Do you have frayed edges on your cellular shades, solar shades, roman shades, or roller shades?  If you do, that could mean it’s time for an update.  It could also mean that your shades might be too wide for your window.  Are you seeing signs of yellowing on your window shades?  That, too, means it’s time to update those worn-out shades. With so many choices in design and fabric let’s start by offering brief descriptions of the different types of custom window shades.

NEW WINDOWS

If you have just upgraded your home with new windows, it is definitely time to get new shades.  New goes with new; there’s no sense putting old worn-out shades back up to cover new windows when you can choose stylish window treatments that will help give your home a new and refreshing look all over.  Besides that, chances are good that if you have upgraded your windows, the new ones will be more energy efficient and your old worn-out shades won’t even fit anymore.  All the more reason to look into custom window treatments.

TYPES OF SHADES

There are many types of custom window treatments, including custom window shades.  A wealth of colors and styles are available to suit nearly any theme or décor scheme.  With so many options to choose from, it can be very helpful to make an appointment with Gallery of Shades in Scottsdale because they bring sample fabrics and materials right to your home.  You can see how they would fit and look right in your home.

Cellular shades.  The cell size of cellular shades can vary but they are often used to insulate windows, filter light, and save energy costs.  The shaped cells hold the trapped air in place, providing a barrier between the surface of the window and the room.

Solar shades.  This shade has ultraviolet (UV) protection, which is an especially good fit for the hot sun of Arizona.  It can also help protect your furnishings from sun damage coming through your windows.  They are made of sturdy and easy to clean fabrics.

Want to update your worn-out shades?  Let Gallery of Shades help.  Call us for an appointment today.

Remote control window treatments used to be thought of as a luxury, but now they are here and readily available to nearly everyone.  The benefits of automated window treatments are many, including convenience, safety and privacy, protection, and energy efficiency.  There’s really no reason not to have remote control window treatments in your home.

CONVENIENCE

With the push of a single button, you can have control of all the window coverings in one room.  If you are resting and relaxing and really want the window coverings in the room to change position, you no longer need to get up to do it – change them at will with motorized window treatments.  If you are watching a movie and the sun goes down, or rises, at your fingertips you have the controls of automatic window treatments to change the lighting in the room.

SAFETY AND PRIVACY

While everyone knows being outside in the sun unprotected can be dangerous for untreated skin, few people realize that sun damage can also be sustained inside.  The possibilities for damage extend not only to people, especially small children, and pets, but the sun can damage home furnishings, too.  With motorization comes the ability to go cordless, which leaves less dangling for children or pets to potentially get tangled in.  At the touch of a button, you can also choose complete privacy when you shut off those outside from inside views.

PROTECTION

Another great benefit of remote control window treatments is the ability to present your home as if you were still there when you’re away on a vacation.  You can schedule when your automatic window treatments raise and lower to indicate to potential intruders that someone is, indeed, at home.  When you are able to operate your window treatments by remote control, even for a night out or a weekend away, no one will be the wiser.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Energy efficiency and sustainability for the Earth’s environment is also a very important and hot topic these days.  Remote control window treatments optimize functionality and maximize energy efficiency at the same time.  Automatic window treatments also bring more value to your home, thereby increasing profitability when you decide to sell your home.

There are several reasons to explore the many benefits of automated window treatments.  Call Gallery of Shades to discuss custom window treatment options today.

Hunter Douglas Duette^® blinds are available in a variety of fabrics and can serve the needs of many windows.  They are one of the best window blinds available for either warm or cool climates.  The honeycomb design of the construction creates an insulation by trapping air in pockets.  When you buy Duette blinds, you will be getting a great solution to the questions of your home’s window treatment needs.  They not only serve a functional purpose in the rooms of your home, but they can also lower your energy consumption footprint and lower your energy costs.

WINDOW SHAPES

Window and door shapes can reflect many sizes and patterns that attest to the creative architecture of your home.  When you want the best window blinds for your home, think Hunter Douglas Duette blinds and shades.  Whether your windows or doors are arched, angled, tapered, oval, or something else, you need custom blinds that will serve your home with functionality, as well as provide an aesthetically pleasing appearance.  Equally important is the window treatment’s capability to lower your home’s energy costs, as well as making the environment as energy-efficient as possible.

OPERATING SYSTEMS

The functionality of window coverings and the pleasing array of colors they come in work together to benefit your home.  Likewise, the method of operation for them is important.  When you buy Duette blinds, you also get the advantage of system design choices, such as the Top-Down/Bottom-Up and Vertiglide™ options.  Do you want to be able to remotely maneuver the blinds?  Do you want to be able to manually push them up or down, or use a wand or lever that is hidden for a smoother look to your blinds or shades?  Hunter Douglas Duette blinds give you access to all these features.

