Although it may be relatively simple to choose window treatments when you have square or rectangular shaped windows, it may be a little more difficult when you have arched or angled window tops. This may create confusion about how to install window furnishings, but modern window fittings are available to cope with this problem.

Window furnishings refers to any amendments which you make to window decoration, for example adding tinting or insulation, or decorations such as drapes, blinds, curtains and sheers. Window fittings often perform a dual function of both controlling illumination and temperature, and adding aesthetic value to the room.

Hunter Douglas is a very popular brand within the window treatment and home design market. They offer a wide variety of solutions which can be tailored to any window design. Hunter Douglas are able to provide customized window solutions for your specific needs.

High ceilings are often a feature in houses which have high angled windows. These are desirable for their ability to improve illumination and ventilation. It is often difficult to find window treatments for contemporary homes which have these angled windows. This means that it may be difficult to control illumination levels in the room, and may also mean that you suffer higher energy bills. There are however different types of window treatment which are available for all different types of angled windows. These include honeycomb shades or possibly using polysatin shutters for the part of the window which is angled. These solutions may help you to achieve the desired level of light or privacy.

It may also be difficult to find window treatments for trapezoid windows, even though these in themselves look very elegant. This style of window tapers towards the top rather than having parallel sides. Occasionally large windows may even have a combination of trapezoids and triangles, where each window may need to be customized to. Hunter Douglas is able to provide customized designs of blinds, shades and sheers that are in line with the latest fashions.

In homes with traditional arched windows it is particularly challenging when selecting window treatments for the arched parts of the window. It may be especially difficult to match the treatments for the arched part with that of the rest of the window, and even the room. Hunter Douglas is able to offer honeycomb shades which can fit over the arches, and blend in with the rest of the décor of the room. Fan shaped shutters are also available, which may blend in with the blinds for the rest of the window and add to the décor of the room.

Some rooms in the house such as the kitchen or bathroom may need more light than other rooms, and so may have either bay or corner windows. These are often rectangular, and shutters may be an ideal solution for this type of window. Window treatments for those windows in the bathroom may be ideal if made of polyvinyl or faux wood as they are moisture resistant. Skylights may also present a problem as they may increase the amount of light in the room, but also the amount of heat and make your cooling ineffective. You may solve this problem by installing motorized honeycomb shades over the skylight.

If you find that you are having problems with finding window treatments for other types of shapes, for example circular, oval, hexagonal or octagonal windows then Hunter Douglas may also be able to offer a solution which is suitable for your windows and in keeping with your décor.

Saving energy means saving money. When people think about energy efficient ideas for the home, many will discuss the merits of roof repairs or sealing in wall cracks, but far fewer realise that a lot of their energy disappears out their windows. Poorly treated windows can render your winter heating ineffective, making your boilers and heaters work a lot harder, which in turn costs the consumer more money. A similar theme occurs in summer, when air conditioning units are in operation. As a result, installing energy efficient window treatments is vital.

As well as offering privacy and regulating the light, window treatments offer a good degree of insulation. Blinds, shutters and shades can all be described as window treatments, and these all provide an extra, insulating layer to keep out the cold during winter and the heat out during summer.

An example of an ideal insulating window treatment is Honeycomb shades. As well as being aesthetically pleasing, these have a unique structure which traps a layer of air in it. This cellular layer then acts as additional insulation. They can also easily be cut and fitted for angled or arched windows, and come in a wide variety of colors to suit all walls and types of decor within the home.

Hunter Douglas is a company which offers a wide range of quality shades and shutters, specializing in window treatments such as Honeycomb shades with a double cellular layer, - which provides a maximum level of insulation throughout cold months. Hunter Douglas can also provide shades that protect rooms from the heat of the sun, but at the same time allows natural light in to the rooms.
Another type of good insulator is wood blinds. These can be closed totally, or just tilted to allow the required amount of light into the room. Faux wood blinds are also available as a cheaper alternative. These look almost identical to wood blinds, but are designed for rooms such as the bathroom or kitchen which have high levels of humidity. The drawback with wood is that due to its opaque nature it blocks out all external elements, including natural light.

Lighting up your rooms without letting the heat in (during summer) or out (during winter) would usually require putting the lights on virtually all day, but another speciality of Hunter Douglas is specially designed shades which can illuminate the room, but at the same time keep it well insulated.

