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

Schedule your Free In-Home Consultation

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

Tiebacks – What’s Holding Your Draperies Back

Tiebacks for Draperies

Traditional fabric tiebacks are always a popular option for providing shape to your draperies. They are often made from the same fabric as the draperies. Sometimes I add decorative cording or trim, fringes, or beads to provide an accent.

 

Woven Trim Tiebacks

I also like to use a wide woven trim for a tieback instead of a piece of matching fabric. This works whether or not the trim is also used on the draperies.

Notice the beautiful pattern on these tiebacks.

 

Tassel Tiebacks are a Common Favorite

I love using tassels as tiebacks because they come in such a variety of sizes, fibers, and colors. I like using both coordinating or contrasting colors to create a great accent to the window.

I love these tassel tiebacks on elegant draperies.

 

How to Keep your Tiebacks in Place

Another consideration when choosing tiebacks is how to keep them in place. Many times, small rings on the backs of the tiebacks slip over small hooks that are mounted on the wall. This gives a nice, clean look, but so many other options are available!

Posts with decorative medallions are a wonderful choice. You can get square ones, round ones, metallic ones, painted ones, glass, wood, ceramic, globes, scrollwork, and more.

Decorative post tiebacks can add a nice tone to the room.

 

Posts and decorative curved arms mounted on the inside edge of the drapery can act as tiebacks as well.

These tiebacks really make these large windows look amazing.

 

Your drapery fabric is just one of the choices you get to decide on when looking for window treatments. Let us help you decide what’ll hold YOUR draperies back.

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If you want more information on the tiebacks for custom draperies or any of the other ideas here, contact Kim for your free in-home consultation – 513-398-5798 or email klyon@windowaccentsinc.com

Schedule Appointment

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/tiebacks-whats-holding-your-draperies-back/

Guide to Blinds and Shades for 2018

Your Complete Guide to Blinds and Shades

Taking on any home project can be daunting regardless of what that project is – from foundations and flooring to electrical work and ceiling finishes, there is a lot that can go into even a minor home alteration.

What many may not know is that there are tons of fantastic window blind choices that can accent your room and make it truly unique. If you’re looking for blinds in the Cincinnati area, our 2018 Guide to Blinds and Shades has everything you need.

Read on to learn about some of the top styles of window blinds that will help make your space stand out.

Venetian Blinds

By far the most popular blind style in the Cincinnati, OH area, Venetian blinds are extremely versatile and efficient.

These horizontal blinds feature small strips of either wood or metal attached to each other with strings for easy control. You usually have the option to rotate them to open and close for desired privacy, and when you raise the blinds, each of the slats stack neatly onto one another – for custom metal or wood blinds in and around the Cincinnati area, these are a great choice.

Overall, Venetian blinds are efficient, easy to use, and beautiful!

Roller Shades

Roller shades are another popular shade choice for any home, and for good reason. The easy to use style and wide range of customization make these a must-have for any home.

These fabric blinds are typically heavier fabrics and often feature a blackout lining for increased privacy. Roller blinds can very easily be lowered and raised as well, making these shades great for any occasion.

Rather than stacking on top of itself like a Venetian blind, the roller mechanism tightly rolls the fabric so it is out of the way above the window. The roller mechanism itself is also very easy to use and adds another layer of customization to your space.

Roman Blinds

Similar to roller blinds, Roman blinds are fabric window blinds that easily lower and raise, however, rather than rolling inside of the rolling mechanism, the fabric stacks on top of itself much like a Venetian blind.

This creates a timeless, classic look; however, it can block some of the window space if not installed properly. For proper installation and the best custom shade options in Cincinnati, let us provide all of your window blind needs.

Cellular Blinds

If you’re looking for window shades that are just as functional as they are aesthetically pleasing, definitely check out cellular shades. Not only are these versatile enough to match any décor, they serve as great insulation.

These shades are made with two separate layers that form an open honeycomb shape in the middle that traps air – this makes for great insulation to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter. They also can provide excellent sound insulation!

In addition to being functional, their unique shape can liven up any space, and the shades themselves are very easily customizable in a wide array of colors.

Plantation Shutters

Known for their timeless elegance and sophisticated style, plantation shutters turn any house into a home.

These interior shutters are available in real and faux wood to suit any interior décor. Not only are they effective and stunning, they can add value to your home. With easy to use shutter control and effective insulation, plantation shutters are more than worth the investment.

Sheer Shades

Sheer shades provide a touch of elegance and are very effective for lighting control in any space. Typically, these shades have two sheer pieces of fabric that surround horizontal or vertical vanes that can be tilted for privacy and light control, much like you would see with a Venetian shade.

