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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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We just completed work on a beautiful custom home in Gilford, NH on beautiful Governor’s Island in the middle of Lake Winnipesaukee. This architect designed home is nestled within the trees along the waterfront giving the impression that it has always been right where it is. The main design theme of the home is Craftsman style, where the wood used in construction is the main design element.

The primary wood used for moldings and detail is straight grained Fir. A wood commonly used throughout vacation homes in Northern New England. This wood has a distinctive grain pattern and natural color that is right at home in the woodsy waterfront setting.

When we first met the clients, it was immediately decided that shutters would be used only in the bedrooms and bathrooms for privacy and light control. Other shadings would be used in the main rooms. The clients had assumed that a painted shutter would be most appropriate. But I was concerned about the appearance of a white shutter from the exterior. As described above, the home is constructed of all natural materials on the exterior. The Cedar shakes and beams that surround the windows are fully natural in appearance. I was concerned that a ‘wall of white’ showing through the window would ruin the affect.

To be continued

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.

Although not traditionally considered by home buyers, architects or builders, the planning and budgeting for window treatments prior to the building phase is fast becoming one of the most important trends in residential construction today. There are many practical reasons for this shift, not the least of which is ensuring there is a sufficient budget for the home buyer to choose window treatments that adequately complement a dream home.

Available choices in treatments today are much more varied than ever before. The home buyer must choose from selections that include traditional draperies, simple blinds or shades, increasingly popular plantation shutters, or window film that reduces glare, fading and heat gain. Along with these options, the savvy homeowner is likely to ask that these treatments be motorized and possibly interact with a home automation system.

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.