The Finishing Touch

The Must-Have Options and Upgrades from Blinds.com

When shopping for blinds, shades, shutters and draperies, have you ever felt overwhelmed by the different ways you can now customize your products? As more and more people turn away from standard cut down blinds that don’t allow you to get everything you want, they’re learning that there are a bevy of great upgrades and features that should be considered before making a purchase. Here, we’ll outline a few of the most popular and top rated options available on a lot of Blinds.com products:

Cordless: Choosing cordless blinds and cordless shades instead of corded ones has a number of great benefits. First, the absence of cords creates a sleek, clean look throughout the home. Cordless blinds and shades tend to look less busy, as the cords can sometimes detract from décor. Cordless blinds and shades are also the preferred style for homes with small children and pets. Safety in the home is an issue that we never tire of talking about here at The Finishing Touch, and installing all cordless products in your home is a great place to start. Never place corded blinds and shades near a child’s bed or crib, and make sure that any cords you may have are tied down to the wall and have safety breakaway tassels on the ends.

 

Top Down / Bottom Up: 28% of Blinds.com customers who order cellular shades select this option. It is incredibly popular, allowing shades to raised and lowered in either direction to allow for privacy similar to that of a cafe curtain. They allow light to come into the room while maintaining privacy. Some of Blinds.com’s most popular cell shades, like the Blinds.com 3/8” Light Filtering Cellular Shade, are available with both top down / bottom up and cordless together.

Routless: Routless is available on almost all name brand wood and fauxwood blinds at Blinds.com. Ssmall notches on either side of the slat, instead of holes, provide tighter closure to keep out light. Routless allows you to have a darker room for increased privacy and security. It is also easy to remove slats for cleaning purposes. In the case of aluminum blinds, there are holes positioned near the back of the slat so the slat above covers the route hole to provide exceptional light control and privacy.  Routless also provides a modern, aesthetically pleasing look.

Continuous Cord Loop: Continuous cord loop is a great option, especially for wider and heavier shades. It allows you open and close your shade in an easy, fluid manner. By choosing CCL instead of the traditional style lift, you get rid of dangling cords that are not as child-safe. They’re also cleaner and sleeker in appearance than traditional cords. It eliminates the traditional dangling cord, adding child safety and a neater appearance. A unique clutch mechanism holds the shade at the desired height.
9% of our customers order this option overall. But a much higher percent do so when they order large shades which tend to be heavier.

Motorized: Motorization is perfect for the tech lover in your. Raising and lowering with the touch of a button, motorization is available on many different shades as well as some blind. It is incredibly popular and growing in popularity this year. It’s sleek, modern, and fun, but also perfect for those windows that are hard to reach.

If you’re confused about any of the other options available on window treatments, let us know in the comments below, or ask about them on Twitter here.

Four Things Every Parent Must Know to Help Get Kids Ready to Go Back to School

Back to School is can be a hectic time as parents struggle to get their homes, refrigerators, and carpool schedules ready for Fall. While all parents think about what to put in their children’s lunches, very few consider taking steps to make their homes more conducive to good study and sleeping habits.

Child psychologists say that getting into the pattern of studying and getting a good night’s sleep starts at an early age. Studies also suggest that children who establish these patterns early on do better in school and are more successful in college.

One way to increase a child’s productivity while studying is to create a space that puts him or her in the right mindset for learning. Window blinds play a surprisingly big factor. Here are a few things that all parents should do:

1.                           Install window blinds that block glare from the sun. Glare often makes it difficult for a child to see his or her computer screen. It can also damage the child’s eyes if he or she has to strain through it.

2.                           Choose top down/bottom up options on the blinds nearest to your child’s study area. While it is important to block glare, sunlight easily affects moods. Allowing a little sunshine to come through the top of the shade can make a world of difference in a child’s concentration.

3.                           Blinds can prevent distractions. Even the smallest movement, like a bird or car, can break concentration. Prevent those interrupters from making an impact by keeping the blinds lowered during study time.

4.                           Put blackout shades in a child’s bedroom. In the Summer and early Fall months, the sun sets on the late side. Make it easy for kids to go to bed at a reasonable hour by installing shades that completely block light, like the Blinds.com 3/8” Double Cell Blackout shade. This popular shade won’t break the bank, but will help kids get a good night’s sleep.

