We all know that convenience is a major player in the decision to choose a motorized window treatment, however, child safety is also a deciding factor. Matthew Kandl has this to say about child safety:

“When it comes to choosing window treatments, most consumers consider color, style, and even privacy. If young children are around the home, then cord control should be another important factor in selecting your window treatments.

Although today’s window fashions come with built-in cord-safety features, the Window Covering Safety Council believes cordless window coverings are the best choice for use in children’s bedrooms and any area of the home where children spend time playing.

In fact, cordless designs are rapidly gaining favor with consumers and decorators because of their “clean” look and streamlined design. Most traditionally corded window fashions are available in “cordless” styles through the use of spring-loaded mechanisms, battery- or motor-operated lift controls, or simple wand pulls. When combined with the scores of new fashion looks in today’s window coverings, consumers can pick from a wide choice of high-style cordless designs.”

Remember, the Hunter Douglas Fashion in Motion special runs through September 4^th. If you have small children in your home, you may want to consider motorization for their safety as well as your convenience.

Matthew Kandl was the Training and Education Manager for Hunter Douglas and in 2009 started Motorized Window Treatments

Recently we installed an Adjust-A-View shade, gave you some information on the product, and shared some pictures. Today we have a video showing the ease of operation by one of our favorite clients, Carol. In her words “They installed the blinds almost like magic.”

The Adjust-A-View is very quick and easy to install even in a non-perfect window. Typically arched windows are constructed in a manner where the sill is built up into the window. The resulting radius is less than half the diameter and no longer “perfect”. The Adjust-A-View allows for plus or minus 2 inches of imperfection to easily fit any window.

The shade is custom made for your window using Hunter Douglas, Graber, Comfortex, Kirsh and, Omega products. You can then match the shades on your other windows with your Adjust-A-View.

Click on the link below to view the video:

Adjust-A-View corded operation

Arch windows are a beautiful architectural feature in the home. They do, however, pose a great dilemma when there is a need for privacy or light control. While there are a few products on the market that offer some flexibility in opening and closing a shade, none compare to the degree of adjustability of the Adjust-A-View moveable arches by Omega.

The arched shade actually uses two fully functioning shades that operate independently, offering a full range of motion and light control options. With a cord on each side, it is simple and convenient to select just the perfect angle, or none at all.

And since we have been talking lately about motorization, we need to mention that the Adjust-A-View is of course available in a motorized version as well. Each side can operate independently or you can choose to operate both at the same time by simply touching buttons on the remote.

A great way is with a Hunter Douglas unique cell-within-a-cell, insulating Duette Honeycomb Shade. The innovative honeycomb construction creates air pockets where light meets color. To suit your day and activities, these shades can be raised or lowered from the top or the bottom.

The Duette Architella Honeycomb Shade is a state-of-the-art, patented design incorporating three insulating air pockets, creating the most energy efficiency. The honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design greatly reduces your Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC), or the amount of solar heat that passes through your window.

For an example, the SHGC on a standard bare, double-glazed window is 0.76, which means 76% of solar heat is transmitted through it. By adding an opaque Duette Architella shade the SHGC drops as low as 0.15 – only allowing 15% of this summer’s heat into your room, helping to lower your cooling costs. (We could all use that this summer!)

In addition, the over 200 fabric/color combinations can filter out 95% of destructive UV rays.

Remember the Hunter Douglas Fashion in Motion promotion going on now until September 4^th offering a $100 savings on a motorized shade.

Like the subtle cast their name suggests, Silhouette window shadings from Hunter Douglas, have Signature S-Vanes that easily create beautiful gradations of light and shadow.

The soft fabric vanes are suspended between two sheers, diffusing softened light deep into the room. Silhouettes’s patented sheer facings provide an uncluttered view to the outside.

You can select from 240 color and fabric combinations and three vane sizes.

The vanes are easily tilted to suit the privacy you desire while maintaining the UV protection (88% with vanes open, 99% with vanes closed).

