Cellular shades are one of my favorite products hands down. I have found that most people have heard of them in some way, shape or form but don’t truly know all the details about the great features this product has to offer. My hope is that after reading this you will be truly inspired to change your window treatments and invest in shades that will look great and insulate your home.

Cellular shades as we call them here at Delightful Décor Windows & More have many aliases in the window treatment industry such as cell shades, honeycomb shades and Duettes®. However you refer to them window treatment professionals will know which product you are speaking about. Typically most people refer to them as Honeycomb because of the honeycomb-shaped structure of the shade. Looking at the shade sideways you will see tube like cells, which mimic the look of a honeycomb; it’s this great design that provides insulation as well as style.

Cell shades are rated the best energy efficient window shades you can purchase. But they are also visually appealing, easy to use and versatile. Clients can choose from a wide variety of colors and pleat sizes. The pleat size is a defining factor on how well these shades will insulate your home, large the pleat less insulation. The cells not only range in size from 3/8” up to 1-1/4” but you also have a choice of insulation single, double or triple cell. The more cells you have the increased insulation you have in your home. I know that these choices can seem overwhelming for you. To break it down you want to make sure that size and product balance. For example to cover a small bathroom window it is best to choice a single cell 3/8” shade, small size for small window. A large bay window in your living room can handle a single cell 1-1/4” treatment.

One of the great things about Cell shades is that they come with many options like fabric choices, light filtering levels and specialty features like the cordless shade option to make them a truly custom treatment. In my opinion the best is the cordless option they can be lowered and raised by gently pulling up or down on a small lip attached to the bottom rail. This feature is great for child and pet safety because there are no cords at all for strangulation. Then there’s tops down bottom up cellular shades. Which is a versatile feature that allows the top half and or bottom half of the shade to be raised or lowered independently, perfect for greater light control while maintaining privacy. I would be a fool to leave out the fact that most cellular shades can be motorized as well. Imagine that with a touch of a button from your garden tub you can lower the blinds before getting out of the tub, it’s a luxury well worth the money.

Another complex option is that most manufacturers make cellular shades in a variety of specialty shapes; this includes half arches all the way up to angles or ovals. The light weight fabric helps to make this a possibility that other products cannot achieve. Consider yourself warned when I say that some will be non-operable due to the shape so a light filtering fabric may be your best option. Some manufacturers offer cell shades that are fire resistant which means that the shade is able to resist combustion. This is great for a child’s room, kitchen or room with a fire place. Another special feature that some manufacturers offer is water repellant honeycomb shades. The water repellent feature is suitable for areas in your home such as kitchens and bathrooms. The last but not least feature I would like to address is the light filtering choices you have. Cellular Shades can be purchased in semi opaque, which allows in some light while maintaining your privacy. For greater light control you can purchase the opaque cellular shade or the blackout shade which blocks 99% of the incoming light this is great for a bedroom. My final point to touch on is that cellular shades can be used to cover any number of windows or doors in your home. From sliding glass doors to skylights and arched windows cellular shades are a great way to improve the look of your home while increasing the level of energy efficiency as well. This product is so easy to customize there is a solution for every person in every home.

Jennifer Harmon

Delightful Decor Windows & More

Accredited Home Stager &  Window Treatment Specialist

(910) 989-3200

delightfuldecorwindows.com

Helping homeowners realize their interior dreams

If you are sensitive to light or if you need dark to sleep, then you will want to hear about my new discovery: black out cellular shades. First, I want to say the name is a little misleading.

At first, I was thinking they would totally “black out” the room. Well, they don’t completely black out the room but they come pretty close to it. Let me tell you, I get some migraines that if I described them, I would be bleeped out. Suffice it to say they are bad. Therefore, I need a dark and I mean D-A-R-K dark room.

My husband bought these new honeycomb shades. He said that they would darken our room. I was skeptical but I was willing to try anything. It took him about 15 minutes to install before he called me into the room. All I could say was, “WOW!” I couldn’t believe it.

