Window Treatment Talk

What is the difference between blinds and shades? You may be familiar with the terms blinds or shades but y ou may be wondering what the main differences are between each.  What are the pros and cons of each? Here are a few tips to help you narrow down the selection process... Basically, blinds are window coverings made up of individual slats. They can be completely raised for an unobstructed view or, when lowered, the slats can be rotated to let in more or less light. Shades, on the other hand, are made from single panels of fabric or woven wood rather than slats, so they can only be raised or lowered to achieve light control and privacy.  Blinds come in both horizontal and vertical slats or louvers and have the primary function of controlling the amount of light coming through. There are many types of shades with unique functional benefits from light diffusion to energy efficiency, along with a variety of design options and much more.  So What Do I Choose? Blinds? ...

Decorating in many shades of gray adds layered elegance. Gray is a versatile and sensuous color to include in your home decor. Gray is a very flexible interior design color because it comes in so many variations; in fact, there are probably at least fifty shades of gray! People most often use gray as a neutral, instead of beige, white or cream. You can go cool or warm, depending on the version of gray you select. There are so many shades, and very few of them are simply a mix of black and white. Usually gray includes tones of blue, pink, green, yellow or other colors. Gray can come in varying intensities too, from the lightest dove gray to dark steel gray. And don’t just think of gray as a solid, smooth color when you use it in design. Part of the beauty of gray is in its texture; think wood grain in flooring and furniture, texture in tweed or silk fabrics, and matte or lacquer finish in paint. Gray is subtle and goes well with a lot of colo...

Keep your Utah home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer Ensure your windows and doors are properly weather-stripped. Caulk around basement and storm windows. When heating or cooling, keep windows locked. Open your window coverings during sunny  winter  days to catch free solar heat then close them at night to keep that heat in. Close your window coverings during  summer  days to keep the heat out. Without energy-efficient window treatments, as much as 50% of a home's heating and cooling energy can be lost through its windows. In winter months, your home heating escapes to the outdoors through your windows while in the summertime, the outside heat flows into your home through these same windows. With  window treatments that provide insulation , you can reduce energy consumption, save on heating and cooling costs, and create a more comfortable atmosphere The warmth provided by the sun, its solar energy, m...

White Kitchens are all the rage. They are classic, beautiful and timeless. I love white kitchens with a pop of color, especially in a Roman Shade over a window. You can do all sorts of fabrics and patterns, make it fun and add a pop of whatever color you want. Here are some examples of a fun Roman Shade to add some fun and color to a white kitchen. Photo credit:  http://www.bhg.com/kitchen/color-schemes/neutrals/white-kitchens-we-love/#page=2 Photo credit:  http://7thhouseontheleft.com/2012/06/reader-reno/#.VEVIPSLF8uc c Photo credit:  http://www.decorpad.com/photo.htm;jsessionid=1FFAF2F0794D6F01D055D6D7101BE68B?photoId=108734&index=3 Photo credit:  http://www.elizabethbauerdesign.com/