FINDING PEACE AND QUIET IN A NOISY WORLD
~ Hunter Douglas Can Help ~
Oh for a little peace and quiet. There is noise everywhere we go. Boom boxes blare in our parks. People yell into cell phones on public transportation and on our streets traffic roars, machinery drones, planes zoom overhead and pedestrians scream at one another and into their cell phones to be heard above it all. According to the Noise Pollution Clearinghouse, a national non-profit organization with extensive online noise-related resources, (www.nonoise.org), “Noise is among the most pervasive pollutants today…Noise negatively affects human health and well-being. Problems related to noise include hearing loss, stress, high blood pressure, sleep loss, distraction and lost productivity, and a general reduction in the quality of life and opportunities for tranquility.”
More than ever we yearn for our homes to be peaceful sanctuaries but too often noise from the outside imposes on even our most personal spaces. Not only are our cities noisier than ever, but also, our suburbs, where even large houses are being built closer to their neighbors.
Hunter Douglas, the nation’s leading manufacturer of custom window coverings, can help. Its products provide great style at the window and are engineered to improve the quality of life at home by providing privacy, climate and noise control. In fact all its products are rated for sound absorption and all their window coverings are custom-made to your window’s specific sizes for maximum light and privacy control as well as sound absorption.
Duette® honeycomb shades, whose construction mimics the inside of a honeycomb, have especially high sound absorption ratings with several fabric styles absorbing 55 and 60 percent of reflected sound. Duette shades in Phenomena™ fabric with three layers of honeycomb pleats absorb an impressive 65 percent of reflected sound. And now the most comprehensive offering of honeycomb shades on the market has even more varieties from which to select. In honor of
its 20th anniversary this year, Hunter Douglas has added a significant line extension built around its proprietary 1 ¼-inch pleat size, which speaks to the trend for larger-scale window coverings. This offering consists of two new fabrics and three lifting system extensions, including PowerRise® battery powered remote control motorization, an ideal option for large windows, especially for bedrooms and media rooms where sound and light control are high priorities.
Most of the popular Silhouette® window shadings that softly diffuse light through two sheer fabric layers and gently curved fabric vanes absorb 30 percent of reflected sound. This window covering also has the unique ability to diffuse light protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays, while still revealing the view out the window. Hunter Douglas has recently introduced three new fabrics for this product – The Matisse Collection™, which features colored sheer fabrics as well as fabric vanes, Lumiere™ and BonJour™ – and the new fabric-covered headrail designated Palette™. Luminette® Privacy Sheers, a similar concept to Silhouette window shadings that is oriented vertically, provides up to 50 percent sound absorption with most fabrics.
For those who prefer a window covering with the timeless beauty of a Roman shade and the practical functioning of a totally modern window covering, Hunter Douglas has made Vignette® window shadings available with the PowerRise® easy, affordable motorization option. Offering billowy layers of fabric folds, Vignette window shadings with EveScape™ room-darkening fabrics absorb 60 percent of reflected sound.
Hunter Douglas continues to innovate with window coverings that combine high style with practical performance. New Alouette® LightLouvers feature 2 ¾-inch wide elliptical fabric louvers that seem to magically float at the window because there are only two support cords, no matter how wide the product, and because the headrail, which is also elliptical in shape, tilts with the louvers to virtually disappear. Alouette LightLouvers offers the timeless look of a shutter with the light control of a blind and the softness of a shade, and with “Clair” fabric they provide
45 percent sound absorption.
Window coverings can make a big difference in bringing peace and quiet to a home. Hunter Douglas is pleased to share some additional tips from the Noise Center of the League for the Hard of Hearing:
Pay attention to the noises around you and whenever possible, turn down the volume.
Limit exposure time to loud noise sources in the home.
Wear adequate hearing protection such a foam ear plugs or ear muffs when using loud equipment.
Buy quiet products. Contact the Consumer Products Safety commission and the manufacturer of noisy products.
Try not to run all appliances in your kitchen at the same time.
Make your home acoustically sound by following recommendations of the National Bureau of Standards:
Place vibration mounts under major appliances and foam pads under small appliances.
Install padded carpeting, vinyl tile or thick linoleum to absorb sound.
Seal holes or cracks in doors and windows with caulking or a minimum expansion foam sealant.
For even greater noise control, many Hunter Douglas products, such as Silhouette window shadings, are ideal for use in combination with drapes. Combined they will provide maximum sound absorption – a lullaby for your windows!
