Open room up to a new look with affordable window treatments

By Anita Wadhwani / The Tennessean

Posted: April 18, 2009

A window can provide more than a view. It can be a focal design point in any room."New window treatments can provide a brand-new look for any room that is literally decoration from head to toe," says Gail Peterson, a window treatment expert at The Fabric House in Nashville.

Redoing window treatments can be simple and affordable, too, with an endless variety of options, from fabric panels, decorative rods and valances to blinds and roman shades.

Chelle Baldwin of Nashville went the do-it-yourself route to create a new look for her daughter's room, buying a green, flower-print fabric at half price from a designer store. She carved flowers out of a thin sheet of wood, painted them blue and used them above the window to drape the panel across. Blackout shades accommodate the need for dimness during daytime naps. The whole look cost less than $30, she says.

Even the budget-conscious should consider custom window coverings as a good investment, says Nashville window designer Debbi Chamberlain of Specialty Window Coverings.

The windows Chamberlain designs can run $1,000 apiece but are a solid investment that won't need to be replaced as often as ready-made blinds or draperies, which cost about $120 per window.

And not every window needs fabric and a valance. Shutters are eye-catching ways to frame a window, though they're more expensive than blinds. Folded screens can flank a window and offer the flexibility for privacy when closed and design drama when open.

Manufacturers such as Ikea and Fashion Tech also offer sliding panels. Reminiscent of Japanese shoji screens, these floor-to-ceiling panels provide a practical, seamless option for window coverings that are a departure from the traditional layered look, says Sharon Fannin, owner of Fannin Interiors in Phoenix.

Source: Open room up to a new look with affordable window treatments

Team researches answer to burning question: What treatments were at Beall House?

Many local viewers are familiar with the TV show "History Detectives," in which a team of historical researchers works to solve historical mysteries concerning objects, people, correspondence or structures.

But right in Wooster a group of researchers has been working to unravel one of the most nagging questions related to the restoration of the Reasin Beall Homestead on the campus of the Wayne County Historical Society.

The question is, what did the window treatments look like?

For the past decade, during which the house at 546 E. Bowman St. has been undergoing what the committee believes is the most meticulous evidence-driven historic restoration ever undertaken in Ohio, the windows of the house have been empty.

Virginia Gunn of Wooster, professor of clothing, textiles and interiors for the School of Family and Consumer Sciences at the University of Akron, and who has served as co-chairwoman of the Beall House restoration committee, said the windows have been bare because the question of window treatments was a huge one that could not be answered while so many other elements were being brought together.

But after the house was re-opened in June and the committee had a chance to catch its breath, research into what the window treatments were like while the Beall and Stibbs families lived there got under way.

The biggest problem, Gunn said, is unlike the rest of the house where even tiny bits of evidence provided clues as to how things had looked, virtually all of the evidence of the early window treatments had been obliterated by remodeling.

Gunn and other committee members worked with Shawn Godwin of Cleveland, project manager for the restoration, and an enthusiast of early American interior detailing.

Gunn said for years she has collected articles and illustrations from women's periodicals of the mid-19th century. She also collected images of paintings of interiors of homes done during that time period, illustrations from books done then and advertisements from newspapers that give a picture of what kinds of goods were available locally.

Gunn said the only thing known for certain about the Beall House window treatments is all the windows were equipped with wooden shutters. Evidence of the early hardware that held the shutters in place can be discerned, and a prized 1868 photograph of the front of the house shows the shutters in various positions.

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Curtain goes up for window treatment firm

ough times aren't a bar for 8004blinds. The newly opened custom window covering firm, based in Southfield, is looking for big things despite the dour economy. Craig Balbes, who opened the local outlet March 1, describes the 8004blinds' philosophy — its name is its phone number — and provides a shot of optimism about the future of our state and region.Tell us about your business, including the types of services and/or products you feature.

We offer free in-home decorator service in which they will come out to your home free of charge. Our decorators will measure, show you samples, match up your décor and come up with terrific ideas for all of your decorating needs. We also are the factory so we can produce blinds in one day if you need blinds fast. We pass on terrific savings to the consumer by cutting out the middleman. In today's economic climate, everyone needs to save money. Buy direct from the factory.

What makes your business unique?

We own the factory, therefore fast delivery and tremendous savings is what we offer. If you need blinds made in one day, we can do that. We also offer free shop at home decorator service. We also have hands-on service professionals. We take pride in making sure that all of our customers are satisfied until the very end. We don't take your order and forget about the service that you may need after the sale is over.

How did you first decide to open your own business?

We have been in the window covering industry for over 30 years. We use to own a large retail company that specialized in Custom Window Treatments and have decided that it was time to get back into the business.

How did you decide to locate where you did?

We located in Southfield mainly because it is a central location to the metro Detroit area. Because most of our business is actually done in the customer's home, it is important for us to be located central to the metro area.

Do you have a funny tidbit or story to share with our readers about your experience so far as a small business owner?

Everyone was wondering why we decided to open a new business in such a tough economic time. We had some concern about it ourselves but we decided to go for it. We have had a terrific first week so I would encourage all of your readers not to give up on the Michigan market. There are still plenty of opportunities for business and I would encourage your readers to remain positive and open to the possibilities, even today!

news source :- Curtain goes up for window treatment firm

N. Ind. company moves from RV parts to purses

A northern Indiana company that made window coverings and bedding for recreational vehicles has switched to purses and shopping bags now that the market for RVs has soured in the economic downturn.

