Torgie’s Point of View

     Most of us are familiar with the saying attributed to Ben Franklin, “Time is Money”.  What does that mean for us living in today’s modern world where life is moving so fast? It means there is never enough time to do all we would like to do. Therefore it  becomes necessary to use our time in the best way possible. One goal here in Wilmington, NC is to find solutions that would save us both time and money.
      One option we have is getting our lives organized. This can be as simple as organizing our homes, especially our clothes closets. The time we spend trying to find our favorite sweater, slacks or pair of shoes is time we can spend doing some other important task thus saving us time and money.
Whether we have walk-in closets or reach-in closets, keeping them uncluttered and organized is a constant challenge.  Here are a few space saving tips that can help us.
     Going through our closet is the first step in order to sell, donate, or throw away unused or unneeded items. Then we can determine what would meet our needs in organizing our closet according to our lifestyle.
      One way this can be accomplished is by installing custom or ready-made closet systems. How nice it would be to have a place for our shoes on an adjustable shelf or cubicle we can easily see and reach.  Or, to see our shirts, skirts,and pants, all color coordinated and neatly hanging each in their own space. Ventilated wire trays are a great place for our folded sweaters, t-shirts, and other important accessories. Closet systems can be custom made according to your decor , using many colors and types of wood or laminate materials.These closet systems can fit your individual needs and tastes, offering a variety in affordable price and design.
     Real life requires practical organizational solutions so contact a  professional closet system company here in Wilmington, NC for a Free in-Home Consultation. Organized closets can make you dress better, feel better, and save you time, and after all “Time is Money”

Torgie     (SW)

Wilmington, NC

There is a natural element of fear when it is time to decide what color, fabric, and style in drapery you want to use to complete a room. This is because careful thought has been given to every aspect of the room’s design and draperies can add an element to the room that really makes it yours.
Of the most popular trends for draperies in 2010 are bolder colors, bigger prints, and texture. Some of the more popular colors this year are Plum, Magenta, and Charcoal Grey. So don’t be afraid to use color, prints and texture. It is important however before making a selection in fabric to ask yourself a few questions that can be very helpful.

Here in Wilmington, NC we have at times extreme weather changes. It is good to ask how important is insulation in fabric, which can effect your heating and cooling bills. Do you want fabric that softly diffuses light or one that block it out completely? Since color and pattern can set the mood or influence our emotional reaction, what feeling do you want to achieve? For example, the color blue is peaceful, calm and cool, red is energetic and warm.

Patterns offer variety and a fresh new outlook in window fashion, it is a great way to finish a room or update a room. There are thousands of fabrics, colors and patterns to choose from. So, again it is good to have in mind what mood you want to achieve and the pattern and color that will bring it all together. For example, printed fabrics look great in a room that has mostly muted or solid colors otherwise the result may be to busy or cluttered.
So if your Wilmington, NC home is laid back country or modern with angles and lines or even contemporary with function and convenience, using window treatments such as draperies with bold color and design can be the perfect way to bring it all together. To get started call for a Free In Home Consultation from a window treatment expert here in Wilmington, NC.

Torgie     (SW)

Wilmington, NC

Have you ever had that “What am I going to do with that window” thought?

It may be a different size, interesting shape or in a unique location. Many of the homes here in Wilmington, NC provide these window treatment challenges for the homeowner.

One challenge that we may face is the large or over sized window. What can be done with these windows to enhance our home or increase its value? There are several affordable window treatment and window covering options.

Large windows that are tall, wide or both generally make a room feel open and spacious. These windows let in quite a bit of natural light and bring the outdoors inside. Before you decide what window treatments will work for your home, it is best to first decide what do you want to accomplish? For example, how much light would you like to filter through? Is privacy an issue? Here in Wilmington, NC it is also important to consider keeping out the heat in summer and cold in winter, which is an issue to think about with larger windows in the home.

Some of the more versatile and affordable window treatments to use for large or oversized windows are Vertical Blinds. The advantage of these window coverings is that they are easy to install, affordable and are available in a variety of colors, textures and styles. Roman Shades are also especially nice if you have several large windows next to each other. These window coverings are a great way to keep the room simple, elegant and provide many of the desired options in window treatments, such as privacy and a barrier against cold and heat. One of the more outstanding ways to “dress” your oversized window is by choosing Custom Made Drapes. Drapes have endless variety in fabric, color, and design options. These also can provide privacy and are a beautiful barrier against cold and heat. Keep in mind that a combination of any of the above mentioned window treatments can give you many design options.

So when that thought, “what am I going to do with that window” occurs, set up a Free In Home Consultation with a window blind expert here in Wilmington, NC to find exactly what you need to meet the challenge and enhance the beauty of your home.

Torgie  (SW)

Wilmington, NC

Many Wilmington, NC residents have small windows that are difficult to find a window covering for.  One common type of window in the Wilmington, NC market is what is commonly called a sidelight window.  These are the small windows located to the left or right or sometimes on both sides of the main entry door to the house.  These window are many times left uncovered in the Wilmington market because homeowners are unable to find a good solution, however it is important to put a window treatment, window blind, or window covering on these windows because even though these windows are small, at night one can see completely in the home from the street.