Another energy efficient window treatment is Roman Shades. These are made of materials of varying insulating properties, and as a result allow an ideal combination of illumination and insulation. Panel shades, which are made with overlapping fabrics and can be stacked, using a wheel-track system, offer the look and feel of cellular shades but in a vertical arrangement. They also look fantastic and offer all the required lighting and insulation benefits.

Modern window treatments are easy to handle and operate, putting the user firmly in control. The use of motorized shades is available for effective heating and cooling control of skylights.
Hunter Douglas offers a great range of quality window treatment options, allowing you to live in comfort, whilst at the same time helping towards a greener environment.

Many homeowners may neglect the importance of their window treatments in adding to the décor provided by their furniture and other fittings. It may however be an integral part of creating the desired style throughout the home. An added benefit of these window treatments is that they may be much easier to modify than the paint on the walls or the furniture within a room. You can quite easily adjust window treatments to both give you the perfect level of lighting in any room and to give you the best possible view from outside your window.

In fact to many people, view-through may be one of the most important aspects of selecting window treatments. While also letting the desired levels of lighting into the room, the best window treatments will also not block your view of the outside world. Even if you love the interior of your house, it is likely that you will start to feel somewhat suffocated if you are deprived of the view of the outside. To be able to get this view, proper view-through needs to be present. So any window treatment you select needs to offer you full control over the view-through which you can achieve.

There are different levels of view-through which can be selected, from completely clear, through to translucent and on to entirely opaque. Hunter Douglas, a leader in window treatment manufacturing, is able to offer you this full range.

Clear View
In order to achieve a fully clear view, you will need window treatments which feature slats, shutters or shades. Tilting the slats or shutters to the required position may then allow you to get the most from the morning sunlight. Then when it is hotter, you may tilt the slats the other way so as to block direct sunlight. This will not however block your view, and you will still be able to enjoy the light in a redirected manner. Hunter Douglas specializes in blinds with slats and Louvers, so that you may enjoy the best of both worlds.

Translucent View
Using window treatments that offer translucent view may allow you to achieve a heavenly glow around your home. Window treatments which achieve this effect include floor length sheers. While also looking fabulous, they allow the sunlight to filter through, which reduces the glare and creates a relaxing mood in the room. With these sheers you are also still able to see the outside world with a soft translucent view. The softness of the view which you get will be dependent on the thickness and type of material which is selected, and allows you to choose the level of opacity. The right choice of fabric for you will depend on the position of the window in relation to the sun. Hunter Douglas online is able to offer a wide variety of sheers which are suitable for every home.

Opaque View
Selecting Louvers and blinds mean that when they are installed in bathrooms, bedrooms and other areas of the home, they are able to be tilted to block out both the sunlight and the view which others may see. This is particularly important in rooms such as the bathroom where privacy is important. It may offer an additional benefit in any room however, with privacy as and when you require it. They may also help to block out noise and insulate your home, making it more heat efficient. Blinds also offer an additional level of light control in rooms which are used for entertainment. Selecting the right color is important, particularly if you are using materials for window treatments. For example colors such as cream and taupe will allow for a higher level of view-through even when shades are pulled down, where darker colors such as purple and red will not. Hunter Douglas’ reputation means that it is able to provide practical and quality window treatments which suit your requirements.

Window treatments are not the same as they once used to be. Home architecture and interiors have become more sophisticated over the years, and so have window treatments. The once known rectangular and arched windows have now changed into circular and trapezoid ones. Window treatments have also evolved accordingly, providing the much needed light control, privacy control, sound control and insulation control. Not only that, but now you can open and close shades, shutters, and blinds at the click of a button.

Some homes have high roofs, and therefore have high windows. The higher arched or angled tops are very important when it comes to illumination control and insulation. The problem is that these parts are quite high and may be difficult to handle. Take for example your skylights. They are too high to reach. Now, with motorized window treatments, you can lift and lower shades from a distance.

Window Treatment operating systems can be of two types: manual and motorized. Hunter Douglas, a market leader in window treatments, has a wide range of manual and motorized window treatments and furnishings.

Manual Systems: These are operated with the help of cords or loops. Manual operating systems can be used to lift or tilt your window treatments in order to give you control over lighting and privacy. Lifting systems can also be cordless. You can go in for cordless operating systems such as simple spring-assisted roller shades or the regular chain and cord operating system which can smoothly open and close vertical blinds and sheers. There is the bi-fold track system or the bypass track system for shutters. Then there is the cord lock system that works well with blinds.

