Fabrics, accessories, and custom shutters provide excellent privacy control for the bedroom and bath

If your bedroom or bathroom faces the street or a nearby neighbor, issues of privacy and light control, plays a very important part in addressing your wellbeing and piece of mine. There are a couple of window treatments available to choose from such as lined panels, operative shutters, or light-controlling blinds. Either one of these window treatments will secure your privacy from unwanted eyes while taking a shower or changed your clothing.

Keeping light out of the bedroom is as important as letting it in or controlling its levels. Blinds do not offer as much noise control as heavy fabric shades and provide privacy only when they are completely closed. Heavy draperies are seldom appropriate for the scale and style of bedrooms, so use a combination of light draperies, shades, or blinds. Check the fabric to determine how much privacy and light control it offers.

Natural light is optimal light. To achieve good natural light control during the day, hang a flexible window treatment that provides privacy but let in maximum daylight. The best investment is a set of plantation shutters or high-quality blinds. If blinds blades don't fit tightly and are turned downwards, upstairs neighbors may be able to see through them. The same goes for blades turned upward, downstairs neighbors may be able to peer in.

A blind with standard white plastic or metal blades is always a good choice, while shiny; chrome blades express a sleek, chic style. Both are waterproof and easily cleaned with a dust cloth or a brush designed for blind blades. Another option is to install a classic white roller shade; it disappears behind a valance when rolled up to let in the light. Bedrooms and bathrooms should be restful, but they don't have to be dull or dated. Give your sleepy abode a wakeup call with lively window treatment.

About The Author:
Roger King has been involved in window treatments for several years, and has been helping people find and review the best value for window treatment solutions. Visit his Web site http://www.all-windowtreatmentideas.com to learn more about this service.

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Wooden Shutters - Interior Shutters for Home, Office, Restaurant, Cafe

Why have Timber Shutters instead of Curtains?

Curtains have been increasingly under siege now for many years – and it’s not hard to see why. For hundreds of years they were a great idea – indeed the best, if not only idea – for dressing windows, retaining warmth and maintaining privacy. But times have changed and 21st century alternatives leave curtains in the shade.

There have been a number of pretenders to the throne but, of all the alternatives available, wooden plantation shutters have emerged as the clear winner. It’s not hard to see why, since they are practical, aesthetically pleasing and long lasting.

What’s more, unlike curtains, they provide good insulation against noise – a real benefit, especially for anyone living near a busy road. And shutters come in a variety of styles and finishes to suit every style of home – or office – from a centuries-old country cottage to a space-age loft apartment.

It’s not surprising that they are practical – they get their name from the popular design of shutters found on American plantations where protection from intense heat and light is of primary importance.

They are made by hinging a number of panels together, which enables them to fold back. And whereas the original plantation shutters used in America’s deep south had fixed slats, today’s shutters have slats – or louvres – that can be easily adjusted to admit as much air or light as required.

Traditionally, of course, these window coverings were fitted externally. These days, however, for practical reasons they are normally fixed inside. And the good news is that they can be made to fit virtually any size or shape of window or French door.

So, there is no doubt they meet all the criteria for a practical window covering. What about looks? Well, they certainly can’t be faulted in that department! Wooden shutters are a design classic. And the choice is extensive – from the wide range of woods to the colour or stain with which they are finished. Whatever your style of furnishing or colour scheme you can co-ordinate plantation shutters with ease. And when you change your colour scheme you won’t have to change your window covering – unlike curtains, shutters don’t ‘date’ and they certainly don’t clash!

But the superiority of shutters over curtains doesn’t stop there. Curtains require washing or dry-cleaning – and you have to take them down first! Shutters stay in situ and just need a quick flick with a duster. And, of course, while dust gets into the very fabric of curtains, contributing to or aggravating allergies, there is no danger of this with shutters.

Anything else? Well, curtains fade and the material eventually rots, whereas shutters are virtually indestructible.

It’s all or nothing with curtains – open or closed. Shutters can be adjusted to your exact requirements and an advantage of this is that strong sunlight, the number one cause of fading furnishings, furniture and pictures, can be excluded without cutting out all light.

Curtains have had a good innings. They have served us well but there’s no doubt that it’s time to move on. It’s a case of RIP curtains, long live shutters!

Is this the end of the line for curtains

Barry Dunlop is the Founder of Blinds-Shutters.co.uk - The site with lots of tips, advice and help to plan, design and buy both internal window shutters and Plantation Shutters! Find out more at his website: http://www.blinds-shutters.co.uk

Style & Elegance of Shutters and Safety of Hurricane Shutters

When we talk about window shutters, it can often be confusing because you can actually have them on the inside, such as plantation shutters, as well as the outside of your home. We are here to take all the confusion out of the various types of shutters including hurricane shutters along with wood and vinyl ones. If you live in a part of the world that is subject to tropical storms, we highly recommend installing good hurricane shutters to protect both the inside and outside of your home. A storm can do serious damage to your home’s interior structure if the windows blow out. The best time to have them installed is when you are building your home so that your contractor can tie them into the exterior décor. Great interior decorating window treatments are plantation shutters.

Custom made plantation shutters can add style, warmth and beauty to any room in your home. Louver sizes often range from 2 1/2” to 4 1/28” depending on the size and shape of your windows and the room. They come in a variety of colors as well as wood and faux wood. Faux wood is a synthetic material that will not fade, warp or chip over time. If you live in a humid climate, these may be the perfect choice for you. Real wood shutters also come in a variety of finishes so that you can match them to the room’s trim color if you like. Hurricane shutters also come in a variety of finishes and are most often custom made to ensure a perfect fit.

