{window treatment wednesday}

Once again, Hunter Douglas leads the world of window coverings with their recently launched iPad App, “The Art of Window Dressing.” This free app lets you see what Hunter Douglas products will look like on the windows in your home.  If you have a hard time visualizing the end product this App is for you.

App highlights:

Fashion Show lets you view hundreds of Hunter Douglas products. With a tap of your finger you have the product details, a gallery of room settings, whilst still seeing your window treatment in the background.

Swatch Sorter lets you do just that, sort through all the fabrics, colors, and styles available from Hunter Douglas.

Dress A Window lets you take a photo of your window, and using the Hunter Douglas proprietary iMagine rendering tool, lets you see how the window treatment will look on your window. Renderings can be saved with fabric type and color in a “Workbook” and shared by email, Facebook or with a dealer.

I uploaded my family room window, selected products, and found operating the rendering tool was seamless. Selecting different fabrics and products also worked smoothly. I was told I could not use a particular shade because my window was too small. Scratch that shade from my short list.

What it didn’t tell me was, because I have an older home, the Architella window covering would not be flush with my window casing and would stick out a tad. Michele (Hirshfield’s Roseville) shared that intel with me, which promptly slowed my roll; I need to decide if that would bother me.

The iPad app is a great tool to use to begin searching for window coverings. With thousands of options available, looking through product photos and room settings will help you decide what you like and don’t like, before stepping into a Hirshfield’s store. Then you’ll be in the very capable and knowledgable hands of one of Hirshfield’s many window treatment experts. I know you’re sick of me telling you about Hirshfield’s window treatment experts, but they are A-mazing.

If your home needs  freshening up in the window treatment department, click here for information on Hunter Douglas’ Celebration of Light spring savings event (sale) which runs through June 17, 2012 .

The “Art of Window Dressing” iPad App was named Best Marketing Technology at the Window Covering Manufacturers Association Product Awards.

{window treatment wednesday}

Silhouette with LiteRise® lifting system

Innovation, quality, functionality, beauty and style. The newest products from window fashions leader Hunter Douglas have it all, according to the just-announced results of the annual Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) Product Awards.  For the 17th consecutive year, the company has won more awards than any other manufacturer – an outstanding 27 out of the 50 conferred this year. In addition, Hunter Douglas captured the coveted Product of the Year for the 12th year as well as the prestigious Judges’ Award reserved for a submission selected by the panel that exhibits measurable benefit or standout aesthetic appeal to end-users.

Product of the Year went to Silhouette® window shadings with the LiteRise® lifting system. Soft, sheer Silhouette shadings, unrivalled in the industry for their beauty and performance, have another important feather in their cap. Silhouette® with LiteRise® features an innovative cordless operation that not only makes raising, lowering and tilting the shading for variable light control easy, but eliminates the need for cords of any kind. No cords makes it especially ideal for homes with young children and provides a clean, uncluttered look at the window. A soft-touch handle allows for simple, convenient operation. For taller windows, a pull tassel is easy to install and use.

This product was also awarded Most Innovative Overall Concept in the “Health and Environmental Safety” Green Category of the awards and Best New Technical Innovation in the Miscellaneous Products and Specialty Applications Category.

Congratulations to Hunter Douglas on being recognized as the industry leader in the world of windows. Hirshfield’s is proud to represent such an outstanding company to our customers.

The Silhouette® is on sale during Hunter Douglas’ Celebration of Light spring sale, now through, June 17, 2012. In addition to the Hunter Douglas savings, Hirshfield’s is offering a FREE LiteRise® cordless lifting system upgrade...that is a $60 savings.

Come in and see all the fabulous window treatment options Hirshfield’s has to offer or make an appointment with one of our Shop at Home designers.

{window treatment wednesday}

Texture Trends 

The current offerings in stylish window treatments really have something for everyone.  Adding a textural dimension to your window covering has a time-honored appeal.  You can use a textured window treatment in a utilitarian fashion, or step it up and let the window treatment be the focal point in a room.

