The Finishing Touch

Considering Shutters for Your Windows?

We at Blinds.com are obsessed with helping you choose the perfect product. So it’s no wonder that our latest product feature video, Plantation Shutters, is one of our favorites. If you’re wondering who the girl in the video is… well, I’ll give you 3 guesses, but you’ll only need one.

Plantation Shutters really are the Cadillac of window treatments (aside: do people still say that?). We love them because they really, truly increase resale value, and give your home an instant designer boost. Though they can run you thousands of dollars at a big box store, and even more from your local store, if you buy them at Blinds.com, you’ll save literally hundreds, even thousands of dollars.

Blinds.com actually offers several lines of fauxwood shutters that are considerably less than real wood, and look fabulous to boot. The Blinds.com Economy Quick Ship Fauxwood Shutter is the least expensive of them all, giving you big-time bang for your buck.

Even if you can’t afford shutters in all your rooms utilize them in rooms that get the most traffic, like living rooms. Also use them in rooms that have street-facing windows for extra curb appeal.

Enough out of me. Watch the video, and let us know what you think!

Inspiration for Decorating Your Home with the Color Purple

The color purple is regarded as chic and elegant. Known as the color of royalty, purple is often found in formal dining and sitting areas. It connotes luxury, wealth, and sophistication. You’ll rarely find hints of purple; people drawn to this color for home design often use it in abundance and make the color itself a focal point of a room. Purple can be a wonderful complement to a variety of colors, even those close to it on the color spectrum. It doesn’t often create dissonance, and will promote a sense of harmony in a space. Purple is a popular color used in small rooms, because it really opens up the room and makes it look and feel larger.

It’s one of the most in-style colors of 2009, especially for window blinds and shades. Purple curtains and fabric valances are also fashionable:

 

Give Your Mom the Gift of Beautiful Windows For Mother’s Day

When you head over to your parents’ house for a home-cooked meal, do you notice that the old blinds in your childhood home are starting to look a little, er, yellow? Has your wife been hinting that it’s time to replace the old, saggy blinds that came with the house? If you love your mother or wife, treat her to a gift that keeps on giving for the same price as a bouquet of flowers. Maybe less.

Mom deserves the best, so this year, instead of that grocery store cake and dozen roses, Give her a unique, unusual gift, one that she won’t expect. Giving her new window treatments will make you a hero in her eyes, and who doesn’t want to be the hero? When she’s bragging to her friends – who, by the way, received vacuum cleaners this year – that her husband or son bought her new blinds… trust me, Hero-Status reached.

Check out the Blinds.com Mother's Day Guide for blinds and shades that are sure to make mom smile. Plus, hear what real families had to say, and check out pictures of real homes:

Random Objects and Boring Walls Are Reborn Through Bisazza Glass Tiles

A few days ago, I discovered Bisazza, a manufacturer of glass mosaic tiles. As I began to look through the galleries of designers and artists who have successfully used these tiles to create beautiful things, I was overwhelmed by the scale, detail, and color. These tiny tiles, when used together in intricate patterns on walls and buildings, and to cover unique shapes like large-scale teapots, make these spaces and objects come to life. These tiles aren’t just for professionals though. Anyone can purchase them to tile bathrooms, pools, walls, anything.  I am about to purchase tile to cover my entire house. Someone might have to hold me back. Go to their website and see for yourself. If you aren’t mesmerized by these designs, something might be the matter with you. Visit them here. You can purchase, or browse their galleries. I highly recommend doing both.

Some of the pieces that really blew me away:

Alessandro Mendini, "Torrede Filosofoda Arte Architettura"

Who Said Plates Had to Be White? Tracy Porter Tablescapes

If wild, distinctive dinnerware is too much for your taste, Tracy Porter probably won’t be for you. Even if that sounds like you, take a look at Tracy Porter’s tabletop accessories anyway. You’ll be converted instantly. A designer of all things, including jewelry, clothing, bags, shoes, she has fashioned multiple unique lines of serving platters, cake and pastry stands, bowls, canisters, pitchers, and teapots. Matching dinner plates are available with some collections. Her color palate ranges from collection to collection. The life-like flowers, the creamy pastels paired with fiery, bright colors, and the attention to detail are inspiring. You’d be able to host a Spring lunch in your backyard or a formal dinner party for six; either way, your table would require little else than patterns like these:

Inventive Roller Shades Create Skylines Using Natural Light

How fabulous are these? Finnish Interior Designer Elina Aalto launched A Better Blind, a line of black, perforated roller shades that resemble city skylines. Each shade is custom made by hand and reflects a unique view of a major international city. The shades are functional, blocking most light and UV rays, as all roller shades do. Below you'll see Helsinki and Tokyo:

Add a Little Curve to Your Decor

Pretty, curvy furniture is good for the modern soul. I love the calming effect of sitting in a swervy chair, or eating from a delicate round plate. There are so many ways to depart from the ordinary, so go ahead and don't be afraid to change things up around your house.

The Perfect Way to Say "Thank You" is with a Beautiful Thank You Note

Recently, a group of friends and I were discussing standard thank you note etiquette, contemplating what Emily Post would have to say about today’s electronic communications. Which types of events and gifts require a hand-written, personal thank you, and for which will a quick e-mail suffice? We came to the conclusion that “If you send a paper invitation, you should receive a paper thank you.” Simple enough, but that means everyone should be keeping beautiful, stylish thank you notes on hand. Finding the perfect thank you note, the one that really feels like it came from you, can be more difficult than it seems. That’s where Rosetta Papers comes in. The site itself is beautiful, very conducive to a fun and easy shopping experience. Within each category (wedding, stationary, baby notes, etc.) you will find each style they carry. Everything is customizable, and the selection really is fabulous. In fact, it’s hard to pick just one, but I must admit, I’m partial to more dramatic designs, and brighter colors:

Editor's Pick: Jennifer Maestre Sculptures

UPDATE: Jennifer Maestre currently has a show for those of you lucky enough to be living in the Boston/Cambridge area. I highly recommend going! Click here for details. If you go, I'd love to hear about it!

Last night, a friend of mine gave me the name of an artist by the name of Jennifer Maestre, and when I saw her pieces, I was truly taken aback. Her unbelievable sea urchin-inspired sculptures are must-see. They are composed of… pencils and nails? Check out her incredible portfolio.

How gorgeous is this? It is called Persephone Detail:

 

You Don't Have to Spend a Fortune to Design a Beautiful Home

Nick Olsen at daily dose: Domino Blog posted about this beautiful mirror tray from Mermaid Hut yesterday and I just love it. I'm about to order it. I'll let you guys know how it looks with some old fashioned egg nog sitting on top of it. Check out the post. In fact, check out all his posts! He's a great resource if you're looking for home items that look expensive, but never are.

Happy decorating,