It was noon and the room was so dark I could not see my husband across the room. I was actually dumbfounded. It was unbelievable. My husband had actually found a window treatment that blocked out the light!

I still cannot get over how well the blinds worked. Sure when I look at the window, I can see light around the edges but WOW! I can lie down in my bed with a migraine headache and get some relief. It really is amazing how well these things work.

I would recommend blackout cellular blinds for anyone that has trouble sleeping or anyone with migraines. You just can’t picture the effectiveness until they are installed in your home.

]]> http://stickyegg.com/2009/11/08/dont-diy/ Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:28:29 +0000 carlaspeaks http://stickyegg.com/2009/11/08/dont-diy/

I give up…for now.

Every once in a while, you get a little project around the house, and you think, “I can do that.”  Installing new shades?  I’ve done it in most of my apartments.  So, why should my coop in NYC be any different?

I can hear the walls laughing at me as I type this because…

I fought the cellular shades, and the shades won.

It’s really a very simple process:

1. Take down the old mini-blinds.
2. Remove the old hardware.
3. Put up the new hardware.
4. Insert the new shades.
5. Stand back and admire your work.

Yea, right.

I will admit, the cellular black-out shades in my bedroom went up pretty easily.  They lured me in.  I did them yesterday and thought, “The rest tomorrow will be a breeze.”

That’s when my brownstone rolled up its sleeves and decided to throw its best my way.

First, the old hardware wouldn’t come off in the kitchen.  Then, the window sills where too soft to take new hardware.  Then the shade had major knots in the cord.  Good god.  An hour-and-a-half later, I finally stood back and looked at my lovely, much-cursed shade.

Off to the living room.  The hardware came off easily enough, but the sills in here are hard as a rock.  Had to search for different screws.  Then the frickin’ shade wouldn’t lock into place….even snapped back and popped me in the kisser at one point.  That was fun.

Suffice to say, the shades still aren’t up in the living room.  I had to take a break and bitch about it a bit.  But I’ll be back.

And round two, I’ll pop them in the mouth.

Roller shades - Roller shades are one of the less expensive options available to homeowners, are easily mounted inside or outside the existing window frame. They are available in a variety of materials including vinyl, canvas, or bonded fabrics. Additionally, roller shades are often featured with a variety of trims or appliqués. This type of window covering offers consistency along with a moderate to total light filtering capacity. Typically, roller shades are utilized underneath curtains or drapes for a consistent exterior view.

Roman Shades – Roman shades are available in a variety of materials that actually influence the look of the shades to a great extent. Typically, this type of window treatment offers a casual look. When the Roman shade is raised up, the panels become almost invisible. Pulleys and cords are the typical method in which the Roman shade is moved.

Cellular Shades – Cellular shades offer a wide variety of options for covering your windows, making them quite popular. Crafted from a honeycomb pleated fabric, these shades provide a delightful look along with privacy and light filtering capabilities. The fabric varies in density or thickness from sheer to dense or opaque, to provide a range of light filtering options from allowing the light into the room to blocking it completely out.

One of the nicest features about cellular shades is their coloring availability, specifically, their dual coloring providing one color for the inside of the home and another for the outside of the home. This way, homeowners are able to provide uniformity to their windows on the outside of the home, while allowing for room coordinating colors on the interior of the home. After all, homeowners spend hours selecting just the right window, guaranteeing that all of the windows are the same in appearance and color for a uniform appearance on the exterior of the home.

Moreover, cellular shades offer excellent insulating qualities, due to their particular construction. In fact, cellular shades are so versatile that they blend with any décor. This type of shade can be custom fit for any window size, even unusual openings, and is featured with a variety of opening devices, including motorized versions. In fact, the motorized versions are excellent choices for skylights. Cellular shades are easily mounted inside or outside the existing window frame.

Horizontal and Vertical Blinds – Typically, vertical blinds are crafted from aluminum, vinyl, or reinforced fabric that can be used to coordinate with the décor of the room. The color of the fabric can match the wallpaper, painted walls, carpeting, or upholstery of the furniture. In bedrooms, vertical blinds can be custom made to match the bedspread and shams. In living rooms, the fabric can match the slipcovers or upholstery of the furniture.

