Exciting Windows! by Marisol

Sliding glass doors can sometimes be a challenge, but with a little creativity you can make them look terrific. There are so many choices in the market available to you that at time I know it can be overwhelming.However, there are two forms of treatments that works perfectly for this situation.

• Horizontal – this is your roman shades, horizontal blinds and shades, basically any treatment that goes up or down to be fully open and allow passage or view.
• Vertical – this is a treatment that moves side by side.You move them to the right, left or center to allow full access to the other room or view.

Which one to use is based on how the door is used, owners’ preference, and room design?Right now let us look at what I call vertical solutions type of window treatments.This is the most practical form of treatment for you sliding doors.Keep in mind that each of this type of window treatments will have options available to you depending on the room that you are using them, i.e. blackout materials or layering or adding top treatments to complete the look.

Most common treatments available are:

• Drapery
• Vertical Sheers
• Shutters
• Panel Tracks
• Vertical Cellular
• Averte
• Vertical Blinds

Draperies or Sheers, $$ – $$$$: This is definitely one of my favorite ways to dress up a sliding door. It is beautiful and appropriate for almost any décor.  This is also an opportunity to bring color and texture into your room. You will not have any other treatment that offers you the largest selection of fabrics and styles; from sheer to upholstery type fabrics, to custom printed, the choices are vast.Draperies are the only option available that is unique to you and your family.You have a choice of any fabric and any hardware – truly the sliders become your canvas! A word of advice. First, make sure your draperies clear the floor enough to be able to slide back and forth on the rod without dragging – usually 1/2″ is enough.That is not to say that I have not done them ½” longer when the design calls for it. Second, consider your stack – the width of fabric that the draperies create when in open position. The stack will vary depending on the fabric, lining and design; however, the rule of thumb is about 30% to 50 % of the width of the drapery. So if you want it to clear, say, the entire door, make sure to start with enough width and have the room on the sides to do it.Although sliding glass doors can be a challenge, they don’t have to be hopeless.

Vertical Sheers $$+- $$$$: There are two types of products available to you that fall into this type of window treatment.Hunter Douglas Luminette and Vertical Wraps from a few other manufacturers.They both have a vertical pane of different materials that works just like your typical vertical blind with the added beauty of a sheer material.The difference between the Luminette and the other manufacturer’s vertical wraps has to do with how they are manufacturer, the mechanism and the fabrics available to you.The Luminette’s are you Bentley or Mercedes, the vertical wraps become you Cadillac.They both have great choices of material as well as an option to have room darkening vanes.It is also a treatment that can be used in almost any décor style.  First picture shows the Luminette from Hunter Douglas and the next picture shows the Vertical Sheers from Levolor.

Shutters $$$ – $$$$: From painted white to custom stained, plantation shutters are a great product to use for sliding doors.By-pass shutters are commonly used to mimic motion of the sliding doors.Most of the time a boxed frame is created that holds the panels.You also have the options of louver sizes up to 5 ½ in some cases, with 3 ½ being the most common use.Where to use them and what color to use depends on the look that you want to achieve.They are a higher end product than most when it comes to dressing you window.

[ Panel Tracks or sliding panels$$-$$$: This is definitely a treatment that is not suitable for all decorating styles.It is more of a modern, contemporary look when you use sunscreen or sheer material or an eclectic look kind of organic/natural when you use woven type material that add that earthy tone to the room.This type of window treatment behaves just like a patio door, the panels are a fixed size and they stack in front of each other.There are two types, Hunter Douglas Skyline which are 11” to 17 “panels attached to the top of the track and to each other on the bottom. It is my favorite mechanism when it comes to this type of treatment.Hunter Douglas has a nice selection of fabrics, but it is limited on their materials. The other treatment is attached to the top with Velcro and the panels can be made of almost any type of material.Panels’ size varies depending on the design and the material used.One word of caution: even the Hunter Douglas will tend to get caught at the bottom is they are open and close to fast.You need to be more conscious of the speed in which you open and close these treatments.