Woven wood shades have become a classic window treatment solution. The combination of natural woods, bamboo and reeds create a timeless treatment suitable for any style home. From contemporary to traditional styles, woven woods natural beauty compliments almost any setting.  The delicate, yet durable Grass weave shades are another wonderful treatment possibility to ensure the right choice.

Interior Design By Lucy

Wood blinds, in either a stained or painted finish, offer yet another texture to a room.  The smooth, more regimented lines feel right at home in both sleek contemporary or more laid back cottage decor.

The Hunter Douglas Silhouette is offering us more choices in texture with the Chateau fabric fast becoming a favorite for clients.

Drapery panels are another beautiful choice to add some texture into a room.  Not to mention style and sound absorption as added benefits of fabric on your windows.

Make certain window treatments inject the appropriate texture to balance a room. Too often, texture is overlooked as a consideration, even though it can entirely alter the ambiance of a room.

For a hard, predominantly wood-filled space with few upholstered pieces, select soft, voluptuous curtain fabrics. In a carpeted room with plain drywall or plaster at the walls, consider wooden blinds or shades to inject the warmth of natural wood tones; or create a mixture of textures in a single window treatment to provide textural richness and depth.

Guest post from Beth Zentis, Hirshfield’s Woodbury location

{window treatment wednesday}

Spring is the time when Hunter Douglas introduces to us new fabrics, colors, and features on their window shadings.

We are really excited to hear about Silhouette being introduced with the LiteRise cordless operating system.  The LiteRise cordless system conveniently controls light by raising, lowering and opening the shade easier.  It also enhances child and pet safety.  It’s available in all of the Silhouette fabrics and vane sizes.

Since spring is here, remember cleaning your Silhouette shade is easy. Lightly dust or vacuum using low suction or for more thorough cleaning, professionally clean ultrasonically. For those Asian beetles, use a can of compressed air to blow them out of the vanes.

Update:

Here’s a link to additional information on the Silhouette with LiteRise® window covering. This window covering won Product of the Year and two other awards at the Window Covering Manufacturers Association. It doesn’t get any better than this in the world of window coverings!

Guest post from the Decor Department, Hirshfield’s Lakeville location.

{window treatment wednesday}

My all time favorite window treatment is the Silhouette® by Hunter Douglas. If you’re not familiar with the Silhouette®, it’s a horizontal shade with fabric vanes suspended between two sheers.

 Why I like the Silhouette® :

• it works in contemporary, traditional, and casual room settings
• depending on your decorating taste, it can stand alone or side panels can be added to dress it up
• visually, it’s a pretty shade
• you can see through to the outside when the vanes are opened
•  it’s a full privacy shade when the vanes are closed
• the shade disappears into the fabric-covered headrail when raised
• beautiful neutrals, with over 200 fabric and color selections
• the vanes are available in 2″, 3″, or 4″

Guest post from Michele Maxx, Hirshfield’s Roseville location.

P.S.  In the 2011 “Oscars” of the window covering industry, the Silhouette® shade won “Best Overall Concept.

{window treatment wednesday}

Hunter Douglas Duette Architella

This is the last week for tremendous savings on all the Duette products from Hunter Douglas Window Fashions. The selection of product and color choices are fabulous!

The new Duette Architella, or “cell within a cell,” offers the best insulation for our Midwest area windows. Duette Architella comes in a variety of cell depths, lots of beautiful colors, and numerous choices of fabrics.  There is also one grouping that has a “streetside” back color… so, if you do not care for white showing to the outside of your home, there is an option.  No problem!

Duette Architella gives you the best window coverage fit, inside the frame or on the outside; the control options are endless; and best of all, Hirshfield’s stores are offering exclusive “Free Upgrade” choices (you get one option free per shading) plus Free Installation of your new Hunter Douglas window fashions until MARCH 10, 2012.

