Ventanas, LLC

Going green has truly reached nearly every area of life, from reusable grocery bags to cell phone cases made of bottle caps. In the window covering industry, green is not just one of the shade color options, but rather it can be a way of saving money and lowering those energy bills.

Companies such as Hunter Douglas have come up with ways not just to save energy but also to put more money in your pocket. Around the holiday season, it is always nice to save a few dollars here and there, so why not let your windows do the saving for you?

On select energy efficient products from Hunter Douglas, customers can qualify for a Federal Tax Credit up to $1,500 when they purchase select energy efficient window coverings. Customers must purchase the covering and have them installed by December 31, 2010, just in time for the New Year. Obviously, this a time sensitive credit, so those looking to redo their window covering for nosy relatives coming over for the holidays or just to save on their energy bill, will have to act quickly.

One of the qualifying products is the Duette Architella Honeycomb Shade. Honeycomb proves sweet for your energy bill in more ways than one with these shades. The honeycomb within a honeycomb design yields the highest level of energy efficiency in the country. The coverings boast of reducing energy loss up to 50%.

Most of us don’t turn to our windows for extra cash. The saying of money flying out the window holds true for those without energy saving window coverings. Instead of watching money fly out with the latest blizzard, any home can keep the extra cash with the federal tax credit on efficient window coverings, especially when they need it most throughout the holiday season.

The great dilemma when it comes to roller screen shades for residential and commercial applications revolves around the fabric density. How dense is dense enough? It depends. If you live in a sunny climate such as Denver, where the east and west sun is the most intense year-round, you might want to consider a fabric with a 3% openness factor (conversely, a 97% density). For northern and southern exposures, a 5% OF (95% density) will probably be sufficient to protect furnishings and floor coverings. It will also take the sun’s glare off of the TV or computer screen.

Even though most fabric manufacturers offer screen shades from 1% OF up to 10% and 14%, be aware that these screen densities are rarely sufficient to remove glare, and will not keep UV rays from damaging interiors. While many homeowners and office managers may want to choose these weaves because they don’t want to obstruct their views, they often end up replacing them in the long run because they don’t do the job they were meant to do. When in doubt, denser is better.

When measuring for window shadings, whether they are cellular shades, roman shades, privacy sheers, Silhouettes, or any type of window covering that mounts directly at the window, it’s important to make the right decision as to whether you want to mount the shade inside the window trim (inside mount), or outside the trim (outside mount). The first consideration is whether or not there is enough room on the inside of the trim to mount your brackets. Some trims are either not deep enough, or have too much detail to allow a flat surface onto which you can mount your brackets. If this is the case, an outside mount is necessary. Likewise, if light gaps are an issue (say in a bedroom, where you want total blackout), an outside mount might be the best option, so you can extend the shade 2-3 inches on either side of the opening. This will give you the most light control.

If there is sufficient depth to the window casing, and you prefer a custom fitted look, an inside mount is the preferable option. Assuming the window is “square”, you can achieve this look if you can measure correctly. A professional window fashions consultant can help you determine your options.

HunterDouglas just announced that several of their energy efficient products will now qualify for up to $1500 in Federal Tax Credits. The new LiteRise Trim Kit, when purchased in combination with Duette Honeycomb shades, provides superior insulation at the window, and will not only result in huge energy savings, but will also translate into substantial dollars off when you file with the IRS next spring.

Summer is over, and winter is just around the corner. If you want the most insulating window covering product on the market, look no further than HunterDouglas Duette Architella cellular shades. The Architella’s “cell within a cell” boasts the highest R-value (measure of heat gain and heat loss) of any product on the market today. If energy savings is your priority, Duette Architella is the product for you. Don’t miss out on the consumer rebates of $25/shade, which begin on September 24th.

Staging homes for quick resale isn’t a new idea. But to get the maximum impact from your staging dollars, don’t forget window treatments. The windows have immediate impact on buyers, since it’s often the first element they’ll notice when they walk into a home. Inexpensive hardware and fabric can turn drab windows into dream windows that will put your home ahead of the competition. A few hundred dollars spent on window fashions can yield thousands of dollars in return on investment.

A soft valance, either board-mounted or mounted on a rod, is a relatively inexpensive way to bring color and texture to the window. By mounting the valance near the ceiling, the eye is drawn upward, making the walls seem taller. And choosing a swag or pinchpleat style will add texture and elegance as well. If budget doesn’t permit, a valance might be just the answer.

Nothing says “classic elegance” like shutters at the window. Shutters are considered “furniture for the window” and are an excellent investment in window coverings. With the glut of homes on the market, your home needs to stand out when it comes time to resell. Shutters are an investment that pays for itself in the long run, and you get to enjoy them in the meantime.

Exciting Windows dealers will be offering an exclusive line of private labeled draperies by Lafayette. These draperies will feature a pleating system that is 50% longer than the standard pleat and a 6″ bottom hem that is 50% larger than the standard to give more weight to the drapery so that it fall is soft, graceful folds. Our unbeatable 10 year guarantee will apply to the heirloom quality draperies, making them a must-have for the more discriminating homeowner.