So many possibilities exist when using vertical blinds to cover your windows. In fact, vertical blinds are an excellent option when it comes to sliding glass doors. They sufficiently cover the doors when they are not open and they move back easily to allow access to the doorway entrance.

Vertical blinds are an excellent choice for elongated windows as well, providing an elegant look along with the functionality of the blinds. Moreover, the vertical blind slats rotate to provide light controlling options.

Horizontal blinds are often made from aluminum, vinyl, plastic, wood, or simulated wood. They offer a wide variety of colors in addition to a wide variety of slat sizes. Typically, personal preference dictates the size of the slats in which you purchase your horizontal blinds.

Horizontal blinds also offer light controlling possibilities with a simple tilt or turn of the slats. They are easy to clean and easy to use. Moreover, they blend well on walls that have limited spatial features.

PLEASE VISIT US AT WWW.1CALLINTERIORS.COM OR CALL US 7 DAYS A WEEK AT (352) 238-1678 FOR A FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION

With energy costs this season estimated to go through the roof, there are viable ways to maximize the energy efficiency of your home with the proper window coverings. Hitting home for many families is the ever-increasing cost of energy.  If you live in a tropical climate you are probably feeling the pinch of energy costs. I have lived in florida for many years and I am acutely aware of this.  It seems that every year the prices just keep going up. There are ways to dramatically improve the energy efficiency of your home and one of them is with the right types of window blinds and shades.  One of the best types of window treatments for insulation is cellular shades. They come in single and double cells.  The double cell shades offer the greatest level of insulation both for hot and cold weather. However, both types of shades are specially designed to keep the heat in and the cold out.
The single and double-cell construction of cellular window shades not only provide the highest level of insulation, but also filter out harsh UV rays that can damage interiors and upholstery in your home. Both come with the usual upgrades like Top down, Bottom up, cordless, continuous cord loop, and even motorization.  Just to be clear the cordless option allows you to raise or lower the shade by pulling on the bottom rail, a good option if you have children.  A continuous cord loop is basically a clutch mechanism that keeps the cord at the same length when you raise or lower the blind so that the cord isn’t either way up high or all the way to the floor.  The Top down, Bottom up option is just like it sounds, you can lower the top half of the shade or the bottom half of the shade, or both.  Additional options for both shade types include a wide variety of colors and fabrics, as well as light filtering or privacy liners.  In addition, if you get a blackout shade, insulation is generally increased further. Our cellular shades, also known as cell or honeycomb window shades are made from 100% woven polyester fabric for durability and offer many years of resilience against wear and tear. Cellular shades can actually pay for themselves with the money saved in energy cost. In today’s economy it’s definitely a wise economic decision. For the best prices and selection of cellular shades go to; www.1callinteriors.com or call us 7 days a week at (352) 238 – 1678 for a free in-home estimate.

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When selecting a window covering, blind, or shade, energy efficiency is often overlooked. Going “green” no longer means sacrificing quality, or paying more for your products. In this instance, cellular or honeycomb shades can not only save you hundreds of dollars, they will also help reduce your energy consumption. Due to the growth in popularity of the cellular shade, many features have been added to make this energy efficient window covering even more desireable. The primary features include; cordless operation which not only provides a much cleaner look and ease of use, but it is also a great child-safety innovation with the elimination of visible cords. The Top Down-Bottom Up feature is great for those who value their privacy, yet still want to be able to control light filtration. When the shade is lowered from the top down, it allows you to still see outside while limiting what those on the outside can see. Motorization is a great addition to this window treatment, it not only provides ease of use for hard to reach areas, but it also allows you to control multiple shades with a single press of a button! To find out more about these and other products, visit www.bdblinds.com or call toll-free 877-254-6330.

Your home is the best place, which describes you best. Windows are an important aspect in regard to your home. There are many treatments, which are available for your windows such as custom window treatments. You can add value to home by making it look more beautiful. By custom window treatments you can choose the treatment you like or which suits your home best.

