Buyer's Guide to Blinds And Shutters

Sales of blinds have gone up by an imposing 40 per cent during the last two years,' says Fiona Kelly, managing director of The Shutter Shop. 'People seem to be departing from curtains in favor of clean, modest lines of shutters.' Some companies dealing with blinds are providing A to Z services to capture customers' interest. They offer the services of a consultant who takes measurements before fitting the shutters for you. While others fabricate something that you may fit yourself. But, that calls for a complete toolkit that you are confident of handling.

There is a wide choice of options varying from MDF-based wood to costlier solid woods. Mark Carter, company director of Shutterly Fabulous points out: ' Depending on your budget, it's worthwhile to invest in shutters as they really are furniture for your windows.'

Deriving their name from the expansive 19th-century mansions in America's deep south, the most adaptable are plantation-style shutters. These are louvers that open and close to adjust heat and light from the sun. They offer ventilation and privacy whenever required and are available in striking selection of colors and materials.



Shutterly Fabulous, Shaftesbury Shutters and The New England Shutter Company would all color match or stain shutters to shades of paints from any of the paint companies like Farrow & Ball, Dulux etc. Further, they may be treated with a UV sealant to dispense with the touch-ups. The New England Shutter Company deals with hand-stitched faux leather, suede and fabric finishes in a massive range of shades and textures.

Another feature is that you can decide the width of your louvers to suit your specific requirements. 'Bigger louvers permit more light when the shutter is open,' says Harriet Shackleton, sales manager at The New England Shutter Company, 'so you should keep that in mind while taking decision.

Traditionally the system of opening or closing of the louvers has been with the aid of a rod on the outside of the shutter. But many companies have innovated to offer designs with hidden mechanisms or even remote-controlled shutters thus giving the mechanism a modern look and making it convenient to approach those hard-to-reach windows.

Historically speaking, solid shutters were first put to use in pre-Edwardian houses and were hardly used a couple of times a year as the owners absconded for the season.
They weren't meant for a day-to-day operation of closing or opening, like we do and that's the reason that we are left with very few as of date.



Instead of traditional wood, they are now available in quite a few materials. You could opt for Parma Lilac for an acrylic version or Draks for Japanese-style canto shutters with hardwood frames and a bespoke central panel of non-reflective acrylic. You may even ask for it on your choice of a particular fabric.

Wouldn't it be amazing to have antique shutters! Try salvage companies like Lassco. 'It's possible to cut them down but ensure proportions,' says Francis Lee, design consultant at Lassco. Else, you may add an extra leaf to fit them, but take accurate measurements and find a pair to fit as perfect as possible.

Types of Blinds

Café-style shutters are used to drape only the lower half of the window and are therefore more economical (as they cover only half the window). They are perfect when you are living at street level because while they maintain your privacy, you nay still have some sunlight. But you can't achieve a total blackout of the room.

Tier-on-tier or double-hung blinds are the most flexible shutters you can go for. Here two sets are hung one above the other but each works independent of the other. This offers great flexibility of operation. You may open the top part and leave the bottom one closed or vice versa. Even both maybe closed or left open. The only shortcoming is that they don't jell with certain designs of windows.

Taller windows are best done with Full-height shutters. They are usually provided with a dividing rail either halfway up, or at a natural break in the window (i.e. at the level of the sash). It imparts sturdiness to taller shutters while enabling the louvers in the top and bottom half to be adjusted independently, thus enabling you to open the top set for getting light but keep the bottom set closed for privacy.

Solid shutters provide a neat look and come with a range of central panels such as raised, molded and Shaker styles. Solid-based shutters are derived by a combination of louver panel at the top with a solid panel at the bottom.

Roller Blinds - From Sheer To Blackout

When you take a look at the number of choices you have when it comes to window treatments, you really get overwhelmed. The materials, prices and vendors are all mixed in a huge pile that you have to dig in and find the right choice for you. It's not easy to get to a decision under those circumstances, but with some good tips on blinds, you will get there.

There are many people who can't think of some unusual choice for their new blinds or shutters. When it is the time to upgrade to something new, most people think of vertical blinds or mini blinds. But that is what they have done before and will do again. It's not such a pleasant thing to be aware of, when you look at it. You kinda wish there is something more to it. And there is.

Roller blinds may not be the newest craze in the world, since the vinyl roller blinds are with us for quite a while. And lets face it, these shades are not really decorative. But the times have changed and we are making progress. The roller shades are made out of new materials, opacity and colors. You can have a clean and contemporary look to decorate your home with. And you can choose to have functionality - picking the see-through shades or getting a blackout blinds for your room. For those people who like to take naps in the afternoon or are light sleeper, this is absolutely fantastic window treatment option.