It is just as important that the home be a place of learning as it is for a child’s school to be. Talk to children’s teachers about how tired they are, and how prepared for class they are. Take the proper steps to correct any issues, should a child’s teacher say he or she needs some extra help at home.

Rebate on Graber Blinds and Shades Only at Blinds.com

Through August 31, customers shopping for Graber blinds and shades can get up to $50 cash back on their purchases! Get $25 back by mail for Graber purchases $250–$499, and get $50 back by mail for Graber purchases $500 or more. This sweet deal is valid June 1, 2010 through August 31, 2010. All the nitty, gritty details here. If you’re looking for a great deal on blinds and shades, look no further.

What we love about Graber is the versatile, designer nature of the products, and while they look super expensive, they’re incredibly affordable. Your neighbors will be green with envy, and think you spent a fortune. As far as name brands go, it doesn’t get much more luxe than Graber blinds and shades. They carry wood, fauxwood, honeycomb shades, woven woods, roman shades, vertical blinds… you name it, they make it. Plus, they come in a wide variety of colors and textures. Shop all the Graber products that Blinds.com carries now!

 

Graber 3/8" Double Cell Light Filtering Shade in Sand.

 

Graber Traditions 2" Wood Blind in Honey Maple

Follow Blinds.com on Twitter for more great ideas and offers!

Protect Your Home and Furniture from UV Ray Damage

You know that pretty spot where the sun pours in through your windows every morning? Look a little closer next time you pass by that area in your house. Do you see the discoloring the sunlight has caused the furniture or floor? That's UV rays damaging your home, just as it can your skin. UV rays have the potential to harm any organic substance. Although sunscreen won't help this problem, you can still protect your home and furniture from the damage caused by the sun.

If you don't mind reducing the amount of light coming into the house, you can simply choose a window covering to reduce the UV rays. A light filtering shade, like an inexpensive cell shade, will allow light in your home but still block out the damaging rays.

Another option is tinting your windows. This will block some of the UV rays, but not all - so be prepared that discoloration will still happen, but at a slower rate.

Finally, if you are in the market for a more radical change, you can update the windows themselves. Window glass can be made that blocks UV rays while still allowing visible light to come through your home - but as this isn't the norm for standard window glass, you will have to seek it out in most cases. Laminated glass and UV-blocking coated glass can filter anywhere from 95-99% of all UV light.

And don't think it is only your home you are protecting - it is also your health. For more information, check out this New York Times article about the importance of reducing the amount of UV rays coming in through your windows.

Blinds for Clunkers, Everyone’s Doing It

Last year, in an effort to encourage people to donate blinds or recycle their old blinds, we started Blinds for Clunkers. Blinds for Clunkers was a simple idea borne from a similar, government-approved program you might remember called Cash for Clunkers. How successful Cash for Clunkers was is up for debate, but I can tell you that Blinds for Clunkers has been incredible thus far.

Anyone in the market for new blinds is a candidate; all they have to do is donate or recycle their old blinds to receive 10% off their next order. But there’s a catch: they have to prove they did it by submitting a photo or a receipt of donation. I thought I’d share with you some of the awesome photos we’ve received from customers.

Whether or not you need new blinds, donating them to an organization like Habitat for Humanity, or recycling them (here’s an entire post on how to recycle blinds) is the right thing to do. And as always, if you have questions, send them my way.

 

 

 

 

Blinds.com Partners with BHG.com to Provide Decorator-Approved Blinds and Shades

We’re thrilled to partner with BHG.com to be their provider of Interior Designer-approved window treatments, perfect for that DIY home decorator. Now you can recreate your favorite looks from the mag in a few simple steps. BHG.com makes it super easy for home owners to find ideas and inspiration, then recreate their favorite looks.

We browsed BHG.com ourselves, and picked out some super helpful slideshows and articles for you to read through when considering new blinds and shades. Plus, a little quiz to test your window treatment knowledge.

Check ‘em out!

