Blinds for Sliding Glass Doors

We have discussed that spring is the time of year when we want to open up our house and let the light and the lovely outdoors in. We open drapes, shutters, windows and doors to let in the fresh colors and scents of the new blossoms.

But wait . . . . . too much light?

Not enough privacy?

What do you do with a sliding glass door?

How can we address the challenges of this huge functional “window”?

Indeed, the sliding glass door is a challenge. We appreciate its function and its light but sometimes need to tone down the sunlight for energy efficiency and we want privacy at times as well. Do you remember the blog months ago that discussed energy loss in your home through windows? – well, the sliding glass door is even a bigger problem.

And of course, we have some solutions that not only give a functional, energy efficient way to dress your sliding glass door, but are fashionable as well.

If you are a fabric lover and like the look of drapes, you can use them on a decorative rod mounted above the sliding glass door. Using grommets or rings will allow easy movement of the drapes across the rod so you can either have them open for full access to the door or close them for privacy. Last time we talked about traverse rods which would be a good idea for this application as well. Depending on the type of fabric you choose, whether the drapes are lined, or if you choose to also do a second rod with sheers, your own energy efficiency goal can be met.
Another option that involves fabric is roman shades. Two roman shades can be installed above the sliding glass door on a single header that will allow you to operate each independently for the light control and privacy you desire.

Shades installed in this fashion are also an option. Decorative valances can be an additional item that can tie all the design elements of the room together.

Natural woven shade vertical drapes are a great functional, as well as fashionable choice for your sliding glass door. They are available in lots of different woods, reeds, and grasses, have no cords, and can be as sheer or opaque as you prefer.

An even more modern look is the sliding panel. These sleek contemporary panels come in a wide variety of fabric or material to match your décor. They are both functional and fashionable.

Blinds for Sliding Glass Doors

And finally we have vertical solutions that have advanced and changed with the times, offering you a large variety of color and style combinations. Hunter Douglas has Luminette Privacy Sheers, Duette and Applause with Vertiglide, and Somner vertical blinds that are functional, fashionable and energy efficient for your sliding glass door. What more could you ask for?

After 15 years in the window coverings industry, I can tell you without a doubt that sliding doors pose the biggest dilemma for homeowners.  The love affair with vertical blinds has come and gone, but many people have no idea what else to do to cover a large area.  Sliding glass doors present big challenges with energy loss and light control.  They are usually in high traffic areas of the house – so very functional, energy efficient, and, at the same time, beautiful treatments are needed.  That is a lot to ask from a window treatment! Your only option is no longer blinds for sliding doors!

Fortunately, vendors have responded to the need.  Today there are several innovative solutions to this age old problem.  Determining  your needs for light control, privacy, energy savings, and fashion will help you to select the best treatment for you.

Here are three of my favorites.

• THE most exciting trend in window  fashions is the  Natural Woven Shade Vertical Drapery.  These are the ultimate blend of function and fashion. The shade operates with a simple push on the guide rail, so there are no cords to tangle or break.  With so many natural woods, reeds, or grasses to choose from, ranging from sheer to opaque, there is a style for everyone!

• For a very sleek and contemporary look, Sliding Panels are one of the fastest growing new trends in window fashions.  Flat panels of fabric slide one in front of another as you open and close the shade using a wand.  Fabrics range from opaque shade cloth to natural woven wood materials, again offering much versatility.

• Vertical Cellular Shades offer great function and superior energy efficiency.  Available in many colors and fabrics, this shade coordinates with the other cellular shades in your home, but slides easily along a track with a push of the hand, providing a truly cordless option.

If you want more information on the Hunter Douglas line of sliding glass door options or any of the other ideas here, contact Kim for your free in-home consultation – 513-398-5798 or email klyon@windowaccentsinc.com

source http://windowaccentsinc.com/window-treatments-for-sliding-glass-doors/

The Rustic Decor Trend

We talked a couple of weeks ago about the color trends for next year and their refection of our life style today – our feeling of being constantly connected and our desire to disconnect, unwind and relax. This theme shows through in the Rustic Décor trend for our homes as well.

This style is used in all types of custom window treatments in Cincinnati – though we recommend it specifically for custom curtains as well as with certain types of custom blinds. If you are interested in learning how match this design style with your home, please contact us to get started.

This design trend is what all of us are looking for – a relaxing, comfy, cozy, casual place to call home. Materials are natural, colors are warm and earthy, and the outdoors is brought in. We are reconnecting with nature, reusing and recycling.

When we get on the internet and go to Pinterest, we see hundreds of DIY projects made from wood pallets, mason jars, burlap, and reclaimed wood. They are not only creative and cute, but they are very functional and practical and fit in with the other pieces of our home décor.

 

Several of our client’s homes that we have visited recently are very cozy and comfy and rustic. Here is the inside of a log cabin before the Thanksgiving meal:

Our trending rustic furniture is made from wood, perfect in it’s imperfection, familiar and casual.

Our rustic window treatments are of natural fibers, neutral colors, casual, and enhance the rest of the elements in the room. Here our clients were very creative and used old windows to enhance their new windows:

This creative client used an old shutter to creatively dress their window, thanks to Megan Holtz of Restored Treasures, while we added a natural woven wood shade to control the light:

We have a great selection of custom shades for your Ohio home to fit the Rustic Décor of your home as well as all natural decorator fabrics to add casual and cozy draperies.

