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Dear Dr. Dotty,
The 100+ degree days are here and my son’s room is turing into a sauna. The room faces East and early in the morning sun is SO bright and the room stays SO hot most of the day. The wooden blinds in there just aren’t cutting it. What, short of black out drapes, do you recommend? Something that is durable and neutral and affordable – I don’t want to have to change window coverings every time he wants a crazy new paint color on the walls!
Thanks,
Roasting in Texas
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Dear Roasting in Texas,
Indeed it sounds like you have one blazing decorating dilemma. Fortunately, I did my design therapist residency in Texas, so this isn’t my first “rodeo” in dishing out design therapy for this type of window delirium. I have several possible prescriptions for you (ranked from least expensive to most):
One of my favorite places to search for affordable solutions is on Overstock.com. Sometimes it’s hit or miss, but more often than not, I’ve had success in
finding a great deal or two on inexpensive drapery panels. Their quality of construction is usually really good, however, if you aren’t satisfied,
they have a great return policy and are easy to work with. I just did a quick search and found these Insulated Thermal Drapery Panels for only $59. (They had a few others for as low as $29.) They come in several colors,
so you have several choices for going neutral or a little more bold. You can install these drapery panels right over the existing blinds so your son can still enjoy the benefits of being able to adjust the blinds to allow more or less light in when the draperies are open.
Don’t forget, if you choose this option, you will need a drapery rod and tie backs. You might also want to dress up the look by adding drapery rings with clips (see picture on the right) instead of using the rod pockets.
Whether your style is traditional, transitional, modern or eclectic, there are woven wood shades that will bring a unique finish to your design. These shades come in hundreds of finishes and with the option of including a black out lining, which will help keep that hot sun out during the summer months. Woven wood shades are a great alternative to traditional fabric shades. In addition to being ecologically friendly, they are affordable and come in countless colors and styles to fit whatever design style you choose.
Roman Shades (pictured right) combine the up-scale beauty of soft drapery with the convenient operation of a shade. You can choose from an extensive selection of fabrics, from timeless to ultra modern, to create an atmosphere of high-style sophistication that’s sure to impress. Roman Shades are available in several styles, from Classic Flat and Hobbled to London or Relaxed.
Cellular Shades are a stylish way to boost the energy efficiency of your home. An attractive honeycomb design creates pockets of air that insulate windows from heat and cold to lower your energy bills year round. Cellular Shades also offer great sound absorption to quiet rooms with hard flooring. Cellular shades are available in three cell sizes and four opacities. Typically, to purchase a custom treatment like this, I would recommend going through a professional retailer. There are many colors & options from which to chose, and when ordering a product like this, you want to make sure you have exact measurements (down to the 1/8th inch). If this option is appealing to you, an Interiority Complex Certified Design Therapist, such as Tara Wilt (our Chief of Design Therapy) can make a house call. She’ll come right to your home, measure, help you choose colors and options which fit your style & needs, and take care of installation and warranty. All for the same price as a big box store or online retailer!
Of course, one of the best window treatment choices for insulating against heat and cold is the custom shutter. Custom Shutters are the ultimate investment in your windows. More than a classic look that never goes out of style, custom shutters provide superior sun protection, light control and privacy. They are available in premium hardwood and poly-satin, faux wood compounds, our interior shutter collections feature classic styling (including our popular plantation shutter style), long-lasting finishes and exceptional craftsmanship. Though custom shutters are a popular window treatment, especially here in Texas, this probably won’t be the best solution for you at this time, but something worth considering in the future.
If you need more ideas or inspiration, be sure to visit our online inspiration gallery to see a sampling of the myriad of custom window treatments we offer. If you see a solution you like and you need our help, click here to contact us today and we’ll schedule a house call to cure your window delirium right away!
Have you been shopping for window coverings for your home and been confused by all the choices?
Are you currently living in a fish bowl with your daily/nightly activities being in display for your new neighbors?
Are the windows of your new home adorned with paper temporary shades, sheets or worstof all, tin foil? (I truly hope none of you answer yes to the tin foil).
If you answered yes to any of these questions (but hopefully not the tin foil question), read on…
Window Coverings 101: Functionality First
Even though window coverings are decorative, it is the function of the window covering which should be your first consideration. You can have a beautiful window covering, but if it doesn’t fit the function of the window, you won’t be pleased. As you begin this process, bear in mind these aspects of window coverings:
Privacy
Consider safety and security first. Also, keep in mind that your privacy needs might change from room to room.
