Planning for Window Treatments During Construction From Start to Finish

How to Plan for Window Treatments During Construction

Recently, several couples have come to me for window treatments. They were all building new homes and had chosen all the things builders want to know: siding, roofing, doors, windows, flooring, etc. When those decisions were out of the way, they began to think ahead. How will those windows look at night? What should they do about privacy in the bed and bath rooms?

I love it when my clients think ahead!

There are several advantages to thinking ahead about window treatments.

If you start early, you will have a sense of how far your budget will spread for the type of treatments you want. Perhaps you are unaware of some of the innovations being made in the window treatment industry, like motorized shades with remote and internet controls. You may want to set your priorities differently if you know ahead of time what your options are.

Another advantage that is easy to address is thinking about how window treatments will be mounted. If the drywall isn’t up yet, your builder can easily add wood blocking where the mounting brackets will go. Attaching brackets to solid wood is much more secure than trying to mount them on drywall. And if I can get into the home before the drywall goes up, I can see if there are any potential installation issues before they get covered up. During that visit, I can also see if there are any specialty windows that will require creative installations.

Perhaps the biggest advantage to thinking ahead is planning for motorization. While today’s motorized shades can be powered by batteries, you may not want to have to worry about replacing them every year. Electrically-powered window coverings can be plugged into an existing outlet or, for a more stream-lined look, can be directly wired to a DC converter installed in a utility area of your home. The best time to do this is when your electrician is installing the wiring in the home.

Even if you don’t plan to motorize your window coverings, it’s a good idea to think about window treatments during construction. Contacting me while you are under construction is the smart way to go.

The block of wood near the top of this window will allow window treatments to be securely fastened to the wall.

 

Here’s a case where blocking installed at the top sides of the window during construction makes this rod easy to fasten securely to the wall.

Pre-construction planning may mean you can recess the top header of a blind or shade to help conceal it. This homeowner also planned for electrically operated blinds that do not depend on batteries.

 

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If you want more information on custom draperies or 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/planning-for-window-treatments-during-construction-from-start-to-finish/

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 https://windowaccentsinc.com/the-rustic-decor-trend/

Skylights Window Treatments Let The Sunshine In

Sunshine!

We love it. We need it.

Warmth, natural lighting, vitamin D, energy and attitude are just a few of the reasons why.

We hate it. It’s too much.

Intense heat, intense light, UV rays, and glare are a few of the reasons why we need to control it.

So here we have our standard double edged sword. We have skylights in our home for great natural lighting, but then there are times when it is just too much. What to do for Skylights Window Treatments?

The UV rays are bleaching objects in the room, the summer sun is making the room hot, and it’s just too bright in the morning when I want to sleep in.

Solution?

Skylights Window Treatments:  Shades! And the most common – cellular.

There are a few companies that manufacture cellular shadings systems that adapt to angled windows. The first thought might be – why are there only a few? But after your second thought, you may realize that the angle of the skylight can pose a problem, as it lends itself to the sagging of the fabric. Cellular shade construction allows an unseen cord inside the cells to keep the shade taut.

Here are some photos from Graber:

Lutron shows us the various ways a shade can be installed for a skylight – inside the opening, recessed and close to the window or even on the outside. They offer a frame and tension shades for skylights:

      

Comfortex has two shading systems available for skylights, the Soprano and the Balcony. The Soprano Skylight Shading System has a gear track that holds the fabric at any angle. The Balcony Skylight Shading System has a polycarbonate tracking system that forms a barrier around the edge of the shade for maximum energy-efficiency. Plus there are no exposed cords:

Cellular Shades are a great choice for skylights as they are very energy-efficient in their construction. Cold air in the winter and hot air in the summer gets trapped in the pockets of the cells, and the more cells you add, the more energy-efficient.

Hunter Douglas is able to make shadings for skylights from their Applause or Duette Architella lines. This allows you to get double cell or even triple cell construction. Depending on the fabric, you can not only diffuse the light, but by choosing a sheer and an opaque fabric, you have lots more options for control. The shadings are also available with top down, bottom up adjustments.

