Want to add a warm feel to your home or give it some extra charm, consider wood blinds. Wood blinds come in an array of stains and paints to match any décor. There are also wood blinds made from a variety of wood species to accommodate the finickiest of consumers. There are many other advantages, besides beauty, for having wood blinds as your window covering.

Wood blinds can be custom made to fit any window in your home, including arch and other specialty shaped windows. Whatever your preference, there are many options to choose from, type of wood, stain, or paint color. With such a variety of options, there is sure to be a wood blind that will complement your window’s style. Wood blinds will give you maximum privacy and add a sense of warmth to the room.
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There are a number of fabricators that produce vinyl shutters. All shutters are produced with the same material and provide the same features, the only difference I have found is the installation process. So no matter who you buy your vinyl shutters from you are getting a reliable product.

Vinyl shutters are a high-quality shutter both affordable and attractive while offering reliable durability and easy maintenance. These shutters are crafted from a top-quality vinyl compound. This material gives the shutters strength and resistance to fading and wear. They feature seamless louvers, locking tilt-rods and a matte finish.

Vinyl shutters are easy to clean, fire retardant, and waterproof so they won’t rot or rust. They are designed to be energy efficient with an R-value of 3.4. They are even recyclable. Here is a list of features for the vinyl shutter that polywood and wood shutters can’t touch.

Vinyl Shutter Features

• Low maintenance. Cleans up with soap and water.
• Lightweight. Lightweight material prevents panels from sagging over time.
• Colorfast. Color is extruded through the vinyl. If shutter is scratched, color will remain true.
• Fire Retardant. Self extinguishing and will not burn.
• Waterproof. Will not absorb moisture or mildew. Ideal for bathrooms or over kitchen sink.
• Durable. Guaranteed not to warp, chip or fade.

Vinyl shutters are also available with numerous options; color, frame style, louver size and hinge color. While vinyl shutters are not for everyone’s décor; however, they cannot be denied their long list of features. If you decide to go with a vinyl shutter you won’t be disappointed.

If you have ever broken a slat in your blind; whether it be a mini blind, faux wood or wood blind, all can be replaced. No matter the manufacturer the blinds design concept are the same.

You will have to contact the manufacturer that produced your blinds. When ordering your new slat you will need to know the color name, size of slat width and the measurements of where the route holes are in the slat. To get the route hole measurement, measure from the left to the first hole and second and so on. The manufacturer will need to know this information to make the slat fit your blind.

To replace your broken slats you first lower the blind in the window all the way down, tilted open. Next remove the caps from the bottom rail of your blind. There will be a string with a knot in it. Next you would untie the knot in the string that goes through the bottom rail and each slat. Where the broken slat is, pull the center string out of the broken slat, all slats below and the bottom rail. Pull broken slat out, replace with new slat. Once the new slat is added, take the string you pulled out and now feed it back down the new slat to the bottom rail making sure you stay straight down the middle. When you have pulled the string through the bottom rail, tie a knot back in the string and replace the caps in the bottom rail. It’s that easy.

There are numerous window fashion choices for your arch shaped windows or any specialty shaped window (arches, angles, circles and curves). Below is a list of window coverings to cover your specialty window depending on your style or décor of your home. There is something for everyone.

Pleated Shades. Pleated shades offer privacy for angles, arches, and circle windows. This shade also offers remote systems for lifting shades in out-of- reach areas. Available in numerous colors.

Honeycomb Shades. This unique shade offers superior insulation for all specialty shaped windows. Honeycomb shades offer an array of options such as cordless, top-down/bottom-up and remote systems are available for large and high rise shades. As with the pleated shades, honeycomb shade have a vast array of colors and patterns to choice from.

Wood Shutters. Wood shutters offer superior hardwood beauty and craftsmanship for window wall and doors. They are available for arch-top, angles, circles, with a variety of colors and stains; including custom color or stain.

Sunburst Arch. They look like wood but are crafted from light and affordable PVC material. These arches have moveable louvers and its colors coordinate with majority alternative wood blinds.

Woven Wood Shades. These highly textural shades have an angled top application and are available in a rich assortment of bamboo, reeds, slats and grasses.