Bay and Bow Window Treatment Ideas

Ideas for Multiple Windows

Easy Cleaning Tips for Cleaning Blinds

The Ultimate Guide to Window Treatments

Solutions for Problem Windows

How to Layer Window Treatments

Quiz: Name That Window Treatment

Then, go to the BHG.com Store and shop --> Buy Blinds and Shades at Better Homes and Gardens

Tricky Design Problem: Are Wood Blinds Available on Trapezoid Windows?

Hi Esther,

I have a set of large living room windows that I need to cover for privacy and to get rid of the glare on the TV. I really like the look of wood blinds. The lower window is rectangular, so it should be easy to cover with wood blinds. However, the two upper windows are angled at the top to match the ceiling. Is there a way to make wood blinds work for these windows or do you have other suggestions? I have included a photo for reference. Thank you so much for your help!

Loretta

 

Hi Loretta,

Thanks for your question. The picture you sent me (above) is gorgeous. We just love your windows! It's no wonder you want to preserve the distinctive look. Odd-shaped windows are very common in contemporary homes. You don’t want to lose the uniqueness of the window by hanging an outside mount blind or shade over it. I can understand that, though they present some serious challenges when finding a functional window treatment. The good news is you can get the best of both worlds: a practical, real wood blind. Hunter Douglas Country Wood blinds are stylish and beautiful and are available with the Extended Angle with moveable slats feature, pictured below:

 

A Blinds.com Design Consultant can easily custom order such a window treatment for you. Simply give them at call at (800) 505-1905. The treatment will be delivered right to your door, with free shipping to boot.

Of course, if you have additional questions, post ‘em in the comments below!

Best regards,

Naked Neighbors, Peeping Toms, and Mothers-in-Law: Why People Need Blinds

We are currently in the middle of voting for the “I Need Blinds BAD!” contest in which we asked Facebook users to tell us why they deserved to win the $1,000 shopping spree to Blinds.com. Here are some of the funniest/craziest reasons:

Uh Oh...

“If I don’t close the door on my tiny spare bathroom the neighbors next door can watch me …. well, you get the picture!” – Mary B.

Teletubby Sheets Are NOT Draperies

“My children were 1 and 5 when we moved here. They are now just weeks from being 11 and 14. We still have a Teletubby bedsheet hanging on the window in my closet, and whatever hand-me-down curtains we could get when we first moved here on everything else. Teletubbies people! How sad is that?” – Lisa S.

Criticizing from Across the Street

“I have no window coverings of any sort. My mother-in-law lives next door! You can see how this can cause a crimp in everyone’s comfort level.” – Shannon M.

Dogs Will Do That...

“My 10 year old Rottweiler, Guinness, likes to greet people as they walk past our house. In his so elegant way, Guinness tears down the blinds and usually breaks them off. We are on our 6th set of blinds, not to mention the amount of money this has cost us. We continue to move the good blinds to keep the window covered up. We don’t even have matching blinds for both windows because we have been replacing them year after year and they have been discontinued.” – Michelle P.

Neighbors Sent Her a Clear Message

“My fiance and I just bought our first house, and haven’t been able to afford blinds yet. Our upstairs bathroom is directly across from our neighbor’s bathroom. When we shower, we have to check and make sure nobody’s watching before we strip down. One morning, I thought I was being careful as I slipped into the shower, but when I came out, my neighbor had a surprise waiting for me. In his steamed up windows he had written in giant letters: AHHHH! PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!!!! I’m too mortified to go into that bathroom anymore.” – Heather S.

All They Want Is Some Sleep!

“We have two boys under 5 who wake up as soon as it’s light out and come running to our bed. My husband says if we had blinds in their room they would sleep longer. If my husband had more sleep I would look younger!” – Melissa D.

Incoming!

We just bought a new house. All of our blinds from the previous house do not fit in our new house. We have a LOT of windows and we’re pretty strapped on money right now. Everyday, I hear at the LEAST, 10 birds hit the window. Sure enough, it kills the birds and my 3 outdoor dogs tear them to shreds all over my yard! How disgusting!” – Sarah R.

Naked Neighbor in His Bathrobe, Yikes

“My neighbor, let’s call him McCreepy, likes to look in our windows. He stands outside his house, sometimes in a robe, most of the time nekkid as the day he was born and looks in our windows. You know what he does then? Yeah, I am not gonna say it. You can figure it out. We have caught him doing this several times. The cops never catch him in the act so they don’t do anything about it. He has a girlfriend, but she works nights. Best part? He likes looking at the guys when he does this. I have considered getting a paintball gun, but the cops have advised against this. I guess I need blinds!” – Stacy L.

