Decorating to Keep Kids Safe at Home

Check out this great article from Budget Blinds blog regarding safety and window coverings!  http://www.budgetblinds.com/blog/post/Decorating-to-Keep-Kids-Safe-At-Home.aspx

If you need to update your window coverings to a safer option, give your local Budget Blinds representative a call.  For more information to find out who your representative is, go to: http://www.budgetblinds.com/ and type in your zip code!

Watch Budget Blinds of Howard Village and West Green Bay on this Great Video!

Click on the link below to see Kurt and Michele Deneys of Budget Blinds of Howard Village and West Green Bay featured in the Builder Spotlight video.  We offer FREE In-Home Consultations and Estimates, Professional Installation, and Lifetime Warranties!
http://youtu.be/OqRENWCYDW0

My Dog "Did #1" on my Blind! No Problem, it's Covered under Budget Blinds Warranty!

Budget Blinds has an Exclusive No Questions Asked Warranty, which is a great thing to have if you have pets and children in your home.  Last year our Office Manager, Kristel, was having a rummage sale at her home. While ringing up a sale, she mentioned she worked for Budget Blinds of Howard Village and West Green Bay.  The lady that she was speaking to squealed in delight!  She had purchased her honeycomb shades for her home from our store, and her dog had decided that since he couldn't go outside to do his business, he lifted his leg and did it on her patio shade.  Kristel explained to her that most of our manufacturers carry a No Questions Asked Warranty, which covers a replacement blind once per window for up to 5 years of the original date of purchase.  The lady couldn't believe that they would replace the blind just for this reason, but Kristel called the manufacturer and they sent a new blind at no charge! 

This is just one example of the excellent Warranty that Budget Blinds stands behind.  We also have a lifetime warranty on blind operation, and a service guarantee that matches no other!  If you purchased your window coverings from Budget Blinds and you find that a cord breaks or the blind doesn't operate properly, just call our office and we will fix or replace it at no cost to you!

For worry free window coverings, blinds and draperies call your local Budget Blinds for a FREE In-Home Consultation and Estimate!

Things to Consider When Purchasing Window Coverings

Consider: Your Personal Style
Personal style is key to selecting window coverings. Take a look around your home. What do you like and dislike about the décor? Take note of the style of furniture and art. By doing this, you may find that your personal style is easy to categorize (i.e. Shabby Chic, Traditional, Modern, etc.). More often than not, you may discover your home to be a mix of styles. What is great about window coverings is that most products and styles are versatile, requiring little customization on your part to fit your décor. Wood blinds, for example, with an antique finish will look great in cottage-style décor. Take that same wood blind and finish it with a rich, ebony stain, and the blinds could easily live amongst modern, loft-style décor.

Consider: Your Space
Understanding the architecture of your space can help in selecting your window coverings. Is your room large and narrow? Is it small with high ceilings? Window coverings can alter the visual perception of a space. One trick to make a small window appear larger is to use drapery treatments. We can install the rod and finials just below your ceiling and allow the panels to puddle on the floor. This will create the illusion of height, making your entire space feel more open and inviting.

Consider: Color
Nothing affects the mood of a room more than color. Even the absence of color says volumes about your home, life and style. The color of your window coverings is very important as it adds to the overall mood of the room. Dark colors tend to anchor larger spaces and create a cozier environment. Pastel and/or neutral window coverings allow other elements in the room, like furniture and art, to take more prominence. If you are having trouble deciding what color to paint your wall, stick with neutral tones and bring color into the room via your window coverings. This allows you to change the colors in your room as your tastes change without having to repaint your walls.

Consider: Light & Privacy
Even though light control and privacy are related, they require different considerations. As light affects the overall mood of a room, privacy is about creating a sense of security within your personal spaces.
When considering your light control needs, sheers, for example, can allow light to enter your home, even when completely covering your windows. Depending on the fabrics you choose, you can either reduce the amount of light or block it completely when they are fully closed. Shutters, on the other hand, give you a higher degree of coverage with a greater light control. Light enters the home through a specific amount of space between the louvers. Both are great options. It simply depends on how much light control you want.
When thinking of your privacy needs, consider your environment. Do you live in the city? Do you live in a wooded area where your nearest neighbor is an acre away? You may require less privacy if you live in a high-rise in the city or in more rural areas.
Whatever your needs are, Budget Blinds can help you find window coverings that give you a balance of both light control and privacy.

Consider: Energy Efficiency
Did you know that over 40% of the heat that escapes from your home does so through your windows? Even more shocking is that 50% of exterior solar heat enters your home through windows in a year. Needless to say, your windows have a great impact on your home’s energy usage and bills. Budget Blinds has a number of smart window coverings that give you plenty of style while adding a layer of insulating protection to your windows. Cellular shades are available in materials that absorb the heat and cold that make it past your windowpanes. Shutters provide excellent insulation, keeping rooms cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. Adding these window treatments to your home can translate into lower utility bills year-round and provide a more comfortable home environment.

