21 Oct 10 The Eternal Questions – Curtains Or Blinds?
Over the last few decades trend has been to go for blinds, but many homeowners still prefer to use curtains for decorating their homes. Curtains continue to remain more practical and easier to maintain than blinds. Moreover, an appropriate curtain definitely blends easily and gracefully with the rest of the furniture and furnishings.
One very attractive feature of curtains is their easy maintenance. Blinds are much more demanding as far as maintenance is concerned. Cleaning of blinds is very tedious, as you need to wipe each and every slat to remove dust and debris. On the other hand, curtains offer easy maintenance, just send them to the dry cleaner or use your washing machine for the purpose of cleaning.
Another advantage that curtains offer over blinds is the price, being much cheaper than blinds. Custom blinds need to be made by professionals, and therefore too expensive for an average homeowner. Curtains are far more affordable with the added advantage of convenience of installation. You can really install them of your own. With the present trends towards using lighter fabrics for curtains, you need not worry about custom drapery with thick and heavy fabrics.
To further reduce the cost of curtains, you can make them at home and make substantial savings. A bit of patience and some creativity is all you need for making of curtains needs only straight stitches on a sewing machine. You can make your own curtains even if you don’t have or don’t like to use a sewing machine by using basting tape that needs to be ironed onto the fabric to get seams. It makes an interesting and fruitful DIY project and you can take your own time to compete this project.
When we talk of colors we realize that blinds are mostly available in neutral and pastel colors, whereas you get curtains in innumerable colors and designs to choose from. Curtains allow you to experiment with your creativity by mixing colors and fabric textures and get exclusive pieces. You also get the option of patterns and prints if you decided to make your own curtains. Your options are as wide as the selection of fabrics in the store.
Here’s a word of caution! You should understand that fabrics and designs you choose can make or mar the look of your space. So, look for colors that match other colors you are using in the room, taking care of the color of the carpet or even furniture. Nevertheless, it doesn’t mean all the items are of the same color. Look for complementary colors that blend with each other and give a balanced look on the whole.
There are enough reasons favoring the use of curtains rather than blinds. They are more affordable, very convenient to install and maintain and offer you the opportunity of demonstrating your creativity, should you like to make them at home and thus have an interesting creative DIY project. Probably, you could have two sets of curtains at the cost of one set of blinds and thus afford frequent changes of curtains rather than getting stuck with the same set of blinds!
08 Oct 10 Where To Find Pleated Roof Blinds
It’s quite usual for most conservatory owners to realize at some point that the conservatory is too hot to be utilized gainfully and they start looking around for arrangements to make it more inhabitable. Unless some such measures are taken, chances of the conservatory being put to some use are rather remote as they remain too hot or bright and fail to offer the needed privacy. And, we can’t overlook the fact that the conservatory is there the entire year round and could be like a ‘fridge in winter’.
There is quite a wide choice of blinds, but most often roof blinds solve the purpose of have control over light and provide relief from heat. Even in case of roof blinds there are many options like roller blinds, linoleum blinds and the pleated variety that often finds favor with many buyers. You also get motorized blinds if roof can’t be approached conveniently.
An ideal place to look for what you have in mind is the Internet, but you need to be sure of what you are looking for and for what purpose. Is that going to be for aesthetic reasons alone or you would like it to be functional in other aspects too. It will be good to have a prolonged thought and assess your requirements, for the cost of installing blinds may well exceed the amount that you spent on having a conservatory.
Generally, it is found that pleated blinds work out to be the most economical and you get many choices as far as materials are concerned. They remain functional too and suit your requirements. Now, when you opt to go for pleated fabric, one obvious question coming to mind is if one is required to drill holes in the conservatory!
Well, the answer in case of most blinds is ‘Yes’, and that leads you think in terms of infringement and guarantee etc. But, don’t lose heart, for if you choose the Perfect Fit pleated blinds, you won’t b e required to drill any holes.
Perfect Fit blinds have other advantages also. One is that they clip in and clip out very conveniently. Moreover, each Perfect Fit blind is independently housed in a frame, providing a practical solution for any heat problem as the air is unable to get at the back of the blind. In other words you get a barricade of air as an insulator in summer and winter.
Colin Staplehurst is the proprietor of Conservatory Roof Blinds. Based in Swindon, they have offices throughout the UK. Conservatory Roof Blinds is a family owned business that prides in offering quality products at very competitive prices.