Silhouette® Window Shadings. Fabric vanes floating between sheer fabric facings provide light control and privacy. Silhouette is offered in curved and top-sloped applications for arches and angled windows.

Vertical Blinds. These blinds offer a curved track that makes them work great for bay and rounded windows. Stylish fabric, vinyl and aluminum styles work for angled window too.

With all these options there is sure to be a window covering solution that will turn your specialty shaped window into a well-dressed accent to your décor.

In the wake of three child deaths and the near strangulation of seven other children, federal authorities and several companies announced that almost 5.5 million hazardous window coverings are being recalled immediately.
The window coverings include roman shades, roll-up blinds, cellular shades and traditional blinds that have easy access to exposed cords and loops.

The companies participating in the recall are Pottery Barn Kids, IKEA, Vertical Land Inc., Lewis Hyman Inc., Lutron Electronics Co. Inc. and Victoria Classics. Victoria Classics’ Roman shades and many of Lewis Hyman’s window shades were sold exclusively at Target stores.

Two of the three child deaths involved 1-year-old boys who became entangled in cords on roll-up blinds and roman shades. One boy was strangled in the lift-cord loop of a roll-up blind that fell into his portable crib in 2007. The other boy was discovered last year with his head caught between the exposed inner cord and the cloth on the backside of a roman shade.

The third child death involved a 4-year-old girl who was found strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord in 2006.
In a statement, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission urged people to examine the shades and blinds in their homes.

“If looped pull cords, exposed inner cords or exposed lifting loops are found and children are in the home or occasionally visit your home, please consider replacing the blinds or shades with products that do not have exposed pull cords or inner cords,” the agency advised.

Six incidents of near strangulation involved roman shades. In all six occurrences between 2006 and 2008, children became entangled in the exposed inner cords on the back of the shades.

For detailed information on any of these product recalls, visit the website of the consumer Product Safety Commission.
To find out more about child safety featured products, contact Premier Shutters and Blinds for a free estimate.

Most window treatments do not require frequent cleaning. A light dusting with a vacuum cleaner brush attachment on a regular basis will keep them looking new for year. However, there are those blinds that require my care with their cleaning.

Recommended Cleaning Methods

• Dusting. Regular light dusting maintains a like-new appearance of most blinds, shades, shadings and shutters.
• Vacuuming. For a deeper cleaning, vacuuming gently with a brush attachment. Most products may be vacuumed using a vertical stroke; however, do not use a brush attachment on sheer fabrics as it may snag the material.
• Compressed air or hair dryer (non-heat setting). Use to blow dust off selected window coverings.
• Spot-cleaning. You can spot-clean shades and blinds with a soft cloth or sponge moistened with lukewarm water. Add mild detergent if needed. Blot gently to avoid creasing or damaging the fabric. Rubbing can damage fabrics. Spot-cleaning may result in cleaner areas.
• Aluminum blinds. Use an over-the-counter blind cleaner with a soft cloth.
• Vinyl and aluminum vertical blinds. Reduce build-up of static electricity by applying a very thin film of detergent on all vanes or take a dryer sheet and rub on each slat.
• Bathtub cleaning/water immersion. This method of cleaning can be used on alternative (faux) wood blinds, aluminum blinds, and most, but not all, honeycomb shade fabrics.
  • Immerse entire shade assembly (not headrail) in lukewarm water with mild detergent. Wash for five minutes by gently moving water around with your fingers. This type of cleaning is not recommended for blinds with cotton or decorative tapes.
  • Rinse with clear water.
  • Close shade before removing from rinse water.
  • Hold rails and tilt the shade to allow excess water to drain off.
  • Re-install damp shade into window opening.
  • Lower shade all the way to allow it to dry completely.
• Ultrasonic cleaning. Professional ultrasonic cleaning can also be used on several window coverings, a various honeycomb shade fabrics, sheer shadings and roman shades. Be sure to check with your window covering expert to see if your window covering fabrics can be cleaned ultrasonically.
• Steaming. Steaming can be done to remove wrinkles from various fabrics. A hand-held travel size steamer that supplies continuous steam is best. Heavy-duty steamers are not recommended.