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Light-Nature's Natural Mood Transformer
LIGHT
~ Nature’s Natural Mood Transformer ~
If you have any doubts about the emotional effects of light, ask Dr. Judy. According to world-renowned radio advice host Dr. Judy Kuriansky, it can increase your energy, elevate your mood and when properly controlled, it can facilitate more healthful sleep patterns and create a romantic atmosphere. Window coverings play a crucial role in controlling light. “The key to a good relationship is creativity and flexibility and that is also what to look for in a window covering,” Dr. Judy advises. Perhaps most widely known as a radio call-in therapist, Dr. Judy is an adjunct professor at the Clinical Psychology Program at Columbia University Teachers College and at the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia Medical Center.
“Light has a tremendous effect on mental health,” she says. “There are early birds and night owls.” Dr. Judy asks that people think carefully about both their own circadian rhythms (the 24-hour psychological rhythms associated with the 24-hour cycle of the earth’s rotation), and those of their significant other. “It is important for people to feel that they have control over their environment and some window coverings enable you to do that,” she says. Dr. Judy advises consumers to be assertive about their needs when shopping and favors Hunter Douglas products for the variety and flexibility they offer in controlling both light and views from wide open to the outside sunshine to the glow of diffused light, the dramatic effect of deflected light and to the warmth of screened light. If in order to get a good night’s sleep you need a window covering that will totally block light, demand it!
She encourages people to experiment to see what gives them the most pleasure with light control as well as romance! Continuing its tradition of award-winning innovation, Hunter Douglas has recently introduced Trio® Convertible Shades, a window covering that offers so much flexibility in light control that it invites experimentation. This soft window covering features 1 1/8-inch individual, hexagonally shaped horizontal vanes that “open” (compress) and “close” (expand), even when the shade is partially raised. Vanes close for soft, diffused light
and complete privacy; can be adjusted to anything in-between for full control of an environment; and open for a full view-through. A single operating cord both opens and closes the vanes and raises and lowers the shades – allowing the product to transform itself from a shade to a blind in one smooth motion for options in light control never before available.
Dr. Judy notes that there is a segment of the population that is so seriously effected by light deprivation that during the short days of winter they may suffer serious bouts of depression. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter. It is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypolthalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. Hunter Douglas window coverings can help alleviate this disorder because many of the products beautifully soften and diffuse through two fabric layers or gently filter incoming natural light, rather than simply blocking it, so that its positive effects can be felt without its harsh glare and heat.
Cheryl Terrace of New York City-based Vital Design, an advocate of green, or ecologically sensitive design, is so acutely aware of the emotional effects of light that she advises friends and clients to take a walk on the sunny side of the street every day. For window coverings, Terrace likes Alouette® LightLouvers, one of the newest products from Hunter Douglas – it has a shutter-like look without the heavy framing. This innovative window covering consists of soft fabric 2 ¾” rotating louvers that are elliptical and cellular in shape with a headrail that pivots with the louvers to virtually disappear. Because the louvers consist of two layers of fabric with space in between they soften and diffuse light while controlling it. Terrace also favors natural fibers, like woven woods, especially bamboo for the texture they add to décor. Provenance® woven wood shades from Hunter Douglas has unique designs in bamboo, reeds, grasses and wood slats, and has expanded its offerings to 65 fabric options.
Christine Baumbach, an interior designer in Oak Park, Illinois, says, “The winters here are long and dreary, so people need as much light as possible, but in the summer my clients are concerned about light and heat control.” Moreover, although Oak Park is a suburb, houses are frequently only 20 feet from their neighbors, so Baumbach generally specifies top-down / bottom-up window coverings for all first-floor rooms and for second-floor bedrooms to give rooms privacy and still allow them open to be open to sky and sunlight. Hunter Douglas recently introduced its popular Silhouette® window shadings with the Top-Down / Bottom-Up
TiltAnywhere™ feature for ultimate flexibility. Silhouette shadings provide a soft diffused light with its two layers of sheer fabric with rotating fabric vanes between. Baumbach also likes the flexibility provided by Alouette LightLouvers.
Eminent Atlanta-based designer Nancy Braithwaite admits that as a young designer, she favored “the clean look of no window coverings at all.” Several years and many complaints from clients later, Braithwaite has come to appreciate the light-diffusing qualities offered by some window coverings. Braithwaite found woven wood shades to be a good solution to the afternoon glare in a sunroom and now understands that there are a variety of products that offer a clean look plus light control, a big plus in Atlanta’s climate.