And speaking of control, Hunter Douglas has remote control shadings that can also work with your smart device or any home automation system for total control.

Our friends at EcoSmart have cellular shades for skylights:

And here is a photo from Lafayette:

So if you have an awesome skylight in your home but wish you had a little bit more control over the sunshine it provides at different times of the day, you need to make an appointment to find out just how we can help. Call or email us to learn more about custom window shades

Schedule your Free In-Home Consultation

 

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/skylights-window-treatments/

Looking For Window Curtain Ideas Loveland OH

The windows in your home can be adorned in many different ways. You can leave them plain, add blinds, cover them with drapes, or hang curtains. How you dress them is up to you, but if you are looking for window curtain ideas Loveland OH, you can find some amazing options. Continue reading for some tips you can use as you are looking for the curtains you want to hang in your home.

Window Curtain Ideas and Tips

First of all, you will want to consider the type of curtains you desire. Do you want sheer curtains or do you prefer them to block out all the sunlight? Also, what length of curtain do you need? Is there a specific color or pattern that you are looking for? How do you prefer your curtains to hang? By giving some thoughts to what you want as far as curtains, you can find some great curtain ideas in our trunk shows in Loveland OH.

Next, you will want to decide if you will use a custom window treatment company or find the coverings that you want pre-made. If you have a particular color and style in mind, using a company that can make you exactly what you want is always a good idea. Working with a professional, you can work together to create the perfect custom curtains Loveland

If you decide to use a professional, please contact us and let us show you how we can take your style and special needs in the room and transform your room to the living environment of your dreams.

Once you’ve set up an appointment to meet with us, we recommend you spend time in Pinterest finding examples of treatments you love and treatments you don’t love. Be prepared to explain what you like and don’t like. This information is foundational for us to understand your likes and dislikes. We’ll do the measuring and sketch out the designs we are discussing. This can help you and the curtain designer work together and create exactly what you had envisioned.

Window Curtain Ideas from the Professionals

As you work with our company, it is important to be open and honest. If the designer recommends something that you really are not interested in, be sure to tell them. Or if the two of you are on totally different pages, it’s a good idea to speak up so you will get exactly what you want for your windows.

As you can see, choosing to use the services of a professional that has window curtain ideas from Loveland OH is a good choice for so many different reasons. When you work with a reputable professional, you are able to get exactly what you want to cover your windows and enhance the appearance of any room in your home. Use the tips shared here to get the custom curtains that reflect your style.

Schedule your Free In-Home Consultation

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/looking-for-window-curtain-ideas-loveland-oh/

Window Treatments act as Insulation

In the winter, as much as 40% of the heat that escapes a home flows through the windows. During the summer, heat from the sun’s rays coming through the windows can make it harder to keep a home cool. Energy-efficient window treatments an help decrease heat loss and heat gain, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs.

 

 

 

Let Window Treatments act as Insulation

Some treatments are more energy efficient than others, so make sure to check a product’s R-value and Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) ratings.

• Save money on utility bills
• Conserve natural resources
• Lessen fading of carpets, fabrics, artwork and wood

The Value of R-Value

R-value is measure of a product’s ability to resist heat flow, which is especially important in the cool winter months. The higher the R-value number, the more insulation it provides and the better it is at reducing heat loss.

A bare, low-e double-glazed window has an R-value of about 3.5. Add property insulated Duette® Architella 1 1/4” honeycomb shade with Panache opaque fabric and the R-vlaue increases to 7.86, more than doubling the energy efficiency and reducing heat loss by over 50%.

 

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient Explained

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient (SHGC) is the amount of solar heat that passes through a window, where 0 = none and 1 = all. The lower a product’s SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits and the cooler the home will stay in the warm summer months.

The SHGC of a bare, double-glazed window is 0.76, which means 76% of solar heat is transmitted through it. Add an opaque Duette® Architella shade and the solar heat gain coefficient drops as low as 0.15 — only 15% of the solar heat is transmitted, reducing cooing costs.

 

Protect Your Home from UV Light

UV exposure is not only harmful to skin, it can also damage furnishings, floors and fine art. Most Hunter Douglas products have fabric options that filter out 99% of these harmful rays in the closed position.

