"April Showers Bring May Flowers"

"April Showers Bring May Flowers" ?

Maybe, but they can also lead to more water on the freeway in May when the rain continues into May. Writers have often used April to indicate the opening because of it's Latin origin "aperire" which means to open. Did you know April begins on the same day of week as July in all years and also January in leap years? Okay, we may not all be longing for those April showers this year, because we know it means the opening to higher summer cooling cost.

Have no fear! Honeycomb or cellular window shades can help you cut those higher cost by reducing the amount of heat coming through the window. Available in single cell and double cell fabrics, both styles have r- factors representing the insulating effect that can work like the insulation in your attic.

Let's face it. Heating is now more expensive because because of cold and cooling more expensive because of heat. We can't win even one season anymore. The car cost more because it saves gas and more if it waste gas. We can only begin to think, cut cost for the long run.

Cellular shades are available in many colors and have great options like easy lift to reduce cords and my favorite (top down bottom up) allowing for light and or view at two angles.

Hope your May flowers are beautiful and April will not bring too much rain.

Cord vs. Wand Tilt Control

What the Heck! Another decision? What difference does tilt control type make anyway?
Calm down and consider it for just a moment. The tilting devise for wood and faux wood blinds will be of a cord type or a wand type. The cord is often suggested, however wand tilting is by far the most popular. Wands are color coordinated to the blind slats in white and stained choices. Wands do eliminate the extra cords and can be seen as a more sleak addition over the cords. Wands are easy to reach and twist left or right for tilting the blind slats. Wands are the only tilting mechanism available on most 1" blinds. Wands are easily removable and the control itself can be replaced in a matter of seconds where as the cord tilter is also replaceble, but can take a bit longer due to the routing of the cords and the reinstallation of the cord tassels.

Cord tilting is still a great option. Cords are color coordinated as well and can balance out the blind left and right. The cord tilt like the wand can be positioned on the same side as the cord lift control or opposite in most sized applications.

Cord or wand, my advice is consider what is around the window. Will the position for the tilt control be better on the right or left side? Do you have any obsticle in the way of the window? Do you need to reach the tilting from a seated position? Is the blind being installed in stairwell or high area which makes reaching the controls difficult? High mounted blinds will need the cord control for both tilt and lift and can special ordered at an extra length to allow access.

Hope you had a wonderful Good Friday and enjoy the weekend.

Spring Time Remodeling

Hey folks, we got a head start on Spring this year, thanks to the early enactment of daylight savings and also Easter is in March tis year. For you history buffs, you'll be interested to know that Easter has not been in March for approximately 93 years and will not be again for a little over 200 years. Naturally we all remember the real reason for Easter....Resurrection Sunday. Jesus born a man, died for our sinds and raised on the third day.

Weather permitting the Spring time early arrival will make most of us feel like getting the yard and home in shape and ready for visitors, garden parties etc. Well, don't forget those aged or just plain out of date window treatments. White wood and faux wood blinds brighten every home on the inside and the outside. Woven and cellular shades are becoming very fashionable also, as many seek to let in the light while keeping energy cost at bay.

Honeycomb cellular shades will allow filtered light to enter the room while not letting all that summer heat come at the same time.

For the environment fiendly at heart, the woven wood shades will do the same thing and you can take pride in the use of natural grasses, reeds, jute, bamboo etc. for your home decor.

Both products are available in a blackout version or with a blackout liner if you desire to eliminate further heat from the inside spaces.

Have a GREAT Easter Sunday!

Window Decor Ideas

As with all things in the world today, deciding what style of window decor you want can be a little overwhelming. Wood blinds, faux woods, honeycomb cellular, woven wood shades. What color, what size and should they have a blckout liner etc.

Home improvement and decorating magazines can be a great source for ideas. We highly recommend Southern Living, Better Homes and Garden, Country Living. There are many other resources avaialble as well. HGTV is only one of the cable TV decor shows and Public television also offers many options. View enough shows and articles and you will find a room similar to what you are trying to enhance. Once you have narrowed the choices you'll want to get color samples and review measuring information. These are very important to make certain you order the correct product for your windows.

Personal opinion should not be overlooked. you and or your family will see the window covering on a daily basis. Be sure to keep in mind if the need is to cover the window only or to have access to the outdoor view.

An often overlooked source for ideas can doctor and dental offices. Financial centers and almost any place you may have need to spend time in during the course of a year. Often these places of business will update the window decor so in order to keep a fresh atmosphere for customers. Despite some opinions many commercial offices spend a fair amount to redecorate because of the effect the surroundings have regular and would be clientel. Some households will even go so far as to change blind and shade colors with the seasons in order to create that special feel for there homes. Brackets are often color coordinated, but small and do not always need to be changed due to a blind or shade color change.

Whatever you needs and desires are, you can find an almost unlimited resource of publications that will provide great ideas for your decorating needs.

God Bless,