window coverings Archives -

Heat and Light Control with Pirouette Blinds

January 14, 2013July 22, 2013 Blind Advantage

Many windows that could benefit from pirouette blinds. — Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/creative_stock/

Pirouette blinds are a style of blind we currently offer from Hunter Douglas. The particular characteristics of these window coverings lend them to being able to control light in very useful ways. This control allows you to have the best environment possible inside your home right when you want it.

The vanes on these blinds are soft and horizontal. They are mounted to a single sheer sheet of fabric, this lends to an appearance of the vanes floating on the window without all the vertical structure of most blinds. You can control the light you allow in by adjusting how far up the vanes are tilted while still allowing privacy due to the fabric they are mounted to.

To maximize the amount of light allowed in you simply pull the shades all the way up using Hunter Douglas’ UltraGlide head rail. To get the softest and sleekest look, even the head rail can be covered in the same fabric as the blind is made of. It will appear to be a floating piece of fabric on your window that is capable of all kinds of light allowance options. Quite a step up from the curtains your mother use to sew by hand and hang on a rod!

To summarize; you have the option of either closing the vanes completely for maximum privacy, opening the vanes to various degrees to allow differing amounts of light in while maintaining privacy, to completely opening the window for an unobstructed view. They really are a ‘do everything’ option from Hunter Douglas Canada!

To get your set of Pirouette blinds you can contact us today or come into the store!

How to Choose Window Blinds for Each Room in Your House

January 7, 2013August 13, 2013 Blind Advantage

A blindingly close blind! — Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/daniel_i_scully/

As you know, each room in your house has different functions. How the room functions dictates the blind you should choose for it. I’ll go room by room offering advice on which blind is right for each room so you can choose the best one for your home!

Entertaining/Media Room

The most commonly used coverings are those that have the ability to blackout all light. This allows for maximum enjoyment of digital projectors and televisions as it eliminates all ambient lighting when needed. Who doesn’t like having that immersed feeling that you get in the theatre? You can have that in your home with blackout blinds. For a truly unique experience, try a set of blinds that are motorized to add that last level of cool to your media room.

Kitchen

Kitchen windows by a sink need to be easy to clean as these can be splashy and dirty areas in a home. Aluminum or faux wood blinds are a good choice as they are smooth for ease of cleaning and can be painted any colour to match the decor.

Bathroom

It all comes down to window placement and privacy concerns here. A window in a shower or anywhere that could receive direct water pressure should be made of vinyl. The good quality window coverings we sell should not ever have any issues with general ambient moisture. To get the maximum amount of privacy you should purchase something with no route holes or gaps.

Living Room/Lounge

These rooms typically require some privacy with a desire to still allow in light during the day. A sheer fabric over a more opaque window covering can work here. The sheer fabric can also add a touch of elegance to a room by covering a more utilitarian and less attractive window covering.

Wood, Vinyl and Aluminum Shutters

December 27, 2012February 27, 2013 Blind Advantage

Photo credit to: http://www.flickr.com/photos/verzo/

The benefits of using either wood, vinyl or aluminum shutters are many. Not only will they instantly add a timeless look to your home, but they also offer precise light control which controls damaging UV rays, while helping maintain energy efficiency.

At Blind Advantage you will find both the Eclipse brand vinyl shutters and the MaxxMar brands of wood shutters. Both brands are locally produced right in Ontario, helping support the local economy while also reducing carbon emissions during transport. The close proximity of these suppliers allows for great levels of custom shutter options for your home as well.

Keeping you home cool in the warm months of a typically blazing Ontario summer means you will want to mount some sort of blind, curtain or shutter in your east, west and south facing windows. This will allow you to control the amount of heat, light and UV rays that enter your home through these highly exposed windows. This will save you money over time as you will have to expend less energy cooling your home. In those frigid winter months the right shutter also has an insulating effect that can help keep you house warm by keeping that cold air outside where it belong! You can save money all year long with the right shutters installed on all your windows. not only that, but all these features come from an attractive and classic window treatment that can fit in any style of home from modern, to classic to new style chic.

No matter what style of shutter you choose, or which material be it a wood, vinyl or an aluminum shutter they can all have these very beneficial features in addition to their great looks.