24 Sep 10 Creating Custom Window Blinds
One item that proves effective for giving a decent overall finish to home and adding to its decor is window blinds. Most would prefer to buy this item across the counter but there are some who like to have it custom made as per their specifications.
Ready to use blinds are available in standard sizes and if you happen to have odd sized windows of non-standard sizes, you certainly have to get them made as per the required size of the window.
It’s not only the size alone that prompts people to get custom made blinds. There are other reasons too. For instance, many decide to go for custom window blinds to get better decorative effect as the readymade variety offers very limited options and it may get difficult at times to get them in specific materials or matching fabrics and colors.
One of the most important considerations while ordering custom made window blinds is taking accurate measurements of the window. Taking measurements seem simple straightforward matter but that’s not really so, as different manufacturers provide different guidelines for measurement, taking into consideration the requirement for offsets and clearance.
If you decide to order your requirements online, you’ll find that websites provide detailed instructions for appropriate measurement of window for which you intend buying. If you are unable to understand and interpret the guidelines and aren’t too sure of having followed the instruction, it will be worth asking the vendor to do the needful for you. You may be expected to pay for the service but it’s better than ordering wrong materials.
Almost every town has at least one discount window blinds store that can do custom blinds for you. Many people prefer visiting showroom to choose the material in consultation with the professional advice provided by the staff at the store.
Generally, the local companies wouldn’t mind deputing someone competent to take measurements to ensure their accuracy.
Custom blinds can be made in many styles and you have to make up your mind as to which style would best suit your tastes and requirements. Usual styles are slatted horizontal blinds, popularly known as Venetian blinds, or non-slatted horizontal blinds. Both the major styles of solid blinds are roll-up blinds and folding blinds, more often referred to as Roman shades. There is another option of vertical blinds which is often the only choice if you have French doors or sliding terrace doors.
Next you have to choose the material of the blind. Wood blinds are classic and popular too, but if you are looking for more affordable option you may have imitation wood. Woven wood blinds made from natural materials like bamboo and reeds are often combined with jute and grasses to give a warm natural impression. Metallic finishes, tinted or colored vinyl and fabrics are the other materials you can choose for customizing your window blinds.
The variety available for custom window blinds is so large that at times one may get confused in selecting one. The best course for avoiding confusion will be not to lose sight of present interior décor and look for something that will jell with what you already have.
Tags: custom made blinds
06 Sep 10 Five Steps Guide For Conservatory Roof Blinds
Homeowners who decide to have a conservatory on their property are sooner or later required to consider the issue of having to install conservatory roof blinds. It’s an important decision if you should make arrangements for protecting your conservatory from the sun by installing overhead blinds. Here are five points you should be taking care of while thinking on the lines of having roof blinds on your conservatory.
1. Carefully judge the situation of your conservatory. It may have somewhat shaded location Watch how much sun it gets during different hours of the day. If you have sun coming for a good part of the day you’ll be required to devise some means of protecting not only the interiors of the conservatory but also your family from the harsh harmful UV rays of the sun. Either you can have some glazing that can reflect a good part of the incoming sun or install some kind of blinds on the interiors.
2. In case you have not yet constructed your conservatory, you can plan your course of action. You get many options if the conservatory is still at the planning stage. You may consider having a roof with polycarbonate glazing with solar insets fitted and get excellent protection from the sun. Or, you may have solar controlled glass that offers similar properties. It would still be worthwhile having conservatory roof blinds because apart from offering protection from the sun these also provide additional privacy and save your furniture and fittings from the harmful effects of the sun.
3. Even if the conservatory is already constructed and you observe that the sun is a problem, there still are ways to handle the situation. One option is to apply a glazing window film to the interior of the glazing, which has excellent reflecting characteristics, thus saving you from the harmful rays and glare. You may even decide to install internal conservatory roof blinds or perhaps external roof blinds, should you prefer those. Internal roof blinds offer the extra benefit of complementing the looks and décor of your home while providing you and the family with protection from the sun.
4. Decide the style of blinds you would like to have. Roof blinds are a bit tricky to fix. Many roof panels are wedge shaped and gravity poses a problem. Unless care is taken, they begin to sag sooner than your expectations. Popular options of roof blinds include pleated blinds, roller blinds or linoleum blinds that comprise of timber slats.