These sheer window shades are versatile enough to work for a living room window to a large sliding glass door. This allows you to have great control over your lighting and privacy while adding style to your home, and if you don’t want to focus on the vanes on the window shade, the sheer fabrics help draw your attention away from them while diffusing the sunlight.

Softer Fabric Shades

A more generalized style than those mentioned previously on this list, softer fabric shdes are known for versatility and customization.

While many people use softer fabric shades in a Roman style window shade, it allows for more than just one option. A popular way to use these kinds of blinds is a tie-up shade. By bunching up the fabric and tying it at the top, it adds a sense of personalization and fun – there isn’t a wrong way to tie up the fabric, so along with the fabric style and color choices you get to add your own personality to the window shade.

Vertical Blinds

Vertical blinds are traditionally used for larger windows such as sliding glass doors or floor to ceiling windows, but they can absolutely be used for smaller windows throughout the house.

These blinds most commonly come with 3 to 4 inch vanes that can be easily rotated for lighting and privacy. You also have the choice of fabric or vinyl as the vane material, so you’ve got a lot of options to make these vertical blinds suit your home’s exact style.

Vertical blinds provide maximum privacy for large windows and still lets in tons of light when you need it.

Now that I know all about blinds, what’s next?

Are Window Blinds a Good Decor Choice?

Whether you’re looking to do one room or the whole house, you can see that there are quite a few styles you can choose from, and there are many more out there! The choices can be overwhelming, but they don’t have to be. Window blinds are a subtle yet very important part of your home’s style.

Window Accents of Cincinnati Can Help!

Let us help you with all of your window blind needs – if you’re looking to add new window treatments to you home in the Cincinnati area, we’ve got just what you need!

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If you want more information on custom draperies, blinds or any of the other ideas here, contact Kim for your free in-home consultation – 513-398-5798 or email klyon@windowaccentsinc.com

Schedule Appointment

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/guide-to-blinds-and-shades-for-2018/

Expanding Window Height with Art

Have you ever walked into a room and had a sense that something wasn’t right with the proportions? Usually when this happens it’s because the windows are small compared with the wall’s height.

From the outside, the windows no doubt are in balance with other features of the home’s exterior. But this sometimes creates design challenges on the inside. Happily, there are ways to compensate.

For windows that are too short, height can be added by raising the drapery rod high enough to include a decorative element above the window. On very tall walls or on an end wall of a peaked ceiling, decorative elements can be added above the rod.

The tops of the windows in this room needed to appear higher to coordinate with the height of the room. Antique glass mounted above the windows give the appearance of transom windows. Ceiling-to-floor draperies add to the appearance of height. These two elements nicely balance the proportions in the room.

Lots of space above the windows in this bedroom gave plenty of opportunity to add decorative interest with antiques while raising the appearance of the windows. The arched window frame with shutters that this homeowner found was definitely a keeper. Mirrors replaced the clear glass and gave depth to the frame. Empty window frames on either side completed the wall in a scale appropriate to the room.

If you have a room that seems a little out of proportion, don’t despair. Lots of options are available for making it appear right. We just have to get creative!

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If you want more information on custom draperies, blinds or any of the other ideas here, contact Kim for your free in-home consultation – 513-398-5798 or email klyon@windowaccentsinc.com

Schedule Appointment

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/expanding-window-height-with-art/

Pleated Curtain Style

The Pleated Curtain Style

has enjoyed a surge in popularity the last few years.  There is no style that is as classic and timeless as a pleated curtain.  There are many different pleat styles available to make your custom curtain unique.  Today we will look at 3 styles, each having a distinctly different look, feel, and personality. Call Window Accents for the best window treatments in Cincinnati.

The Euro Pleated Curtain Style

is a very updated, current look.  This style looks great hanging from rings and works well as stationary side panels or traversing curtain.

 

 

 

 

The Goblet Pleated Curtain Style

is another variation that is very classic.  It gets it’s name from the resemblance to a wine goblet.  Goblet Pleated curtains will traverse easily, but may not stack as tightly onto the side as the Euro Pleat.

 

The Inverted Box Pleated Curtain Style

can be a statement all on it’s own.  As seen here, in this photo from Chicago’s Curtain Connection, decorative elements can be added to truly make your curtain a one of a kind.  This curtain is best suited for stationary side panels, as the pleats generally do not traverse well.

 

 

 

Schedule Your Free In-Home Consultation

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/pleated-curtain-style/

Installing Blinds Almost Like Magic | Adjust-A-View Take 2

Installing custom blinds: 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 open the video:

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/installing-blinds/