Dr. Judy suggests that another important emotional factor to consider in selecting window coverings is that the window is your access to the world. Some people like the sense of enclosure provided by layered window dressings, while others want open access. Dr. Judy says to ask yourself, “When you are at home do you need to feel part of the world or do you prefer to escape?” Los Angeles designer, Peter Dunham says that most Californians like to bring the outdoors in, yet there is a need to filter light for heat control. He is partial to window treatments that “dress the room without blocking the light,” such as products like Silhouette shadings that offer top-down / bottom-up flexibility. Baumbach notes a generational difference among her clients, saying “my older clients like the sense of privacy and concealment provided by layered windows, while my younger ones want to be open to the outdoors but still have privacy at night. Hunter Douglas gives me both the reliability and variety I need for all of my clients.”
When selecting a window covering, Dr. Judy advises to also analyze and express your personal style. “It has a lot to do with fantasy,” she says. “Are you the French maid or cheerleader type? Classic people tend to like traditional relationships and traditional decoration as compared to people who prefer experimentations, surprises and wild colors. Remember that in your home you are the subject of the painting. Do you prefer the chiaroscuro of the Old Masters or the light-filled canvases of the Impressionists?” Whatever your needs and desires, Hunter Douglas has a window covering that’s a perfect match.
~ Nature’s Natural Mood Transformer ~
If you have any doubts about the emotional effects of light, ask Dr. Judy. According to world-renowned radio advice host Dr. Judy Kuriansky, it can increase your energy, elevate your mood and when properly controlled, it can facilitate more healthful sleep patterns and create a romantic atmosphere. Window coverings play a crucial role in controlling light. “The key to a good relationship is creativity and flexibility and that is also what to look for in a window covering,” Dr. Judy advises. Perhaps most widely known as a radio call-in therapist, Dr. Judy is an adjunct professor at the Clinical Psychology Program at Columbia University Teachers College and at the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia Medical Center.
“Light has a tremendous effect on mental health,” she says. “There are early birds and night owls.” Dr. Judy asks that people think carefully about both their own circadian rhythms (the 24-hour psychological rhythms associated with the 24-hour cycle of the earth’s rotation), and those of their significant other. “It is important for people to feel that they have control over their environment and some window coverings enable you to do that,” she says. Dr. Judy advises consumers to be assertive about their needs when shopping and favors Hunter Douglas products for the variety and flexibility they offer in controlling both light and views from wide open to the outside sunshine to the glow of diffused light, the dramatic effect of deflected light and to the warmth of screened light. If in order to get a good night’s sleep you need a window covering that will totally block light, demand it!
She encourages people to experiment to see what gives them the most pleasure with light control as well as romance! Continuing its tradition of award-winning innovation, Hunter Douglas has recently introduced Trio® Convertible Shades, a window covering that offers so much flexibility in light control that it invites experimentation. This soft window covering features 1 1/8-inch individual, hexagonally shaped horizontal vanes that “open” (compress) and “close” (expand), even when the shade is partially raised. Vanes close for soft, diffused light
and complete privacy; can be adjusted to anything in-between for full control of an environment; and open for a full view-through. A single operating cord both opens and closes the vanes and raises and lowers the shades – allowing the product to transform itself from a shade to a blind in one smooth motion for options in light control never before available.
Dr. Judy notes that there is a segment of the population that is so seriously effected by light deprivation that during the short days of winter they may suffer serious bouts of depression. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter. It is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypolthalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. Hunter Douglas window coverings can help alleviate this disorder because many of the products beautifully soften and diffuse through two fabric layers or gently filter incoming natural light, rather than simply blocking it, so that its positive effects can be felt without its harsh glare and heat.
Cheryl Terrace of New York City-based Vital Design, an advocate of green, or ecologically sensitive design, is so acutely aware of the emotional effects of light that she advises friends and clients to take a walk on the sunny side of the street every day. For window coverings, Terrace likes Alouette® LightLouvers, one of the newest products from Hunter Douglas – it has a shutter-like look without the heavy framing. This innovative window covering consists of soft fabric 2 ¾” rotating louvers that are elliptical and cellular in shape with a headrail that pivots with the louvers to virtually disappear. Because the louvers consist of two layers of fabric with space in between they soften and diffuse light while controlling it. Terrace also favors natural fibers, like woven woods, especially bamboo for the texture they add to décor. Provenance® woven wood shades from Hunter Douglas has unique designs in bamboo, reeds, grasses and wood slats, and has expanded its offerings to 65 fabric options.
