So, How's Business?

I've been asked this question alot recently considering the state of the economy, housing, gas prices, and now the troubles with AIG and Merrill Lynch. People are definitely watching their dollars, which is a good thing. Interestingly some of us in window and home decor business are actually seeing an increase in work since people are deciding not to move and to fix up their homes instead. Updating your window treatments or bedding is a heck of alot more affordable than buying a new home. You can make a big impact with a small amount of fabric.

So, what should you look for when choosing new window treatments? There are a few things to consider besides style, such as: light control, privacy, and functionality.

Light Control - either for keeping the brightness at bay for bedrooms or TV rooms OR for protecting your furniture and carpets from fading. Choices include:

• Roller shades in an opaque fabric or a special UV-blocking fabric (see photo at top) that allows you to see to the outside but blocks the damaging sun's rays. I have one of these installed in my formal living room and it work well - it even helps keep the temps lower in that room.


• Natural shades, e.g. bamboo, with a privacy lining


• Cellular shades in an opaque fabric


• Wood blinds with tilt controls


• Window draperies in a non-sheer fabric

Privacy - all of the choices above will also provide privacy except for the UV-blocking fabric, which allows people to view in from the outside in the evenings if the lights are on inside.

Functionality - consider these points:

• Children's rooms should not have long draperies and all blinds should have the child-proof cords. Newer blinds and shades are required by law to have this safety window cord feature.


• Double height windows - if you need to have operable blinds on very high windows, consider some of the newer techie features such as remote control.


• Stationery treatments - if you do not need to open or close the treatment for privacy or light control, there are many options for stationery panels and top treatments.


• Top down / bottom up shades offer many ways to manage the light and privacy options you need.

Style - here's where the fun begins:

• Use combinations of treatments in contrasting fabrics, such as drapes over a roman shade or swags layered on a straight cornice.


• There is an amazing amount of trims available to jazz up even the simplist fabrics and make your design unique.


• Drapes can have different styles, such as tab top, grommets, and different styles of pinch pleats


• Valances can be swagged, pleated, boxed, shirred, gathered.....the possibilities are endless!

Enjoy!

An Interior View is a custom window treatment workroom dedicated to helping customers beautify their homes one window at a time. Check out the products and photo gallery and sign up for the free newsletter at www.aninterioriew.org.