{window treatment wednesday}

I think that pretty much sums it up! If you’re thinking about purchasing window treatments, you have until April 2, to take advantage of 2012 prices. Hunter Douglas is also offering Energy Smart rebates on the following window coverings:

• Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades
• Silhouette Window Shades
• Vignette Modern Roman Shades

What a perfect time to take advantage of these great offers. Give us the opportunity to quote you a price; our customers tell us our prices are less than those buying club superstores. Walk. Do not run. However, hurry on in before April 2, 2013. The selection of product and color choices from Hunter Douglas are fabulous! You’ll be ready with a new outlook for a wonderful spring!

{window treatment wednesday}

House of Turquoise is an excellent resource for inspiration. Whether you want ideas for paint colors or just want to see what other people are doing in their homes, House of Turquoise is a site to check out. Erin works very hard at curating all that is turquoise, and the majority of what you see on her site is the result of Erin’s hard work. She finds all those lovely homes to share with her thousands of readers.

I chose some window treatment photos from her site, and asked Shannon Scarrella (Manager of Hirshfield’s Shop at Home) to share her window treatment expertise. It’s all in the details.

House of Turquoise

A great picture to show the effects of layering. Hardwood shutters, while they provide a handsome look with nice privacy, the top treatments and draperies softened the feel.  The tassel fringe breaks up the linear lines of the shutters and the stripes in the drapery fabric.

House of Turquoise

The roman shades on the doors provide privacy when lowered and the valance provides uniformity, when the function of a shade isn’t needed. In this case, the custom roman shades and valance bring in the needed pattern and color to a neutral kitchen.

House of Turquoise

This is one lucky girl! The honeycomb shades are neutral, to disappear, but also providing privacy and light control when needed. The drapery panels, tie backs, and trimmings give the room a classic feel. The layering of pattern, texture, and color help to keep the room age appropriate and fun.

House of Turquoise

Custom Shutters with Pinch Pleat Draperies provide a clean backdrop to the teal and green table combination. The pleating on the draperies helps to add fullness and depth to the neutral drapes.

House of Turquoise

My favorite! Upon first glance this appears to be teal drapes, but look closer…..it’s actually a sheer with a soft stripe over a teal colored fabric. The header at the top is sewn to create the illusion of one piece, when it’s actually two materials sewn together. The layering of the sheer over the top softens the fabric underneath and the stripe in the sheer adds another dimension. The fluted detail in the rod mimics the custom molding beautifully, while the metallic matte finish compliments the accessories in the room.

House of Turquoise

More shutters with side panels….must be a trend! The white on white provides a classic, clean look, while the darker rods pay respect to the other furniture pieces in the room. 

House of Turquoise

People see our windows from the outside too. The chevron patterned fabric is attached to the rod with rings and clips; this allows the soft fold and less serious look to them. They are outside after all. The fabric framed windows also make a great backdrop for the skirted bar or buffet.

House of Turquoise

Natural Roman Shade with blackout lining and coordinated cotton edge banding gives the bathroom something more organic, yet structured. The color of the shade ties the color of the bedding into the bathroom.

Wasn’t that a treat? It’s like looking into houses on your nightly walk, without having to worry about being busted.

Here’s a link for more information on Hirshfield’s Shop at Home Division. And to see what’s on sale in the window treatment world at Hirshfield’s, you can click right here!

Erin also runs the shopping blog, Everything Turquoise, jammed packed with turquoise goodies for sale. We’re very proud of our Minnesota girl.

{window treatment wednesday…it’s a sale}

There’s a lot going on at Hirshfield’s when it comes to window treatments: price points for every budget, quality products (Hunter Douglas always wins awards for product design and technology), and this month, a fantastic selection of window treatment sales.