It is always a good idea to consult with the company you bought your window coverings from if you have any hesitation on what is the proper way of cleaning your window covering.

1. Vinyl shutters also known as Vinylbilt- Summerwind by Designer Blinds, Eclipse by Timber Blinds and Palm Beach Polysatin shutters by Hunter Douglas. They all just try to change the name to make the consumer feel like they are getting more than what they paying for.
2. All vinyl shutters have a shiny scratchy look to them, giving you the appearance that they are a cheap shutter. (I mean inexpensive shutter.) But guess what they’re not. The vinyl shutter is a petroleum based product; therefore, the price of the shutter increases with the price of fuel. With the rising price in fuel the cost was driven up to exceed polywood shutter costs. However, with fuel costs going down, the cost of the shutter has not decreased.
3. Vinyl shutters have a limited selection of frames and options. For instance, if you have tilt-in windows, they do not have frames to let you to accommodate this issue. Unless you want to give up your tilt-in windows Vinyl shutters will not work in your windows.
4. The vinyl shutter uses two types of closure systems; one is a magnet which you can see from the outside of your window, the other is a ball and catch system which gives your shutters a significant light gap at the top and bottom of the shutter panel. This is a turn off for most people who are purchasing a custom product for their home. The Norman Woodlore shutter (polywood) has built-in magnets that are hidden from plain sight and give you less light gaps with your shutters.
5. Options. Vinyl shutters are limited to 3 colors choices, 5 frames styles, and 3 louver sizes. They are however, guaranteed not to warp, chip or peel and are ideal for high moisture areas. However, so are polywood shutters. Polywood shutters are also available in 3 color choices, but have 20 frames styles, 6 louvers sizes, 7 hinge finishes, and other options. Good thing is you can choose the polywood shutters, which will exceed your expectations. This product is used whether you want it in your bathroom, dining room or in the garage so your home looks uniform from the front. Norman woodlore polywood shutters are the best product on the market that I am aware of. Since Premier Shutters and Blinds has been around in business. I have been in the shutter business for 13 years. We found that the quality, service, selection and value you get with this product is outstanding.
6. Norman woodlore polywood have the exact same style of wood shutter design so it will give you the feel of wood shutters for a fraction of the cost. Did I mention they have a limited lifetime warranty.
7. The manufacturer, Norman Shutters, of this style of polywood shutter started in the furniture business. So you can imagine the quality of the finish and the construction of the product. It exceeds any other product on the market even Hunter Douglas’ New Style shutters.

So you need to ask yourself and do some research on these products before you purchase any other type of interior shutters .This product has a better insulation factors than all the vinyl shutters. Which, in return saves you money on the energy cost of your home.

Every window covering manufacturer carries their own line of honeycomb/cellular shades. A few of the most recognized are the Duette® and Applause® shades by Hunter Douglas and Graber has the Crystal Pleat collection. They all have the same design concept they just use different material with numerous color and pattern choices. When purchasing honeycomb shades it comes down to personal preference and cost.

1. R-Value. Honeycomb shades provide one the highest R-Value ratings over any other window covering. R-value is a measure of a window coverings ability to resist heat flow, which is especially important in the cool winter months. The higher the R-value number, the more insulation it provides and the better it is at reducing heat loss.
2. UV Exposure. Honeycomb shades protect your home from UV light. UV exposure is not only harmful to your skin it can also damage furnishings, floors and fine art. Most honeycomb shades have fabric options that can filter out 99% of these harmful rays in the closed position.
3. Lift System. Honeycomb shades have numerous options to pick from; color, patterns, and lift systems to name a few. The most popular option, we have found, is the cordless option. Some of you Hunter Douglas fans may know this option as LiteRise.This option is exactly what it says “cordless”. There are not exposed strings on this shade. You just gently raise and lower the shade by lifting up or pulling down on the bottom rail of the shade. This is a great safety option for homes with small children and for customers that want to rid their homes of dangling cords.
4. Privacy or View. Who doesn’t love to have their cake and eat it, too. Honeycomb shades allow you the benefits of both worlds. These shades give you complete privacy when in the closed position. When fully raised they stack up tightly to allow you to enjoy the full view of your window. You can also try the Top-down/Bottom-up option, which allows you to open the shade from the top and keep the bottom part of the shade lowered. This option works beautifully over a tub, allowing natural light from the top of the window while keeping the lower portion of the window closed for privacy.
5. Options, options, more options. Honeycomb shades can be used in any room of the house. A semi-opaque top-down/bottom-up shade goes great in a dining room, while a cordless blackout shade works best in a media room to block out all natural light and give you that movie theater feel.

