Torgie’s Point of View

     The home decor question: Can vertical blind vanes be repaired or does the entire blind need to be replaced? The home decor solution: Both options are available depending on the situation. However, before making a decision there are a few factors to consider for your Wilmington, NC home.

     Vertical blinds became a very popular window treatment in the 70’s and maintain that popularity today. Vertical blinds are available in different types of material such as PVC, vinyl, fabric, and wood. The type of material used and the thickness of the vanes can determine the durability of the blind. One common problem with vertical blinds is that they can break where they attach to the carrier on the head rail. Pets that like to chew can also damage some blinds and some vanes can be damaged by excessive use.

      When making a decision to replace or repair the blind, it is good to  keep in mind  how old are the vertical blinds?  This is important because some studies show that window treatments usually stay a minimum of 5 to 7 years or longer. If  the verticals are older than average, it may be time to update your window treatment.

     Something else to consider, does the manufacture still provide the product? This can be challenging. However, there are a few companies that specialize in this area. One bit of advice regarding vertical blinds is to order a few extra vanes when placing the original order. It will save you time and trouble later. Some companies require a minimum of 10 replacement vanes to be ordered and others will special order what is needed if available. Companies such as Levelor provide replacement vanes directly through their customer service or can be ordered through a retailer that sells Levelor vertical blinds.

      Another important consideration is the location of the vertical blind in the home. Heavy traffic areas such as patio doors can contribute to the damage of vertical blinds with the constant opening, closing, or frequent use of the area. Some homeowners have replaced the vertical blinds on these windows with panel track blinds or drapes, which is a helpful alternative.

     The home decor solution is find out what solution best fits your needs regarding vertical blinds. It is best to contact a window treatment company here in Wilmington, NC for a free in home consultation to find what options are available.

Torgies   (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     An interesting quote by Ben Stein says, “The first step to getting the things you want out of life is this: Decide what you want.” This statement agrees with the thought of interior designer Melissa Gilbert in speaking about choosing a modern window treatment for the modern home. She points out that “homeowners need to deliberate the purpose of  window treatments before deciding on a style, privacy, light control, acoustical benefits, and installation, these are all the issues that should be accounted for.” She also mentions, “The key is simple, tailored, and functional.”

     Woven wood window treatments are considered a good choice for the modern home. They are made of environmentally responsible fabrics and available in a variety of styles. Woven wood blinds are made of natural materials such as bamboo, reeds, and exotic grasses. Hunter Douglas offers “Provenance” woven wood blinds with a standard cord lock system, available in 77 different material and color combinations. These blinds can be upgraded with an optional liner that protects your home and helps reduce energy expenses in your home.

     Many modern homes today are designed with larger windows and large “great rooms” for comfortable family living. One sleek modern alternative to vertical blinds for these larger windows and patio doors are sliding panel tracks. Panel tracks can also be used as a room divider that adds fun and function to your home. Levolor has the latest in fabrics and textures for sliding panel tracks, such as Soho textured fabrics in Vanilla, Java, and Mocha. These panel tracks  from Levolor can also be designed using a sheer material in Lemon Drop, Golden Rod, and Fatigue, for a subtle and dramatic effect.

     Draperies in fabrics such as linen and cotton duck with colorful geometric designs are a modern trend in window fashion for the enviromentally conscious. Tailored Pleat, Grommet, and Goblet drades are styles that are affordable and popular for the modern home making a sleek, simple , and bold statement.

To help you decide which modern window treatment is right for your home, contact a window treatment company here in Wilmington, NC for a free in home consultation.

Torgies    (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     If money were no object, what type of window covering would you select for your Wilmington, NC home? It is exciting to dream about the possibilities. Window treatments that fall into this category are made with material of high quality, skilled craftsmanship, and dollar for dollar can add to the over all value of your home.

     When choosing a window covering that fits the above description, the first choice for many would be plantation shutters. Shutters have been described by some as fine furniture for your home. Custom designed shutters made of hardwoods such as cherry, cedar, and bass are some of the finest window coverings for your money. Hunter Douglas offers “Heritance” hardwood shutters that can be custom finished with 100 different “Integra” paint and stain finishes. Hunter Douglas states, “Heritance hardwood shutters have a vast selection of frame choices, specialty shapes, configuration options and louver sizes giving you one of the largest selections in the industry.” Shutters have proven to be a great investment, highly valued by home-buyers as well as homeowners.

