A Softer Kind of Shade

Q: My home has a traditional feel with some contemporary pieces and I'm torn between shades and drapes. I like the soft fabric look of drapes, but I'd rather have the convenience of cord controls (and the more compact design, too). What can you suggest?

A: Roman shades are perfect for your needs! These shades mix the soft appearance and feel of fabric with the ease of shade controls. These fabric window treatments cover your window with either elegant folds of fabric or more contemporary flat panels, both of which can be raised and lowered with traditional shade cord controls or cord loops.

And, since roman shades come in a variety of styles, colors, and textures, you have a huge range of choices to match your home's unique décor. They're also available in room-darkening or light-filtering fabrics that give you even greater control over the atmosphere in your home. And, in addition to being versatile, roman shades also come in top down/bottom up styles that allow you to raise and lower your shade from either the bottom rail or the top.

With almost unlimited options in styles and function, you can't go wrong with roman shades!

Blind-Celluar Hybrids

Q: I'm hoping to learn more about alternatives to traditional cellular shades. I read somewhere that there's a style of cellular that looks more like blinds. Can you give me more information?

A: Of course! Comfortex (a leading manufacturer of blinds and shades) created Odysee Insulating Blinds that combine the insulating features of cellular shades with the look and versatility of traditional blinds. From a distance, these unique shades resemble typical blinds with horizontal slats, giving you the look and flexibility of blinds. But, instead of tilting the blinds, you manipulate the cord controls to expand and contract the slats.

When you expand the slats, they open up into large cells (just like cellular shades) to block or filter incoming light, increase privacy, and create an insulating layer of air between your room and the window. This insulating layer can help keep your home cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, reducing energy costs and ultimately saving you money.

You can also leave the Odysee slats in the contracted position so they lay flat and give you access to your view and appear much more like conventional blinds. The best part about these blinds is that they give you the versatile light control, privacy, and insulation of cellular with the look and feel of conventional blinds. They're perfect!

Inexpensive Alternatives to Real Wood Blinds

Q: I love the look of wood blinds, but can't afford to install them right now. Are there any other blinds available that might be good instead?

A: Faux Wood Blinds come in all kinds of colors and textures, many of which mimic the look and feel of real wood. Faux wood blinds tend to be less expensive than their natural alternatives and are perfect for areas where humidity can be a problem. Since they're created from composite material, faux wood blinds resist warping and bending and are great for bathrooms and kitchens.

Keep in mind though, that although faux wood blinds tend to be more affordable than wood, they're also heavier. This means that they have more strings (ladders) to hold each slat in place and they require more energy to adjust the height. But these composite alternatives can certainly be worth the adjustment if you're looking for a more durable, cheaper alternative to real wood blinds.

Modern Vertical Alternatives

Q: I'm hoping you can help me out. We have a house at the lake with huge windows that give us a great view. Unfortunately, they give everyone else a view inside our home, too...especially at night. Can you suggest a good shade? Hopefully something without vinyl slats?

A: Yes! There's two really good alternatives to traditional vertical blinds. Cellular shades and sheer shades both come in vertical styles.

Cellular shades have become one of the most popular alternatives to vertical blinds. These unique shades trap air inside vertical cells when they're pulled open, giving you light control and privacy while simultaneously helping you save energy through additional window insulation. They come in all kinds of colors and are available in both light diffusing and room darkening styles.

Sheer shades are available as panel tracks and come in a huge range of colors and textures. These unique shades block direct sunlight while still giving you full access to that wonderful lake view. If you want something to help control light during the day while still keeping your view, sheer shades are great! Tighter weaves provide a little privacy at night, but not quite as much as cellular.

Both, however, are great for modern or contemporary décor.

Enjoy the lake!

Optimizing Comfort and Convenience

Q: I have a friend who recently installed remote-controlled shades in his home because he has really high windows. While my windows are just fine height-wise, I really like the idea of having something like this for my media room. Can you get these to help keep a room dark?

A: Yes!! In fact, motorized (also known as remote controlled) shades are perfect for media rooms! Not only do they come in room-darkening styles, the remote controlled features make it even easier to streamline your media experience.

And you might want to consider cellular shades for your media room. They come in lots of different colors, many of which are perfect for blocking light. And they're simple style makes them perfect for any room (Not to mention their unique design also provides some added insulation and energy savings). With the added motorized features, you can raise and lower your cellular shade with a simple touch of a button.

Just keep your window remote alongside your other controls and you have comfort at your fingertips!

Light and Airy Shades for Spring

Q: My home is getting a makeover and I want to change my window treatments to something “lighter”. Although it's nice to have a light color, I'm actually looking for something that doesn't look as heavy as my old drapes. I guess clean lines are a must, but I don't want it looking too contemporary, either. What's out there that's simple enough for spring and summer but also affordable?

A: You're in luck! Roller shades, pleated shades, cellular (honeycomb) shades, and even mini blinds would suit your needs. All of these have a simple, sleek design that's light on the eye and light on the wallet. The clean lines won't weigh down your windows and, with the exception of mini blinds, all of the shades are available with light-filtering options.

Roller shades are especially well suited for spring because of their simplicity and versatility while cellular and pleated shades bring a slightly more sophisticated look to your windows while still maintaining clean lines. Mini blinds, on the other hand, give you the light control of slat shades without the thick slats, keeping your rooms light and comfortable throughout the year.

Earth-Friendly Shades

Q: After witnessing Earth Hour, I began thinking more and more about small changes I can make around my home to be more environmentally friendly. So, on my quest for new window shades, I've decided to go “green”. Any suggestions?

A: Now is the perfect time to look for more sustainable window shades and blinds. Woven wood, bamboo, reeds, and grasses are all sustainable fibers that work beautifully as shades. In fact, manufacturers have come up with new and innovative ways to use these fibers to give you even more variety in natural woven shades.

Most people associate woven shades with open weaves that accentuate the natural grasses from which they're made and let in a fair amount of light. Although standard “earthy” shades are still available and work perfectly for creating a warm atmosphere, there are more tightly woven shades and blinds that create a slightly more modern look while still maximizing light control and privacy. And they're available in a wide range of colors and textures that will match any decor!

So why not extend Earth Hour to Every Hour by using woven wood shades!