If you are concerned about cords being a hazard for children and pets, you can switch to the wand type control which can be used to tilt vertical blinds. Hunter Douglas has designed the ‘UltraGlide’ retractable cord system that raises and lowers shades smoothly. Moreover, this system uses a comparatively shorter cord that does not dangle and does not become objects of interest for pets.

Some shutters have dispensed with the need for cords and chains. They are simply hinged to the window frame, and open and close with the windows. If you love honeycomb shades you can go in for the ones that can be operated with continuous loops that rotate a pulley and clutch to raise and lower the shades. If you have sliding windows, ‘Vertiglide’ pleat system from Hunter Douglas can be ideal. If you love louvers, you there are various designs whereby you can tilt the louvers using a tilt bar and lift them with the help of a lifting tab.

Motorized Systems: If you want to operate your window coverings with convenience as you relax, you can do so. In fact, you can do so by using a remote controlled unit that sends out radio waves to a receiver that controls a motor. The motor lifts and lowers your window shades. You can also install a wireless switch on the wall. If you wish, you can get motorized shades that are controlled by a preset timer. Now, you do not even have to touch a switch; your shades lift and fall automatically.

You can install motorized honeycomb shades in multiple rooms and control all of them at the same time by the press of a button on a radio frequency remote unit. There are also infra-red remote controlled window treatments, but they require you to be in the line of sight.  Hunter Douglas has a large selection of radio frequency and infra-red motorized window treatments to choose from.

All motorized window treatment operating systems are easy to install and work with a low voltage.

Using the right materials for your window treatments has many functional as well as aesthetic benefits. Most people wonder what difference window treatment materials make. Therefore they are unclear about what materials to choose. If you ask an interior designer, he or she will tell you that choosing the right materials will not only help you control room illumination, but also regulate external agents and make your cooling and heating effective.

In summer, using drapes of velvet or similar materials could increase your cooling bills. Drapes that are heavy could also make your cooling unit work harder. Rather light sheers can be more effective. If you are worried about looks, you can put on some lace to give your curtains a classy look.

There are many materials to choose from. You can choose between weaves, linens, satins and a whole range of other fabrics. The color and type of fabric can make a big difference to the look and the function of the window treatments. Sheers give your room a warm glow whereas thicker or dark colored fabrics can block light.

Some people prefer natural materials over manmade materials because of their rustic look and beautiful designs. They are also durable as they are treated and finished to highlight your window area. You can choose between wood, bamboo, reed, grass and many other natural materials. They come in the form of blinds, shutters, shades and panels. They are either slatted or arranged vertically or horizontally.

Aluminum is very commonly used in window treatments and furnishings. Aluminum is heat-treated to make it tough and durable. It is also spring-tempered to make it flexible and is also static-treated to make it repel dust. Moreover, it comes in a variety of finishes including opalescence and pearl, that can blend well with the rest of your color scheme and theme. Horizontal or vertical aluminum blinds are a good choice and will serve you for a long time.

Then there are people who prefer manmade materials such as faux wood, polysatin, vinyl and other materials and alloys. These materials are manufactured using latest technology keeping certain purposes in mind such as keeping out the sun, heat and moisture. You can purchase shutters, blinds and panels made of these versatile alloys and engineered materials. They are also mass produced and are therefore comparatively cheaper.

Faux wood blinds are ideal to cover your windows. These look like wood, but are actually made of polyvinyl. Polyvinyl being manmade is readily available and comparatively cheaper. Faux wood also can be treated to resist UV rays. Due to this their colors remain bright for years. They are more durable than wood and do not chip or splinter. These are also dust resistant and easy to clean. Wood is affected by humidity and therefore cannot be used in moist rooms such as bathrooms and kitchens. Faux wood blinds are ideal for kitchens and bathrooms.

If you love the soft look of drapes, you can go in for tapestries, silks, chiffons, satins, linens and damasks. Each of these materials has their own thickness, translucency and texture, allowing you to use them as per your tastes and desires. Velvets are difficult to maintain, but they are preferred by many because they bring a rich look to the room.

You do not have to go for only one type of fabric. You can use a combination of two fabrics with contrasting textures and colors. For best results, you may want to consult an interior designer.

There were times when curtains and drapes were the only options one could use on windows. Today, modern homes have limitless options when it comes to window treatments and furnishings. Window treatments can include blinds, shutters, shades, sheers, valances, and much more. The options are vast.