Decorator Industries hopes to recall several dozen laid-off workers as it begins making the new products at its factory in Goshen, an area that has been battered by layoffs in the recreational vehicle industry.

The area's 18 percent unemployment rate in February is up 12.5 percentage points from a year ago.

"We have all this fabric that isn't moving, and we have sewing and cutting machines. We wondered, what can we sew? What can we do?" sales manager Donna Gould told the South Bend Tribune.

"We had to come up with something to keep our company going," she said. "Some of our RV customers work one week and are down two. It's very sporadic. Others are not back yet from Christmas break."

Gould got the idea from a tote that was sent to her by a fabric supplier. After sharing the idea with the staff, employees brought various bags and purses from home and started playing with various designs at the plant in the city about 20 miles southeast of South Bend.

They designed and made prototypes of 10 products, including shopping, tote, and carpet bags as well as purses. The company then offered the bags to local stores.

"We're one local company helping another local company and the economy," said Pam Mitchell, who plans to stock the bags at her Gingerbread Cottage stores in Mishawaka and Elkhart. "They're bringing people back to work to make these bags. How great is that?"

Decorator Industries merged with Elkhart sister company Specialty Window Coverings to trim costs in the fall, and by the end of the year the combined company -- once employing around 200 -- was down to 35 workers.

With dozens of bags ranging in price from $30 to $35 on order, Decorator Industries has already called back a few laid-off employees to help fill orders.
news source :- N. Ind. company moves from RV parts to purses

Knock Out Window Treatments

Whether we’re losing sleep over the economic news, job pressures and family issues or just run down by the hectic pace of our 24/7 society, many of us need some rest.

“Getting a good night’s sleep shouldn’t be considered a luxury,” said Dale Lowman, who owns and operates the Budget Blinds franchise that serves South New Castle County. “There are simple things people can do to create a sleeping environment that’s a knock out.”

One suggestion to get your required amount of rest is to make your bedroom conducive to sleep – dark, cool, quiet and comfortable.

“There are wonderful window treatments that block light and prevent heat gain, making them excellent choices for the bedroom,” said Lowman.

Exposure to light can disrupt sleep. If the light is bright enough, it can reset a person’s sleep-wake cycle or circadian rhythm. If drawing the blinds closed doesn’t block the light from that pesky streetlamp that’s disturbing your sleep, there’s still hope.

“The key to complete light blocking are the features you choose,” continued Lowman.

Some light-blocking features can be added to new window treatment purchases to enhance room darkening. Others can be added to existing window treatments to enhance light blocking. Here are some of the options sleep-deprived homeowners can choose from:
• Add a blackout liner. Blackout liners are perfect for shift workers who sleep during the day and the friend to new parents who want to encourage good sleeping habits for infants and toddlers.
• Add decorative tapes to horizontal blinds to block light that enters through rout holes, or choose routless louvers for your blinds.
• Cornice boxes and valences block light that can enter through the small gap at the headrail of the window treatment.
• Roman shades and woven woods benefit from the addition of room darkening liners, which present a uniform look to the street. Room darkening cellular shades block light and add insulation between cooled indoor air and the glass.
• Sleep experts encourage troubled sleepers to wake at the same time every day. An additional feature that can help you wake at the same time every day is programmable motorization. Just set the programmable timer to open your window treatments at a specific time in the morning and the light that was blocked all night will help wake you.
• Add drapery panels to block light from seeping through any gap that exists between your window treatment and the wall. The added benefit is you can change your drapery panels with the seasons and update the look of your room.

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“I think the best part about our service is there’s no need for sleep-deprived homeowners to shop from store to store to find the right window treatments or attempt to do it alone,” said Lowman

“Budget Blinds offers convenient, free in-home consultations as well as professional measuring and installation services. It doesn’t get easier than that!” said Lowman.

About Budget Blinds serving South New Castle County
Budget Blinds serving South New Castle County is independently owned and operated by Dale and Karen Lowman. The company proudly offers homeowners and businesses in the area free, personalized in-home consultations, professional measuring and installation, and a rich selection of quality window treatments, including: shutters, blinds, draperies, shades, awnings and window film. Budget Blinds works with leading window covering manufacturers, such as: Castec, Kathy Ireland Home® by Alta®, Lafayette Interior Fashions, Norman Shutters and the brand’s own private label, Signature Series by Budget Blinds®. For more information, please call Budget Blinds serving South New Castle County at 888-882-8343, send an e-mail to dlowman@budgetblinds.com, or visit www.budgetblinds.com

The Lowmans have operated a Budget Blinds franchise in Chestertown, Maryland, since 2005.

About BUDGET BLINDS, Inc. and Home Franchise Concepts
Based in Orange, California, Budget Blinds, Inc. was founded in 1992 and currently boasts nearly 1,000 franchise territories serving nearly 4,000 cities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2006, the founders of Budget Blinds, Inc. created Home Franchise Concepts to be the parent company to Budget Blinds and its first sister concept, Closet Tailors. As consumer demand for its quality, convenient services continues to grow, Budget Blinds is on its way to dominating the multi-billion dollar window covering market. Entrepreneur magazine has ranked Budget Blinds first in its Franchise 500 category every year since 1996, the first year the company was listed. Budget Blinds has also been recognized by Inc., Franchise Times, USA TODAY and AllBusiness. Budget Blinds franchisees have ranked Budget Blinds, Inc. as one of the top companies for franchisee satisfaction. For more information on Budget Blinds,

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