• Free installation offer* ends Tuesday, March 12, 2013

• Free Top-Down Bottom-Up on Natural Shades and Roman Shades from the Premier Collection thru March 30, 2013

• An additional 25% off on select wood blinds – Classicwood and Durawood thru March 30, 2013

• An additional 25% off on Sienna honeycomb window treatments thru March 30, 2013

• Free cordless promotion on Premier Collection honeycomb standard shade thru March 30, 2013

• Mail-in rebates of $25 on Duette® Architella® Honeycomb or $50 mail-in rebate on Silhouette® Window Shades and Vignette® Modern Roman Shades thru April 2, 2013

If you don’t know what your options are for window treatments, shopping for them can be overwhelming. Our window treatment experts will help you sort through all the products, options, and sales offerings. They will give you the information you need to make an informed decision. We want your business. Give us an opportunity to quote you a price. Hirshfield’s knowledgeable staff  have the highest “window treatment IQ” in the world! (Can I say that?)

*Minimum Order of $500. Any order under $500 is a $55 install
Ask our staff for details on the exclusions

{hunter douglas country woods wood blinds at hirshfield’s}

Add character, charm and a touch of country to your home with Country Woods Wood Blinds from Hunter Douglas, available at Hirshfield’s. Crafted from the finest North American hardwoods, including genuine oak and cherry, these wood blinds add warmth to any room.

Hunter Douglas

TopShield™ II finish: This Hunter Douglas exclusive finish will protect your wood blinds from everyday wear including fading, moisture, chemicals and scratching.

Wood grain quality: The presence of distinguished markings, grain patterns and natural color variations are part of the unique features that enhance the beauty of the blind and confirm the authenticity of the wood.

De-light™: An optional feature, de-light is a routless design reducing light leaks and increasing privacy.

Upgradable features: For additional design options, decorative tapes and valances are available.

Hunter Douglas

Operating systems: Choose from our standard system with lift cord or our optional enhanced LiteRise® cordless safety system.

{window treatments add energy efficiency to your home}

We all know October is celebrated as National Energy Awareness Month. But this year, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) decided that it was time to go beyond awareness and encourage people to take action. So this year, the DOE requested the current Energy Awareness Month to rename to National Energy Action Month. As a result, President Barack Obama declared October Energy Action Month.

The certified window treatment professionals at Hirshfield’s are ready to help you turn your actions into results by helping you pick out the best, high efficiency window treatments for your home!

Window treatments as insulation
In the winter, as much as 40% of the heat that escapes a home flows through the windows. During the summer, heat from the sun’s rays coming through the windows can make it harder to keep a home cool. Energy-efficient window treatments can help decrease heat loss and heat gain, thereby reducing heating and cooling costs.

R-Value
R-value is a measure of a product’s ability to resist heat flow, which is especially important in the cool winter months. The higher the R-value number, the more insulation it provides and the better it is at reducing heat loss.

A bare, low-e double-glazed window has an R-value of about 3.5. Add a properly installed Duette® Architella™ 1 1/4″ honeycomb shade with Panache™ opaque fabric and the R-value peaks at 7.86, more than doubling the energy efficiency and reducing heat loss by over 50%.

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella™ honeycomb shade

The most energy efficient treatments feature a honeycomb construction. The cells actually trap the hot or cold air, decreasing the intensity of the temperature as it enters the room. A honeycomb shade with a triple cell construction will increase the energy efficiency of a single pane of glass by five times and more than double the energy efficiency of a double-glazed window.

Solar Heat Gain Coefficient

{window treatment wednesday}

Simple. Durable. Environmentally friendly. Not your mother’s blinds!

Natural Elements is the latest introduction from Hunter Douglas Window Fashions.  This new collection of precious metals blinds is now available at Hirshfield’s stores. The 2″ slats are a spring-tempered alloy offering superior resiliency. This alloy is made from 95% recyclable aluminum. It is lightweight, easy to lift, with minimal stack. Another cool feature is called MagnaView. Even though the slat is 2″, the view-through is comparable to a 4″ slat. When tilted open, the slats nest together, doubling your viewing pleasure.

This is an example of MagnaView™ where the slats nest together.

