Something Good This Way Comes.
Just watched an Industry Webinar. Starting in December there will be voluntary changes put in place for the Manufacturing of all Corded Window Covering Products. There will also be changes made in the Manufacturing of Cordless Window Coverings. Despite what the media at large has been telling people ‘Cordless’ Window Coverings are also dangerous At the back of the Window Covering there are support cords that can be a potential hazard.
All of these new manufacturing guidelines are being implemented without Government mandates or ‘laws’. I can tell you that the changes far exceed any required fabrication difference that has been asked for by Public Organizations that have been pushing for this. Addressing the ‘Cordless’ Window Coverings is just one example of this.
Changes are starting to trickle in with various products. If you have a question about any of these changes please don’t hesitate to contact us. Since these new guidelines are voluntary it will take awhile for many Manufacturers to update their products and production systems. There’s also the issue of designing new parts and pieces that will be used on the Window Coverings, so I don’t expect this to be adapted quickly by all Manufacturers.
Only available from Window Attire.
While most companies in our industry our looking for ways to make products ‘cheaper’ and cutting corners to fill what they think the customer wants, Window Attire is looking for ways to offer custom window covering products that are unique and functional. Our Stripe Art Roller Shades are just one example of this.
This product starts with an image. We’ll start with something a little ‘colorful’ to show you how this works.
Image of a particular room.
We then convert the original image to a Digital Striped Art image and then we can print that image on a Roller Shade.
This Shade is pulling the dominant colors in the room of the original image.
We can use any digital image to make a Shade, including your own Digital Graphics.
And the Shade that we can produce…..
Maybe you have a room that has colors that you really like put can’t decide on a Custom Window Covering to use.
Problem solved. Now you have a Custom Roller Shade that pulls the colors you selected for your room.
Or, maybe you have a photograph or image that has all the colors you’d like to pull into a Custom Striped Art Shade.
We can convert your favorite colors image to a Striped Art Roller Shade.
We can make the Shade in any number of stripes and can use single sized stripes or use random sizes. We can also make the shade with horizontal stripes. If this is something you’d like more information on please contact us. We’ll give you the particulars on this very unique Custom Window Covering. Your image must be available in certain graphic types and resolution. It also needs to be scaled and trimmed to fit your custom window size, but we’ll help you through all this.
Let us count the ways. It is probably one of the most common questions we hear, and the variety of options is probably more than you’d think.
Option # 1 Verticals
This is the most common form of treatment for a Sliding/Patio Door. In the past this particular product had the most repair calls of anything we sold. The free hanging fabric was held by weights and chains across the bottom that were always breaking. The fabric inserted into a vinyl groover would always pop out when the vinyl would expand and contract from the heat and cold. The carrier clips (the part that holds each slat at the top) would break if someone turned the slat in a direction it wasn’t meant to go.
Now we only sell thick PVC verticals that have various colors, prints, and textures. This eliminates the need for weights and chains at the bottom and there is no groover that holds the slat. And, most importantly, our verticals are ‘Self Correcting’. What does this mean? If a Slat gets out-of-whack and turns the wrong direction all you have to do is close the slats and then open them…. the Slat then corrects itself and lines up with the other slats. Repair calls have all but vanished since we’ve started selling this particular type of vertical.
Option # 2 Sliding Panels
The newest of the Vertical Products can be used in a variety of different ways which includes treating Sliding/Patio Doors. Panels run in a track system which makes opening and closing a breeze. What makes the Sliding Panels so unique is that they can be made in a variety of different fabrics. The fabric selection includes Roman Shade, Roller Shade, Solar Shade, and Woven Wood fabrics/materials.
This means the decorating options are almost endless. It also means that the opaque nature of what you select can be something you can have a relatively open view through to having total black out. Customer feedback on this product has been very positive. It can also be used for covering large window/wall expanses and we’ve also used this product as a room divider.
Option # 3 Shutters
Typically if you did a Shutter Product to cover a Sliding/Patio door you would also have Shutters in the windows that are viewed in the same area, but we have done Shutters only on the Sliding/Patio door. To keep the cost down we have done Wood Blinds on the windows.
There are basically two different systems we use with Shutters. Shown in the first image above is the Bi-Fold System. It works essentially the same as a Shutter in a window. The panels fold into each other when you want to have an (almost) complete open view.
The second type of Shutter system is shown in the other image above. It is called the Bi-Pass System. It works very much like your Sliding/Patio door. The panels move back and forth in a track. One panel will move in front of the other. This is the most common Shutter system we use for Sliding/Patio doors because the one major disadvantage to the Bi-Fold System is that is requires quite a bit of interior room when you swing the panels open. If you look in the first image above you can see how much they come into the room and they aren’t even completely folded open.