Silhouette with LiteRise operation is cordless control rendering the shades the perfect choice for enhanced child safety. Motorized PowerTilt with Platinum Technology allows you to tilt the slats open or close remotely using either a hand held control or through any home automation system.

Arch windows are everywhere; foyers, family rooms, kitchens, and bedrooms!

They are beautiful additions to our rooms, but what about controlling the amount of light that comes in?  In some rooms, it is desirable to leave them uncovered all the time.  In other rooms, such as west facing or bedrooms, the option of being able to close off the light is needed.  Fortunately there are options available, and in different price points.  If you don’t mind having a stationary arch treatment (either open or closed), a sunburst arch is a beautiful option.

But if flexibility is your goal, then you need to explore the options available for moveable arch treatments.

Today, let’s look at the Sunset Arch, made by Comfortex.  This is an operable cellular shade arch with the cellular fabric in the horizontal orientation.  It does not require a perfect arch shape.  The shade is operated manually by moving a little metal ball up or down.  It operates very easily and can be completely opened, closed, or left any where in between.  If the window is too high for you to reach, as is often the case, an extension wand is perfect to use.

You can see an example of a sunset arch in this photo.  It is mounted over a cordless,  cellular shade below.

We will look at other arch shade treatments in upcoming blogs.  Stay tuned!

Without a doubt, the most popular valance with my clients is what I call the “cuff top”.  You can see several examples in my photo gallery.  These can be made with contrast lining so that the cuff adds an interesting design elelment.  They can also be installed on different types of hardware, which changes the look dramatically.  You can see photos of them installed on knobs, poles, boards, or larger holdbacks.  Use your imagination and design away!  Shown here is the most recent one we installed for a new client in Liberty Township, OH.  Notice how we took a plain, rectangular window and added interest to it, just by raising the treatment in the middle.  This definitely grabs your eye when you walk in the room, and draws your eye upward, making the room appear larger.  Even though many clients are choosing the “cuff top” design, no two are alike………..custom!

Sphere: Related Content

I just returned from installing 6 Hunter Douglas Applause shades with the PowerRise 2.0 operating system. The customer has a wall of 6 windows, three above and three below. They wanted to be able to operate the shades from a remote control. The shades are battery operated and then the remote is programmed to operate the shades in groups. The customer chose to group the top shades as one, and the bottom shades as another group. Because the new Hunter Douglas Platinum Technology allows the remote to work using infrared or radio frequency, each shade can still be operated independently by using the point and click method. The customer took a long lunch and met us at his home. When we left, he was still happily playing with the remote and exploring his many options. I wonder if he ever went back to work?

Sometimes a window treatment calls for some sort of specialty hardware.  A “swing arm” is just such a thing.  This might be used over a shutter so that it can swing open with the shutter door.  Or perhaps another application when the drapery rod can only be attached to the wall on one side.  At a trade show earlier this year, I found a fabulous new type of swing arm rod.  It is made by Helser Brothers and comes in many fabulous finishes.  You can see in the photo that what makes this rod different is the attached holdback.  This can easily be used for swinging the arm, in addition to holding back the drapery.  This is much better than having to reach up  to the top of the swing arm to move it, especially on a tall window.

A brand new Nordstrom department store is opening in my town this week.  There is quite a buzz in the air about it.  Why?  We have other department stores.  Appearing in the Cincinnati Enquirer today, is an article that I believe tells you why.  Nordstrom’s is famous for their customer service.  Not just the normal service, but the kind that makes you stand up and take notice.  I am proud to say that we strive to create the same buzz at Exciting Windows! by Kim Lyon.  We go above and beyond expectations regularly with our clients.  When you start with genuinely nice, friendly people, it is hard to act any other way.  All of our vendors and subcontractors are chosen with the same care.  So, why would you buy a blind from us, when you can buy it anywhere?  As the Enquirer article concludes, “We’re selling a service.  People come here because they like to be taken care of.”   The fact that 60% of our business last year came from repeat clients or their referrals is loud and clear.  Our clients know they will be taken care of.