     Another window treatment considered by some as one of the best window treatments for your money is hardwood venetian blinds. “Hardwood Collection” by Levolor with 2 1/2 inch slats is an impressive choice. These blinds can be custom ordered in a wide variety of paints and stains. Venetian wood blinds can make any room warm and inviting. Never out of style they fit any decor with their natural beauty and classic style.

     The perfect addition to any dream window treatment is a motorized or remote blind control system. This type of system can be used with a battery powered wireless remote control or switch mounted on a wall. With the touch of a button you have the freedom to open, close, raise, and lower the window coverings. Ease and convenience of use make this blind control system a dreamy choice.

     In today’s world money is an object, so to get the best quality for your money contact a window treatment professional here in Wilmington, NC to find the best in affordable quality window treatments.

Torgies   (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     When choosing the right window treatment for your Wilmington, NC home, it is important also to consider what type of blind control features will best fit your decor and your family’s needs. Some of the more popular window treatment blind control options are: motorized, continuous loop, cordless, TDBU, and wand/cord systems.

      Motorized and remote blind control systems have become more affordable and easy to use because of advancements in window treatment technology. This system is designed to be used with a battery powered wireless remote control or a switch mounted on a wall that controls a motor that is within the window treatment. With a touch of a button, all the blinds can be raised or lowered individually or as a group. A traditional control for vertical blinds includes a wand/cord system. Vertical blinds are rotated by pulling a beaded chain and opened with a pull of a cord or a heavy-duty fiberglass wand that rotates the louvers open and closed. These also are available with a cordless design for added safety. Hunter Douglas provides Perma-Tilt wand control with tilt and traverse functions that are easy to use.

     The continuous loop clutch system is a manually operated system that is pulled in a circular motion to raise and lower the shades. Pulling on the cord or beaded chain at the end of the shade positions the shade exactly where you want. Hunter Douglas has the Ultra Glide cordless spring activated system to raise and lower blinds and is especially good for large windows. The constant cord length of this system means never any long dangling cords to detract from the over all look of the shade and provides an added safety feature. The Ultra Glide system works well with Hunter Douglas “Alustra” and “Vignette” shades.

     Top Down Bottom Up blind control system is defined by it’s name. Shades with this feature can be opened from the top down or the bottom up or both, providing privacy and light control. This window treatment control option works well with cellular, woven, and roman shades. One other unique option is Levolor’s Transformations Day/ Night shade. This optional control system is available with their cellular shades and allows you to transition a light filtering shade into a room darkening shade with just the pull of a cord.

     Before you choose what blind control system will work best for your home, it is good to contact a window treatment company here in Wilmington, NC for a free in home appointment to get aquatinted with the many blind control options available.

Torgies     (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     Designers around the world have long admired textures for the way they add design, depth, and character, to a home. There are virtually endless combinations of fabric, texture, and color to choose from when thinking about home fashion. Window treatments are no exception. With the variety of shades, blinds, drapes, and shutters to choose from, any decor can be yours. A somewhat recent addition to window treatments is the availability and affordability of faux iron inserts for shutters and specialty windows such as arches, transoms, and sidelights. Any room of the house is dressed up with the added texture and design of Tableaux Faux Wrought Iron.

     Tableaux Faux Wrought Iron products are constructed out of 100% post industrial recycled wood fiber with formaldehyde free resin, making this product affordable and Eco-Friendly. Faux iron is lightweight, about 10% the weight of conventional wrought iron and therefore has unlimited design options. It can be formed into any shape, square, rectangle, circular, or custom designed, with ornate, geometric, or floral patterns. There are two finishes to choose from, faux and organic which is based on a natural chemical process. Some traditional color options are, Antique, Gold, and Bronze Brass. Other colors to choose from include Amazon Emerald, Shanghai Sunrise, and Pacific Pearl, to list just a few. For decorative purposes it comes double-sided when both sides of the design are visible such as in a front door entry way or single-sided when only one side is visible such as used for high transom or arch windows.

     Faux iron inserts add interest and dimension to the home. They complete the look for any style shutter, changing them from simple to elegant. The addition of a valance or cornice with the faux iron insert, creates beauty and variety. For a more personalised effect, it is possible to incorporate logos, monograms, or crests, into custom designed faux iron inserts.

     Faux iron inserts are not just limited to window treatments. They can be used in a variety of ways, on doors, ceilings, skylights, both inside and outside the home. To get a complete look at what can be done with faux iron inserts contact a window treatment company here in Wilmington, NC for a free in home consultation.