Option # 4 Vertical Cellular
This is one of our more popular treatments for Sliding/Patio Doors. The reason? It operates by just sliding across in the top headrail (see image) so there are no cords to pull or turn. The stack space when it is completely open is very small. Typically only 7 inches to 9 inches depending on the overall size. The material is a Honeycomb/Cellular fabric so it is very energy efficient. Since your Sliding/Patio door is one of your big heat loss/gain areas this is very important to many customers.
Plus; we now offer an updated version of the Vertical Cellular. We can do a double honeycomb cellular shade for added energy efficiency and the track the shade slides back and forth in isn’t restricted to stacking at one side. You can now stack the Vertical Cellular at either side (or even in the middle) for added function. This system also eliminates the need for side track mounting hardware for a cleaner look.
Option # 5 Solar and Roller Shades
There are times when some customers just want to have sun protection. There may be excessive glare on a computer monitor or television or some people don’t want to wear sunglasses when they eat in their nook. A Solar or Roller Shade can be the perfect solution for these types of situations.
If we use a cassette type headrail the entire shade will roll up into the headrail when you don’t need the sun/glare protection for a clean look.
Option # 6 Wood Verticals
If you’re wanting something unique and functional a Wood Vertical may be just the thing for you. We primarily sell the ‘S-Shaped’ Vane Wood Verticals. This allows for a tighter closure and a tighter stack when you draw them open. It is also a much thicker vane than some of the flat slat Wood Verticals which gives you a higher degree of vane integrity. (no warping).
Plus; we can do Wood Blinds on the windows to give you a consistent look for various areas in your home. The Wood Verticals come in a variety of stains and paints. The look of real wood is very rich and provides a warm decorating look. And…. it is definitely very unique. You won’t see this in many homes.
Option # 7 Vertical Sheers
People who really don’t like Verticals love this product. It operates the same as a traditional Vertical but the Vertical Sheer has a Sheer wrapped around the vane. When the “slats” are open you have the outside view that you’d have with any kind of Sheer Product and when you want total privacy you just close the vanes. Open or closed this product provides a rich look.
Having a 4 inch hem at the bottom of the Sheer gives it the look of a Drapery. It definitely doesn’t look like your typical Vertical. The Vertical Sheer comes in a variety of different Sheers and Colors, different Vane Colors, and a variety of Valance Options. You can also do a matching horizontal product (see the image above) on your windows to match the Vertical. The Horizontal product has a sheer on the front so you can have the same sheer view and has a blackout liner that will drop at the rear for total privacy. We are always selling quite of few of the Vertical Sheers and the feedback from our customers has been very.. very.. positive.
Option # 8 Drapery
This has been used for years. It gives you the ability to use virtually any type of fabric so you can work with any colors or decorating style. You don’t have the limitations of some products. Where you stack the fabric when it is open is fairly important. If you do a center split draw you want the fabric to be completely off the access portion of your Patio/Sliding Door. The best option is to do a one way draw that stacks the fabric opposite the opening.
Also; you should use a standard traverse rod with a cord operating system. If you do a ‘Ring’ sytem that requires you to grab the fabric with your hand to draw it the fabric is going to soil quickly where you are pulling on it.
Custom Drapery really is the way to go here. If you can find a Redi-Made that works with your colors…. that’s great. With Custom you can always find the right color and you will get hardware that will last as long as you live in the house. Inexpensive Redi-Made hardware isn’t designed for daily use.
Finally is the stack space. Drapery has a large stack space when drawn open. This means you may lose part of your view (if you want that). The solution is to make the Drapery slightly wider so it will stack completely off the glass when open.
Option # 9 Anything Goes
Besides all the products we’ve discussed here you also have the option of doing almost any type of Horizontal Product. Some people just don’t like any kind of Vertical Product. We’ve done Roman Shades, Wood Blinds, Cellular Shades, and more on Patio/Sliding Doors. Typically we will do two of what we are doing (on one headrail when we can) that gives you the ability to raise the side that you go in out of.
So… if this has been a question you’ve asked yourself…. “How Can We Treat a Sliding/Patio Door?”.. I think you can see that there are quite a few options. The end decision is based on the style and function that will work best for you. Oh, and your budget. It may come down to what will work with your budget. The products we’ve discussed are all over the board with regards to price.
We have a few historical items from the beginnings of the Window Covering Industry. One we just acquired was a Style (design) book put out in 1930 by the Kirsch Company.