Many people wonder about the difference in shutter styles. The main difference with plantation shutters is that they tend to be thicker and the louvers are often wider. They provide a distinguishing look and feel to the room and are often used with traditional décors versus contemporary settings. That doesn’t mean you can’t use them in a modern home because you can. You can choose whatever window coverings you like that suit your needs and your style.

Amy-Jo Strutt is a successful home decorator writer and regular contributor to window-blinds-shades-shutters.com, an online resource to help you find the very best window treatments and coverings. http://www.window-blinds-shades-shutters.com/shutters.html

Dividing Rooms With Vertical Blinds

Whenever the division of a room is desired, it has been traditionally achieved by the erection of a permanent wall which usually requires the hiring of a qualified person to construct said wall, high costs of material and labor, issuance of building permits by a governmental department and major disruptions during the building process. With the advent and popularity of vertical blinds, the desired result can be easily achieved at a much lower cost, much less hassle and moreover, as a by-product of the decision to use vertical blinds as room dividers, the option of fully opening the vertical blind reverts the room in question to its original “wide open space” design.

Civic organizations, such as churches and government buildings, will have large meeting rooms where gatherings of all sizes will take place and where different functions could potentially be taking place simultaneously. These frequent occurrences require the flexibility to tailor the available physical space to meet specific needs. Oftentimes vertical blinds can provide the choice way to achieve these needs without the installation of expensive room dividers which occupy a large space whenever not in use and are aesthetically unacceptable. Vertical blinds provide the ability to retract in any direction – left, right, center opening and center stacking.

In addition to the ability of vertical blinds to retract in different ways, vertical blinds can also be custom made as two unique and independently operated units thus expanding their flexibility. This added flexibility allows the user many more choices regarding the purpose of the vertical blind as it pertains to a specific function. One factor to remember is that normally the width of a vertical blind is limited to sixteen (16) feet and whenever “butted” to a second vertical blind, it can divide a thirty-two (32) foot wide room and thus able to divide most rooms regardless of setting.

Consideration should be given to the fact that vertical blinds operate independently and as a single unit and whenever vertical blinds are “butted” together, controls at the end of each vertical blind will operate each blind independently of one another. Due to the simplicity of operation, dealing with two independent controls is not a hindrance but is actually an advantage for you can retrieve only one of the vertical blinds should that be physically necessary.

As previously mentioned, the use of “butted” vertical blinds may actually be more desirable due to the ability to independently adjust the size of the desired opening and the additional savings realized whenever smaller blinds are shipped. Large items are always more expensive to ship because they require the services of a common carrier versus the relatively inexpensive method of shipping via UPS or FedEx. However, when compared to the cost of building a permanent wall, these costs are usually insignificant.

Child safety has been an increasing concern with window treatments. This issue remains a concern when using blinds as a room divider. For this reason, you must always ensure that your control cords and your rotate chains are on the ends of the tracks, and are attached to a will in a fashion to ensure that the vertical blinds are safely installed and not likely to hurt any itinerate children who may be fascinated by these elements of the vertical blinds.

Whenever vertical blinds are used as room dividers, ceiling installation is the preferred way of installing the blind. At times and due to the many different ceiling systems available, the installation of the vertical blind will require the placement of a hard surface that will enable the blind to be installed firmly and properly operate as desired. This requirement, if needed, oftentimes calls for the installation to be performed by an experienced, professional individual in order to achieve the necessary results.

For the goal of noise control, while there is little that can be done to eliminate the noise of the rooms, it is recommended that one use fabric vertical blinds to try to minimize noise. This is principally because the PVC from blinds will often tap into the other pieces, and make a constant drone of tapping. On the other hand, the fabric will not be noisy when it touches.

When selecting vertical blinds as room dividers, you should also consider how the control system will appear to occupants. A good supplier can also provide a double valance. This valance is not the typical cover. On the contrary, this special double valance would be two valances, one to cover the front of the track, and one to cover the back of the vertical blind track. This has the benefit of a greater uniform and finer presentation for the blinds.

Judith Persit works from home in a design studio and writes about bamboo shades. Learn aboutshades at her website.

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Tropical Decor and Ideas for Your Home

The tropical interior decorating style is an incredible way to recreate the warm and vibrant atmosphere of the beach in your own space. It is casual and easy living that focuses on relaxation and comfort, with restful colors and natural elements, such as stylized palm trees, large leafed banana plants, animal prints, flamingos, elephants, leather, rattan, and grass cloth.

Furniture: Furniture for a tropical theme consists of large and comfortable upholstered pieces. Wood furniture in lighter woods can be used, but complement the room better when combined with dark tables, lamps, or furniture feet.

You may also include accent pieces in wicker, bamboo, iron, and rattan. Dark wood and rattan furniture fit in very well with the tropical style. Rattan brings a natural element since it is a tropical tree that grows in the jungle. It is generally used as decoration for wicker style pieces on the sides of tropical style computer armoires, the sides of writing desks, or the padded backs of chairs. It is flexible and durable, with knobby joints that are wrapped to convey a smooth appearance. Wicker is a kind of furniture building technique where strands of grass or vines are woven together. Bamboo is also used on furniture pieces and can be described as thick grass with a hollow center. Natural materials like cane, seagrass, water hyacinth, and banana leaf and are often woven to form chairs, sofas, tables, and countless accents. These materials create sturdy and lightweight furniture, such as computer armoires, printer cabinets, along with other furniture that is eco-friendly.

