Motorization - A Great Solution

This week we installed Hunter Douglas' motorized Duettes for a special client. As you enter her stunning log home, you see a wall of glass on the far side of the great room. Two large pairs of French doors are topped by stacked sets of windows, reaching up to the arched 20 foot ceiling. The vista beyond the windows is gorgeous, framing Mt. Baker in the distance, with nearer views of the river and the nesting bald eagles.

That much glass presented a problem in the winter. Those expansive windows allowed the cold to seep through, casting a chill in the room that even a roaring fire was not able to alleviate. The sheer height of the windows made it very difficult, if not impossible, to operate any window coverings manually. Motorizing the highly energy efficient shades was an ideal solution.

The client chose shimmering Opalessence fabric in Copper Blaze, which complemented the warm wood tones of the log home. Hunter Douglas' new Platinum remote made it possible to use either infrared or radio frequency technology to operate the shades together or singly.

The result? Beautiful window coverings that combine energy savings and insulation in the winter with reduced heat gain in the summer, in one easy to use package. And one satisfied client!

HD Duettes complement any room or style

Thermal Drapes - Stylish Solution for Energy Savings

Snow is falling in the Mount Baker ski area! It's getting cold out there! The layer of snow blanketing the area is a beautiful sight, but the cold has its own set of challenges.

When a favorite client called to see what I could do about blocking the cold from coming in her large French doors and the picture windows atop them, I was happy to have solutions for her. Our first line of defense was Hunter Douglas' Duette shades. Their line of Architella fabrics boasts a very high R-value of 7.9 when installed with double-glazed windows and are eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $1500, with some qualifications. The best solutions for the upper high windows were motorized Duettes; easy to operate and beautiful at the same time.

However, the French doors required more than just the shades to increase the living comfort in the enormous great room. A beautiful cinnamon-colored tweed fabric from Kasmir Fabrics was chosen for the face fabric. But how could we make the drapes as energy-efficient as possible?

The help of my Kasmir fabric sales rep, Anita Faulkner, and the handy Temp-Assure brochure from Hanes steered me in the right direction. A discussion with Ralph Angel at Angel's Distributing also helped firm up my decision. Since the drapes are not desired to be black-out, I will be lining the drapes with Angel's Premiere Napped Sateen then interlining with Domette flannel. By creating insulating layers of trapped air, there will be an over 300% increase in the R-Value over identical unlined drapes!

I'm looking forward to installing these eye-catching and highly energy-efficient thermal draperies in this stunning home.

Call or email if you would like to discuss what we can do to make your living space more comfortable and energy-efficient. I may have just the solution you were looking for!

Fabulous Fall Sale!

Fantastic Fall Savings are here! We are offering great savings from two great companies this fall - Hunter Douglas and Graber Window Fashions!



Hunter Douglas is promoting their SEASON OF GIVING from Sept. 25 - Dec. 15 with generous rebates between $25 - $600 per window on window coverings such as Duettes, Skyline Gliding Window Panels, Silhouette Window Shadings, Luminettes, and Vignettes.

As well, in recognition of National Window Covering Safety Month in October, Hunter Douglas is offering free upgrades to the Literise Cordless Lifting System on Tiered Vignette Modern Roman Shades, and Duette & Applause Honeycomb Shades. This offer runs from Sept. 25 - Nov. 16.



Graber's offer begins Oct. 1 and runs till the end of the year. Receive $25 cash back on blinds and shades purchased with safety upgrades, to a maximum of $100, on qualifying products.

As part of National Window Covering Safety Month, we are also offering retrofit kits for your older window treatments.

Call 360-966-4142 for details!

Are Your Window Coverings Child-Safe?

Major Recall of Blinds and Shades after Child Deaths, the headlines screamed yesterday. 5.5 million blinds and shades were recalled by six different manufacturers yesterday, after three children died after being strangled by loose cords. CNN Money carried an excellent article detailing the companies involved and more of the facts surrounding the recall. A Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman said that in the U.S., one child dies every month as a result of strangulation by a window cord.

I've long been an advocate for child safety when it comes to window coverings. I have been very thankful that the major brands that I sell, Springs Window Fashions/Graber, and Hunter Douglas, have been at the forefront of ensuring that their products are safe both for children and pets.

How can you keep your children safe around your window coverings?
* Repair or replace your pre-2001 window coverings - new safety standards were adopted in 2001 improving safety. You may be able to retrofit your old blinds or shades - ask me how to get retrofit kits.
* Install only cordless window coverings in children's bedrooms, and wherever else possible
* Move beds, furniture and cribs away from window coverings
* Use cord cleats and attach tension pulleys and safety hold down brackets if they are provided
* Keep cords out of reach of children

Still concerned? I can come and do a free safety audit on your window coverings and suggest ways to help. Together we can work toward the goal of no more child deaths due to unsafe window coverings.

Onward Hunter Douglas Certification!

A few weeks ago, I received a good dose of inspiration from an email I received. Only seven individuals became Hunter Douglas Certified Professional Dealers in June; a designer whose work I admire was one of the seven. Quite an feat - HD sent out an email notifying all dealers of their accomplishment! This program is thorough and encompasses a wide range, from Hunter Douglas products such as Skyline and Silhouette, to window covering basics, to professional development.

In a followup note to my congratulatory message, this designer wrote, "There is no better time to invest in yourself than when business is a little slow (summer and economy)..." And those words were the impetus I needed to continue my education in the window fashions industry. It's so easy to just sit back, relax, and wait for the clients to call. It's much harder to be proactive, especially when it's summer, it's sunny, and the livin' is good!

There are so many great ways to keep on learning from your lawnchair - boot up your laptop, and look for the great webinars on offer, or browse through the plethora of articles online. I'm disappointed I had to miss a webinar on social networking by Debbie Green of Minutes Matter Studio, coming as it did in the middle of an installation, but will keep my eyes open for the next one. Grace McNamara's Vision Magazine always has lots of interesting, informative and beautifully presented articles to delight the eye as they inform the mind. TrendSpot Blog... Oh, la, la! And I could continue...

But I would much rather have you share your favorite inspirational educational informational blogs/websites/magazines/ezines with all of us!