Torgies     (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     It’s that time of year again when winter melts away and the sun begins to warm the earth with spring. Here in Wilmington, NC we look forward to the warmer days and the blooming of the Crocus, Daffodil, and the Dogwood. It is also the time of year to freshen our homes for a new season.

     This is a good time of year to clean fabric blinds because during winter when the family is in the house, more heat, dust, and dirt accumulate. Cleaning fabric blinds and shades can be simple if you have the equipment you need before you start. The first thing to do is lightly vacuum the blinds with a brush attachment. If this attachment is not available, simply use a soft cloth to gently wipe down the blinds to remove the dust. Next use a sponge, soak in lukewarm water with a small amount of mild laundry soap. Ring most of the water from the sponge and wipe the area down gently, careful not to rub the material too hard. Use a soft towel just to blot any moisture from the blinds and let air dry in the open.

     Most cellular pleated shades need little care. Hunter Douglas Duette Shades have an anti-static fabric and require only a light brush with a vacuum cleaner attachment. If they need a little more care just use a damp cloth to wipe them down.

     Here are some good reminders which will help make cleaning  fabric blinds safe and easy. It is recommended that fabric window treatments be cleaned every 2 to 3 months to keep them looking new and lasting longer. Another tip, remember to check how the blinds react to water by checking a small inconspicuous area before cleaning the entire blind or removing a particular stain. Water stains on blinds can be tricky so it is best to ask a window treatment company for suggestions before you attempt to clean the blind. Finally, if you are not sure about cleaning the window treatment, contact the place where you bought the blinds or a local window treatment company here in Wilmington, NC for help and suggestions.

Torgies    (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     Nearly all of us are concerned about the rising cost of living. Gas prices are going to an all time high and getting higher. Looking for ways to save money is on the minds of many living here in Wilmington, NC. In big and small ways saving money is a priority.

     Some are saving money and energy by using window coverings. This is important because windows are responsible for up to 50% of heat loss during winter. Draperies have been used in homes to help prevent this loss. However, there are a few things to keep in mind when using this type of window covering.

     Conventional drapes reduce heat loss generally by only 10%, letting most of the energy escape because of gaps between the window and the drape. One way to be energy-smart is to convert your existing drapes by making sure they fit tightly against the outside perimiter of the window which will prevent air circulation through the cold glass and heat loss is less. Also, make sure the drapes hang all the way to the floor. Making these adjustments to your drapes can cut heat loss up to 25%, keeping the home warm and cozy.

     Another energy-smart choice is to use thermal or insulated drapes. Thermal drapes are especially effective in rooms with large windows or in rooms that need to stay warmer such as the bedroom or the nursery. Thermal lined drapes are regular curtains with a foam backing made of a cotton polyester blend. The thermal backing makes them heavier so be sure to hang them with durable hardware. These insulated drapes help keep inside temperature more consistent and comfortable so that the thermostat can be lowered which means lower energy bills. Kathy Ireland Home by Alta offers a wide choice of thermal lined and insulated drapes in many styles, color, and sizes.

     Yes, draperies do keep the cold out, especially when using thermal lined or insulated drapes. These drapes are affordable and are known to last 10 to 15 years longer than unlined drapes. Thermal drapes also offer privacy and help with sound reduction. These window treatments can certainly add beauty, balance, and life to any room. To get acquainted with all the varieties available contact a window treatment professional here in Wilmington, NC for a free consultation.

Torgie    (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     The best of both worlds is a phrase to mean a situation where one can enjoy two different opportunities, or to get the best of both choices. Some living here in Wilmington, NC may feel they have the best of both worlds, the Atlantic Ocean and the tranquil waters of the Intracoastal Waterway. This phrase can also be used to describe a very popular window covering, the Top Down Bottom Up window shade.

     Top down bottom up window shades has a unique and versatile feature. They are designed so you can adjust the top independently from the bottom, controlling light and privacy offering the best of both worlds. This feature allows for variations creating different ambiance by lowering the shades from the top, bottom, or both. Top down bottom up shades provide privacy at eye level while allowing daylight to filter through either from the top or bottom of the window. This feature is popular because it can be used with many different types of shades such as roman, pleated, woven wood , or honeycomb shades.

     Hunter Douglas refers to top down bottom up shades as “the ultimate in versatility.” Hunter Douglas offers “Brilliance” pleated shades with this feature in 160 material and color combinations. Their “Silhouette” window shades offer an added feature called “TiltAnywhere” which allows you to tilt the vanes in any position. Levolor offers “Accordia” a cellular shade in a contemporary design with top down bottom up features for maximum light and privacy control. Levolor also has a roman shade that features two different styles, flat and hobbled. Both styles can be upgraded with the cordless top down bottom up feature in popular colors such as Seaside, Suede Mink, and Cream.