Although tropical woods like ebony, mahogany, and teak are a great way to achieve a tropical look, make sure they are certified sustainable before purchasing them. Exotic hardwoods like teak, rosewood, and koa are also used for furniture. Furthermore, tropical furniture features include ornamental carved motifs, such as pineapples, palm leaves, trees, and flowers for that added tropical effect. The fabrics used in this style should be soft and lush. Neutral solid colored chenilles are excellent for the major upholstered pieces, while ottomans and chairs might be upholstered in jungle prints and leaf designs.

Linens: For bed and bath linens, look for prints that feature palm trees, tropical plants with vivid, beautiful native botanicals like hibiscus, anthurium, orchid and the Bird of Paradise. You may also use Thai silks and floral-printed linens. Some of the linens available for the bedroom consist of banana leaves and bird of paradise on a yellow background; a blue background with white shells, blue, yellow, and white shells, seahorses, crabs, sand dollars and starfish; a red, yellow, or white background monkey print with a striped bedskirt; a champagne tone on tone coral reef with tone on tone grass cloth stripe bedskirt; or pink flamingos on a bright aqua background. There is also an incredible assortment of bathroom towels and shower curtains with tropical fish designs, coconut trees, and flamingos, just to name a few. The choices are endless and quite splendid.

Flooring: For flooring, you may go with hardwood, such as a dark hardwood or bamboo, and if you cannot, tile or stone is another possibility. You can accent floors with area rugs in sisal and jute that are woven in natural fibers or by using mats and rugs made from rattan and seagrass. They help keep the tropical look alive while providing textural interest against the flooring. Other area rugs feature monkeys swinging from palm branches, palm trees, lush foliage of the tropics, coconut palms, and flamingos. For the bathroom, consider covering the floors with bath mats made from teak or that have palm tree, starfish, and tropical fish designs.

Wall Color: In the Caribbean, you will notice homes painted in vibrant colors, such as bright orange, pink, and green. In addition to these colors being vivid, it also serves a purpose in that the brighter colors deflect sunlight and help keep the home cooler. Other palettes include natural colors, such as fresh aqua blue, sandy tan, olive green, pale peach, and pale yellow. These colors should serve as the primary colors in tropical design since they represent sand, water, and trees. Also, the use of pale gray shades evokes feelings of weathered seaside boardwalks and blend with the aforementioned colors. Furthermore, tropical schemes incorporate the use of red and purple because they bring tropical flowers to mind. For the bathroom wall, consider colors consistent with earth tones or oranges, pinks, and blues. You may also paint murals on the walls or go with tropical themed wallpaper and borders. If color frightens you, just paint the walls a neutral shade and incorporate color to the room through the use of accessories.

Accessories: For accents, you may select among dark brown, black, or even muted reds. Bamboo is an ideal element for this style. You can add bamboo picture frames, bamboo vases, and bamboo candles as accents. Other items that go hand in hand with tropical home décor are coconuts, seashells, starfish, and palm trees. Coconut candles are an exceptional and simple way to add a peaceful feel to your home while seashells are perfect for generating the feeling of tropics. They are beautiful and decorative. If you happen to live near the ocean, you may pick up a few seashells. They can be used as a table centerpiece, displayed in jars, shadow boxes, or baskets, and may be glued as a collection of small shells on a blank framed canvas for a lovely wall accent.

For the kitchen table, you may include natural covered stoneware, textured placemats, loosely woven fabric napkins, and sturdy glassware. Other accessories for the kitchen consist of wooden bowls, baskets, a palm tree paper towel holder, bamboo, and more. If you have a breakfast bar in the kitchen area, you can add high bar stools made from bamboo to accentuate the tropical style.

If the size of the room is an issue and it is serving two purposes, you can create privacy while adding a tropical touch by using room dividers made from bamboo. Another item you might use to spruce up your design theme is decorative pillows in bold colors or in a basket weave because they look alluring and help tie in the other accessories, wall color, and furniture.

A wonderful way to welcome the beach indoors is by displaying a fish tank containing tropical fish, along with accessories inside the tank, such as a sunken treasure chest, brilliantly colored rocks, and artificial algae.

Lighting: It is important to have good lighting, and why not consider lighting fixtures or lamps decorated in monkey, leaf, or jungle accents? The dark lamp shades will blend nicely with the tropical furniture in the room. Accent lamps shaped like palm trees, seashell lamps, pineapple lamps, palm wall sconces, rattan wall sconces, or a ceiling fan with palm leaf blades are great. A popular light ceiling fan is a wide blade fan made from rattan or with palm paddles.

Wall Art: Consider using both animal hide designs, such as zebra stripes or leopard spots, along with pictures of monkeys, lions, and elephants for the wall. You can also hang prints that have stylized leaf designs, palm trees, pineapple prints, jungle animals, or beach prints. Kids will also enjoy the tropical style in their rooms because the mix of animals and bright colors add a cheery and fun feel.

Plants: Tropical plants are a fabulous way to give your home the tropical flavor, and large plants like Areca palms, coconut palms, Cycas palm perfectly suit this theme. The use of wicker plant pots to house the plants is a nice finishing touch. Before proceeding to invest in the purchase of real tropical plants, make sure you are not allergic to them. Also, consider what’s involved for the care of your plant. If you do not wish to care for a plant or tree, consider artificial plants or trees. They look close to the real thing without the maintenance.

Window Treatments: Ideal window treatments should project a natural quality. Some choices to consider include bamboo or matchstick blinds, linen panels, and plantation shutters. Another way to dress up your windows is by hanging curtains consisting of tropical themed prints.

The tropical look definitely provides a relaxing escape where you can comfortably retreat after a long hard day at work. Your home is a reflection of your personality and should be a place where you feel a sense of tranquility.