5. Go online to look for suitable blinds for your conservatory. Internet makes it so convenient to compare prices, designs and get quotes from the comforts and privacy of your home.
Usually, home owners do not consider roof blinds as their first choice for conservatory. Nevertheless, conservatories necessarily require some kind of overhead protection from the sun and if it escaped your mind to take this into account while building your sunroom, conservatory roof blinds make a very attractive viable option for you.
26 Aug 10 Create Professional Look With Ready-Made Office Blinds
When setting up a new office or remodeling the present one, opting for readymade office blinds is not only simpler but quicker also. Added to that is the facility of their availability in a wide range of colors, materials and sizes. That makes the process simpler for any office manager or coordinator.
This option of window treatment is getting increasingly popular these days, both for homes and commercial spaces. They are available in varying sizes. So, getting them in just the size that fits your window perfectly is no problem even if your window is not of standard size. In case of very large windows vertical blinds are often the best option. They hang from the top and may be opened from one end.
The options include venetian blinds or roller blinds. Their operation is very convenient. By pulling a cord you may raise or lower them. Their availability in so many different colors offers the convenience of coordinating them with office furniture including desks and chairs.
You get them in quite many wood grain finishes that would coordinate with wooden desks, work stations or wooden file cabinets and shelving. For desks, chairs and conference tables made from different material, the window treatments can bring out trim colors. They also augment colors on walls or wallpaper. In case of front office with a reception area, you can coordinate them with the furniture there.
A very helpful feature of having this style of window treatment for office is that it always gives a neat and professional look at the same time. Venetian blinds offer the facility of adjustment to allow just the right amount of light when used for covering a very sunny window. They are instrumental in reducing or eliminating altogether the glare that can be irritating for people using computers at certain locations.
A variety of materials are used for making these products. Many are made of vinyl and treated to get even a wood finish. Their main features remain durability and offering control over light entering the room. For windows where sun or light is not the main issue a richer look may be achieved using products made of real wood or bamboo. They are also quite sturdy.
Bamboo is a very sustainable material as it grows back quite fast after having been cut. If you plan going green at office this could be an ideal option for window treatments. Just like wood finishes, they may fluctuate in tone and color, so it shouldn’t be difficult to get what you like to have for office or work spaces. There is no dearth of professional looking options for ready made office blinds.
09 Aug 10 Timber Blinds – Advantages And Disadvantages
The timber blinds are getting popular and seem to be making a good alternative to traditionally used blind materials. Here, we shall look into the advantages and limitations of using such materials.
ADVANTAGES
1. The online availability of many companies and designers specializing in this business assures you of a completely customized product and services suited to your personal requirements.
2. The convenience of buying online is too well known to most.
3. As most of them use renewable, re-forested timber, you can be almost sure that the product is from a sustainable natural resource which provides employment opportunities while causing minimum negative effect on the environment.
4. Though usually made from a renewable variety of wood like the North-American basswood, the choice of staining allows you to replicate the blinds in any type of wood you may opt to have.
5. Their being made of wood offers the advantage of its inherit insulation properties, meaning that they help retaining both heat and cold, which amounts to reduced energy bills and reduced negative effects on environments.
6. Wooden blinds go a long way to compliment rooms with lots of wooden furniture like tables, chairs and cabinets.
7. Wooden blinds being naturally dark are effective in blocking or filtering harsh light from entering the rooms.
8. By incorporating colored ladder strings, head-rails or color tapes along with these blinds you can make them look even more original.
9. Wooden blinds certainly bring in a feeling of warmth and coziness to an otherwise stark and cold-feeling room, especially during cold and dark winter nights.
10. Those who consider using wood unhealthy for environments have the option of using faux-wood that continues to be as effective.
DISADVANTAGES
1 Comparatively these are more expensive, especially those made from natural wood. So, replacements, if ever needed, will also be more expensive.
2 Because of their higher price you may opt to have them in only some of the rooms and they may look out of place.
3 You can’t always be sure that the particular wood is not from a sustainable source. In extreme cases, it might come from ecologically important tropical hardwoods like teak or mahogany. Confirming the source is an additional task and makes choosing more difficult.
