Bali Blinds

New Custom Bali Blinds for Thanksgiving

admin — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 18:34:49 +0000

Bali blinds are now available with an excellent option delivery: you can order your custom blinds or shades by latest 8th of November 2009 and you’ll get them by 26th of November 2009, so your windows will be ready for the Thanksgiving celebration.

This is great, if you had in mind to redecorate your home or if you’ve just moved in a new one and need to buy appliances, decor and other stuff. However, you need to keep in mind that Bali’s offer is applicable only if the materials you select are in stock. There’s another thing: the Bali Custom Tailored Roman Shades, shutters and Specialty Shapes are excluded from this offer. It’s understandable, they take much more time to make, so you’ll just have to wait a bit more if you choose these exquisite window treatments.

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Hunter Douglas Sliding Glass Door Window Treatments

admin — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:42:48 +0000

We’ve talked a while back about sliding glass door window treatments, and the example I’ve chosen by that time to illustrate my point was the Hunter Douglas Duette 3/4″ Single Cell Sheer with Vertiglide Side Stack, which feature excellent insulation without the drawback of being opaque like other insulating window coverings are.

That article seemed to be appreciated by our readers, as we’ve got a lot of questions, mostly about other products in the Hunter Douglas sliding door treatments range. We thought a brief overview of these blinds would be an excellent way to help you make yourself a better picture of your possible choices, if budget is not your main concern.

First of all, you need to know that actually there’s no special product line in the Hunter Douglas portfolio, targeting exclusively sliding glass doors. It’s just a specialty shape, or a design option, call it what you like, which aims at helping their customers understand better what they can create in terms of interior space design and decorating. These are the Hunter Douglas shadings that are suitable for covering sliding glass doors, as described on their official website:

Silhouette window shadings
Duette Architella honeycomb shades
Duette honeycomb shades
Luminette Privacy sheers
Luminette Modern draperies
Vignette Modern Roman shades
Pirouette window shadings
Skyline Gliding window panels
Alustra Silhouette window shadings
Alustra Duette honeycomb shades
Alustra Luminette Privacy sheers
Alustra Vignette modern Roman shades
Alustra Woven Textures
Alustra Woods
Alustra Modern Precious Metals
Nantucket window shadings
Applause honeycomb shades
Park Lane Privacy sheers
Designer roller shades
Designer screen shades
Provenance Woven wood shades
Brilliance pleated shades
Heritance hardwood shutters
NewStyle hybrid shutters
Palm Beach polysatin shutters
Country Woods Expose blinds
Country Woods Genuine Woods blinds
Country Woods Select blinds
Country Woods Reflections blinds
Country Woods Classics blinds
Chalet Woods wood blinds
EverWood 2″ blinds
EverWood X-tra blinds
WoodMates blinds
Reveal with MagnaView
Macro aluminum blinds
Lightlines aluminum blinds
Decor aluminum blinds
Celebrity aluminum blinds
Cadence Soft vertical blinds
Somner custom vertical blinds
Crosswinds wood vertical blinds
Vertical Solutions Select

As you can see, there are plenty of choices, from sheer, transparent coverings to wooden blinds, which are extremely elegant and which can integrate very well into a classic interior design. You can find details about each of the above mentioned sliding glass door window treatments on the Hunter Douglas website. Maybe we are going to review some of them for you in our future articles.

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Conservatory Roof Shading Ideas

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 11:34:08 +0000

We’ve discussed the necessity of conservatory roof blinds in one of our past articles. We are going to take a deeper look today at a few creative ideas of conservatory roof shading.

First of all, you need to be aware that the conservatory roof needs special treatments, because it’s exposed to the winter chills as well as to the summer heats, much more than ordinary windows in a home. This is why conservatory roof shading solutions should be more than simple, decorative accessories, but also very good thermal insulators, resistant to UV rays and easy to handle from a distance. Their function is to offer you a comfortable space in your conservatory and to protect the carpets and the furniture, which otherwise would fade and get damaged by UV in a very short time. This functionality comes with a high price tag, so adding a conservatory to your house is not the cheapest thing you can do in this world.