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Meeting and Conference Room Technology

It’s funny how meeting rooms are some of the last places you’ll find technology in the office. Sure, you’ll find the latest technology in the offices themselves. And, yes, every executive-level employee in the company will have a Blackberry, a slick, quick little laptop, and an office with {satellite tv}. But, in most companies, the boardroom is a technology-free island. Most conference rooms consist of a table, some chairs, overhead lights, and maybe a whiteboard. But meeting rooms are changing as technology moves forward… and no area of business will be left behind.

How many meetings have you attended where there was a scrabbling for the lights at the beginning and end of a presentation? One new addition to the meeting room technology market is interactive room-control systems. A room control system will let you control most of the electronic equipment in the conference room from a single centralized location. A room control system ends all that scrabbling to switch on the lights, complaints that the thermostat needs to be turned down, and questions about who is closest to the projector (and who knows where the button is to turn it on).

Another more basic addition to technology in meeting rooms is a dedicated computer. This is especially convenient for those that tend to spend a lot of time presiding over meetings. Instead of having to unplug and haul a laptop into the conference room (or, worse, calling the tech people to set one up in there for you), all you need to do is bring a CD of your presentation, or access the presentation via the web. This makes setting up for meetings quick and painless, and also helps with {video conferencing}, as everything is already in its place.

With the price of travel ever-increasing, {video conferencing} is becoming more and more important, especially in larger companies with nationwide (or world-wide) offices. While the old-fashioned teleconference still has its place in a meeting, and probably always will, the ability to see and speak naturally to your coworkers or clients can be invaluable. When you can meet a person’s eyes and read their body language, communication is quicker and more consistent; a one-sided telephone lecture becomes, instead, a shared meeting. This is easy to accomplish with a good {video conferencing} system. With decent bandwidth and a quality internet connection, {video conferencing} is just as simple as a telephone call, especially if the meeting room is equipped with its own computer.

Another standard in {audio visual systems} for meeting rooms is a digital projector. For those that tend to use PowerPoint presentations as a meeting tool, a projector is an absolute necessity. A digital projector will display any computer application onto a board or white screen (or even a light-colored wall), helping you to share information, presentations, even digital films or {satellite tv}. While digital projectors used to be prohibitively expensive, especially for smaller companies, their price is falling as technology improves, making them an easily obtainable addition to the meeting {audio visual system} of any company.

After a digital projector, the next step in meeting room technology is the electronic whiteboard. The standard dry erase board has been a meeting room standard for years. But it has limitations which really show when compared to some of the technology available today. For one, everything written on a dry erase board is temporary, and must be erased in order to leave room to write more. This means that, if the discussion notes will have to be referred to later, somebody will have to be assigned to take notes off the board. But this old-fashioned practice is a thing of the past. Electronic whiteboards eliminate the need to take notes by hand, as all that is written on their surface can be printed (as with Copyboards), saved as digital information (as with Peripheral boards), or even be sorted, grouped, and interacted with (Interactive Whiteboards).

A new version of the electronic white board is the PDP, or Plasma Display Panel. A plasma display panel is basically a huge, but much slimmer, flat-screen television or computer monitor. PDPs are generally 42” to 50”, and have a very clear, bright screen, making them great for video conferencing. Since PDPs are a relatively new addition to the {audio visual systems} market, they’re also very expensive, ranging from about $8,000 to $20,000. For around $4,000 more, companies can invest in an interactive overlay for the PDP. This is a relatively small investment when compared to the price of the PDP and when considering the many practical uses of a PDP with an interactive overlay. An interactive overlay will add touch sensibility and annotation abilities, allowing you to use your PDP just like an interactive whiteboard.

In the end, knowing what kind of meeting room technology you need for your company is just a matter of surveying your needs. Do you often hold important meetings with associates across the country? Do you find that most of the notes taken at meetings are incomplete or incoherent, or you don’t have anyone to take them? Then some of the options discussed here may be for you. It’s just as easy to have too much technology in the conference room as it is to have too little, so be sure not to spend more than you need. The technology you choose should make meetings run more smoothly, not slow them down while attendees spend all their time figuring out how to use these new tools.

For more information about Audio Visual Systems, Video Conferencing, IP TV, please visit: http://www.edgevision.co.uk/

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Descriptive Terms in Real Estate Ads – Yet More Definitions

If you are buying or selling a home, the chances are good you struggle with the meaning of descriptive real estate terms. Here are explanations and definitions for more terms.

"Plantation Shutters"

Refers to interior shutters with large, moveable louvers that can be used much like Venetian blinds. Often they're used only on the bottom half of the window.

"Palladian Window"

A tall window that is rectangular except for an arched top and has wooden muntins separating the panes of glass. It is based on a revived classic style of architecture and the work of Andrea Palladio. Builders often use them as the window over the front door in homes with two story entrance foyers.

"Pocket Doors"

Doors that open by sliding into a slot in the wall much as a serving tray fits into a vertical slot built into a kitchen cabinet. It leaves wall space unaffected by opening and closing doors. I've seen them on bathrooms in modern houses. I've also seen them used in pairs that meet in the middle when closed as they were in older houses. Between a living room and dining room might be a good place. My grandmother had one between the front and back parlors in her home in Richmond, Virginia. Now that was a neat old house. It could always expand to accommodate one more family member or friend.

"Fireplace," "Wood Stove," "Wood Stove Insert"

A fireplace can burn wood, coal, or gas (natural or propane). If gas, it may or may not be vented to the outdoors. It is generally thought to be dangerous to have a non-vented gas fireplace in a bedroom and is against "code" in many areas. A wood stove burns wood, is free standing (on a non-flammable surface), and is vented to the outside. A wood stove insert is generally fitted into an existing fireplace designed to burn wood or coal. Preferences have to do with perceived beauty, convenience, heat production, and safety.