Hunter Douglas offers 22 different slat finishes in three collections:

• Riverstone™ Collection – Earthy and natural, works well with organic materials.
• Metallic™ Collection – Shimmery and fashionable, accents furnishings and fixtures.
• Matte™ Collection – Sophisticated and classic, blends with any decor.

Three different lift systems are available. Topping off the treatment is a wood valance in 12 popular colors and finishes. Decorative tapes are also an option.  Natural Element blinds are a great complement to granite, brick, and marble. Windows, especially above a kitchen sink, can be a challenge due to splashing and dirt accumulation. However, this blind is easy to wipe down as it bounces back to shape after handling. I can also see the Natural Elements Metallics used in lofts giving the space an edgy vibe. You can control your light and privacy needs and still pull them up if you want a completely unobstructed view. These blinds will make a striking statement at your windows.

Come and check out these not-so heavy metals at one of our Hirshfield’s locations or have one of the Shop at Home designers out to your home.

Guest post by Bonnie West, designer with Hirshfield’s Shop at Home

651-366-696

I think all window treatment posts need a Gladys Kravitz ending!

{window covering safety month}

October is Window Covering Safety Month.  It’s a nationwide effort to remind parents and caregivers to check their window coverings for exposed or dangling cords that can pose a hazard to infants and young children.

Hunter Douglas Silhouette with LiteRise

Here are some tips from the Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) to keep in mind:

• Move all furniture, cribs, beds and climbable surfaces away from windows.
• Keep all window cords well out of the reach of children.
• Install only cordless window coverings in homes with young children.
• Make sure tasseled pull cords are as short as possible. Continuous-loop pull cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be pulled tight and anchored to the floor or wall.
• Be sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit inner-cord movement.

Save this month on save window coverings for your home with Hirshfield’s! Receive a  Free LiteRise® cordless lifting system with the purchase of Hunter Douglas Duette Architella honeycomb shades, Silhouette window shadings or Vignette Tiered™ Roman Shades. The LiteRise system lets you raise and lower your shades or blinds

{window treatment thursday}

Wedding at Minneapolis Municipal building

Rotunda

Being in the Window Treatment Industry is an exciting and challenging career.  You see all types of homes and businesses and meet lots of interesting people.

I receive great satisfaction when I am able to help a customer find the perfect window treatment.  Over the 20+  years in this business I have many window treatment jobs that I remember in great detail. Some of those were memorable because it was a challenge to find the right product for the customer.

Recently I had one of my favorite appointments ever: the City of Minneapolis Municipal Building.  On this call, I didn’t need to help the client choose window treatments, I simply had to match the existing metal blinds. I have lived in the Twin Cities all of my life and have never been inside this building.  It is an historically significant landmark and absolutely beautiful inside.  I was even more impressed with the people who work at the Municipal Building for the care they give the building and the pride they have in preserving it.  Instead of me trying to create something uniquely wonderful for their windows, I had an easy job. But the experience certainly opened my eyes to the beauty and history of their building.  If you get the chance, a visit to the City of Minneapolis Municipal Building is a must do.  It is a true “gem” in downtown Minneapolis.

Guest post by Bonnie West, designer with Hirshfield’s Shop at Home

Shop at Home 651-366-6969

Photos courtesy of http://www.municipalbuildingcommission.org/

{window treatment wednesday}

Averté knob option

Don’t know how to cover those large windows or patio doors? We are all very familiar with vertical blinds. You know those 3” wide fabric or vinyl strips that hang from a metal track. While they are very practical for these applications, they have been on the market a very long time. There are many new products that have been introduced the past few years that work great for those large windows, patio doors or even as room dividers.

Averté treatment by Dawn Feda

Averté
Averté is like a drapery for a patio door or large window. But unlike a drapery, this isn’t made with fabric. An Averté is made up of natural materials like grasses, reeds and bamboos. The uniqueness of these materials provides something very different than what we are used to seeing on large windows.  The track is grooved and allows small wheeled carriers to slide back and forth.  These small wheels allow you to operate the Averté quickly and effortlessly with your hand. There are no draw cords on the Averté. Combine this with a decorative wood track and the look is truly one of a kind. Averté is available at select Hirshfield’s  locations. To see one on display, visit Hirshfield’s Lakeville.