Shades with reflective backings: this is maybe the most inexpensive solution for covering your conservatory roof. Basically, window shades made of common fabrics are lined with a reflective coating which won’t be visible from the inside, but which would act as a barrier for the thermal exchange and as a temperature regulator. One of the most efficient backing materials is Aluminized Mylar, which is a thing that was firs used by NASA for reflecting the solar heat. I found an interesting article on how to make your own sunlight reflective linings for window blinds. I don’t know if you can apply it for the conservatory roof shadings, but at least you could save some money on the other windows in your home.

External shade netting: this is a kind of plastic net which is wrapped around the conservatory roof, dimming the light transmission with 50%. Personally, I don’t like it very much, because I like to be able to allow full light to enter at special occasions, but there are people who think this solution is better than interior shades.

Polycool Solar Control Inserts: these are suitable for polycarbonate conservatory roofs and they reduce up to 85% of the solar heat amount and up to 87% of blinding glare, without a significant light loss. These inserts are available in two finishes: silver and gold. I know Polycool is a trademark, but I don’t know the generic term for this kind of shading. However, if you’re interested, you can search the net and see it for yourself what brands are available within your area. I think it’s called window film technology.

Do you know any other unusual conservatory roof shading solutions? I’d be happy if you shared them with all our readers in the comments. Thank you.

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Roller Blinds vs. Retractable Awnings

admin — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 12:40:06 +0000

We’ve got a question from one of our readers who wishes to install window treatments for some very big windows and he wonders whether to buy roller blinds or to get a retractable awning instead and live the windows as they are.

Personally, I think that there’s no connection between the two methods, as they are completely different. Retractable awnings are surely beautiful and extremely functional, but if you don’t have a balcony or a terrace, they prove to be an expense with very little functionality. Why pay more if you’re not going to use them at their fullest anyway? So, in case you have a terrace, you could consider installing retractable awnings, because you’ll love to just sit there are sip your morning coffee fully protected from the sun light. Beware that awnings can be manually operated or electric, the price depending very much on your choice.

If there’s no terrace, but only the big windows, roller shades are better, because they offer an elegant look to your room. Besides, the don’t get dirty when it rains, like retractable awnings do. Go for those cool, sheer, electric roller blinds and you’ll be satisfied with the effect and with the light filtering such window treatments provide. Your shop assistant will surely help you in choosing the most appropriate fabric depending on your specific needs.

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Seven Kitchen Window Treatments Tips

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 10:36:04 +0000

Kitchen window treatments are very important, because some families spend a lot of time in their kitchen on a daily basis, therefore the look of this room matters. On the other hand, kitchens are subject to tough conditions, because of the steam and food odors that may penetrate decorations and accessories and remain there, being very hard to get rid of.

Here are a few tips to help you choose your kitchen window treatments wisely:

Kitchen window treatments need to be washable. If you like to cook, your window treatments would get dirty very easily, therefore you need to be able to clean them often. Machine washable fabrics are the best, as you don’t have to invest time and energy in cleaning them.
Sheer cotton cafe curtains or Venetian aluminum blinds are the best. Cotton is easy to clean and aluminum doesn’t retain odors. Besides, you can find them for cheap.
Thick fabrics should be avoided. Thick fabric drapes or pleated curtains aren’t suitable for kitchen windows because they’d soon become the home of mold and mildew, because of the steam and high humidity, so you’ll end up with stinky window treatments. Molds are not good for health.
Kitchen window treatments need to be easy to take down for cleaning. You don’t want to need a specialized person to help you each time you want to wash your window curtains or shades, would you?
Swags, privacy tiers and valances are nice in every kitchen. Remember to keep them as simple as possible, and you’ll be able to obtain the look you’re after without cluttering your windows.
You don’t need complete blackout in the kitchen. If you cook, then why would you want to do it in the dark? Choose merry, light shades of color and sheer fabrics for your kitchen windows coverings.
Light fabrics with cheerful motives are a good, inexpensive choice. Fruits, veggies, rabbits, plaid patterns, everything goes here. If you have kids, you can let them choose the fabrics for your window kitchen treatments.

