Exciting Windows! by Craig & Darlene Rhodes

A Cherry Hill resident contacted me recently; seems she received one of my flyers the week previously. She was interested in replacing a vertical blind in her family room. Her budget was $500. I asked her a few questions about colors, materials, and if there were any upcoming events that installation might affect. It seems that Thanksgiving is a big event at her house. I set up an appointment for the next Wednesday. I got all my vertical blinds sample books and began researching the topic. I figured to stay within her budget, I’d have to steer her toward vinyl panels.

I brought my Somner and Vertical Solutions sample cases because they had some blinds within her budget. I met Jeanette and her husband, Bart. We looked around her house and then began to talk. We seemed to hit it off (we’re dog lovers)! I used the Somner sample book because it had such good documentation regarding the gamut of vertical blinds. I pointed out the sample pages that were within her price point, but when she started to page through all the available samples, she selected on that was more that what she expected. However, it looked so good in her family room that she placed an order, right then!

I had an urgent call from a homeowner in Voorhees. He was looking for a drapery that would cover the entire wall in a two story family room. The wall in question consisted of an expanse of windows with a southern exposure. The windows were rectangular in shape, each row of windows was topped by a quarter circle pane.  Each individual window was framed in a decorative , wooden trim. When I pointed this out to the customer, he agreed, but indicated that in the day the drapery would be open. The drapery he requested would be about the size of one in a movie theatre! I brought up the subject of sun shades or blinds but he is set on a drapery. I told him I’d check on a price.

While delivering flyers in my target neighborhood (Sturbridge Forest in Voorhees, NJ) I noticed that a house, under construction for 6 weeks (at least) was completed. When I went to drop off a flyer, I ran into the owner! He was interested and requested an appointment! He has a very nice house on a cul-de-sac. The floors are all hardwood, the walls are all painted white and there are no treatments! He and his wife, Jackie, are interested in blinds at this time. The challenge will be in finding the right combination of product and price.

Exciting Windows! by Craig & Darlene proudly offers 25% off any custom fabric window treatments!

To all our friends in S. Jersey (Cherry Hill, Haddonfield, Marlton, Medford, Mt. Laurel, Voorhees, etc.) : Select any treatment, add options, upgrades, coordinating soft shades, top treatments and bed coverings and we’ll participate with a 25% discount on the entire order. (Offer expires July 19th)

My window fashions clients in Haddonfield, Voorhees and Cherry Hill are excited about the $10,000 makeover sweepstakes hosted by Darlene and I and the national organization! The winner of the sweepstakes will get a consultation with Michael Payne, an HGTV Design Consultant. Together we’ll put together a room (or two!) with window treatments from major manufacturers such as Hunter Douglas, Lafayette and Kirsch. Last year’s winner had window makeovers in two rooms. She had beautiful draperies, top treatments and blinds installed by her Exciting Windows! consultants. Can you see new shutters, swags and jabots or draperies in your future? Enroll today!

Darlene and I recently attended a Drapery products class in Williamsburg, VA. It was a full day where we discussed the various aspects of window coverings. We 1st discusssed the qualities of custom draperies. These include: lining (all drapery fabrics except sheers get lining); fullness (2 and a half to 1 fullness is our standard, sheers get 3 to 1); double fold edge hem, and more. We were showed the differnt types of pleat types for draperies, as well as the types of rods needed for several applications. This took up most of the morning. After lunch we covered soft window treatments; roman shades and balloon shades, as well as touching upon top treatments. Finally the spring collection of fabrics were shown to us.

This seminar increased our knowledge of our products and gave us some installation tips. It makes us better (and more confident) at our profession. Our customers in Haddonfield, Voorhees, Marlton, Maple Shade, Cherry Hill and Mt. Laurel can be assured that our service will be spectacular!

Polyesters are made from unlikely products – petroleum, coal, air and water. But they are pretenders frequently used by decorators. Polyester fiber is made into many different fabric types. It has a high degree of resilience and elasticity allowing fabrics to hold their shape and resist wrinkling. Polyester is frequently added to natural fabrics. When added to wool or cotton, polyester adds washability and greater resistance to spots and stains. It also helps cotton resist rotting and spotting. It adds wearability, allowing heat-set creases (permanent press). It is a strong fiber, durable on its own and adds durability to any blended fabric.

Polyester resists fading and deterioration from sunlight. It holds its shape and has good strength. Its limitations include susceptibility to abrasion, a tendency to hold oil-borne stains and piling.

Our next topic will be Acrylics …

Nylon hit the world with a splash in 1939 when its inventor (DuPont) used it for women’s hosiery. Until then, women’s stockings were made only from silk; they were extremely expensive and because of Asian unrest, the needed silk became almost impossible to obtain. Nylon has lived up to its advertising slogan as the miracle fabric. Shortly after being introduced as hosiery, it went to war in the form of parachutes.

Nylon threads are made by spinning and stretching yarns from a syrup of chemicals. When color is added to the chemicals while still liquid, the fabric is usually color fast. Next to fiberglass, which is rarely used in fabrics anymore, nylon is the strongest of all textile fibers, with the highest abrasion resistance, This makes nylon desirable for carpeting and upholstery.

However, nylon has low resistance to sunlight and heat. It will lose strength and deteriorate over time. It also conducts static electricity and has a harsh hand. Nylon’s use in ddrapery fabrics is limited.

Our next post will mention polyester…

Rayons, acetates and triacetates are man-made fibers produced from cellulose such as cotton linters or wood chips, to which various chemical solvents are added. When a French scientist reproduced the chemical actions of a silkworm feeding on mulberry leaves and spinning a cocoon, he came up with a sort of artificial silk. This new fiber, produced from wood pulp, was called rayon. Because rayon is made from plant material, it is sometimes called a man-made natural fiber. Rayon dyes better than other synthetics, withstands strong sunlight better than silk and produces a durable, economical fabric. However, it does not wash well and wrinkles easily.

Acetates are truly synthetic fabrics, since they contain synthetic protein (cellulose). Acetates are available in a wide range of colors and a variety of weaves. One step in the process of producing acetate includes dissolving particles in acetone. This same substance is found in nail polish removers, perfumes, air fresheners and bug sprays. Therefore, any of these acetone-based products can make holes in the fabric by dissolving it. Acetates normally have a high luster and are frequently used alone or combined with other substances, to create satin, taffeta, and other silk-like fabrics. That they cannot be cleaned well is a major drawback of acetates, but they do not rot and do hold colors well.

Triacetates are related to acetates but include more synthetic cellulose to give them extra body. In addition, because less acetone is used, triacetates can withstand greater amounts of heat, which means that they can be treated for permanent press. Triacetates fall in beautiful gathers and can be cleaned or washed without particular effort or concern.

Our next post will be about Nylon…

What looks and acts like natural fiber but isn’t the real thing? Synthetic fiber. Man-made fibers attempt to duplicate the advantages – and eliminate the disadvantages – of natural fibers. To a great extent, they have succeeded. The color brilliance of silk and the beautiful wearabilityof wool and linen are not exactly equaled by synthetics, but their versatility and lower prices make them very popular – even in the most expensive interiors. Frequently, synthetics are mixed with natural fibers to derive the qualities from both.

More on these fibers, tomorrow…