 

 

 

 

Many Hunter Douglas window fashions including Silhouette® window shadings and Luminette® Privacy Sheers, filter out as much as 87% of harmful UV rays in the open-vane position.

Invite our Shop At Home Consultants to your home to discuss how Window Treatments act as Insulation and we’ll be sure to provide precise measurements and exquisite choices to match your design style and budget. 513-398-5798

Seeking energy efficient window treatments for your business, we offer Commercial solutions as well. Call now to have a commercial representative meet you in your business and help you choose the right product and order the right size. We handle it all. 513-398-5798

Schedule your Free In-Home Consultation

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/window-treatments-act-as-insulation/

Dining Room Window Treatment Design

Dining Room Curtains Design

Inverted Box Pleat with Curtain Side Panels and Tiebacks

This dining room has a small bay and the client wanted a simple design with some punch.  She already has one chocolate brown wall and is considering some faux painting on the ceiling.  We found a terrific coppery brown fabric with a silver/platinum embroidered flower.  We selected a very simple, tailored, inverted box pleat valance with stationary side panels.  The punch came with the decorative beaded tassel trim and matching tassel tiebacks.  Once again proving simple can be fabulous!

Beaded Tassel Trim

Now I can envision a faux finish on the ceiling with metallic tones of copper and silver…..ooh, can’t wait to see that!

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/dining-room-window-treatment-design/

Cuff Top Valance

Cuff Top Valance

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!

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/cuff-top-valance/

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/

All About the Finest Sheer Curtain Fabric

Guide to the Finest Sheer Curtain Fabric

Color, pattern, texture – modern sheer curtain fabrics are found in an abundance of all of these!

No longer are we stuck with plain old sheer curtains – unless of course, you want to be. Plain sheer curtains are still a great accompaniment to drapery panels. Plain sheers will not distract from the heavier, more dramatic fabrics used for the draperies. Or as in the photo above, the delicate patterned sheer coordinates splendidly with the drapery and valance.

Sheer curtains on their own do a terrific job of filtering harsh sunlight, radiating a soft flowing feeling as they frame the window, and create some privacy while still allowing the light to pass through.

Sheers can be crafted and installed in all of the ways that custom curtains can be. Sheer curtains can have grommets or rings, be gathered, tabbed or pleated, and they can be attached to a traversing rod as well. The style of the mounting depends on your personal décor and the function of the sheers. Are they just beautifully framing and softening the window or are they needed for privacy and light filtering? Ask yourself what you hope to accomplish by installing sheer curtains before you choose which curtains to purchase.

Either way, you will have lots of fun trying to decide on a sheer or semi-sheer fabric given the thousands of choices we have today. There are wonderful subtle textures and patterns woven within the fibers themselves or some sheer fabrics have embroidered patterns. The colors are great too – soft ivories, creams, and pastels – and below you will even see some deeper toned sheer curtain fabric in black. Here is a semi-sheer panel in a powder room in brown:

Sheer Curtain Fabric Examples

Let’s take a look at some of sheer curtain fabrics from our friends at RM Coco in Missouri – This first grouping of fabrics all have some sort of lines:

Next, we gathered some RM Coco fabrics that have leaves and swirl patterns:

Here is traditional plain sheer curtain fabric and crinkled:

And finally, some textured sheer fabrics from RM Coco:

The fabrics can be woven of different fibers to create different looks. A lot of the sheer curtain fabrics today are produced from man-made polyester, traditionally a more flame retardant material, but sheers are also made with linen and cotton.

We gathered some decorator sheer fabric samples from Lafayette Interior Fashions in Indiana.

This first grouping shows sheers with texture:

The next group of Lafayette’s sheer fabrics are ones we picked with accent

And our last group shows a bit of color variety:

If you are thinking about adding sheers to a window or changing your current sheers to a more updated fabric, Kim would love to show you some of the samples we included here and many more. All you need to do is call 513-398-5798 or email klyon@windowaccentsinc.com for a free in home consultation –     sheer simplicity!

 

Schedule your Free In-Home Consultation

source https://windowaccentsinc.com/all-about-sheers/