Vertical Cellular Shades$$$-$$$$: This is a great option for just any décor, especially modern.Imagine your basic cellular shade or honeycomb, turn vertically.It goes side by side and they are the only ones that have the smallest stack. There are no cords, chains or wands, just a simple slide mechanism with a magnetic closure.It is a very clean and sleek look that can be use behind decorative side panels, or with a top treatment.This treatment is also great for darkening a room.

Averte$$-$$$: A beautiful treatment for a casual/tropical look.If you like the Tommy Bahamas’ look, you will love this treatment.Made out of woven wood, bamboo or grass the colors of these products are your warm tones.There are a few that are painted, but I usually prefer the natural color of the material.There is no mechanism to open or close, just hold it at the wooden edge and slide it as you wish. B&W Horizons is the manufacturer for this treatment.

Vertical Blinds $-$$$: Yes, those tired looking vinyl are still around.The truth is that vertical blinds are truly very functional and practical and they do the job very well.They serve a purpose and are the most economical way to dress a sliding door.There has been some new material introduced and improvement in the mechanism so the choice is no as boring as it used to be.

As you can see there is a good selection of products available to you to cover a sliding door.Cost to cover a patio door is usually higher that most windows mostly because they tend to be larger in size than a typical window.You have options that cover all budgets from the vertical blinds to the Luminette and vertical cellular.Each of the treatments mentioned also have different options available to you, making it a custom product for your place.Even though sliding doors can be a challenge, they don’t have to be hopeless.

Fashion is limitless when we think outside of the box and don’t equate it to clothing or accessories. Consider high-end fashion windows, a combination of quality, craftsmanship, and exclusivity that makes you feel just as good as your sexiest pair of pumps.

It’s a feeling you get when you walk into a room with long floor to ceiling windows and long flowing drapes that allow you to stay present in that place. It’s the look and feel of the drapes, the length, the color, the fabric, the finish, or the hem. Are they handmade, with a unique finish? Do they make the room feel warmer, more formal, or friendly? The use of fabrics and the creative ways in which you arrange textures, colors, trims, and unique materials allows you to create a theme and incorporate that theme fashionably through your windows. A well-constructed valance, shade, drapery or upholstered piece will emit character. These exquisite pieces of art will complement any room.

In the end, fashion reflects your personal style. Coach verses Gucci, Nine West verses Jimmy Choo, the fashion and the design of the purse or pump is what attracts us the most. If you enjoy high-end fashion, exclusivity, and quality why not consider dressing up your window?

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Exciting Windows by Marisol

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Marisol Hernandez, owner of Exciting Windows! by Marisol, located in Fort Lauderdale, is pleased to announce that she is available to present a free one-hour decorating Trunk Show Seminar for women’s clubs, charity groups, newcomers meetings or community associations.   Marisol, a certified window fashions consultant, will present the program at your meeting location or at private homes throughout the area.  A wine/cheese or coffee/cake reception will be provided.

Marisol Hernandez, is a member of Exciting Windows!, a national network of highly trained professionals who specialize in the design and installation of custom-made draperies, curtains, top treatments, blinds, shades and shutters.

During her/his Trunk Show, Marisol will focus on ways to beautify the home and enhance windows – demonstrating with the newest fabrics, styles, colors, trims, accessories and hardware. She will also show ways to gain privacy, control light, save energy and provide security with window fashions during this informative program.

To schedule a Free Decorating Trunk Show or to get more information, please call Marisol Hernandez at (954) 600-3419 or write to her at marisol@excitingwindows.com. For more information about Marisol Hernandez and Exciting Windows!, visit www.excitingwindows.com/marisol

During the month of September and through November 30th, Marisol Hernandez, owner of Exciting Windows! by Marisol is offering a way for you to recycle your tired window coverings and at the same time save some money.

Here’s How:

• Earn an instant rebate of $10/foot* when you recycle your old window coverings and replace them with new window coverings.
  