Orientation of the window
Window coverings that take into consideration the room’s orientation will result in significant savings in your cooling bill and will extend the life of your furniture and carpet.
Light control
Some types of window coverings simply raise up and down (as seen with a Roman shade). You can raise or lower a shade to any level you want, but you can’t really control the light. If light control is the issue, you would want to select a product that has a vane, slat or louver that you can tilt.
Budget
Prices can range from $20 per linear foot to well over $200 per linear foot. You want the window covering you choose to fit your budget, as well as the style and price range of your home. For instance, you wouldn’t want to install 1” mini-blinds in a $450,000 home, nor would you want to invest in custom wood plantation shutters for a $90,000 rental property.
Once you’ve recognized the functional aspects of covering your windows, you get to work on the fun part — decorative style. (Unless, of course, you’re an engineer, then you probably liked the “function” part of this article best.)
Personal Style
You will generally have a gut feeling about the type of room you want to create, before you even decide on color schemes or style. Is it formal or casual, classic or retro? Once you have a feeling about how you want this room to look, you will have a vision.
For inspiration, look to decorating magazines, surf the web for photos, visit home improvement stores or contact an interior decorator or designer to help guide you through the myriad of options available to you. You can also check out our online inspiration gallery here.
Interior design trends are heading toward simplicity in window fashions, with clients bringing down the poufy chintz drapes and replacing them with window treatments that have a more contemporary look. This means people are exploring the use of different materials in their window coverings.
At Interiority Complex, we are seeing clients move away from elaborate custom draperies and toward a layered look of simpler styles, such as woven wood shades topped by a simple valance or 2” wood blinds or wood shutters flanked with side panels. Creativity with textures is an important element in the look for 2010, and doesn’t necessarily interfere with a room’s color scheme. Multiple textures within the room add interest without adding color, a trend we will continue to see in home décor and interior designs for years to come!
Don’t forget, at Interiority Complex, we offer FREE IN-HOME WINDOW COVERING CONSULTATIONS and FREE INSTALLATION for our clients in Austin and Houston areas. Also, for a limited time, we will be offering a FREE COLOR THERAPY SESSION (i.e. INTERIOR COLOR CONSULTATION) OR A FREE ROOM PLANNING SESSION for our clients who purchase $1,000 or more in window coverings!
Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Ashley Whittenberger is the Principal and Chief Decorating Officer of Interiority Complex. You can visit Interiority Complex, access the free article archive of design prescriptions or learn more about home staging and creative design therapy at www.myinterioritycomplex.com. Ashley lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, son, two dogs, and two cats, and she is proud that she has learned to successfully live and thrive with her compulsive and chronic rearranging and re-designing disorders.
If the words “woven wood blinds” bring to mind Tiki hut- styled frat parties and paneled rooms with matchstick blinds, fear not, today’s woven wood blinds are made of sustainable materials like bamboo, grass and reeds and are a stylish and sophisticated way to bring texture and warmth into a space.
Whether your style is traditional, transitional, modern or eclectic, there are woven wood blinds that will bring a unique finish to your design. The blinds come in hundreds of finishes and with really great features, like the top down/bottom up feature which allows you to raise the blinds from the bottom up or drop them from the top down.
Woven wood blinds are a great alternative to traditional fabric shades. In addition to being ecologically friendly, they are affordable and come in countless colors and styles to fit whatever design style you choose. Contact one of our window covering experts today and bring a little nature into your home.
If you would like to receive a FREE in-home estimate and FREE installation for woven shades or any other custom window treatments we offer, click here to contact us or call the Design Hotline at 512.289.7177.
In the meantime, enjoy these photos below and don’t forget to visit our online gallery for more ideas for overcoming “Window Delirium”.
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Want To Use This Article In Your Ezine or Website? You have my permission, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Ashley Whittenberger is the Principal and Chief Decorating Officer of Interiority Complex. You can visit Interiority Complex, access the free article archive of design prescriptions or learn more about home staging and creative design therapy at www.myinterioritycomplex.com. Ashley lives in Austin, Texas with her husband, son, two dogs, and two cats, and she is proud that she has learned to successfully live and thrive with her compulsive and chronic rearranging and re-designing disorders.