For a free in-home consultation to see the woven wood samples and feel the natural fibers, call or email to set up your appointment

 

 

source http://windowaccentsinc.com/the-rustic-decor-trend/

Bathroom Window Treatments

We may not spend the largest amount of our time in the bathroom, (well except when we take that much needed relaxing soak in the tub!).

Window treatments for bathrooms room are important yet rarely contemplated.

Let’s consider bathroom window treatments today for a few minutes.

Bathroom Window Treatments to Control Light and Privacy

Controlling natural light and privacy are two of the things we need to consider when selecting window treatments for the bath. Another very important factor is the treatments ability to stand up to the often high temperatures and humidity of the room. Some fabrics and some products are better suited for the bath than others.

Two types of fabrics come to mind that are not suited for the bath – silk and linen. Silk will water spot and linen tends to shrink in the humidity.

Some hard treatments, such as shades and blinds have options with some better choices as well. We suggest using a top-down, bottom-up type of a shading so that you can let natural light flow into the room from the top of the window while making sure the privacy you need is available for the bottom of the window. Here are some of our photos with top-down shadings paired with fabric valances:

Below we have pictured some Hunter Douglas products that are really great for use in the bathroom. The first is their Palm Beach Shutters and second, Everwood blinds.

Bathroom Window Treatment Options

Hunter Douglas Palm Beach Shutters are made of a UV resistant poly-satin material that is guaranteed to never warp, crack, fade, chip, peel, or discolor even under extreme heat and moisture. Shutters are a great way to let in the natural light at the top while providing privacy at the lower section of the window.

Here are some of Kim’s bath photos featuring shutters as well –

Hunter Douglas Everwood products come in a classic neutral white finish that is ideal for high heat and moisture, made with polystyrene slats that are guaranteed against fading, yellowing, warping and bowing.

TruGrain Everwood products are a wood alternative with natural effect finishes in wood grain, grass weave, leather and linen:

Hunter Douglas has other options for the bath too. Here we have featured  Pirouettes, Duettes, Silhouettes, and Vignettes:

Some other products from Hunter Douglas that can work in the bath are Provenance Woven Woods, Cadence Soft Vertical Blinds, and Modern Roman Shades:

To add some softness and comfort to the room, making your relaxing soak even more enjoyable, fabric treatments are a great choice. A simple swag valance or draped panels will add the softness you desire. Below we have featured Hunter Douglas Vertical Solutions blinds with a draped swag, an arched cornice with tapered side panels and Hunter Douglas Reveal aluminum blinds with soft flowing knotted fabric panels:

Kim has a great selection of soft fabric bathroom window treatments and all the latest Hunter Douglas products as well as top-of-the-line custom window treatments for Cincinnati, OH homes. 

 

source http://windowaccentsinc.com/bathroom-window-treatments/

Window Treatments for a More Energy Efficient Home

This thermographic photo shows where the heat is escaping from this home in the winter- through the windows!

Energy Efficiency

Did you know that up to 50% of your home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through your windows? Check out this thermographic photo of this home in winter. You can easily see all the heat escaping through the windows shown in red. Of course in Ohio, we have the opposite problem in summer- we want to keep the cool in, and window coverings are just as important for that too!

Hunter Douglas has always prided themselves on being an industry leader in making a big energy savings difference at the window.  In 1985, they invented the highly energy-efficient Duette^® honeycomb shades in response to the energy crisis of the late 1970s. Today, they continue to think about the impact all of their window fashions can make. Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 50% of a home’s heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows.

Hunter Douglas products help conserve energy at the window in these three important ways:

Insulation

In winter months, your home heating escapes to the outdoors through your windows while in the summertime, the outside heat flows into your home through these same windows. With window treatments that provide insulation, you can reduce energy consumption, save on heating and cooling costs, and create a more comfortable atmosphere.

Solar Heat Control

The warmth provided by the sun, its solar energy, may be desirable during the winter to help heat your home, but in the summer, it can make a room overly hot and uncomfortable—driving up air conditioning costs. Many Hunter Douglas window fashions help to control solar heat by allowing it into your home in the winter and minimizing the amount that comes in during the summer.

Daylighting

Daylighting is the practice of lighting rooms with natural light rather than artificial light.

By drawing natural light into a room many of our window treatments reduce the need for other types of lighting, thereby reducing your energy use.

We asked Window Accents Consultant, Kim Lyon, how she helps customers who come in looking for ways to make their home or business more energy efficient:

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

“When a client comes into the showroom seeking to improve energy efficiency, I ask several questions.  It is important for me to understand which direction the windows face, how and when the family uses the room, and the function that is required from their window treatment. An assessment of this information is essential to choosing the best product.  Going forward, automation will  be more of a mainstream consideration because of the ability to schedule movement of shades depending on the seasons.”

So if you’re looking for ways to save on your energy bills year round, call or visit Window Accents and we’ll show how the right window coverings can really help your home be more energy efficient.

This thermographic photo shows the difference good window coverings can make in winter. The window on the left has no window covering on it and you can see all the heat escaping shown by the warm red colors. The window on the right is covered with a Hunter Douglas Duette Architella Honeycomb shade and you can see that it is helping retain the homes heat and appears much cooler with green  color showing. And in the summer, it will keep the cool air in too.

Whether you need residential or commercial window treatments, Window Accents can help you choose the right solution, style to meet your needs. Give us a call today and mention your interest in Energy Saving and we’ll get you started on the right path. 513-398-5798

 

source http://windowaccentsinc.com/window-treatments-for-a-more-energy-efficient-home/