When you are looking to find out more about the best window blinds for your home, Gallery of Shades is ready and available to help.  Call us to schedule an in-home consultation appointment today.

Custom valances for window treatments is a terrific way to freshen up the window’s appearance … and you won’t have to spend a lot to do it.  Valance window treatments are fairly simple to do; therefore, changing valances for window treatments wouldn’t be difficult to do if you wanted to switch them around as the seasons change to help give each room a new appeal.

TOPPING OFF YOUR WINDOWS

Custom valances for windows can be aesthetically pleasing attributes and decorative in nature, but they can also provide other benefits, such as:

• They can help windows appear taller in height
• They can add a level of detail and depth to a room
• They can hide any potential flaws at the tops of windows
• They can hide any hardware that may have been needed for prior window treatments

If you look at “before” and “after” photos of windows with custom valances and windows with no valances, you will easily be able to see how much difference valances can make.  Gallery of Shades can bring our display showroom to your home to help you see, for yourself, in your home, the differences that a variety of types of window coverings can have.  It is amazing.

BRING OUT YOUR PERSONALITY

Custom valances for your windows can be designed to bring out the unique personality that you would like to showcase in your home.  Your valance window treatments can be fun, bright, and bold, or you can choose a more traditional look.  What do you want your room to say when guests walk in?  When you walk in?

One defining rule to remember is that, no matter the color or pattern, the valance height should be proportionately distributed to measure 1/6 of the total height of the window treatment.  The rest you can design to your heart’s content.

For more information about custom valances and how you can change the entire look and feel of a room through customization of your window treatments, call Gallery of Shades today.

If you’re looking for ways to reduce your carbon footprint and minimize your impact on Planet Earth, consider solar shades or insulating cellular shades. Finding ways to save energy can put more dollars back into your wallet as well as benefit the environment.  Choices among window shades are plentiful.  Consider all your options before making a final decision.

Solar Shades

Solar shades are known for their assistance in keeping summer heat out of the home.  They are available in a wide variety of designs and colors to provide them with the ability to easily fit into any room’s theme or décor.  They can save you money due to the reduced need for continuous air conditioning to keep your home cool during hot weather.  Solar shades will keep temperatures inside your home cooler by blocking the sun’s rays.

Speaking of the sun’s rays, solar shades can also help protect against the sun’s harmful UV (ultraviolet) rays.  Solar shades also help protect your furniture and your carpets or flooring from potential damage due to the strength of the sun’s rays.  While solar shades can block out harmful effects of the sun, they do not obscure the view.  You will still be able to see all the beautiful Arizona landscapes that surround your home.

Insulating Cellular Shades

Insulating cellular shades is another option among several ways to save energy when making a window treatment selection.  This type of shade works great due to the double pleats trapping pockets of air inside the shade.  As this occurs, heat is blocked from moving in or out.  Insulating cellular shades create a barrier between your room and the outside window.  They prevent air between the window and the window treatment, which, in turn, creates more energy efficiency and saves money on your overall energy costs. They also help keep rooms warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.

Whether keeping your home cooler in the summer or warmer in the winter, both solar shades and insulating cellular shades have advantageous qualities to consider. If you are not sure which type of shade is best for your Scottsdale home, contact Gallery of Shades for a free in-home consultation today.

You are starting to think about the spring season, and you want to remodel your window treatments.  Do you know all there is to know about window treatments?  Do you know how many options are available to you?  Before you start your search in earnest, make sure you are on the same page as the professionals with whom you may be consulting about possibilities.  Let’s take a look at some of the important window treatment terminology to know when shopping for window treatments.

What is the Difference Between a Curtain and Draperies?

Draperies are made of heavier fabric than what is used for curtains.  They can be lined to aid with insulation or the blocking of light into a room.  Common materials for draperies are chenille, brocade, suede, damask, velvet, and boucle.  They are often pleated or tailored, reaching from ceiling to floor, providing a more formal look.  They are most often seen in a master bedroom, a formal dining room, or a living room.  They can be either stationary or mobile.  Be mindful not to refer to them as a “drape”; they are draperies.  A “drape” is the way fabric hangs from a window.

Curtains, on the other hand, are not lined and are typically stationary only.  They are normally made of a lightweight fabric and almost always are seen with tie-backs or holdbacks.  Kitchens and bathrooms are popular places for the use of curtains.

Blinds and Shades

Blinds are window treatments composed of vertical or horizontal slats, held in place by a cord, fabric tape, or a string.  They are typically made of wood, plastic, or metal, although some can also be made using a heavy fabric.

Shades are plentiful and include roller shades and pleated shades.  The term can also be applied to blinds.  Shades are virtually any window treatment that is used to cover, partially or fully, a window to protect against the outside elements and/or to gain privacy for a room.

Remember, when making your selections, it’s best to view your choices visually.  Gallery of Shades will bring our showroom to your home to enable you to actually see what different choices of window treatments would look like in your home.