Some of the design styles are very dated, but some are not. The Kitchen shown above is dated but the color scheme isn’t. The use of red in a kitchen is still very popular. Our own kitchen is painted red (with a black wash).
The one thing that struck me as fairly important was the missive by C.W. Kirsch regarding ‘Style’ trends for 1930. The following is a partial quote….
“Windows and doors are the most important features of a room from the standpoint of decorating, because they are the most prominent. If a piece of furniture is old, unattractive, or out of harmony with the rest of the room, it can be placed in a corner or removed entirely. Not so with the windows. You can’t hide a window in a dark corner. And because windows really set the ‘tempo’ or style of the room, they deserve careful attention to detail.
If one word could adequately express today’s styles, it would be - simplicity. The Victorian ear of ‘muchness’ is happily past - gone are the huge rooms with their fifteen foot ceilings and massive windows draped with stuffy materials. Today, we recognize the value of fresh air and sunlight and we build and decorate our houses accordingly.”
The key points made 80 years ago still stand today. The importance of window coverings setting the ‘tone’ for the style of a room is still very relevant. Also; the reference to ’simplicity’ is still very relevant. We rarely do huge 16 foot by 20 foot draperies anymore.
Sometimes we have to look toward the past to see the future. I just thought his comments were interesting. Oh…. and if you ever have a chance to re-watch the movie Gone With The Wind from 1939 pay attention to all the drapery hardware used in the movie. It was all provided by the Kirsch Company, a company we still rely on today for almost all of our Hardware needs.
Those are three words we’ve never been able to say.
Custom Wood Cornices can be a beautiful addition to almost any Window Covering, but every Product that we’ve looked at in the past has been fairly expensive. Sometimes…. very expensive. We took on a few of these but found that the price put a serious dent in most of our customers Window Coverings budget. Since we were selling so few of them we kinda’ put those Products “on the shelf”.
When we saw the pricing for this new Custom Wood Cornice product line we were a little skeptical. Knowing what other products of this type sell for we just figured that this one “must be a piece of crap”. We couldn’t have been more wrong in our thinking.
Not only is this product very reasonably priced, it has a number of ’stock’ and ‘custom’ features. Options like adding Fabric or Wallpaper inserts and doing custom stains/paints take this product to top of our custom product offerings. We’ve actually tested this product in a number of applications before we started selling it. Best of all, our installer loves this product. It’s been easy to install and the Keystone support pieces are very tight and allow for large widths.
We’ll be adding this product to our web site shortly, but until then you can take a look at this Brochure. We think you’ll be very impressed. And as always, contact us if you are interested in this product.
We really like our new Blog. Now, if we could just set aside more time for writing posts.
Unlike many blogs on the Web we don’t have the 100 different annoying ads, popups, flashing “you just won a Million Dollars”, and other sensory overload crap. Our readers can concentrate on one thing and one thing only. Reading our posts.
Because this Blog is integrated with our Web Site we have complete control of it and we guarantee you’ll never have to view a Carnival Side Show while trying to navigate around this Blog.
Enjoy!
Well, I might reconsider using that bright lime green that you really like. You might get tired of it rather quickly.
Using Color scares most people. They feel that using an ‘off white’ is safe and works for their home. Most of the Homes we’ve been in (and we’ve been in a lot of Homes) have wall colors that are usually painted in the safe ‘off white’. When faced with this we always like to introduce a new Color to the Home.
It usually is as much of a psychological consultation as it is a decorating/design consultation. Some people are thrilled to have someone do what they could never do…. bring Color into their Home. But others are still trapped in the ‘off white’ mind set.
For those that suffer from Colorphobia the therapy can be rather simple. Do you always wear off-white clothing? Do you have a piece of Art in your Home that you really like? Do you have Dishes in a favorite color? Do you like a paticular kind of flower? Do you enjoy being outdoors? All of us have a color or colors that stimulate our senses. That make us feel good. Think about the colors that make you feel good.
The Home today isn’t the cookie-cutter house of just 10 or 20 years ago. People want to feel comfortable in their home and it only makes sense that you bring in color or colors that do just that. There are enough things that bring stress in our lives today; the economy, job security, retirement….. your Home should a place where the stress of everyday life goes away for awhile. The power of color is pretty amazing. It can provide a positive emotional response that we are not even aware of sometimes.
We also hear quite often; “We have to consider what our house will look like when we sell it”. Well, are you putting your Home on the market today? If not, then you still live there and you should enjoy living there. Now, if you are still set on painting all your walls with that Bright Lime Green…………
Now, if only more Companies would follow their lead.