Skyline® Gliding Panels

Skyline® Gliding Window Panels

Skyline® Gliding Panels
Skyline® Gliding Panels from Hunter Douglas offer clean lines and a contemporary look. They allow for 11 ½” Panels or 17” Panels. The headrail system allows for panels to stack to one side, or split stack off the window. With over 187 color and fabric combinations available, there are plenty of fabrics to select from. The fabrics range from sheers to screens, textures to opaque. The Skyline® Gliding Panel fabrics also offer options in roller shades for coordinating the look of a room.

Sienna with Long-Vue

Sienna with Long-Vue
There are many names for this type of treatment, but in short it is a honeycomb shade done vertically. The honeycomb fabric is placed between two rails that slide along a track.  There are no exposed cords and you get all the energy efficient benefits of a honeycomb shade. Even better…when the Long-Vue is stacked open to one side, the stack is approximately 6 ½.

Vignette™ Traversed with Vertiglide™

Vignette™ Traversed with Vertiglide™
This is a newer concept on the market from Hunter Douglas. Hunter took their ever popular Vignette Roman Shade and created a vertical application…the Vignette™ Traversed with Vertiglide™. By doing this, they offer the soft fold of a fabric with a mechanism built for large windows. With 11 fabrics and 75 fabric and color combinations, there is a nice selection to choose from; it also comes standard with a fabric-covered headrail and side rails.

So next time you are thinking of covering those large windows, know there is more out there than a “vertical.”

Shop at Home 651-366-6969

Guest post by Shannon Scarrella, manager of  Hirshfield’s Shop at Home

{window treatment wednesday}

Dawn Feda, Hirshfield’s Shop at Home

Well, Window Treatment Wednesday isn’t always about windows.  In the world of window treatments we work a lot with fabrics and working with fabrics allows the opportunity to cover more things . . . and showers are no exception.  Shower curtains can be much more decorative than what you’d typically find available at a traditional department/home stores.  So many bathrooms look the same: a long rectangle with a shower/tub combo at the end.  Creating a custom shower curtain can add distinctive character and really show off your personality in that small space.

Questions that come up when creating a custom shower curtain:

Can it get wet?  A traditional shower curtain liner will help protect the fabric from the water.  There is also the option of sewing a liner onto the curtain.

Do certain fabrics work better? Certain fabrics do work better than others.  Polyesters alone or blended with other materials are a good choice.  Polyesters are a synthetic material and will hold up better than a natural material like silk.  There are also numerous fabrics on the market that are classified as washable that would work for making shower curtains. Outdoor fabrics are gaining in popularity (Hirshfield’s Design Resource Showroom carries the Maria Flora line) and if a fabric can handle the outdoors, it sure can handle a bathroom!   Polyesters, washable fabrics and outdoor fabrics come in all ranges of patterns, colors and styles to fit your needs.

Dawn Feda, Hirshfield’s Shop at Home

Can you use a drapery rod in place of a shower curtain rod?   Yes.  Decorative rods come in numerous finishes and styles and most companies sell an end mount bracket that allows the rod to rest in it.  If you are having a traditional shower liner behind the custom curtain, two rods are typically used: a decorative rod in the front, with a standard shower rod hidden behind.

Atlanta Design Works

Kravet trim

Don’t Forget.  Decorative trims can be added to the shower curtain, from fringes to cording to beading. Tiebacks can also enhance the treatment.  Any pleating that is available in custom draperies can also be used in your custom shower curtain.

Arrange a free in-home consultation with one of Hirshfield’s Shop at Home designers. We specialize in custom bedding, draperies, hard and soft window treatments, and custom shower curtains…here’s our number, so call us, maybe?

Shop at Home 651-366-6969

Guest post by Dawn Feda from Hirshfield’s Shop at Home