4 You should be aware that every piece of natural wood is slightly different. As a result, if you ordered online, you may not get exactly what you thought you had asked for.
5 When you order online, it is difficult to make an accurate assessment of how the wood will look like in real life. You are unable to sense the different textures and smells, and how would the colors of the wood be complimented by different colored or styled ladder strings
This list is certainly not exhaustive but shows there certainly are issues not to be overlooked when deciding whether or not to have timber blinds. As usual, research and planning is vitally important, along with a realistic view (especially while ordering from online stores) of how the décor would look in your kind of surroundings.
14 Jul 10 Comparing Roller And Roman Blinds
Roller blinds are quite akin to good old well-accepted Roman blinds. The purpose of both is the same; to allow you to have a control over the incoming light and help maintaining privacy. They not only have the same use, but also similar structure. Both get rolled up in tight reams and get stowed or can be rolled down to have a solid piece. Yet, the most important difference between the two is that in case of Roman blinds, made of small woven slats, there is always some incoming light, but in case of roller blinds you get total blackout. Roman blinds present a warm comfortable look whereas roller blinds look very formal and businesslike. Therefore it becomes imperative to keep the location and use of room in mind while choosing either of the two.
Roller blinds are reasonably priced and can easily be customized. The major difference in Roman blinds is the kind of wood used for making slats. A roller just comprises of a tube that has a definite length of stiff fabric rolled over it. The fabric gets rolled around the tube when you like to have light entering the room but gets stretched out to offer privacy and light control. The elastic resistance in roller shades is achieved using spring or sidewinder actions. The design of spring rollers incorporates a bearing to lock the blind in place as it gets fully stretched, while sidewinder-style of blinds can be adjusted manually to desired height by pulling the cord.
The installation of both the kinds of blinds is simple. That’s mainly because either kind needs only one curtain rod. The tube can be secured on the top or to the face of the window frame. The face fix requires securing brackets from the tube onto the frame. The top fix gets fastened to the lintel above the window. This system works well, especially in confined areas, as the frame won’t hinder any movement of blind, and thus allows the shades to circumvent window handles.
As you would know white color is not a good absorber of heat as it reflects most of light falling on it, it’s not difficult to understand why people prefer having white colored blinds. A perfect blackout shade should reach the edge of the window frame to prevent light from getting in. For offices both are good for reducing glare. These blinds need not be washed like curtains as plastic or wood can very easily be wiped off to get a clean surface.
Roman blinds tend to be a bit more fragile due small thickness of pieces, but generally they prove to be quite tough. The roller shades should have blinds of high quality to look good, but despite being sturdy, a ripped shade is ineffective.
21 Jun 10 Create Comfort And Style With Motorized Blinds
Motorized blinds find a wide application for every room, from use in home theatres to office building conference rooms. Automated and motorized shades and motorized blind systems can be usefully employed for adjusting sunlight, with just one touch. These blinds and treatments are almost a necessity for the handicapped and the elderly in the family.
An automatic blind opener is rather a new concept, though they have been around for years. However, even the low end models are priced at over a hundred dollars per window. Some models and styles can cost ten times that much. As the number and size of windows increases, the installation of motorized blinds or shades becomes all the more convincing. Some windows on certain walls can be as high as 20, 30 or even 60 feet which makes motorization a practical necessity.
You can surely find a larger selection of motorized blinds if you go online. Using the Internet as a research tool, you can find hundreds of blinds to choose from, with just a few clicks of your mouse. The pricing structure should be clear, simple to understand and to the point. Some of the best packages come in all inclusive offers – Guaranteeing no hidden costs and no surprises when it comes to settling your account. The company should be willing to provide assistance if you require that.
Remote control blinds offer a high level of child safety and provide the most convenient way for operating the hard to reach windows. Motorized shades are available with radio frequency control thus doing away with the requirements of a line of site between the remote and the shade. Motorized blinds meet the challenge of today’s architecturally designed windows. Available with motorized or manual control, these can be specifically designed for solariums, skylights, A-frame, triangular, octagonal, circular and arch shaped applications.
The requirements of lighting coupled with the need for privacy prompt the householders to have motorized window treatments for their living rooms, bedrooms, and media rooms of offices. Security reasons can also necessitate motorization of your window treatments. With the installation of an appropriate motorized window blinds one is not required to keep climbing up high ladders to fix the blinds of tall windows. This reduces the chances of unfortunate avoidable accidents. Having installed motorized blind is certainly a much wiser option than climbing up ladders to do the blinds.