• Lower you energy bills by using beautiful & energy-efficient custom shades, blinds, shutters & draperies.
  

• We will recycle your gently used window coverings by donating them to charity.

Call us today to take advantage of our convenient, no charge In-Home Consultation. We can show you how to make your windows both beautiful and energy-efficient.

As an Exciting Windows! consultant, Marisol will come to your home or office for a free, no obligation consultation to show you affordable energy-efficient solutions for windows, as well as provide expertise for furniture upholstery, fabric accessories and bedding. For more information about this window coverings trade-in and instant rebate offer, call Marisol at (954)600-3419 or visit www.excitingwindows.com/marisol

*Maximum of $100/window

Take advanatge this summer of the Hunter Douglas Summer sale.  You get $20 to $100 instant rebate for selected window fashions from Hunter Douglas.  In addition you get another $20 to $100 mail in rebate.  There is no limit on the amount of windows.  What a great opportunity to redo your home with a window treatment of such quality and beauty as the shades and panels from Hunter Douglas.

Visit HunterDouglas.com for detail.  You can also visit me at ExcitingWindows.com for more great ideas.

You can also follow me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/marisolh

For those of you looking into saving on both your energy bill and your 2009 taxes, you can consider the Ecosmart Insulating Shade System which is Certified For Federal Energy Efficiency Tax Credits.  A client of mine just purchase two shades for her house earning her around $285 in tax credit and saving in the years to come on her energy bill.

Summer heat is here in South Florida and this shade is a great way to conserve energy, get a break from Uncle Sam and keep your home cool.

Call me for a free consultation (954) 600-3419 or visit my site www.excitingwindows.com/marisol to schedule and appointment

If you are looking for excellent bedding designs, look no further.  I am now offering bedding, pillows, drapery panels, shams, upholster headboards, and more that is spectacular in appearance all from Eastern Accents.  I actually bought some for my house.  My daughter got the Sakura line, an Asian inspired design.  I also went and visited the Eastern Accents shop in Chicago the last time I was there.  Awesome.  Amazing.  Marvelous.  I had to say to myself, What took me so long to get their line?

You can visit their website www.easternaccents.com to view their line.  I am getting some of the fabrics to upholster a chair and an ottoman for my daughter’s room.  You can see the design I did for her room all based on this bedding, and undoubtedly, she loves it.  I think it is a good transitional design from a little girl to a tween, and it will definitely work when she becomes a young adult.

Visit www.ExcitingWindows.com/DecoratingMakeover to schedule a complementary appointment

If you have a high quality piece of furniture or an antique piece that is in need of upgrading, you can have it re-upholster .  There are so many choices out there to bring that furniture back to live.  For a casual modern look why not go with the micro suede look.  If you are more traditional, but have young kids, there is no need to panic, Sunbrella, an indoor/outdoor fabric offers a great selection of designs and colors.  The is also Crypton, a great materialfor both commercial and residential use, mildew resist.

Also, it is fun playing with fabrics.  You do not need to limit yourself with one , why not use five different fabrics. At Exciting Windows by Decorating Makeover we can even help change the shape of the furniture.  The furniture below from a client in Parkland, FL, we gave the sofa a new look, not only did we change the arms, but we played with five, yes five, different fabrics.  It went from blah to spectacular.  We even custom made an ottoman to go with it.  We use leather a the bottom and one of the fabrics at the top.

What is the latest trend in South Florida?  Window fashions that were energy-efficient or energy-saving tended to be a bit on the, well, “less-than-gorgeous” side.  Now that couldn’t be further from the truth! with new and amazing cellular fabric constructions, technologically-advanced fabric coatings and high “R” rated materials and fabrics hitting the market seemingly every week, what once was a simple drapery, shade, blind or shutter is now a way for your home to join the  South Florida “Green Revolution” .and you can save energy and money, too!

For more information visit www.excitingwindows.com/decoratingmakeover