You can get a simple clean look that offers maximum functionality. You will get a chain driven system that will help you use the blinds. It's easy to use it and you can set them at any level you desire. If you want to go overboard, you can get a motorized system that will do it all for you. It's a remote control you will have to touch this way, and chain will be a matter of history.

One more interesting option is a cassette system that covers the roll and conceals it properly. This way the entire window will look more attractive.

When it comes to manufacturers that are offering this, there are really plenty of them. I do not want to recommend any brands, because it is best for you to find what suits your taste. I love Hunter Douglas shade that comes in a grey color, since it matches my wall. I mounted them inside the window and I recommend you do the same. It's much cleaner and more decorative option. Just make sure you get the measurements right before you make an order or go to the store near you.

Blackout Roller Blinds

It is not easy to choose the right window treatments today, since there are so many different types and models available. The choices, costs and stores are so many, that it makes you want to buy the nearest thing just to get rid of it all. The feeling is there when you are looking for blinds, curtains or any other type of window treatments. What would help in choosing the right blinds would be some good information, right? Well, this is one place where you can get them.

I know it is difficult to think outside the box when it comes to buying something that will solve your problems. For example, you want to do something with your windows, but you are stuck with curtains and regular wood blinds. Is that the best you can get? Actually you can. Vinyl and vertical blinds you already tried. But what about blackout roller blinds?

I do not want to say that roller shades are a new thing, but they are to most of us who never used them. We know that a vinyl roller shutters are here for a long time, but they are not really decorative. But the times have come to a different level of decor, and this means that new materials are now involved with some old products. You get contemporary look and this is what can make your rooms a whole lot better. This is where blackout roller blinds come into play. You can get one that is nearly see through but you can also get one that will completely block the sunlight.

The functionality is the main advantage here, besides the ability to block sunlight and noise from the outside. You get a chain driven clutch system that will help you maneuver your blinds. You are free to buy a motorized system, but be aware that it will cost you more. Well, I guess that a remote control sun blocking is worth the money.

The usual treatment is that you get cassette system that covers and conceals the roll inside. It looks classy and it has decorative look. When it comes to styles and colors, you can choose them by yourself because the options are numerous. For example, a Hunter Douglas light camel color blackout roller blinds are a good choice. You only have to choose the color that will match your outside walls so it fits well into decoration.

You can choose to mount roller shades inside the window too. It is a bit more convenient and is not so unattractive. Be careful about the measurements though, because it has to fit your windows well. Double check the measurements and do them on three spots instead just on ine place. It is possible that the width won't be the same at the top, middle and bottom.

I hope you got a bit closer to your final decision when it comes to blackout roller blinds. The choices are numerous but that is your advantage since you can make a fine decor. Matchstick and cellular blinds really add up to the atmosphere of your home, besides being practical and blocking the sunlight and outside noise.

Complete Blackout With Blinds

When it comes to blocking sunlight, there is no better solution then blackout blinds. They are specially made for this purpose and can be used for many other purposes, like blocking the outside sources completely during the day and night. Some of you think that curtains can do this too, but that is not the truth. Simply because some sorts of light are too powerful and the curtains will hardly close the entire window. The best solution here are blackout blinds.

If you are one of the people who works throughout the night and needs some rest, you might be interested to try them. Or if you need complete privacy, then blinds would be a good choice to put them in bedroom or in a bathroom. You won't have to worry about a thing after you place them on your windows. And when it comes to privacy, there is one thing people often forget about blinds. The noise from the outside will be blocked with them. Yup, you won't have to hear all the traffic and yelling anymore. Besides the windows, blackout blinds will keep you relaxed and stress free from noise.

Another advantage you will appreciate is the energy saving you will attain with these shutters. They will manage to retain the warmth in your home and reflect the hot air and sunlight during the summer. These are great advantages and it is no wonder that blackout shades became so popular. The demand is rising since they are cheaper then ever and do a better job when compared to drapes.

There are different types of blackout shutters. For example, honeycomb, wood, vertical, aluminum, natural grass and bamboo blinds. And the patterns that you can choose from are also many so you will be able to find one that matches your home decor. And when it comes to price, it all depends on the type and pattern you choose.

Installation

It was thought that the sun blocking is easy thing to do. Just place some wood blinds inside the window and that's it. But the truth is quite different. It is because when you shut the openings and there will still be some light coming inside. It would come through the side openings of the window and then you just wasted your time and money. To solve this problem, you have to put blinds outside and at least 3 inches should be spanning over all sides. This can be also done by using hold down brackets.

Another interesting thing you can do is to convert your window blinds to blackout shutters. You will need some money of course, but it is an easy task. You will have to attach a blackout lining on the backside of your shades. You will have complete darkness for sure, the only thing that wil hurt you here is the price. But if you want to keep your current shutters, this is the way to do it.

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