The Finishing Touch

Window Treatment Trends of 2009 - Black and White

The use of black and white in your design scheme will create great drama and contrast. The stark contrast of black and white is sophisticated and modern, even in the most traditional patterns. Right now, amid the bright colors of summer, I’m loving black and white in an almost rebellion-against-summer way. Without having to spend a fortune on a modern white couch, choose draperies instead.

Black and white will be a hot trend in home decorating for the fall and winter months. By adding a splash of black to your existing décor, you’ll effectively change the focal point of the room and add new dimensions and depth.

If you don’t fancy yourself a professional Interior Designer, choosing black and white décor is a safe bet. Get style without a lot of know-how.

 

Color: Chantilly Onyx

 

Color: Deco Black

 

Color: Delicate Onyx

 

Color: Lotus Black

 

Color: Rustic Black

Color: Sarah Ivory

 

Color: Streak Blackbelt

Don't forget to follow Blinds.com on Twitter for exclusive Twitterati-only deals and contests.

 

Yellow and Black, Not Just for the Bees

Do you doze off out of boredom at the repetitious color schemes in your home? If you'd rather not look like every other beige home on the block, why not try something a little out of the ordinary in one of your rooms? Yellow, is 2009's hottest color. Accentuate your favorite shade of yellow with black accents. Might seem a little out of the ordinary to go for black home accessories, especially since we are in the full swing of Spring, but you'd be amazed by the brightness of black. Don't believe me? Check it:

Q & A: Tom Rodgers, Green Team Leader at Springs Window Fashions

If you knew there was an easy, inexpensive way to shrink your carbon footprint, would you do it? That’s what Springs Window Fashions, makers of Bali and Graber blinds and shades, is helping customers do with window treatments. Tom Rodgers heads up the Green Team at SWF. Kind of sounds like the Superfriends of green living, doesn’t it? But that’s really what they call themselves; they’re a team of managers workings towards real solutions for everything from cleaner, more efficient manufacturing to helping their outside sales representatives use less fuel. SWF’s Green by Nature campaign focuses on continual examination and upgrades to eco-manufacturing practices, surpassing government standards of eco-building every year, and providing affordable, eco-friendly products to consumers.  

After reading about all of the great things SWF is doing to help the environment, I had to find out the intimate details from the man himself, Tom Rodgers. I hope you’ll find what he had to say as remarkable as I did.  

Trending Towards Solar Shades in 2009, Sunglasses for your Windows

Get this: Solar Shades increased in popularity nearly 63% from 2007 to 2008. Why is this small category experiencing rapid growth? Because they do a fantastic job of blocking solar heat – energy savings, woohoo! The room will literally cool down the instant you hang the shade. They are one of the best and most popular options for reducing glare on your flat screen television and computer monitor (which is why Starbucks uses them), and they protect your furniture, carpet, and paint from fading in the sun. They’re one of the only modern/contemporary products that accomplishes all of these things… without breaking the bank.

In Honor of St. Patrick's Day... Green Blinds and Shades!

I know it’s Monday, but I’m feeling festive. Whether you’ll be drinking green beer or decorating shamrock cookies with your kids on St. Patrick’s Day, it’s a great day to spend some time catching up with friends and family. It’s also a great day to start thinking about your Spring décor. It’s almost April, and before you know it, the sun will be beating down on you and your furniture. Make sure to cover your windows and reduce your need for air conditioning. Green blinds are a perfect way to honor St. Patty, but they’re also very in style in 2009. By utilizing a wide range of colors on your windows, you’ll be right in line with the window treatment trends of 2009. Don’t be afraid of a little color. Express your creativity this year, and branch out. I'm a sucker for green; it's been my favorite color since I knew what color was. Maybe that's why I enjoy these window treatment so much. Green is the color of rebirth, it's the color of nature, and it's a restful, restorative color. Use it with abundance in your home to make you feel energized and safe. Below are some beautiful examples to model your home after:

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.

Trending Towards Natural and Organic Wood Window Treatments in 2009

Since the Green Craze began, one of the noticeable effects on interior design has been the stylization of unfinished wood. In the 90’s and early 00’s, you’d scarcely find unfinished wood furniture or furniture with noticeable imperfections. The rise in popularity of wood blinds, under-processed or not completely sanded, began a few years ago, and is now more prevalent than ever. This return to the organic marks the reemergence of wood as a working, sustainable material that can be reused easily and displayed beautifully in spite of flaws. This reemergence is a commentary on the very idea of conventional beauty. As we begin to move towards more accepting and open ways of thinking, we embrace new views of beauty, whether they are found in other people or in the ways they decorate their lives.

 

Home Decor + Fashion = LUV

Check our Dierde Kelly's great article about the Interior Design Show in Toronto which starts today. It's going to be a stellar event. Dierde's article focuses on the "style revolution" that has emerged from the symbiotic relationship between fashion and interior design. There's a lot of interesting info in it about how the style of your home reflects you, as a person, as much as what you wear does. Read her article here!

Trending Towards Brightly Colored Window Treatments in 2009

Though whites, off-whites, and standard wood stains will never lose their appeal in decorator and designer circles, a noticeable rebirth in color is making its way into traditional window treatment trends. Draperies have always been a popular way to add color to a room, as have roman shades, but shoppers are beginning to notice that blinds can make a similar impact. No longer do designers and homeowners feel restricted to using traditional window treatment colors. Many products are available in a myriad of shades, and window treatments are a fun (and temporary, if necessary) way to creatively add a burst of personality to a room. Those who gravitate towards muted beiges and off-whites are tossing green or yellow blinds into the mix to liven up existing décor. Cellular shades, aluminum blinds, pleated shades and roller shades offer the most color choices, though we are beginning to see wood and fauxwood blinds in distinctive hues.