the rest, and saving yourself some money to boot! Beautiful new custom draperies, blinds, shadings, shutters and more will control that hard Florida light, and insulate against the outdoor heat. In doing so, they protect the other valuable furnishings, walls, artwork and fabrics you’ve selected for your home, and help keep the cooler air inside, too. This translates directly into dollars and cents.
 Cool Air In; Hot Air Out… And Vice Versa!
By selecting window fashions made from materials with appropriate thermal qualities, you can actually save money by beautifying your rooms. So many beautiful high-tech window fashion fabrics and other innovative materials now exist that you won’t believe you’re looking at something that will enhance your lifestyle while helping you save energy and adding value to your home! You needn’t go running out to find any of these marvels either… I’ll be happy to drop by and should you the full range of what’s possible whenever it is convenient!
Layering Works in Summer, too!
Just as layers of clothing keep us warmer in winter, layers of window fashions add warmth in winter, and cool in summer by adding even more thermal protection at your windows. By simply adding one of the new woven, see-though solar shadings below your  existing window fashions, you can add up to 95% to 98% UV protection from damaging sunlight without blocking your outdoor views, and keep your rooms cooler at the same time! Conversely, beautiful blinds and shadings work well beneath draperies, valences and cornices to bring privacy and thermal protection to your rooms, year-round.
June 25, 2009
Sunscreen for Your Home... Window Fashions can protect and preserve your beautiful rooms!
Now that high Summer is here, and the bright sunshine is particularly damaging to our funishings and raising our airconditioning bills, it might be a good idea to take a survey of places in your home that could use a good dose of “sunscreen”… rooms and areas that are prone to sun-fading. These places will be the first to show signs of premature aging in your valuable fabrics, rugs, carpeting, walls, and ever artwork, the things that make your house your HOME. And when it comes to sun protection, a little goes a long way. It can keep your rooms cooler, too!
Sunlight’s infrared and ultra-violet rays are the most damaging in the light spectrum, and since most every color contains a component that can be damaged by one or both of them, it’s best to keep control of the amount of sunlight that enters directly into your home. So, just like sunscreen on your skin, the proper use of window fashions can help you keep your home from getting sunburned!
One product that particularly addresses these issues is the solar shade or sheerweave. A sheerweave screen blocks the UV, blocks the heat, and retains some of the view. Contact us for more information on these fabulous window treatments. Follow along on the next blog for all the technical information on this product and why it is the ultimate solution for sun!
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