The remote controlled motorized blinds are a great technical innovation, offering both safety and convenience of use. However, more efforts are needed for marketing of this product to increase awareness among consumers and online stores could help in making the remote controlled motorized blinds more popular. Many have apprehensions about the utility and safety of the product and thus need the assurance that once they buy these, they won’t ever regret.
Tags: electrical blinds, motorized shutters
22 May 10 Luxaflex Blinds – A Great Value For Money
The Luxaflex blinds Fashions brand is one of the most widely known and respected window covering brands in Europe since the 1950s. Its products have been sold and supported by the Hunter Douglas Group in Australia for over fifty years. Throughout that period the brand has been synonymous with quality craftsmanship, innovation and value addition in the window coverings market. Since the last few years, when the government in England recognized the logic in energy conservation, they also brought innovations to their blinds to suit that need.
With the trends in Europe shifting towards homes with larger windows and doors that enhance the quantity of light entering your home, Luxaflex provides the answer with a range of shading alternatives. Often one needs to control the light and heat entering home thru windows that are difficult to access. LUXAFLEX offers a wide range of window shading solutions including motorized blinds and shades that allow you to have total control over your blind by the mere touch of a button or and provide ease of operation for peace of mind, transforming the rooms into desirable places to live or work from.
Australian made fabrics are made available in a wide choice of modern colours. The informal look of the LUXAFLEX Roman Shade creates a comfortable yet elegant setting. LUXAFLEX Roman Shades that come with a modern look and feel are available in a range of fabric types including room darkening, translucent and the popular blackout blinds, their effectiveness being widely appreciated in conserving energy, the need of the hour worldwide. And they allow you to enjoy your view whilst offering a comfortable level of privacy during the day. With a color range of versatile neutrals and fashionable tones, LUXAFLEX Roman Shades are a welcome addition to any home.
The Luxaflex blinds brand is one of the most widely known and respected window covering brands in Australia. Its products have been sold and supported in Australia for over 60 years.
If you are not in Europe or need to buy blinds in bulk, it would be a wise decision to buy them straight from the dealers of Luxaflex blinds. Hotels, offices and some homes can benefit a lot by way of substantial discounts and services on buying directly from them and their staffs are the experts in advising you on what are the most logical choices for your budget.
Tags: luxaflex shades, luxaflex shutters
01 May 10 Patio Door Blinds – Choose The Best Model
Perhaps no other part of your home needs as perfect a window treatment as your doorway and patio area. The reason is very simple to guess. It’s the doorway that causes transition between your home and the outside décor. There is a large variety of items that one can chose from for adding to the décor of any house. Somehow, that seems to be particularly true as far as choosing the right treatment or patio doors is concerned. Look at the choice one has from drapes or curtains to patio door blinds. Ultimately, personal preferences and tastes matter the most.
Over the last few years, patio door blinds have become quite popular. No more anyone likes to use blinds that need to be replaced every six moths. There have been noteworthy developments in window treatments. There is an endless variety of blinds that need no replacement for a decade or so. And, that certainly goes to compliment the décor of the rest of your home.
There are certain critical characteristics you need to look for when buying door blinds. Broadly speaking patio door may be divided into two categories, which are: modern and cold styles and the warmer and earthy designs.
It’s not uncommon for many homeowners to get carried away by the current trends while making a decision in this regard and they tend overlook the style of their home and its décor. Imagine having very modern, cold furnishings with old warm and earthy blinds! Or you furniture is more of vintage and you provide earthy nature wooden blinds. It doesn’t jell. Yet, it’s not all that difficult to make the right choice.
There are many advantages of having blinds. They certainly contribute to the overall décor of your room and are functional. They are easy to install. Though many homeowners detest the idea of DIY installation of blinds, the fact is that it doesn’t take more than an hour or two at the most to successfully complete the installation of your patio door blinds.
There are many areas that face extreme variation of temperature, from too high to too low. Naturally, people in such area would have insulation as the top criteria for deciding the kind of blinds. Choosing the right kind of blinds that offers maximum insulation is very important, as it goes to help keeping your cool in summers and hot in winters.
Tags: patio door shutters