Window treatments refer to any of the following items placed over or around a window: curtains or drapery, including sheers, window blinds, including Venetian blinds, a valance, tiebacks used to hold curtains.

Window treatments also include treatments applied to directly to the glass, including: frosted glass (through acid, etching, sandblasting, or plastic films or panels), distorted optics, such as wavy glass, stained glass panels.

You can choose window treatments, which are low on the pocket or even classy. Like wood blinds, shutters, Roman Shades, Woven Woods, Cellular shades, and Woven Woods lined in Blackout lining.

Plantation shutters could be categorized as an elegant window covering made of two or more framed panels of fixed louvers. A rod that is attached moves the louvers within the frame on the outside of the louvers. By using plantation shutters, the owner can choose the amount of light, which is required to be let in and in what direction by angling the louvers; you can make a bright choice.

In regard to windows there is a vast choice available to the home owners such as: window shades, window coverings, window blinds, window treatments curtains, bamboo window shades, bamboo shades, arch window blinds, interior shutters, and vertical blinds.

While using Window shades, you can give your home a unique and distinctive design. Energy cost can be reduced to a huge extent by keeping and allowing the use of natural sunlight. Bamboo shades, give out a very ethnic look to home along with a cozy and warm ambience.

A window covering is material used to cover a window to reduce sunlight, to provide additional weatherproofing, or to ensure privacy. Window Coverings are usually on the interior side of windows, but can be on the exterior in some situations. Interior shutters can help keep out harmful sun rays. Vertical blinds provide the perfect solution to light control problems. When you choose to use vertical blinds you have a perfect choice for moderated natural lighting as well as you can manage your illumination.

You can give brightness, warmth and security to home by going in for the perfect decision.

Source : Give your home the right treatment

Yesterday I went to my friend. He bought a new house and he moved in last month. This was an opportunity for me to see the house and how he decorated it as I am planning to renovate our house. I was blown away by the window treatments he had. As soon as we walk into a room, stop dead by looking at the awesome wood blinds. They have vertical blinds, cellular shades; roman shades and lot more cool looking treatments. I learned lot more from him and then I decided to do some research on it. I got a basic idea about window treatment and how wood blinds look. I was informed by him that wood blinds are inexpensive way to do window treatments.

All-in-all I was so impressed with wood blinds, they are awesome. He used classicwood blinds. He told me classicwood blinds are made with real hardwood. They look and feel are incredible. They are a delight to look at, they feel so good. This wood accepts a beautiful array of stains to compliment his furnishings and window treatments. Window treatments are one of the first things you notice, and judge the moment you are invited into a home. This makes guests feel welcome. I feel very strongly on getting nice window treatment done because this will make the inside of the house stand out. More research on this is must.

Window treatments are among the highest-valued of home improvements! They can radically change the look and feel of any space in your home, and bring added warmth to the feel of your rooms. Window treatments can save energy costs with just a little bit of planning. Capture the custom-tailored look, feeling of luxury (whether costly or not!), and sense of appropriate scale in design that window fashions and details created just for you! There is an interesting web site that can give suggestions on improvements that help create a comfortable and beautiful home. check out www.ExcitingWindows.com. I found their ideas really helpful when designing window treatments. If you want a design professional to come to your home, they actually contract with design professionals throughout the country. I liked the look of the website and the ideas they had. what do you think. Let me know! chelsea

One idea I thought was great was the idea of unifying the large spaces between rooms for a great look!

Unify Open Spaces With Fresh Window Fashions Now!Multi-use rooms often include living, dining and cooking areas all in one large and flowing space, contained only by the windows and walls that define the outermost shape of this part of the home.Issues associated with the “Wide open spaces” approach to living include a potential for disjointed or uneasy flow of space. The windows that are common to all this space are the best places to unify the multiple living area style. With the right selection of window fashions, in colors, textures, designs and materials, spaces meld together to form a beautiful connection that even activates the wall space between them!