What a wonderful time to take advantage of all these great offers….this does not happen very often! Hurry on in, we can help you…and you’ll be ready with a new outlook for a wonderful spring!

A special note here:  Another important energy-related function of window coverings is to diffuse the incoming light, to soften it and bring it deeper into the room. This function is called “daylighting.” In addition to reducing glare and improving visual comfort, daylighting can sometimes save energy by reducing the need for electrical lighting!

Also, hold onto your hats, Rebates from Hunter Douglas on these and other shadings until March 31st.

Guest post from Margaret Cole, Hirshfield’s Apple Valley location.

{friday finds: hunter douglas – it’s a sale}

Don’t forget…Hirshfield’s Hunter Douglas Window Treatment sale ends Saturday, March 10, 2012. 

{woven woods}

Hunter Douglas Provenance 

House of Turquoise – Lucy Penfield

House of Turquoise

Cote de’Texas

Palmer Weiss 2010 Showcase Home

Hunter Douglas Provenance

Hunter Douglas Provenance

House of Turquoise – Lucy Penfield

A little texture goes a long way! Improve the view of your room with au courant woven woods.  Made from natural fibers like bamboo, grass, reeds, and woods, they add another layer of color and texture to your room.

Hirshfield’s has a large selection of natural woven shades at price points to suit everyone’s budget. Stop in and work with our window treatment experts.  I love listening to them talk customers through the process of selecting the right treatment for their lifestyle and budget. They know the right questions to ask to make sure you are completely satisfied with your window treatment purchase. I may be biased, but the window treatment professionals at Hirshfield’s really are the best in the business!

{friday finds: window treatment promotions}

Natural Shade with a header

Natural Textured Shade

 If you are in the market for new window fashions Hirshfield’s has a great window treatment sale* going on.

 The Premier Collection is a new product line Hirshfield’s is excited to offer our customers. This is a great shade if you are looking for an economy shade. Included in the collection are Natural Shades, Roman Shades, Roller Shades, Real Wood and Faux Wood blinds, and Cellular Shades. A wide variety of weaves, fabrics, and opacities are presented in this collection.

The Premier Collection Sale highlights:

Mix and Match Progressive Sale – ends October 31, 2011
Additional 10% off the purchase of one or two products
Additional 15% off the purchase of three or four products
Additional 20% off the purchase of five or more products

$99 Measure/Install on The Premier Collection – ends October 31, 2011
From one window to 15 windows $99 (On five windows you save approx. $86)

Free Top Down – Bottom Up on the Cellular Shades – ends October 27, 2011

Hunter Douglas Silhouette

On our Hunter Douglas products:

Free Installation on Hunter Douglas
$500 minimum purchase
Promotion ends October 31, 2011

Free LiteRise® upgrade on Duette, Vignette Tiered, Brilliance Pleated, Country Woods, Everwood – ends November 30, 2011

Free UltraGlide® upgrade on Duette, Silhouette, Pirouette, Vignette Modern Roman Shade – ends November 30, 2011

Hunter Douglas Celebrate the Season Mail-in rebates – ends December 12, 2011
Here’s the link for the particulars on the Hunter Douglas rebates.

Buyer be aware. It’s not unusual for some dealers to adjust their retail pricing during sales. Make sure you compare the bottom line pricing after all discounts and rebates are applied to your purchase.

* If the install is going into a concrete wall,  you live beyond 30 miles, or you have a specialty window; these are examples where it might cost you more than the sale offers.  Any questions check with a Hirshfield’s sales person for clarification.

{window treatment advice needed}

A customer (potential customer) sent in a couple of photos of the windows in her living room. She wants privacy, but still would like to see out of her windows. I asked a couple of Hirshfield’s window treatment experts to take a look and offer her some suggestions…check back to see what they have to say.

Thanks, Deb, for submitting your question.