Well, those are some of the terms frequently seen in real estate listings and advertisements and their usual meanings at this writing. I hope you find it useful.

Raynor James is with the FSBO site - FSBOAmerica.org - homes for sale by owner. Visit our "Sell My Home" page to sell your house or our home buying page to view and buy homes, houses, condos, land and real estate.

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Give Your Windows a Makeover

Give Your Windows a Makeover


Wooden shutters add beauty and value to your home. Having wooden shutters on all your windows will help your home to look more appealing and warm. In addition to having wooden shutters installed to the outside of your home, you can also opt to have them inside. Inside shudders make beautiful window decoration. Inside wooden shutters are sturdier and much more attractive than traditional window blinds. Plantation shutters are the most popular form of window decoration from the shutter perspective. These beautiful wood shutters are louvered and cover the entire window. They are hinged and can be opened or closed, and most can be latched and locked. They provide beauty while giving you control over the amount of sunlight and outside air that comes through your window.

European shutters are also beautiful and copy the architecture and designs found throughout the various regions of Europe. The dimensions are strong, and they are designed to give you function with elegance. European shutters have become extremely popular as a way of providing shades on windows, as well as adding beauty. European shutters come in many styles, but the three most popular are the louver with kick-out, which is a smaller inner shutter hinged at the top of the larger shutter, the board and batten with breadboard, which have various beautifully designed top rails, and a fixed louver over a tongue and groove shutter, where the louvers act as decorative pieces, while light and ventilation are controlled.

Wood shutters are beautiful, and most can be painted to the exact color that you need to match your interior or exterior. They also act to help cover up any minor flaws in your windows and make small windows appear larger. Wood shutters are much more attractive than vinyl shutters, and add more value to your home, simply because they are made from wood.
Deciding to use wood shutters on your new home, or to redecorate with wood shutters, is a wonderful choice. Choosing the correct shutters depends on your budget, as well as the type of wood that you want, and the color. Adding wood shutters outside or inside will give your home a long lasting beautiful window decoration that will add lasting beauty and value.


David is an Scotsman living in the Netherlands. Marketing, Retail and websites all make up davids background as well as hobbies. He is availble to answer any questions you may have on the article on http://www.shuttersdirect.nl. website@shuttersdirect.nl

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Things to Consider when Choosing Your Vertical Blinds

Choosing vertical blinds or other window treatments can bring any home décor or DIY project to a screeching halt. The amount of choice available today with all of the different colors and fabrics can boggle the mind. Sometimes a decision on which vertical blind is best may seem next to impossible to make. The good news is that there are four basic principals to consider when choosing your vertical blinds. If your stick with these then you will stand a good chance of getting the best vertical blind for you.

When we choose a vertical blind one of the key elements is privacy. Some rooms will require more privacy than others. Bedrooms and bathrooms generally require a high degree of privacy, while kitchens and living rooms will demand slightly less. Your vertical blinds need to reflect this. It doesn’t matter how great that vertical blind may look in your bathroom, you’re going to undergo some very embarrassing moments if they do not block out what you wish.

Light control is another essential element when you are choosing a vertical blind. You will likely want varying degrees of light control in certain rooms. You will also want more control during certain times of the day and less control in others. For your living rooms, light control is essential. The rays of the sun can seriously damage furniture and upholstery. They can also make reading and watching television quite difficult. You again need to consider the degree of light control needed when selecting your vertical blinds.

Function is another thing to consider when selecting your vertical blind. You need to think of things like safety. If you have children should you have cords? How will you reach hard to reach areas? Can you operate these vertical blinds manually or do you need them done by remote control? The function ability is vitally important if you going to be safe and happy with your vertical blinds.

Finally, there is style. You, of course, want the blind to look good in your home. They should be something that accents your good taste and décor, not something that clashes with it. When choosing your vertical blind keep these four things in mind. You will no doubt come up with something great that ticks all the boxes. Vertical blinds are available in high quality materials from several suppliers on the internet, but beware to not select low quality simply to save money.

Judith Persit is an expert in vertical blinds as she has bought them many times for her various homes. She writes about vertical blinds and window blinds. You can learn more about Judith at BlindsFactoryDirect.com, vertical blinds, roller shades, plantation shutters, wooden blinds - nationwide.

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Vertical Blinds for Difficult Windows

Vertical blinds provide a necessary service for our homes, solving problems for us that we ordinarily could not resolve. They help to control the level of sunlight that pours into our rooms, and they help provide privacy for us in our homes, as well. Vertical blinds are very helpful but sometimes they can present difficulties. Perhaps there is a view that you don’t want spoiled or you have an older window that you still want to show off. Maybe you want to control the light, but do not want to have to turn on your electrical lights every time you close your vertical blinds. How does one get around these problems while still controlling the light with their vertical blinds? How can you use vertical blinds when they may solve a problem for you, if they might create another problem at the same time? In this article we will look at some common problems with vertical blinds and look for a suitable solution.

Sometimes we have views that we really don’t want spoiled. Perhaps your home backs onto a forest or you have a beautiful garden to admire. Maybe you have grand floor to ceiling glass windows and a magnificent view of the ocean, a bay, or even a golf course. You fear that vertical blinds could take away from that lovely view that perhaps you even helped to create. A good solution is to get blinds that stack way on the sides of the windows. Try to get blinds with a small stacking space, so the stacks on the sides will be smaller than alternatives. Generally the larger the stacking space the more view you will loose. Fabric Vertical Blinds are an excellent choice; because of the thin nature of the fabrics, when high quality fabric is used, fabric vertical blinds will stack smaller and cleaner to the sides, and will not form an unattractive column where you do not want one. They look lovely when they are in the window and are nearly invisible when they are drawn to the sides. Fabric Vertical blinds are also a quiet choice, as they make substantially less noise when moving with the wind, either natural or from your air conditioner. If you have walls next to your windows, you can get the vertical blinds several inches wider than the glass portion of the walls, to ensure that the windows are not obstructed by the vertical blinds.