      Top down bottom up shades offer the best of both worlds. They provide your home with both privacy and just the right amount of light. The variations of style, design, color, and material are seemingly endless. To find the right top down bottom up shades for you home contact a professional window treatment company here in Wilmington, NC for a free in home consultation.

Torgie     (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     We live in a gadget prone world, always looking for items to make life easier or more convenient. We have remote control TVs, Garage Doors, Toys, and even some vehicles can be started with the push of a button. One convenience some may have overlooked is the availability of motorized remote control window treatments. Because of the advancement in technology, motorized window treatments are now more affordable, fashionable, and a smart addition to your Wilmington, NC home.

     Nearly any type of window covering can be motorized. When talking about motorization, there are various options such as remote control, switches, timers, and sensors. There are various types of motorization to use with each type of window treatment and should be designed to fit your individual needs. Motorized remote control window coverings can also be fully integrated into existing or newly installed home automation systems.

     Hunter Douglas uses The Power Rise 2.0 with Platinum Technology battery powered system that is easy to install and can be used with “Allustra Duette” honeycomb shades, “Designer Roller Shades,” and “Applause” honeycomb shades. Power Tilt with Platinum Technology is designed to be used with Hunter Douglas “Alustra Woods“and “Country Woods Geniune Woods” blinds. Lafayette also uses a motorized battery powered remote to raise and lower your window treatments easily. Lafayette offers this system with “Woodland Harvest” wood shutters and “Genesis III”roman shades. Motorized remote control devices are simple to maintain, just replace the battery every 2 to 3 years depending on use.

     There are many benefits in using motorized remote control window treatments; ease and convenience are number one. They are a great choice for hard to reach windows such as those behind a bathtub, cathedral windows, or windows with a unique shape or location. Remote control window coverings offer safety in homes where there are small children since there are no cords to be concerned with. They are also very helpful in homes where elderly or physically limited persons reside. Motorized window treatments can contribute to energy efficiency in your home, saving you money.

     Motorized remote control window treatments are no longer a luxury. They are affordable, fashionable, and necessary for the modern home. Contact a window treatment professional here in Wilmington, NC for a free in home consultation to view all the motorized window treatment options.

Torgie    (KP)

Wilmington, NC

     From BBC WWII Wartime Homes comes this bit of history regarding blackout curtains and European homes in the 1940’s.”Every window had blackout curtains drawn at night. Blackout curtains stopped light from rooms showing from outside. The idea was to stop lights from towns guiding enemy plans to drop bombs.”  These blackout curtains were a valuable and necessary item during the war time years. In today’s modern world, blackout and  room darkening window treatments are still a valuable and necessary choice for several reasons. The many modern designs and varieties of these window treatments  make them a practical, affordable, and beautiful addition to your Wilmington, NC home.

     Blackout blinds, shades, and curtains by definition of the name can block out nearly 100% of incoming light. Room darkening window treatments depending on the material used can absorbed 50-70% of incoming light. Both options are useful depending on what you need for your home. If you live in a sound or light polluted environment these are great options, helping to keep noise and bright light from entering the room. These window coverings are great for nurseries, guest rooms, home offices, bedrooms and other light sensitive areas of your home. Many who are on work schedules that require restful sleep during the day hours as well as those who have health situations and young children find room darkening shades, blinds, or curtains a valuable item. Room darkening and blackout window treatments not only provide peace and quite, but can also protect valuable furnishings and save energy which saves money.

     There is a variety of color, design, and texture to choose from when selecting room darkening or blackout window treatments. Levolor window fashions offers Accordia, a single cell room darkening honeycomb cell shades. They are described as having a ” soft, classic look with cellular construction offering efficiency and value.”Levolor also offers Amalfi room darkening vertical blinds that have a unique Backstacker design, drawing the blind from the back of the vane stack as opposed to the front which is a convenient feature. Hunter Douglas offers Duette Architella honeycomb shades in 88 different fabric and color combinations in room darkening materials, from sheer to opaque. These honeycomb shades according to Hunter Douglas are viewed as ” the industry’s highest level of energy efficency, reduce energy loss up to 50%”, depending on the room darkening fabric used.

     Room darkening and blackout window coverings are a great choice for many reasons. Contact a window treatment specialist here in Wilmington, NC for a free in home consultation to help you decide how best to use these window treatments in your home.

Torgie      (KP)

Wilmington, NC