Christine Baumbach, an interior designer in Oak Park, Illinois, says, “The winters here are long and dreary, so people need as much light as possible, but in the summer my clients are concerned about light and heat control.” Moreover, although Oak Park is a suburb, houses are frequently only 20 feet from their neighbors, so Baumbach generally specifies top-down / bottom-up window coverings for all first-floor rooms and for second-floor bedrooms to give rooms privacy and still allow them open to be open to sky and sunlight. Hunter Douglas recently introduced its popular Silhouette® window shadings with the Top-Down / Bottom-Up
TiltAnywhere™ feature for ultimate flexibility. Silhouette shadings provide a soft diffused light with its two layers of sheer fabric with rotating fabric vanes between. Baumbach also likes the flexibility provided by Alouette LightLouvers.
Eminent Atlanta-based designer Nancy Braithwaite admits that as a young designer, she favored “the clean look of no window coverings at all.” Several years and many complaints from clients later, Braithwaite has come to appreciate the light-diffusing qualities offered by some window coverings. Braithwaite found woven wood shades to be a good solution to the afternoon glare in a sunroom and now understands that there are a variety of products that offer a clean look plus light control, a big plus in Atlanta’s climate.
Dr. Judy suggests that another important emotional factor to consider in selecting window coverings is that the window is your access to the world. Some people like the sense of enclosure provided by layered window dressings, while others want open access. Dr. Judy says to ask yourself, “When you are at home do you need to feel part of the world or do you prefer to escape?” Los Angeles designer, Peter Dunham says that most Californians like to bring the outdoors in, yet there is a need to filter light for heat control. He is partial to window treatments that “dress the room without blocking the light,” such as products like Silhouette shadings that offer top-down / bottom-up flexibility. Baumbach notes a generational difference among her clients, saying “my older clients like the sense of privacy and concealment provided by layered windows, while my younger ones want to be open to the outdoors but still have privacy at night. Hunter Douglas gives me both the reliability and variety I need for all of my clients.”
When selecting a window covering, Dr. Judy advises to also analyze and express your personal style. “It has a lot to do with fantasy,” she says. “Are you the French maid or cheerleader type? Classic people tend to like traditional relationships and traditional decoration as compared to people who prefer experimentations, surprises and wild colors. Remember that in your home you are the subject of the painting. Do you prefer the chiaroscuro of the Old Masters or the light-filled canvases of the Impressionists?” Whatever your needs and desires, Hunter Douglas has a window covering that’s a perfect match.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
TOP TRENDS IN DECORATING TODAY
~ Your Home is Your Sanctuary ~
We are looking for a respite from an increasingly chaotic world. We want homes that are sanctuaries, spas and above all, safe. Windows have been described as the house’s eyes to the world. Window coverings are what separate personal from public space and as such, now more than ever, they are a prime element in home décor. Hunter Douglas, always the innovator in window fashions, has new offerings to meet the latest needs and trends at the window.
Light Can Change Everything
It is a scientifically proven fact that light affects our moods and health. Window fashions like light-transforming Silhouette® window shadings put you in charge of this vital natural resource in your home. Since its introduction 15 years ago Silhouette window shadings with two sheer fabric layers and gently curved fabric vanes between them have transformed the light in a room from harsh and unyielding to soft and controllable. In addition, because of their unique construction, they are one of the few products that protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays without compromising the light or view. There are more options than ever with the following fabric selections: The Matisse Collection™ is the first-ever fabric with colored sheer facings as well as colored vanes. The Lumiere™ fabric features a chiffon-textured fabric vane with a semi-sheer opacity. Even when the semi-sheer vanes are closed, there is a soft, diffused view to the outside, while the view into the home is obscured. The Bon Jour™ fabric is translucent, similar to most of the fabrics in the existing line, but offers a horizontal linen-textured vane for a less formal, yet elegant look at the window.
Serenity Reigns Supreme
“Spa” and “zen” have become aspirational buzzwords associated with the home. Trend-spotters at the recent Maison et Objet show in Paris reported frequent sightings of figures of Buddha in materials as varied as fine crystal to rough-hewn rock. But even with a figure of a Buddha presiding, a room without privacy and filled with harsh light will not seem serene. Luminette® Privacy Sheers, a similar concept to Silhouette shadings that is oriented vertically, is available with PowerGlide® remote control motorization, an ideal solution for rooms with large expanses of glass like sliding glass doors. If the doors open to a beautiful view, you can see the view and control light with the touch of a button!