You may have a room that has a strong breeze. That breeze may be from open windows, or foot traffic, or even from a strong air conditioner. Metal vertical blinds and plastic vertical blinds tend to click and clack as they move. As we mentioned, fabric vertical blinds are quieter. You can consider those as your solution for these problematic spaces.

The appeal of French doors in a home is second to none. However, placing vertical blinds on them can lead to a great deal of swinging. This can create problems with tangling and can eventually wear the blinds down. For French doors, tie backs may be available. These will help the vertical blinds stay in place while you use your French doors to the fullest. Again, it may be advisable to make sure that your vertical blinds are larger than the doors, so when they are moved to the sides, they will completely clear the openings, and allow you to have easier access to the openings.

Arched windows and eyebrow windows are very attractive in a home. Often they are used as accent glass, put there to provide additional lighting and enhanced beauty. Sometimes, however, their location may require you to cover them some times. These odd shaped windows can be an absolute nightmare when it comes to fitting a vertical blind. In this situation it is best to purchase a blind that can be cut or shaped to the size you need. When covering these windows, it may be advisable to use fabric vertical blinds, because they will allow at least part of your light benefit to continue, while cutting out most of the light and retaining your privacy.

Finally, we all have those windows in our homes that are difficult to reach. For such windows it isn’t so much the vertical blinds you choose but the accessories to go with them. Extra long cords and chains are things you may want to consider with these types of windows. Remember that these chains and cords may not add to the beauty of your rooms, and they also complicate the safety in your spaces. If the vertical blinds and their controls are really out of reach you may wish to consider remote controls. Remote controls, while a little more expensive, do add additional value to your home while making the manipulation of the window blinds very easy. Don’t lose your remote control!

Difficult windows can still be fitted with beautiful vertical blinds. Skylights, arches, eyebrows, and sometimes even portal windows can be problems when selecting window coverings. Sometimes a little creativity and accessories are all that are needed. If you have a view that you don’t want to lose or a window that is in the worst possible position, you do not have to fear. It can still be fitted with a nice vertical blind. Again, vertical blinds can help to solve your problems, without creating additional problems for you.

Judith Persit writes about vertical blinds. Learn more at BlindsFactoryDirect.com, vertical blinds, plantation shutters, roller shades , cellular shades & wood blinds.

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Plantation Shutters Bring Antebellum Elegance To Modern Homes

Choosing plantation shutters for form or function? Plantation shutters offer both to today’s homeowner. These unique window treatments trace their roots to ancient Greece. The Greeks used them for both privacy and security. Interior shutters were used to close windows. Along with imposing columns, shutters are hallmarks of Classical Greek Architecture. This ancient order and form in building design later influenced buildings and architecture throughout the Western world.

Before the widespread use of glass, shutters were used to close windows. They were used to protect the interior of the house from the weather and from intruders as well as provide privacy. They could be opened to allow sunlight and fresh air into the building or home.

Elements of Greek architecture are seen in many buildings and homes from the late 18th century, the 19th century and the early 20th century in the United States. It was especially prevalent in banks, office buildings and many public and government buildings. The plantation mansions of the old South borrowed heavily on the architecture of the Greeks. The antebellum mansions of the great plantations from South Carolina to the western edge of Mississippi borrowed heavily from the building concepts of the Greeks. A number of these grand old mansions have been restored and preserved at Natchez, Mississippi.

Just as did the ancient Greeks, plantation owners used shutters for both their beauty and their function. By closing the windows in this manner, these homeowners were able to add a level of security to their homes. This was important because in the era before the Civil War, the agricultural areas of the South were only sparsely populated. Plantations were largely isolated. Plantations were also symbols of wealth, making them targets for bands of robbers. There was also the potential of attack from revolting slaves.

Times have changed and today’s homeowners use shutters primarily for their beauty or form rather than for security.

What are plantation shutters?

Plantation shutters are louvered interior shutters. They cover the entire window. They are most often made from wood, although modern materials including PVC and vinyl are also being used with growing acceptance. The shutters are hinged and can be opened or closed and latched. In addition to swinging open, some models have moveable louvers that can be opened and closed. Other models have stationary louvers. There is great flexibility in being able to partially or completely open the shutters and/or partially or completely open the louvers. This allows tremendous control in directing the inflow of outside air as well as sunlight.

Typically the panels of plantation shutters range from 15 inches to 36 inches wide. Louvers are available in several widths, ranging from 1-3/4 inches wide to 4-1/2 inches wide, appealing to different tastes and fitting with a variety of decors. The width of the louver has a practical application as well as aesthetic. The wider the louver, the more air or sunlight will be allowed to filter through.

These shutters are often used in series. Rooms with a number of windows, several adjacent windows or large picture windows look especially good with plantation shutter window treatment.

Pine is frequently used in construction of hurricane shutters as well. Contractors and do-it-yourselfers can find them both pre-finished and unfinished. Unfinished allows the contractor or diy to finish with any paint or stain color desired.

PVC and vinyl panels come in colors, including white. These panels may be plain or have embossed wood graining. PVC and vinyl are excellent choices for rooms where there can be high levels of moisture or steam. They are good for pool rooms, bathrooms and utility rooms.