Window treatments and fashions serve a dual purpose: functional and aesthetic. They play an important part in controlling privacy, natural illumination, insulation and even sound. Besides regulating external elements, they can transform the entire look and ambience of your home.

Hunter Douglas is a leading manufacturer of practical window treatments and the latest window fashion trends. Having more than sixty years of experience with window treatments, they can custom-make window fittings to suit your needs and window shapes.

Besides beautifying your interiors, providing privacy and light control is an important function of window treatments. Whether you live in a fenced-house or an apartment, privacy is important to everyone. Privacy is necessary in certain rooms such as bedrooms and bathrooms. Privacy also helps you concentrate on what you are doing and prevents the intrusion of unscrupulous elements.

Hunter Douglas has window shades that can be controlled according to your needs. You can lift them from bottom to top or even top to bottom in order to allow privacy and at the same time allow enough light into your room. You can also position these shades in the centre portion of your window, giving you the required privacy and illumination.

Light control is an important function of window treatments. You can use materials of various thicknesses and colors in order to create the perfect lighting condition for your room. You can use blinds, shades and shutters made of translucent materials to opaque materials depending on the level of light you need. By raising and lowering the shades, or by tilting the blinds, you can be in full control of the lighting conditions of your room. If you want a warm daylight glow you can use sheers, which filter and diffuse the sunlight and gives your room that soothing glow.

For your den or entertainment room, opaque blinds, pulls or panels would be the best. The type of fabric you use will determine how dark your room gets when you pull the shades down or close the blinds. Opaque blinds and shades help you to block sunlight or redirect it to create the ideal lighting for your room.

If you want to enjoy the pleasure of natural beauty outside your home, you can adjust your blinds so that they are almost horizontal. You can tilt them to redirect the natural light or shut them to darken your room. You can install motor operated honeycomb shades in places such as skylights that are beyond your reach.

Hunter Douglas has a wide range of fabrics with varying translucence and opacity and an exhaustive array of window treatment designs that can suit your window shape and style. You can browse through Hunter Douglas shades, blinds, sheers and other products online and shop online for reasonable prices.

Colors always bring to mind certain feelings and emotions. Window blinds and other window treatments that are rightly colored can subconsciously pep you up when you are feeling down or calm you down when you are worked up. If you choose the right colored window blinds, shades or shutters, it can be a welcoming sight to your guests and provide a better highlight to your room than your center table and furniture.

Today, green is a symbol of environment friendliness and most businesses and products are going “green.” Green color brings to mind nature, growth, life and abundance. This is why green is preferred by many, not only for what it looks like, but also for what it stands for. Your window treatments can come with various shades of green. You can install green roller shades, honeycomb shades or Roman shades. When tinted with yellow, they can liven up the atmosphere of the room. When brown is added to green, you get a feeling of calmness and satisfaction.

Purple stands for royalty, mysticism and incomprehensibility. It has long been the choice of women’s clothing. You will find window treatments that range from rich purple to reddish purple. Such colors especially on velvet curtains exude a warm and majestic feeling. Purple can be used with shades and blinds. Make sure you use purple shades and blinds only if your walls are of a lighter contrasting color.

Mineral colored window treatments are versatile. They can range from milky white to cream to smoky gray to brownish gray. Contrary to what most people believe, mineral color blends well with crème or beige colored upholstery and not with the darker shades. It imparts a feeling of calmness and decency to the room.

Orange is a bright color and is found in fruits, spices and even underwater coral. It is a bright and resonant color. Although the bright shade has been often used on drapes, the lighter shade is becoming popular these days. Orange window shadings and panels give the room a warm orange glow at daylight and combines well with incandescent lighting at night.

Red, a color prominently used in Asian countries, is becoming popular in America. Rather than the bright red color, lighter shades are finding their way to modern homes in the form of honeycomb shades, Roman shades and roller shades. Apart from the lighter and cooler shades of red, shades leaning towards orange, brown or maroon are also getting popular these days. Window shades that are of darker color are also used to darken the room.

Blue is a primary color and it naturally appeals to the eye. Blue brings in a homely and cozy feeling. While darker shades of blue may be slightly repulsive, unless you have contrasting colored home décor, lighter shades are welcoming as they remind one of the blue skies. Light blue is very pleasing and you can install various types of blue window shades depending on the intensity of light you require in the room. The brighter shade of blue is used more on blinds made of aluminum or other alloys.

