Welcome to Exciting Windows!

I held a large sample panel in white in the window, and asked the clients to step outside and take a look; they were horrified! Installing any shade or shutter that showed white to the exterior would ruin the affect they worked so hard to create in building this home. So we began to look at the window treatments as not just a functional necessity, but an addition to the overall appearance of the home that needed to work in harmony with the rest of the construction materials.

Shutters were still desired for their inherent beauty and function. We reviewed the readily available materials, but decided that any other wood grain would contrast too much with the grain of the Fir. The answer was to match not just the color of the surrounding trim and moldings, but to match the wood as well.

The result was astounding. It appeared that the shutters were made in the same mill as the moldings, and had been installed by the same finish carpenter.

When selecting all window treatments, but especially plantation shutters, be sure to think out of the box. Consider the appearance from within and from outside. Make sure you are working with a designer or shutter specialist that truly knows the product and is able to offer more than just the usual fare. To our knowledge this was the first time Fir was used as a shutter material for a home in New England. After seeing the beauty of this home, I am sure it will not be the last.

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The Right Window Treatments
Truly ARE Key To Successful Room Design!

1. Make your window a focal point

Every room needs a focal point for design. If you have an exceptional painting or sculpture, that may do the trick. If not, remember, your custom window treatment is the one design feature created specifically for you.

A print or color treatment can set the tone for the entire room achieving just the effect you want for your home. If you want a focal point in your room, a creatively designed window treatment is the answer. Windows are truly a design opportunity for setting your room’s mood and style!

Has Your Amesbury, MA Window Been Well Dressed?

Let your Stratham, NH home glow this Fall!

What could be a better motivation than a change of seasons to help you get started making your home as beautiful as it can be for the coming holidays, indoor entertainment and your family’s warmth, comfort and enjoyment? October is really a perfect time to consider new window decor ideas so as to be certain your updated home will look fresh and new in time for holiday parties and family get-togethers.

Change Any Room Just by Changing the Windows!
Your windows are the one place in any room where it is possible to completely change the design without having to completely change the room. With an almost infinite selection of fabrics to choose from, and with today’s window covering innovations (think shadings, blinds, shutters, etc.), you can make a room look brand new without changing another single thing! By working within your room’s existing decor, and from its existing color pallette, you can bring that custom-tailored look to any part of your home without even changing a wall color!
Value, Savings and More…
Added benefits you can realize from new custom window fashions include enhanced home value, heating and cooling cost savings when you choose high thermal quality rated fabrics and materials, and the pride of knowing your home is as comfortable as you want it to be for everyone who enters.

For one window or many, I’m here to help!
It’s so easy to update your home decor, AND have it ready before the busiest time of the year, just by giving us a call. We are ready to drop by at your convenience to show you how, together, we can add more value, beauty and comfort to your home. We will help you do all that within your budget, too.

www.excitingwindows.net

Plantation Shutters

Architects and home designers seem to be continuing their best efforts to bring the outdoors inside through the use of larger windows, often designed in unusual shapes. These larger windows may require extra framing to accommodate the weight of the treatment chosen for that window. This framing could include blocking up to several feet away from the window in order to support decorative drapery rods. If a steel header is used above the window, wood blocking should be added to at least a 1 ½” thickness over the face of the header to support a range of treatment options.

As you can see, considerations about window treatments can be just as complicated and important during the design phase of a home as decisions about kitchen layout or plumbing fixtures. Take the time to seek out a qualified window treatment expert to help you early in the pre-construction phase of your new home. You may find this to be some of the most valuable time you spend.

Ed Hopkins is the Principal of Exciting Windows! by Verticals Etc. He and his staff have been trained and certified by over twelve different manufacturers of quality window treatments. See the possibilities for window treatments today by visiting the largest showroom in New Hampshire at 122 Lafayette Road in North Hampton, or online at www.excitingwindows.net. Ed can be reached at 603-964-7282.

The desire to motorize window treatments is one of the most important details to plan during the construction phase. An experienced and certified window treatment dealer will be able to assist the home buyer in making the appropriate product choices, while also providing the electrician with wiring schematics that will ensure the desired outcome. Wiring a home after construction often makes the option of motorized window treatments highly cost-prohibitive.

As the expense of heating and cooling our homes continues to escalate, the wise consumer will seek out a window treatment professional for advice about products that will provide the greatest level of performance and deliver the desired decorative effect. Here in New Hampshire, we are primarily concerned with maintaining warmth in the home during the winter months. Most window treatments will provide some insulation value, but superior products can actually triple the “R” value of the window being covered.

The last post in this series on maintaining privacy and view for ocean and lake front homes.

The window covering industry has developed a number of products in the last few years to address this need. Principally Hunter Douglas has developed what has become a whole new category of treatments called soft shadings.

These treatments are for the most part a combination of a blind and one or more sheer fabric layers. The best known is probably the horizontal soft blind called Silhouette. available in louver sizes from 2″-4″, the view through the sheer fabric is great, and privacy is assured by tilting the veins at night. The vertical pairing to the Silhouette is the Luminette. This beautiful treatment combines a fabric vertical blind with a crisp sheer outer facing. Open or closed this treatment is always beautiful.

The newest entry in this category is a product called Pirouette by Hunter Douglas again. This roman shade look alike is attractive as a shade, but continue to pull the cord and the roman ‘pleats’ gather together to uncover a sheer layer that provides day time privacy and UV/Glare control.

Continuing our discussion of privacy control for beach and water front homes we have our next option;

2. Louvered treatments, both horizontal and vertical blinds are very functional for water front homes. This category includes the common mini and vertical blind as well as the very traditional wood venetian blind. The most popular option in this category today is the plantation shutter. Shutters are ‘furniture for your windows’ . they are beautiful by themselves and are incredibly functional. The larger louver preserves the view, and a flick of the wrist ensures privacy. All Horizontal blinds and shutters should have the louvers tilt horizontal or up at all times to protect from UV damage.

Maintaining privacy for beach front homes is always a challenge. Any window treatment that can be seen through during the day, will allow those outside to see into the home at night. The solution for these situations is to choose a product that can easily close or tilt for privacy. There are a number of options to choose form today.

1. Traditional draperies with sheer under drapes. The sheer drape provides UV and glare protection during the day, and some level of view through. The over drape can be closed in the evening for privacy

We will explore other option in the coming days.