The following is an excerpt of a letter from Marvin Hopkins, President and CEO of Hunter Douglas, dated March 25, 2010.
We believe the American consumer is best served by purchasing from well-trained and fully merchandised dealers who understand, appreciate and recommend our custom products and will consistently provide professional service and full support to their customers, to assure thoroughly satisfying experiences with Hunter Douglas brand products.
In furtherance of this belief, we have made the decision to cease sales of all Hunter Douglas brand products through the large and growing internet sales channel, effective June 1, 2010.
The internet will always be a dominate force in the way we live and buy, but we’ve always been concerned with how this has effected the custom window covering business. Over the last couple of years approximately 40% of all Internet Based Custom Window Covering companies have shut down. When you are selling only on price you have to constantly reduce your profit margin to stay competitive. This means you have to sell based more on quantity than quality.
We’ve always believed that selling custom window coverings requires a significant amount of training and experience. It also means being able to offer the customer the product they need, not just the product you have available to sell. It also means being able to offer the service the customer needs. Unlike Hunter Douglas we believe it is the company and the people you work with that will provide a “thoroughly satisfying experience”.
Regardless, even though we don’t sell much Hunter Douglas product, we applaud them for taking this position. It wasn’t that many years ago that this industry had a larger amount of integrity. You had to have experience and you had to know your product(s). Much of that has been lost because of the ‘price driven’ internet based companies.
Kudos to Hunter Douglas.
Image shown is a Hunter Douglas Silhouette.
If so, why? We all like to save money. Well, most of us. Unfornuately the Custom Window Covering Industry has plenty of products that are manufactured for one reason and one reason only: Make It Cheap.
At our last Home Show I was talking with a couple that were looking at new Roman Shades. They had bought custom Roman Shades from one of the ‘box’ stores three months ago and they were already falling apart. I won’t tell you the name of the ‘box’ store but it rhymes with Lowes. They thought they were getting a great deal on something they really wanted for their home. Instead they ended up with more “stuff” that will end up in our landfills.
Any decent reasonably priced custom window covering should last as long as you have it in your home. If you purchase something cheap that falls apart in a year or two are you really saving any money? In the long run it could cost you much more than if you had just purchased a good product to begin with.
We have some very inexpensive sample decks for various products. We’ve made the decision not to sell them. It may mean losing a sale from time to time but it also means that we won’t have people calling us constantly with repair issues. We’d rather have phone calls telling us how happy you are with everything. You don’t stay in business for 25 years by selling ‘crap’. Two of the former major Window Covering Retailers in the Denver metro area took the ‘crap’ approach and both went out of business.
Buying a window covering just because it’s cheap just adds more crap to our landfills and encourages countries like China to produce cheap product that they can sell in our country.
In the past only the very wealthy could have specially designed fabrics produced by world famous designers. Well, that’s now a thing of the past.
Fabrics designed by Larry Laslo, one of those world famous types, are now available through one of our distributors. We can also combine “normal” fabrics to give your home a look that is very unique and very personal. In case you didn’t know, we not only do drapery and top treatments. We can do pillows, bedding, headboards, bed seats, and more.
This is a sampling of the ‘Larry Laslo’ Designer Fabric line…..
If you’d like to know more please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Working with real suede and leather for Custom Window Treatments can be a nightmare, if not impossible. Hence, fabrics that have the look of real suede and leather are becoming more and more popular.
Also; the patterns and colors of these Faux fabric alternatives go way beyond your typical idea of what Suede and Leather look like. The color palettes available can fit almost any decorating project. Plus; the Faux Suede and Leather Fabrics are suitable for almost any application. (ie Fabric Treatments, Drapery, Bedding, etc)
If you are looking for something unique this may be the way to go. Not many people would consider suede or leather for a modern or traditional look, but they definitely will work. Be sure to ask us about these fabrics if you should have us out for a free in-home appointment. We think you’ll be very surprised.
The answer to that question surprises quite a few people. In our Home Show Booth we have a Real Wood Blind and a Faux Wood Blind, both the same size, displayed next to each other so visitors at our booth can lift the two different blinds.
The answer is: Faux Wood Blinds are heavier. Did you answer correctly?
Actually; Faux Wood Blinds are much heavier than a Real Wood Blind. They are about twice the weight. Because of this Faux Wood Blinds require more ‘ladder’ cords to support the weight. ‘Ladder’ cords are the vertical cords running up and down in the Blind. For most people these extra vertical ‘ladder’ cords aren’t distracting, but for some people they are, especially if you should add Tapes to the Faux Wood Blinds.