Many have tried using blinds or shades to cover these windows.  Window Blinds and shades work well but these type products are designed to work off of weight and gravity and since the product is so small there is not much weight there making the product fickle when operating.  There are a few items that work very well.  They are Plantation Shutters, Window Film, and Window Inserts.

Plantation Shutters work very well for these applications.  Since shutters are like a door style of operation, not relying on gravity, they work very well in this type of window.  Giving you the maximum privacy and durability, a shutter is an excellent choice to cover a sidelight window in the Wilmington, NC market.

Window Film is also a great choice.  Window film is available in a frost which allows light to filter through but gives you complete privacy.  Window Frost however doesn’t allow you to look through the window, unlike a shutter which gives you the ability to control light and privacy.  However if your front door is equipped with a peephole, then Window Film is also a great solution to covering those sidelight windows.

Another product now on the market for Wilmington, NC residents is Window Glass Inserts.  These are very elegant glass inserts that are installed replacing the existing clear glass already in your window.  They are available in many different styles and layouts and change the look of your entire entryway.  These inserts are not designed for the everyday do-it-yourself-er since many times after your existing glass is removing the door has to be trimmed and cut, so this is a product best left to a Qualified Installer.  These Window Glass Inserts are beautiful and are a must see.

So if you live in the Wilmington, NC area, call a qualified Window Blind company today and they can set up a time to demonstrate one of the many great products mentioned above.

Torgie

Wilmington, NC

Is your home no longer a home but rather just a house? Have you lost that original warmth you once had in your home? Sometimes we tend to get so used to our home that it is nothing but a place to lay our head down at night. It no longer gives us that original feeling we had when we first purchased. Maybe we started looking for a new home, but found out that we can’t sell the one we are in. Maybe we just neglected our home because of the ever fast pace of life. Or maybe, we just never made the home we are in our personalized place we find comfort, warmth, safety, and relaxation. Well, don’t wait… Make your house your home!

There are many affordable options that can turn your house into that place you personally call home. A place where you look forward to coming back to at the end of the day. A place that speaks your personal style. A place where your friends and family know that you took pride in personalizing.

A few decorating options you can start with are Window Coverings. Window Treatments can change the look of any room without breaking the bank. From Plantation Shutters to Roman Shades, Valances to Draperies, window blinds can turn a boring, tasteless room into a beautiful relaxing oasis.

Another option for personalizing your home is organization. If your closets are filled and clutter is now invading your living area, a simple closet system can solve your organizational needs. Keeping all the stuff that needs to be in the closet, pantry, laundry room, or garage in their proper place will give you the living space you need to enjoy the comfort of your home.

The last area that we will focus on is the outdoors. Spring is just around the corner with warm weather, fresh air, and longer days. Make that porch or deck a second living space. With an outdoor awning or retractable awning you can turn that outdoor patio into another room. If the outdoors isn’t your cup of tea, but the fresh spring air is, then stay inside but let the air in with a retractable sliding screen.

So don’t wait, make your house feel like home again. Personalize it with some of the many affordable home improvement products available.

Torgie

Wilmington, NC

Have you ever cleaned out your closet and found items that still had price tags on them? You know what that means… you found something that was such a great buy that you just had to purchase it. Then, the reality set in. You forgot you ever had it because you can’t see what is in your closet.

Don’t think you are alone. Most Closets are full and many people feel they can’t fit another item in them, but that’s not true. I recently had a company come out and redo my master bed closet with a ClosetMaid laminate system. It was beautiful when they finished and guess what? I could not believe how organized my closet was. Now I can find everything I know I have and I can even find items I forgot that I had.

There are so many items to choose from: drawers, baskets, tie racks, belt holders, shoe shelves, valet rods, benches, hampers and more. What impressed me the most was when the company came out to give me a Personalized In-Home Consultation at no charge, they helped me get the most out of the amount of space I had. Then, they provided me with several options so that I got to choose my perfect closet.

So if you need a running start to close your closet door or you’re afraid to open your closet door, have a qualified closet company come by and give you a Free Personalized Closet Design today!

Torgie

Wilmington, NC

Are your Window Coverings or Blinds boring? There is an easy and affordable way to dress them up without changing them out.

Many people have white or neutral colored blinds. This is smart because many times, having color visible from outside the home is tacky. However, if everything inside the home is neutral, then this can appear boring or tasteless.

There is an easy way to get the best of both worlds. Sticking with a neutral color Blind or Window Covering is a good choice to make, but then you will want to dress up the blind with a top treatment.

Top Treatments are Valances, Cornices, Panels, Soft Treatments and more. They are a nice way to add color to your décor. Having an experienced Blind and Drapery Consultant come by and give you a “Personalized In-Home Consultation” Free of Charge will help you make a great decision.

There are thousands of patterns and colors to choose from to dress your window coverings. Don’t let this be overwhelming. An experienced professional can eliminate many of the choices with a “Personalized In-Home Consultation” and help you choose just the right fabric so that you make a great decision. They can also help bring together other items within a certain room by adding pillows, area rugs, bedspreads, and more.

So if your blinds are naked, dress them up with a beautiful fabric treatment today.

Torgie

Wilmington, NC