Matching Cabinets – Stains for Wood Blinds

Q: My new home has beautiful cabinets installed in the kitchen and I'm hoping to get blinds to match. They're not a traditional color or stain and I'd love to keep everything consistent. Do manufactures have a wide range of stains I can look at and match?

A: Wood blinds come in a HUGE range of stain colors and can be painted to order depending on what slat size you want. For example, the Hunter Douglas Classic line of wood blinds has 35 stain options ranging from black, pale white, and blue to traditional chestnut, pecan, or maple. You can even order swatches of the blinds before you purchase in order to correctly match your existing cabinets.

In addition to a custom stain color, you might also want to consider adding a cloth tape to further personalize your blinds. These tapes run vertically down your blinds, hiding the route holes and reducing glare. They come in a wide range of colors and patterns that you can use to match the rest of your décor!

Drape-Like Shades

Q: Are there any shades or blinds that have the same soft richness as drapes? I love my drapes and the look of lose fabric, but I was hoping for a convenient solution. Any ideas?

A: Check out Roman Shades! Roman shades are unique to the shade and blind world and combine the soft appeal of fabric drapes with the simplicity and function of shades. There are a few different styles, too. While most people think of lose folds of fabric, roman shades actually come in a variety of styles that range from casual and lose to streamlined and modern. If you're looking for a very lose fabric look, try out hobbled or relaxed roman shades. If you want something more sleek and tailored, look for a classic flat style.

The best thing about roman shades is that they're available in a huge range of fabrics, textures, and patterns. You can even get them in light diffusing fabrics or have them lined to have shades that really darken your room. Either way you'll end up with a soft window treatment that appeals to both aesthetics and function.

Shades and Blinds for French Doors

Q: Are there any blinds made for French Doors? I currently have French doors in my bedroom but can't seem to find anything except fitted drapes for them. I'd rather have something more contemporary and stylish rather than old and traditional. Any ideas?

A: Yes! There are all sorts of custom blinds and shades made specifically for French doors. In fact, a lot of the same manufacturers who make shades and blinds for the rest of your home, also make those same styles for French doors. For example, Hunter Douglas, one of the leaders in window blinds, makes cellular shades for French doors that come in the same colors and light filtering properties as their other lines. This means you can get a contemporary shade for your French Door and coordinate them with other windows as well!

Cellular blinds aren't the only door shades available, however. Slim, tailored door shades and blinds also come in wood blinds, faux wood blinds, natural and bamboo shades that lay flat and filter light, and roman shades. Some of these offer options for top down/bottom up controls and others are available to cover either the entire door or just the glass.

There's a lot of options out there and you can certainly find ones that fit any modern style. What a way to bring those beautiful French doors into the 21^st century!