Shutters with moveable panels have the added advantage of providing privacy at the same time they admit light and air. You can adjust the louvers in such a manner that light and air is allowed into the room while at the same time preventing outside passersby from seeing inside.

Some tips for selecting shutters for your home

1. Consult your carpenter or contractor. Determine if the present window casings will support the weight of the hinged shutters when opened and closed, or whether additional framing will be required.

2. Consider the width of the louver. The louver width affects the appearance as well as the function of the shutters. The wider the louver, the more light and air will be permitted to flow into the room.

3. Choose between wood and vinyl. Wooden, especially faux wood shutters can give the room a warmer feeling. Vinyl shutters work well in rooms that have high moisture or steam content. Vinyl shutters are easy to clean and will not warp.

4. Choose between moveable and fixed louvers. If you want to use the shutters primarily for privacy and security, you may wish to use fixed position louvers. If you want to be able to open the shutters to admit light, ventilation or see through the window, you will want to select adjustable louver shutters.

5. Read the reviews written by home improvement consultants and also by consumers. These reviews are posted on websites and are published on home improvement websites and in home decorating magazines.

6. Choose a reputable company with a reliable warranty against defects in materials and workmanship.

Tips for installing shutters

1. Measure the window and make sure that the window opening is square. If the window is not square, you will be required to taper the shutter to fit the opening.

2. Cut the shutters to fit the opening. If you cannot find a shutter that will fit your window exactly, choose a shutter that is slightly larger than the opening. If you need to trip more than ¾” from the shutter, cut all of it from the left or bottom sides. If you need to trim more than ¾ inch from the side, cut half from each side. Use the same procedure in trimming the height of the shutter.

3. Hinge the shutter with non-mortising hinges. Use two shutter hinges for shutters 30 inches or less in height. Use three hinges for shutters from 30 – 48 inches high. Be sure and place the hinges on the opposite side of the desired shutter opening.

4. Install the latch on the opposite side of the hinges. The latch is often installed in the centre of the shutter. In some applications it may be desirable to install the latch near the top or the bottom of the shutter. For example, in a room used by small children you may wish to install the latch near the top of the shutter.

5. The installation tools needed include a mitre, radial arm or table saw; a jointer, planer or a hand plane; screwdriver; square, paint brush; tape measure; pencil; the shutters, non-mortising hinges, screws, fine sandpaper and touch-up paint or varnish.

Today’s homeowner is going to use plantation shutters more for beauty, but they are also important for privacy and security. Shutters are often an excellent choice for living rooms, sitting rooms, dens, home libraries and home offices. There is a special feeling that comes from sitting or working in a room dominated by the rich warmth of wood. Sunlight, ventilation and artificial lighting can all be adjusted to provide just the right atmosphere.

John Baker contributes many news and information to http://www.shades-blinds-shutters-guide.com. Amongst his works he is working on topics such as hurricane and storm shutters.

Plantation Shutters Guide

What are Plantation Shutters?

Plantation shutters are an elegant window covering made of two or more framed panels of fixed louvers. The louvers within the frame are moved by a rod that is attached on the outside of the louvers. When homeowners want to open or close the louvers, they move the rod up or down. With plantation shutters, homeowners can choose how much light they want to let in and in what direction by angling the louvers. If homeowners want to enjoy the full view of their window, they can pull back the panel of louvers, exposing the entire window.

What are the Advantages of Plantation Shutters?

Many homeowners choose plantation shutters for a variety of reasons. One main reason is that they like how the shutters give their home a refined appearance. Another benefit is the ability to control the lighting of a room. Homeowners can adjust the louvers to allow as much or as little light as they prefer. Unlike blinds or curtains, shutters do not have gaps for light to enter when shut and they also help to block external noise. In addition, homeowners choose shutters because they require minimal maintenance with a simple dusting.

What are the Disadvantages of Plantation Shutters?

Shutters can sometimes be initially more costly than other window treatments. However, they are worth the long term investment because they are more durable, lasting longer than blinds or curtains. Plantation Shutters also add to the resale value of a home and can be custom built to fit unusually shaped windows and arches usually at little additional cost.

What Styles Do Plantation Shutters Come In?

The style of the plantation shutters is affected by the following factors: louver width, size of the shutter, and color. A homeowner looking for a classic look should consider shutters with narrow-width louvers while homeowners who want a more modern look should choose shutters with wider louvers. Other than louver width, the color of the shutters is also important. Shutters now come in a variety of colors including white, black, grey, grey green, beige, oak, or cherry. The more popular colors tend to be white and oak because homeowners can easily coordinate the design and color scheme of their rooms around these colors.

Lastly, the size of the shutter can influence the appearance of the shutter. Most homeowners choose panels that completely fill the window space. Other homeowners choose to have shutters that only go up half the height of the window. These shorter shutters are often seen on smaller windows or kitchen windows. They make the windows look like that of a European café. With all these options, homeowners can shape the look of their shutters however they wish.

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Window Treatments - The Finishing Touch to Your Home Remodel

Just finished, or planning to remodel your home or a room within your home? Don’t forget to choose the right window treatment. The right ones can add that finishing touch; the wrong ones can be a real detraction.

Sounds obvious enough, right? And, in a way it is. I have seen many beautiful examples and many not-so-beautiful examples. The trick is to match up the decorating themes of a given room with the appropriate window treatment. The other choices are color, insulating properties, light control and privacy. By the way, I take window treatments to mean almost any window covering: blinds, shades, shutters and drapes. There doesn’t seem to be much consensus on what a window treatment is so I am taking the broadest definition.

