Vane Styles for Vertical Shades

Q: I'm looking to get vertical blinds for my big bay window and want to know what my options are. Can you tell me the different vane styles available for vertical blinds? Thanks

A: Most vertical blinds are available as PVC, fabric, and some combination of the two. PVC vanes, much like their vinyl cousins, are rigid, block the light, and often cause a little noise when jostled. They're easy to maintain, however, and come in all sorts of colors.

Weighted fabric vanes also come in a wide variety of colors and textures and are a very quiet alternative to straight PVC. Based on your choice in fabric, you can get a room-darkening vertical blind or a light-filtering set. The best feature of fabric vanes is that they're very soft on both the eyes and the ears.

While straight PVC vanes are rigid and can resemble traditional vinyl vanes, you can certainly mix a rigid center with a textured fabric outer layer to get the best in privacy, light control, and style. These vertical shades combine the best of both features!

Hiding the Roller Shade Roll

Q: Is there a way to hide the roll on roller shades? I like the look of roller shades but am not too crazy about the exposed rolling system. Any ideas?

A: Yes! There are roller cassettes designed just for this purpose. Most people looking to install roller shades like the low-profile design and want to maintain that look throughout their window decorations. Roller shade cassettes are simple and give a sleek contemporary way to hide the roll at the top of your window. They also come in all kinds of colors that allows you to match either your trim or the roller shade itself. Both Hunter Douglas and YourBlinds carry low-profile roller shade cassettes.

If you want something less modern, you might also want to consider a conventional valence. Roller shades work great with existing drapes just by hiding the roll under a matching valence. You won't even know it's there!

Inexpensive Blinds for College

Q: My daughter's off to college next month and I want to make sure she is safe with adequate privacy. What blinds would you recommend for college kids (in dorms or off campus) that's cheap but still functional.

A: Most dorms come equipped with miniblinds which also happen to be a great alternative to more expensive shades and blinds for college. As we all know, college environments can cause excessive wear and tear on blinds and you'll want something that's functional yet still inexpensive and easy to replace. Mini blinds also easy to install and come in lots of fun colors to match any style.

Roller shades can also provide great privacy while still saving you money. Durable yet fashionable, roller shades come in all sorts of colors and many come with light diffusing properties as well. Like minblinds, roller shades are easy to clean, easy to install, and cheap to replace. Since they come in a wide variety of colors and textures, it'll be easy to find one that matches her taste.

Low Profile Shades for Drapes

Q: I'm not really looking to change the look of my living room, but I do need a little more control over sunlight. I currently have drapes and don't want to take them down. Is there anything I can use that would work with my existing window treatments?

A: Yes! In fact, cellular shades and roller shades work great with drapes. Both of these shade types are low-profile and, when installed alone, add elegant simplicity to any room. The unique linear design also makes them an ideal choice for pairing with existing window treatments. Their basic look and versatile function make them easy to hide behind valences, but also easy to coordinate with your décor.

When choosing between cellular and roller shades, you may want to consider function. Both come in light filtering and room darkening styles to maximize your control over incoming natural light, but cellular shades offer the benefit of insulation. By trapping cells of air between the window and your room, cellular shades help you save energy by preventing unnecessary heat loss. Roller shades, on the other hand, are very thin and take up minimal space when rolled up.

Both come in lots of colors and textures – perfect for pairing with any decorations!

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!