Yes, you can save some money if purchase Faux Wood Blinds, but keep in mind that they are much heavier and on some very large windows they can be almost impossible to lift.
Vertical Sheers aren’t new, but the Ultra Sheer certainly is. If you have an exisiting PVC/Vinyl Vertical Blind you can transform it into a beautiful Window Treatment. This program is completely custom and very affordable.
After the Ultra Sheer is attached to your existing PVC Vertical you’ll have the ability to control light and maintain a view out the glass during the day. With the sheer diffusing the light you’ll have some day time privacy and you’ll keep harmful UV rays from fading flooring and furniture. The image below shows the Ultra Sheer in the Sheer Open position on the left and in a Sheer Closed position on the right. You can still angle the Vertical and draw it back just like you currently do.
Your existing Vertical Blind should be in good operating condition and the Vanes should be securely attached because the Ultra Sheer uses all of your current Hardware and Vanes. You can view the Ultra Sheer Information Sheet to find out just how easy it is to transform your current Vertical. To find out more about this program just contact us at 303.690.4310.
We’ve already commented on our focus on child safety over the years, but we’ve had a few customers ask if the massive recall has effected our Roman Shade business. The long and short answer is…. no.
The main Roman Shade product line that we sell has been approved by the Safety Council and as we’ve mentioned in our other post using simple common sense ‘fixes’ can prevent child injuries. It should be noted that death by strangulation with window coverings amount to less than 1/10 of 1% of the total number of strangulation deaths with children 4 years old or younger annually. This doesn’t diminish the serious nature of the problem but it does indicate that there are many other safety concerns in most homes other than window coverings.
There are companies that will come out to your home and inspect it for child safety. It may be well worth hiring one of these services to find all of the potential dangers in your house.
If you already have a Roman Shade and want to ‘fix’ it to prevent child strangulation it’s quite simple. We’ve included a link with a video below that explains the process which involves cutting all the cords, removing them, and using Shower Curtain Hooks. The shade has to be raised manually once this is done. If you have any questions about the Shades we sell or if you’ve purchased Shades from us and still have concerns then please don’t hesitate to contact us so we can figure out a ‘fix’ for you.
This Link has a video that you can watch that explains the whole process for fixing existing shades.
It’s not a new trend but it is gaining interest. The use of of Personal Fashion to inspire Custom Window Covering Fashions. Using Colors, Layers, and Designs that emulate popular Personal Fashion. The example above is from a recent article in a Trade Magazine.
The Cornice is styled after the Coat and the Shade with Panels is styled after the Blouse and Skirt. The colors are blended to emulate the flow of the Personal Fashion. The end result is a Custom Window Covering Treatment that is timely, unique, and quite attractive.
Personal Fashion, Nature, Architecture all can provide inspiration for Custom Window Coverings but there is no ‘rule’ for your Home Design. It’s just that Personal Fashion trends incorporate many of the aspects of Window Fashions. It has also been suggested by some that if you’re having trouble deciding on a color range to work with that you look in your Clothes Closet. Colors that you enjoy wearing might be just what you’re looking for in your Home.
Starting with a ‘Blank Slate’ can be quite expensive and this is where we can help. We can put together styles and colors that work with your existing Furniture, Accessories, Wall Color, Flooring, and Architecture.
We’ve been addressing this issue for years, but according to USA Today it is still a big problem. The ‘fix’ for solving this problem varies depending on the product but it is usually so simple. Things like Cord Cleats, Breakaway Cord Tassles, and Cord Tension Holders all are designed to prevent tragic injuries or death and every Manufacturer we deal with has some or all of these options available.
We don’t sell the ‘Redi-Made’ products like the Roman Shades that have cords behind the shade. All our Roman Shade products have operating cords at the front so they can be addressed to prevent this serious problem. Also; the most simple prevent is just making sure that the operating cords are put on the side of the Blind or Shade that is away from where the child is sleeping.
Besides ‘Cords’ there are a few other things we will always address when we know there are children (or, there are going to be children) in the home. We discuss these issues with the customer, explain why they may be a risk, and then give them the options on dealing with them.
It’s almost impossible to completely ‘Child-Proof’ a home against all the hazards but we will always be mindful of any possible risk posed by a Window Covering.
Welcome to our new blog. Years ago we started a printed Newsletter called ‘For Windows’. It was time consuming, a little costly, and would sometimes already be ‘dated’ by the time we printed it; so we are excited that we can now offer the same information that people expected from our original Newsletter on our new blog.
Now we can post information in a very timely manner with all the details our customers need. So, enjoy! You can browse entries by category or you can use the search feature if you are looking for something specific.