Honeycomb shades are a great window covering investment for your home. They provide insulation, privacy and style to any home. With so many options, there is sure to be a honeycomb combination to fit your window covering needs.

With all the new gadgets out on the market for windows, automated blinds are becoming one of the show stoppers. These ultra sleek window blinds are now becoming common place in many homes and offices. Automated blinds allow the homeowner to raise and lower the blinds via through the Internet or from the push of a button from a remote control.

Automated window blinds are blinds that have a motorized mechanism discretely attached to the cords that raise and lower the shade. This device lets the user control the amount of light that is let in by just the push of a button. The controllers for automated blinds can be wireless using, inferred, radio controlled or other new forms of technologies. The control device can also be hardwired to a wall or integrated into other systems in a home or office.

A great feature of having automated blinds installed is, being able to control the amount of light that is allowed through a window at anytime of the day without even being home. This is ideal for individuals with houseplants and or pets. These automated shades can be raised or lowered at certain times of the day to let sunshine in through windows even when the resident is not home. Many that travel for business or pleasure find this an attractive feature of owning automated blinds.

Having automated blind installed in the office or home can help keep energy costs down. When rooms are not being used, the shades can be lowered in order to keep rooms cool during the summer months and during cooler weather, the blinds can be raised to let sun light in to help keep the room warmer. This eradicates the need to have someone physically in the room to adjust the settings of the blind.

Automated blinds can come in an array of styles and colors. Many companies now offer these automated shades in roller types, Roman, skylight shades, woven shades, silhouette shades and even draperies. The textures of the blinds can come in metal, plastic, wood and fabric. The choices are many. With that being said, these shades can fit into almost any home or office décor. For this reason, automated shades have been becoming more common place in homes and offices throughout the world.

Automated shades have come a long way through many new technological advances in the past few years. The motors have precision movement in a group or alone. Many now have quite operation and one can barely hear the mechanism working. This is a great feature when installed in a bedroom so as not to disturb a child or a spouse sleeping.

Having automated blinds installed in a home or office has so many advantages to the owner. The great styles and colors available are boundless by the imagination. The energy saving features are a plus for many homeowners. And who would not love the being able to control these blinds via remote control or by simply using the Internet. Automated blinds can be a great addition to any home.

Ever awaken to the bright morning sun scorching into your bedroom or have trouble watching a movie because of the glare off your TV screen? Blackout shades (aka home theater shades) are able to darken a room by blocking up to 99% of light, making them ideal window covering for bedrooms, media rooms or any room you want to block out natural light.

Blackout shades are available in a variety of styles to accommodate your home decor. Some shades, such as cellular and roman shades, are made from a blackout material, while bamboo shades require an attached blackout liner. There are numerous product options in the window treatment market to fit any size window or décor, there are even options for sliding glass doors, skylights, and specialty shaped windows.

When purchasing blackout shades consider the fact that the blackout properties of a shade applies only to light trying to pass through the shade. You also need to consider light going around the shade. To achieve total blackout with and inside mounted shade you will have to add a drapery or side panels to help conceal the edge of the shade where light can creep around. If purchasing an outside mounted shades remember to add enough width and length to fully cover the window plus part of the wall to prevent light from going around the shade. There may still be a soft glow around the edges of the shade, but no direct sunlight will pass through the shade material.

Also, note that the terms room-darkening and opaque are sometimes used to indicate light filtering materials, these are not blackout shades. To learn more about blackout shades, contact Premier Shutters and Blinds for a free estimate.