Bay windows are an exceedingly charming attribute to a home.  When searching for bay window treatment ideas, several options can be considered.  Whichever window covering is selected, the area of the room the bay window is in should be allowed to remain unique yet flexible, ensuring that you make good use of the space.

Curtains for a Bay Window

It can be tricky to find the right curtains for a bay window. The windows jut outward from the main walls of the home, giving a unique character to each room with a bay window. Measuring for curtains to fit the windows just right can also be tricky. You will need to measure each section individually. When measuring for width, start at the first section on the left and then stop just before the next section. Basically, there are two options for curtains for a bay window.

You can hang curtains on either side before the curvature of the bay and then place a roman shade on the inside of every window. You could also hang curtains on each window section. Many curtain options are available, as well as choice in colors, of course, so you can continue your desired decorating theme for each room. You could also run a valance above each window section. Often, curtains for a bay window can require special rails to hold them.

Blinds For a Bay Window

Blinds for a bay window should be customized so they will ensure a neat and tidy look. If you want the bay window to speak as an essence of luxury, use Roman shades and then put blinds in each separate section. For a unique look, try setting the blinds at different heights for each section.

Bay Window Shutters

Bay window shutters are often referred to as a “curb appeal option” by real estate agents. They look expensive, but they can be one of the most inexpensive options. Wooden shutters and tier-on-tier shutters are very popular options for bay window shutters. It can be tricky to get the right measurements for shutters but a professional knows just how to take the measurements so that the shutters will fit exactly with each window section.

Bay windows are an aesthetically appealing component to a home. Consult with a Gallery of Shades professional to ensure you know all the bay window treatment options available to you before making a final choice.

Window treatments have gone high-tech, along with just about everything else these days, so why not take advantage of all the new technology you can?  Gallery of Shades offers Hunter Douglas motorized shades for your window treatments.  Recipient of the Red Dot Design Award, PowerView^® Motorized shades and blinds can simplify your life.

With motorization that allows you to adjust your window treatments with the mere touch of a finger, you have more control than ever before over opening, closing, and adjusting your shades or blinds throughout the day or night to just the right place you need them to be.  This technology can allow your home another degree of energy efficiency.

The PowerView 

You can download the PowerView App for Apple^® or Android™ devices.  Besides just swiping your finger to adjust your window treatments, you can also create customized maneuvers that can be automated to set positions throughout the day.  You know how much sunlight a room gets through the windows in that room.  You also know the basic purpose for which that room is used and, now, you can adjust the lighting in the room to your desired setting.  You can even schedule customized settings, or “Scenes,” to coincide with the daily sunrise or sunset.

PEBBLE CONTROL

You can also use the PowerView system of motorization for shades or blinds with a Pebble Remote Control, if you wish.  The Pebble Remote Control is a new generation remote control, whereby you can preset up to six different groups of window treatments to operate at your command.  It is ergonomically designed and available in a wide array of colors to coordinate with the décor of any room.

The Pebble Scene Controller lets you operate pre-programmed “Scenes” whenever you wish.  Once your settings are as desired and you have configured them how you want your motorized shades and blinds to operate, you can control and schedule them through use of the PowerView App.  Voice commands from Amazon devices will also work.  As well, expect another innovative achievement to come along soon:the Apple Homekit™.

Take control of the window treatments in your home through use of new high-tech developments, such as motorized shades and blinds. Contact Gallery of Shades today to learn more.

Bamboo window treatments are becoming increasingly one of the most favored materials when it comes to today’s design styles, but there’s more to this material than an amazing look. This type of material for window coverings offers benefits you may not have previously considered. Take a look at a few now.

• Heat and Humidity Are No Match: Bamboo thrives pretty naturally in wet, tropical places. As a result, going with bamboo shades is a great choice even for those spaces like the kitchen and bathroom where heat and humidity are going to happen on a regular basis. They’re easy to clean, and they look amazing, no matter what your decor style is in these areas.
• They Redefine Light: If you want some filtered light in a space but you value your privacy, bamboo is the ideal option. Because the texture means some light is going to get in, you’ll find a perfect balance of natural lighting and minimized views from the outside. If you need to add a little more privacy to the equation, just add a blackout liner to the equation to get the look you want.
• They’re Durable: The last thing you want is to have to change window coverings every time you change styles, and bamboo offers a versatility few other materials can. What’s more, though, is that it’s an incredibly durable material, so even if you’re worried about wear and tear before you decide to renovate a given room, you can trust in the fact that they’ll look gorgeous well into the future.

First used more than 5,000 years ago, bamboo has a long history, but even with that, it’s still one of the most popular materials available today. Bamboo window treatments are ideal in many different situations. No matter what room of your home or what style you’re working to complement, these are the right choice. Contact Gallery of Shades to learn more about bamboo shades and how they can fit in your home.