Brown, especially light brown, looks great on woven textured shades, Roman shades and roller shades.  Richer brown is used on wooden blinds to give that natural wooden look. If you have dark brown leather upholstery, tan brown window shades complement them well.

Black window treatments and furnishings can bring an elegant and dignified look to your interiors. They are especially useful to provide a background for your light colored interiors. Black looks great if the rest of your interiors including your walls are of a lighter color.

Window Treatments

Window treatments are often dismissed as simple window coverings that mitigate the light, heat or sound that passes through the glass. While the treatments do serve that purpose, they can do so much more, improving the aesthetic of the room, as well as the environment. Window treatments can also serve a decorative purpose by elevating the mood and feel of the room. Sheers, blinds, curtains, shades, drapes, and shutters can entirely transform the style of a room, or simply complement it, in addition to filtering outside elements.

The primary use of window treatments today is to filter out UV rays from the sun that leech the color from furnishings, wearing them out before their time. Not only that, but excessive UV can be harmful to the health of those who inhabit the room, and make any cooling attempts ineffective.

In days past, when glass was both more fragile and more expensive, shades and shutters were more than aesthetic – they were necessary. Now their primary purpose is to beautify a home. They still do a great deal to protect both the window and the interior of the building, but they can also serve as those little touches that serve to give a particular room its own unique feel. A set of shades or shutters can utterly change the tone of any given room, and the arrangement has become both an art and a science. There is more to it than first meets the eye.

A case in point is the living room. Most seek to make the centerpiece the focal point of the room, but any display requires light, and the quality of that light is of great importance. Without taking up a lot of space, shades and shutters can make turn even the harshest sunlight into a warm glow or give the room a comforting air at night.

A living room that serves as the entertainment center of the house would be well-served by shades that dim the incoming sunlight, making the viewing of favorite movies easier. In that same room, sheers could be installed on the windows, softening the sunlight that enters, illuminating the area.

Kitchens have special requirements: light enough to see by, and enough ventilation to keep the cook comfortable. Proper window treatments in this case would prevent gusts of wind from entering, yet not completely obstruct the flow of air. Be sure that any window treatments in the kitchen are resistant to both moisture and heat, as well as easy to clean and maintain.

Warm natural light in the dining room enhances the morning meal, but by afternoon, that warmth can become a harsh glare. Shades made from woven fabric, or some translucent blinds can make the atmosphere just right, no matter what the time of day.

Those that work from home would appreciate illumination control. Sheers could be just the thing, enabling enough light to brighten the room. Or perhaps shades to prevent a glare from making the computer screen impossible to read, while still lighting the room to a comfortable level.

Bedrooms require privacy and window treatments can supply it. There, special shades could be installed to allow a limited amount of light to enter the room, offering a translucent view from the inside while blocking any view from the outside.

Consulting an interior designer may give the best results, but there is no special formula or list of rules to follow in the use of window treatments. The choice is up to individual tastes and aesthetics.

Hunter Douglas recently launched a new website (www.hunterdouglas.com) to help people find and discover the best window treatments for their home. The nex website is full of exciting new tools, pictures and information to make navigating the huge selection of wonderful blinds, shades and shutters much easier and fun.

The new website features a starter guide to help identify the best product based on your need, a product overview giving an introduction to all the products, a section devoted to design trends whihc even offers designer feedback and workbook tool to help you keep track of everything you’re learning.

Of course, once you get enough information to feel comfortable that Hunter Douglas offers the best selection of quality products, visit your local Hunter Douglas Gallery to speak with your local professional.

Find window blinds in Millburn, NJ. Breslow Home Design Center has been providing superior products and service for over 80 years. Shop in the comfort of your home for Hunter Douglas window coverings including Silhouette, Luminette, Duette honeycomb and the Pirouette window shadings, wood blinds, plantation shutters, roller shades and woven wood shades.

Breslow offers free in-home consultations. A Breslow salesperson visits your home to provide you with expert product and style advice along with a no obligation quotation. Breslow’s highly trained staff offers professional installation and maintenance services as well.

Breslow also offers its exclusive really, really happy product guarantee and no interest financing programs (0% interest). Custom-made blinds can be installed in as few as 8 days. Visit www.breslow.com today or call (973) 992-2333 to schedule your consultation.