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Bay Window Treatments Overview

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:30:31 +0000

There are some of us who enjoy the privilege of having bay windows. If the landscape outside is something relaxing, like the beach or a mountain, it’s even better for the lucky ones. It’s great to sip your morning coffee enjoying the morning light in a room with bay windows. However, later on in the day, you may want some privacy and light filtering, so you need to install some bay window treatments in place. There are many solutions that fit this type of windows, from the Venetian blinds we all know, to Roman shades or pleated shades, or even plantation shutters. Everything goes, provided that you use the appropriate hardware. The main element that makes bay window treatments be a perfect fit is the curved track which has to follow the curves of your windows. This is why most of the times, this part needs to be custom-made, especially for your windows.

Tips For Elegant Bay Window Treatments

If you can, try to install your hardware as close to the ceiling as possible and don’t forget to use a valance to mask the rails. In case of bay windows, treatments that touch the floor such as vertical blinds or curtains and draperies will create a dramatic effect when fully shut, especially if you get some extra fabric to use it for decorative pillows or a table cloth, or at least a few napkins. Although you can make your own window shades without needing special skills, in case of bay windows you’d better address to a specialist installer, so you can be sure they’d be a perfect fit. Otherwise, you could easily spoil the effect, if your shades would hang unevenly at your windows. Bad measurements for window blinds are very easy to take and mistakes are costly to correct after your blinds have been produced.

When it comes to bay window treatments, try to avoid vertical blinds. There are two reasons for this. The first one is that verticals look very formal, office-style, so they can’t help you in giving your home that personal touch that makes great interiors. The second reason is that because of the bay windows architecture, such blinds may be difficult to operate and get tangled.

Pairing bay window treatments allows for more creativity. Consider, for instance, installing shades paired with panels, or sheer curtains paired with thick, heavy drapes. Bay window shutters are beautiful when used without any additional treatment, but you can consider pairing them with see-through shades.

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Sliding Glass Door Window Treatments Ideas

admin — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 09:06:45 +0000

Sliding glass door window treatments can be quite difficult to choose, because they have to allow the doors to slide smoothly whatever their position may be. Moreover, although they are very beautiful, sliding glass doors are not too energy-efficient, because of the big glass surface where heat exchanges are favored, so you’ll see it hard to keep the heat inside your room during winters and the cool air during summers.

Depending on the positioning of your patio sliding doors in comparison to other elements in the room, you’ll have to opt for eye catching window treatments or for more discrete ones. Only think what do your want your guests to focus their eyes when they first enter the room. Is it the door? Then go for some bold, contemporary, modern window treatments. Hanging several shades on a common headrail and roll them up at various heights can create an interesting and stylish effect, whether you decide to buy all shades in the same color, or you go for a combination of shades and nuances that bring in a joyful aspect.

In formal rooms, or in bedrooms, where you need a higher level of light filtering, you may want to choose some custom drapes as sliding glass door window treatments. In office spaces, vertical sheer shades or wood vertical blinds can be a great solution.

One of the sliding glass door window treatments ideas I find very stylish is the Hunter Douglas Duette 3/4″ Single Cell Sheer with Vertiglide Side Stack. This is a honeycomb shade which, although it’s sheer and translucent, has excellent thermal insulating properties. Being very simple and featuring one of the smallest stacks available on the market, it doesn’t clutter the room, so if you love minimalist decoration styles, this shade is for you. There are three options available: with side stack, with split stack or with center stack. The Vertiglide fabrics are all treated, so they are stain and dust resistant, thus allowing you to clean them with ease. They also feature sound absorption qualities, which can be a great plus in case you live in a noisy area.

Isn’t it cool to be able to enjoy your privacy and still have good visibility outside thanks to such sliding glass window treatments?

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How To Choose Your Window Shutters

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:04:42 +0000

If you are a fan of window shutters, you’ll probably have to spend some time researching before taking your final decision. That’s mainly because there are several types of window shutters, each of them serving a precise purpose.

Roller Shutters vs. Plantation Shutters

While exterior roller shutters can successfully serve as security or storm shutters, we can’t say the same about plantation shutters, which are rather suitable for areas where the weather is calm and hot. Some people even mount their plantation shutters instead of glass window panes, so you can imagine they aren’t so protective in case of strong winds or stormy weather.

Roller shutters, on the other hand, are extremely solid, sturdy, and suitable for offering security to your home, even when you’re out for vacation. They are usually installed on the exterior of the windows and they can be operated from the inside via an endless cord or a remote controlled motor attached to the shutter.