Choosing the right blinds and shades can get a little more complicated than these few choices. For example there are motorized blinds, cordless, valance options, wand control and more. But for the purposes of this article I will stick mostly to the major themes as mentioned above. Once you have chosen the appropriate blind, shade, shutter or drape, you can decide if you want to add any of the convenience options offered by the manufacturer.

First, let’s lay out the main choices. In the window blinds category you have mini blinds, plantation shutters, vertical blinds, wood and faux wood blinds and finally, panel track blinds. In the window shades category you have roller shades, sheer shades, pleated shades, woven wood shades (also known as bamboo shades), roman shades, cellular shades and solar shades (also called solar screens). Then there are drapes. The drapes category can be huge depending on how you choose to categorize them. But for the purposes of this article I will label them as custom and pre-made. Custom drapes are made-to-order drapes cut to the appropriate size of your window and usually with a built in 2 to 1 fullness. These are generally higher quality and made from a variety fabrics from silk to cotton. Made-to-order drapes are generally less expensive and can be picked up at many major retailers.

Segregating by room type, here are my recommendations. For kitchens, faux wood shutters and faux wood blinds are often an excellent choice. They often match up well with wood cabinets and can withstand the often hot and humid environments of kitchens. This is also true for bathrooms. But, other choices for bathrooms would be pleated shades, which you can think of as the non-insulating version of cellular shades. The nice thing about pleated shades for bathrooms is they pair well with the top down/bottom up feature which is excellent for privacy. Less expensive options for these kinds of rooms would be mini blinds, woven woods or roman shades. Mini blinds are a better choice for rooms with a more modern décor whereas wood finishes are best with wood-type decors. A simple rule of thumb is to match your window treatments with the overriding color and materials of the room: wood with wood, fabric with fabric, metal with metal and all in complimentary colors.

For living rooms and family rooms, the choices are pretty wide open. For large windows, like sliding doors, vertical blinds are an easy choice but don’t overlook panel track blinds. Don’t forget that vertical blinds come in more than just vinyl; they also come in faux wood, fabric, cellular and aluminum. Plantation shutters, though expensive, are a time-honored window covering choice. You almost can’t go wrong with these, unless your house is very modern and contemporary. In that case, I would recommend aluminum mini blinds or vertical blinds.

For bedrooms, privacy and light control are usually the big factor. So, I would look into roller shades, cellular or pleated shades with a blackout liner, or woven woods and roman shades, again with a liner. The one you choose will depend on the overall décor of your room. If you want more insulating properties from you shades, go with the cellular option.

For dining rooms, I would recommend drapes or maybe roman or woven wood shades. If you like the roman shades, consider the pleated or tear-drop option for a more luxurious appearance.

For rooms with views and lots of sunlight, consider solar shades. These come in various levels of opacity, i.e. how much light they block. The nice thing about solar screens is you can still see out of your windows with out as much solar heat build-up as well as a greater level of privacy from the street view.

There you have it, the non-definitive guide to window treatments. As a side note, consider checking out one of the how to measure for window blinds videos available on the internet, they can help. – David Brooks

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Top Reasons You Should Treat Your Windows and Yourself with Interior Shutters

Go ahead, treat yourself, you know they’d look great. Interior window shutters are the classic window treatment. Are they cheap? No. Are they worth it? Absolutely!

Interior window shutters, also known as plantation shutters or louvered shutters, simply look great in just about any room setting. They compliment a wide variety of room and home decors. If you are considering window treatment options for your home you owe it to yourself to take a long look at plantation shutters. The following, which are in no particular order, are a list of top reasons you should consider interior window shutters for your home.

First, they look good from the inside and outside of your home. I am a runner and am always running up and down the streets in my neighborhood. One of the things I notice about homes is the types of window treatments they use. Plantation shutters, in my opinion, are one of the most attractive types of window blinds. They increase a home’s curb appeal, which takes me to my second point.

Interior shutters can increase your home’s value. So, not only are they beautiful, plantation shutters can add to the appreciation of your home. In my opinion this helps to significantly offset the higher initial cost of plantation shutters – pay a little more now and get a lot back if you ever sell your home or tap into the equity.

They are durable – almost a lifetime purchase. A high quality set of blinds, in any of the available materials: wood, wood composite or vinyl, are built to last. Wood plantation shutters are built like a nice piece of furniture and with a little care should last a lifetime. The vinyl and wood composite shutters are even more durable and will resist fading, warping, cracking and UV rays, perfect for hot and humid rooms or areas.

They are energy efficient. Surprise, I bet you didn’t know that. When fully closed interior shutters add a surprising amount of insulation to your window. Though, not quite as much as cellular shades, they are still one of the better choices when considering window treatments and their effect on your home’s insulation. This is due to the fact that shutters are quite substantial, unlike many other types of window blinds and shades.

They are highly unlikely to go out of style. Plantation shutters have been around a long time. They are one of the classic window treatments and have stood the test of time, public opinion and changing fashion trends. So, you can rest assured that they won’t be like those polyester pants you bought in the late 70s which are now so silly looking that you wouldn’t admit to wearing them.

They are an easy way to add a high-level of sophistication and style to your home. So, if you are not the budding interior decorator, plantation shutters are a rock solid choice for most homes. They can literally transform a room from so-so to beautiful. They also compliment most furniture and wall colors.

Interior shutters are easy to operate and highly versatile in terms of opacity or opaqueness. Open them up wide for maximum light or shut them completely for significant privacy and room darkening. The louvers can be opened or closed easily with the divider rail or you can swing the shutters wide open if you so desire.

There you have it, hopefully a compelling argument for plantation shutters. So, if you are thinking window treatments, think interior window shutters. – David Brooks

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