Consider: Safety
According to a recent study conducted by the Window Covering Safety Council, 83% of Americans surveyed are aware that pull cords on certain window coverings can pose a strangulation hazard to young children. Over the past decade, the window covering industry has made great advances with products that give you greater control over potentially harmful dangling cords. Dangling cords can injure people of all ages, even your pets. Thankfully, there are a number of products available that eliminate dangling cords. Cordless lift systems allow you to raise and lower window coverings with a touch of your hand. Their construction keeps the cords out of reach. Cordless loop control systems wrangle cords as well, while motorizing your window coverings allows you to raise and lower with the touch of a remote.

Consider: Window Size & Shape
There are a lot of “standard” window sizes out there, but the majority of windows in homes are actually custom, which may be the reason why so many premade window coverings rarely fit your windows properly. This is why investing in custom window coverings is so important. Take a moment to study the windows in your home. Are they tall and narrow? Are they short and wide? Do they have a unique shape? Does one of your windows include a sliding door or skylight? No matter what shape and size your windows are, there is bound to be a window covering out there to fit it. Take for instance wide windows and sliding glass doors. Vertical window treatments are best for these types of windows as they provide total coverage and clean lines. If you have a uniquely shaped window, such as, an arch, cellular shades and shutters can be custom fit for this application.

Consider: Functionality
Whether your windows are high and out of reach or right in front of you, functionality is key to controlling light and privacy. Budget Blinds has a variety of products that can be upgraded with motorization systems. These systems not only eliminate the use of dangling cords, (which is an excellent safety advantage if you have children and pets), they also make it easy for you to adjust your blinds. Using a hand-held remote control, you can raise and lower, open and close, tilt or traverse your window coverings easily. Cordless lift systems also give your window coverings enhanced functionality and safety.

Consider: Care & Cleaning
Window coverings have the potential to last a very long time, with some products lasting more than a decade. With proper maintenance and cleaning, your window coverings can stay just as beautiful and functional as the day they were installed. The majority of window coverings require very minimal cleaning. Aside from the occasional dusting, vacuuming and/or spot cleaning, a lot of products are now being manufactured to be dust, soil and stain resistant. Many Budget Blinds Style Consultants offer maintenance plans and warranties that ensure your window coverings are in excellent condition.

Do you know the Difference between Curtains and Drapery?

Curtains are light, airy, relaxed and casual. Typically they are decorative in nature, not intended to "traverse" or be drawn.

Draperies are heavier, floor length or puddled, typically lined, and more formal than curtains. They can traverse on a specialized rod or they can be layered over existing window coverings for a more dramatic look.

At Budget Blinds of Howard Village and West Green Bay, we can custom make your draperies, curtains and valance toppers with our exclusive line of fabrics.  We also carry decorative hardware to complete the look! 

For those of you looking for a custom look but would like to keep costs down, we also have a semi stock program for our draperies.  This company offers approximately 10 drapery valance styles, 10 drapery panel styles, 4 fabric covered cornice boards, and 400 fabrics.

Call Budget Blinds of Howard Village and West Green Bay today for your FREE In-Home Consultation and Estimate at (920) 822-0516, or visit us on the web at www.budgetblinds.com/westgreenbay.

Adding Elements Found in Nature can Add Visual Warmth to Your Room!

Budget Blinds carries many choices for window coverings made from natural materials.  We also have drapery and pillows that can tie in the overall look of your room!  Call us today if you are interested in a FREE In-Home Consultation and Estimate at (920) 822-0516.

Window Treatment: Enlightened Style Terra Collection woven wood shade with Tandem feature in Madake Spirit. (Enlightened Style is product line exclusive to Budget Blinds. The Tandem feature, adding an operational roller shade to the back of the woven wood, allows the ...homeowner to adjust the levels of light and privacy.)

Pillows: Lafayette square pillows in Large and Medium Sizes. Lunar Sky Sunset, Antique Satin Jungle and Libas Clay.

Motorization is on the Rise!

Did you know that Budget Blinds can motorize virtually every window covering we sell, including: blinds, curtains, draperies, shutters, roller shades, woven wood shades, and Roman shades?  Motorized window treatments operate using long-lasting battery-operated motors, remotes and wall mounted units. Programmable models are available to make your home look occupied even when you’re away. 

Once upon a time the only places one could find motorized window treatments were in five-star hotels and high-end homes.  That’s no longer the case! Motorized or automated window treatments are more popular than ever before, thanks in part to increased affordability. It is no longer necessary to call an electrician to hardwire the home for motorized window treatments.

Here are just a few reasons to add motorization to your window coverings.

·         Convenience – Adjust your window treatments with the press of a button.

·         Affordability – Since hardwiring is no longer required, motorization is more affordable than ever!

·         Safety – Motorization means never having to haul out the step stool, step into a slippery tub, or lean over a messy work surface to adjust the window treatments. It also eliminates dangling operations cords, enhancing safety for homes with small children and pets.

·         Security – Just like using a timer to turn on lights while you’re away, programmable models allow you to set a timer to open and close your window treatments making your house look occupied.

·         Preservation – Because the motor works the same way each and every time, the lift and tilt mechanisms that operate your window treatment will last longer.

·         Coolness Factor – It’s okay to admit that motorized window treatments are a bit intriguing.  It’s a functional luxury that will leave your neighbors and friends saying, “Oh, wow!”