Plantation shutters can’t offer complete blackout, because of the way they are designed. The central rod allows the slats to tilt, but not completely, therefore there will always be some light entering the room through these slats. On the contrary, when completely closed, exterior roller shutters will offer total darkness, so you can enjoy your home cinema system or you can take an afternoon nap as if it was midnight.

What you need to know if you have arched windows: plantation shutters may be much more appropriate for such shapes, because they are more versatile and can be cut to rounded shapes. Roller shutters are more difficult in this respect, because they need to be rectangular, as they have to roll in the upper cassette, therefore your arched windows won’t be visible from the side where the roller cassette is installed, be it in the interior or on the exterior of the building.

Therefore, when choosing the type of window shutters, make a list with all your priorities, then see which ones are more important. If you have arched windows, you’ll probably want them to be visible, so you’ll have to discuss your available options with the window treatments specialists.

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Top Down Bottom Up Shades: Full Privacy Control

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:40:32 +0000

Top down bottom up shades are one of the fanciest innovations when it comes to home improvement. Their beauty resides in the fact that they can be either lifted from bottom to the top, like common window blinds we all know from ages, or they can be lowered from top to bottom, creating a look similar to those cafe curtains for country style kitchens. This is a very useful option, because it gives you the possibility to benefit from privacy and still enjoy the morning sky while still in bed. Almost any type of window treatments can be transformed into top down bottom up: shades of all kinds, from Roman to pleated shades, or Venetian blinds.

Brands of top down bottom up shades and blinds

As this type of shades is very appreciated by a lot of customers, almost all big names in window treatments have them in their portfolio.

Hunter Douglas has the Duette 3/4″ and 3/8″ Single Cell Opaque or Semi-Opaque, the Applause cellular shades and the Brilliance Pleated Shades, in either Venetian Crinkle or Haberdasher versions. One interesting model from Hunter Douglas is the Provenance Woven Woods – basic bamboo blinds with of top down bottom up, or a few more expensive versions from the same product range.

Bali blinds come with the Bali Diamond Cell 3/8” Double Cell Semi-Opaque (Northern Lights and Storm), or the Single Cell Light Filtering (Solitaire), the beautiful Bali Natural Shades Basic with top down bottom up option, or the Bali Standard Pleat Crepe or Spectrum.

If you want to go as cheap as possible and yet enjoy modern, beautiful windows and home decor, you can save a few dollars per window by going for generic top down bottom up shades, available from many retailers and online stores.

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Hillary’s Venetian Blinds: Cheaper Than Expected

admin — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:16:21 +0000

Hillary’s Venetian blinds are made of high quality aluminum, specially treated to prevent UV degradation, meaning that their color doesn’t fade or change with time. This is an important edge especially if your windows are exposed to sunlight for more than a few hours a day. For example, if your windows are facing South, it’s most probable that they benefit a lot from the daylight, as they are almost never in the shadow. On the contrary, rooms with windows facing North will be the darkest in a home, so you may not need special, expensive window treatments, because sun and UV rays won’t cause too much damage.

One of the qualities Hillary’s take pride in when it comes to their Venetians is versatility. Besides the possibility of choosing between four widths of slats, 15 mm, 25 mm, 35 mm and 50 mm, you can easily match them with your furnishings, thanks to the wide array of fabric colors and shades available. For instance, one of the best choices for a bedroom are the Blue Venetian Hillary’s blinds, because of the tranquility they suggest and because of their good level of privacy, yet letting enough light into the room. Another aspect of the versatility of these horizontal blinds is the possibility to fit them to skylight and roof windows.

Pricing can be determined only after discussing with a Hillary’s blinds consultant, because all their window treatments, awnings and shutters are made to measure and they come with a large choice of control options, trims, poles or other accessories. This is why a price given before knowing more details wouldn’t be too exact. There’s an example on Hilarys blinds official website: a lady who paid as little as 144 pounds, which is probably less than $300 for Venetian blinds for her dining room, kitchen and bathroom. There are no details on how big her windows were, but yet you can make yourself an idea of what would it mean to buy Hillary’s Venetian blinds for your windows.

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