Nice (But Nosy) Amish Neighbors

“My husband, two sons, and I live in rural mid-Michigan. From our house, you cannot see any other farms or homes. It is very isolated and traffic on our gravel road is very light….until the past few years. Our area has attracted several (Amish)old order families. “Our road traffic has doubled, but it is horse and buggy or foot traffic from our new neighbors. We do not have a blind or curtain in our whole house, a two story century old farm house we have remodeled. Now, with the new (Amish) neighbors, who seem curious to stare into our home every time they pass and they pass very slowly in a buggy or on foot. Also, although they are pleasant people, when they come to our door, there is no warning like a car engine. They just seem to “appear” at your door window, smile and all! I am thinking we will need to get blinds to have some privacy as our community population appears to be growing with people of horse and buggy!” – Joan H.

What’s your favorite? Go to the “I Need Blinds BAD!” contest and help one lucky guy or gal win!

Recycling Blinds

At least once a week, someone emails me asking, “How do I recycle blinds?” Being the Super Sleuth that I am, I decided to take a more in-depth look at our options, because recycling can be complicated if you’re attempting to getting rid of something other than computer paper in an eco-friendly way.

My first attempt at “research” was a Wikipedia search because, as Michael Scott would say, “anyone in the world can write anything they want about any subject so you know you are getting the best possible information.” He was wrong in this case; Wikipedia turned up nothing on how to recycle blinds. Not even so much as a placeholder page. Moving on.

My second attempt was a Google search. I came up empty-handed again, but was drawn to one particular link: Ecocycle.org. Upon further investigation, I learned that Ecocycle has an entire section on their website dedicated to educating people on how to recycle hard-to-recycle items. They even have a Boulder-based center for dropping off these items called CHaRM (Center for Hard-to-Recycle Materials). Bad news: I found no information about how to properly recycle blinds here either.

I gave them a call and was connected with Kate, a recycling expert if there ever was one. Kate gave me a lot of helpful information:

1. Aluminum blinds – Aluminum blinds are the easiest to recycle. Recycle miniblinds and aluminum components pretty much anywhere. Call up one of your local scrap metal dealers to have these taken off your hands and make a little money while you do it.
2. Wood blinds – Though wood blinds seem perfectly recyclable, they are not. Most wood blinds are treated with a chemical sealant and various types of paint. Wood recycling is most often turned into mulch for gardens and farms. The chemicals used to treat wood blinds, while safe for the home, are not safe for vegetable-growing. Double check to see what types of chemicals have been used to treat your blinds before you drop them at your local center. If they have not been treated, they can safely be recycled.
3. PVC (fauxwood, verticals) – These are not recyclable.
4. Draperies – Most recycled textiles are turned into industrial rags. This is a great use for your old draperies, should you decide to get rid of them. Contact the Secondary Materials and Recycled Textiles Association (SMART) to find out how to turn your old drapes into something useful for someone else.

While I was sad to learn that some of our most popular products cannot be safely recycled, there are plenty of other safe, smart options for getting rid of your window blinds in a responsible way.

Habitat for Humanity is always in need of home items like blinds, shades, shutters, and draperies. Find out if your city has a Habitat for Humanity ReStore, which are outlets that accept donated home goods for resale. The even-better news is that if you do donate or recycle window blinds, then take a picture or video of yourself doing so and send it to us, we’ll give you 10% off your purchase at Blinds.com. If you’re not familiar with Blinds for Clunkers, click the link for more details.

One of hundreds of customer-submitted Blinds for Clunkers photos

And, of course, if you’re trying to make a buck or two, post them on Craigslist or eBay.

If you’d like more information, shoot me an email and I’ll see what else I can dig up.

Blinds.com Partners with Linens N Things to Sell Custom Blinds

Look Ma, we’re growing! Now you can buy Blinds.com-brand blinds and shades directly through Linens-N-Things (LNT.com) while buying all kinds of other household goodies. Check out their awesome line of custom window blinds by going to LNT.com.

 

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