Archive for November, 2009

Introduction To Mini Blinds

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

The mechanisms that are used to open and close blinds
range from simple cords and easy to use chains to
remote controlled electronic devices. Mini blinds
will block out sunlight, prevent people from
looking into your house, and also add style to
your home. Mini blinds come in various styles
and you can even make them yourself at home.

Mini blinds are available in a wide range of
sizes and colors, along with custom sizes and
styles. This allows you to control the direction
and amount of natural light while still
providing a sense of insulation. There are some
blinds styles that even adjust to allow breezes
to flow from the window into the room by raising
or tilting the slats.

With one style, slats are sandwiched between
two sheer fabric layers that diffuse light when
the slats are open. With another style, the
slats are laminated vertically to a single
fabric layer for a curtain effect.

Mini blinds can come in wood, faux wood, vinyl,
and even aluminum. Wood type blinds offer
rich, subtle colors along with unique textures.
The classic types of blinds look elegantly
simple and can help to enhance a contemporary
look or even add a classic flair to your home.

A less expensive alternative to wooden mini
blinds is faux wood, or a synthetic wood
made of PVC or a composite material. Aluminum
is a good choice as well, as it provides a
low cost and durable solution to your window
problems. Aluminum mini blinds are also
easy to clean and easy to maintain. The
least expensive variety is vinyl blinds,
that come in standard sizes only.

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Building With Windows In Mind

Friday, November 27th, 2009

There is a lot to think about when designing a home,
as many people simply overlook window treatments. In
this article, I’m hoping to help you avoid the common
pitfalls involved and help you save some money.

When using decorative casing such as shutters and 2
inch plantation size wooden blinds, you should always
make sure that you have at least 2 1/2″. When you
have a double or triple window encased within one
window opening, you may want to use a vertical trim
strips between each window. Make sure that you include
this when measuring the depth. Even though it is less
common decorating sliding doors, make sure that you
include the handle when you measure, as the usual
depth for this is 4 inches.

There are several different styles of window treatments,
such as circular, arced, eyebrow arched, or even
angles. All of them are beautiful and appealing,
although very restricted when it comes to choices,
especially when you are working with eyebrow and 1/4
arches.

When you are dealing with French doors there are a
few things to keep in mind. The doors will normally
swing open into the home, which could cause problems
with the valance you use. Consider using a valance
mounted to the door or allowing the doors to swing
outward. When you are considering shades, blinds,
or shuters, don’t forget to consider the handles and
locks.

Make sure that when you are considering window
treatments that you remember window placement as
well. There are many restrictions when you have
chair rails or base boards going around the opening
of the window. There could also be a problem with
the placement of the drapery as well.

The drapery may not stack back sufficiently or the
outside edge may not extend to the outside of the
window. Things can go much easier if you have the
same amount of space on each side of the window, so
you should try to center the window whenever you
can.

When you place the window, make sure that you leave
enough space between the top of the window and the
ceiling. There should be at least 2 inches for
bracket placement. When installing a wood header,
make sure that it extends to the ceiling and that
the heavier treatments are mounted in the wood. If
you aren’t using wood headers but instead mounting
into sheetrock you should use molly or toggle
bolts for the best possible protection.

There are other things you need to consider when
it comes to windows. First, you’ll need to make
sure that all windows are accessible even those in
an unfinished attic. This will help make things
easier for future decorating or expansion of the
room. Also, make sure that the windows in the
room are the same style.

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Wooden Shutters And Hurricane Protection

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

If you live in an area that is prone to storms
or hurricanes, there are several types of
security storm shutters available that will
help you protect yourself and your home. Storm
shutters aren’t in the wooden shutters
category, although they are durable shutters
that move horizontally between the lower and
the upper track.

Interlocking blades found on the storm shutters
are made from aluminum and make up a wall of
protection in the shutter. If you have a
large area to cover, it can half a center
opening with half of the shutter moving to the
right and the other half to the left.

Even though this shutter doesn’t fall into one
of the most decorative styles of shutters, it
does provide great protection against theft,
flying debris, forced entry, and even the
dreaded hurricane. Storm shutters will also
give you more privacy and help to reduce noise.

A great example of a protective covering that
will do a great job in protecting from the
sun’s glare and heat is the aluminum awning.
They are affordable in price and very
functional, they fit doors, patios, porches,
and windows as well. There are two types
available – the standard awning and the winged
awning, and both will easily close down to
convert to storm shutters.

For those who live in bad storm areas, storm
shutters are among the best ways to help
protect your family and your house. They
don’t cost a lot of money, they are easy to
install, and they won’t make your home stand
out in a crowd. If you want the best in
protection from Mother Nature and the peace
of minein knowing it – storm shutters are
just what you need.

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