The World is Flat
Communications are instant, travel is frequent, and economies are connected. We are citizens of a global village and our homes reflect that. Rooms or wardrobes that feature only one style or place of origin seem as out of date as last week’s headlines. As photos from outer space reveal, we are all neighbors on one small planet and should be concerned about preserving its resources. Hunter Douglas has introduced what’s said to be the first-ever hybrid shutter. Hybrid – a term usually used to describe a type of car designed to appeal to consumers concerned about energy savings – here is used to describe a new type of interior window shutter that combines the style of finely painted wood with the strength and straightness of advanced modern-day materials, to create a quality shutter at an economical price that is also easy on natural resources – NewStyle™ hybrid shutters. Hunter Douglas Designer Screen Shades – offered in dozens of colors and even stripes – are another good option for rooms in the global village. They provide UV protection to preserve your world treasures while screening the light.
The Healthy House
We want our homes to be safe and healthy, not only for our families, but also for our furnishings and artwork. Duette® honeycomb shades, which today are available in single, double and triple honeycomb layers and a multitude of fabric and hardware options, increase the energy efficiency of your house and help protect furnishings from the suns harmful UV rays. Duette shades with three layers of honeycomb cells in winter, with an insulating R-value of 4.8 (double glazing), more than double the energy efficiency of a double-glazed window, and increase the efficiency of a single pane of glass by nearly four times. In the warmer months, they block up to 80 percent of solar heat from entering a home. New fabric and color introductions have enhanced Duette shades, making them now, more than ever, a fashionable and healthy choice for your home. Moreover, they reduce noise.
The New Antique is Modern
Dealers report that classic modern furnishings are so sought after that they are
commanding the prices of centuries-old antiques. These furnishings are complemented by rooms with large windows and simple, tailored window treatments. The new modernism is a softer, gentler more welcoming look that the hard edged 60’s style. Vertical blinds have always been a favorite feature of modern interiors. Hunter Douglas has recently introduced Crosswinds™ Wood Vertical Blinds which combine the warmth and richness of wood with modern ingenuity. There are four paint and six stain finishes to select from and all have as a standard feature the exclusive TopShield™ finish, a clear top coat that is applied to every vane and valance and helps protect against everyday wear and is smooth and easy to clean.
High / Low
Just as consumers feel franchised to pair a Chanel jacket with Gap blue jeans, rooms can sport priceless antiques with money-saving furnishings. Designed to capture the warm, luxurious look of real wood, while offering all the benefits of an alternative wood product for the value-conscious consumer, the EverWood® Collection boasts a complete assortment of slat sizes and colors plus a host of options and top-quality components and hardware that make it the premium collection in the alternative woods product category.
Jewel Tones
Homeowners are discovering that they don’t need to limit decoration to neutrals and pastels. Rooms can have the same brilliant shades seen on fashion runways, jewel tones have become increasingly popular, adding a rich glow to interiors and making rooms sparkle. To fulfill this desire in window fashions, the Matisse Collection from Silhouette window shadings comes in the following lively colors, which cast a tinted-toned glow: Watercolor Glass, Ink Sketch, Artist’s
Wine, Wooden Easel, Seascape and Purple Palette. They are all available in both the two- and three-inch vane sizes.
Back To Nature
We increasingly want to bring nature indoors. Just as spas add tranquility to their interiors with natural materials and the addition of flowers and plants, homeowners are seeking furnishings with natural finishes. Currently the best seller in the Alustra™ Collection, which marries the flawless engineering of Hunter Douglas window fashions with a touch of luxury, is Alustra Woven Textures™. These shades are an innovative alternative to solar screen shades and woven woods that highlight natural textures and exquisitely filter light, with 20 unique natural-textured and light-filtering fabrics available in both Roman shades and window shades.
The New Urbanism
Not only does the younger generation gravitate toward cities, but also newspapers across the country report that aging baby boomers as their nests empty are attracted to the culture and convenience offered by city living. Many of these urban residences feature the large windows of loft-like interiors. Duette honeycomb shades are a great choice for urban interiors. Not only do they offer superb light, temperature and noise control and UV protection, but a 1 ¼-inch pleat size is ideal for today’s larger windows.
At Your Service
Time is our most valuable commodity and so anything that makes life easier is popular. Both hotels and condominiums are marketing their services as much as their location. As the window fashions innovator, Hunter Douglas is adding the value of convenience to many of their products. Now combining the timeless beauty of a Roman shade with the practical functioning of a totally modern window covering, Vignette® Modern Roman Shades boast the PowerRise® easy, affordable, battery-powered remote control option.
We are looking for a respite from an increasingly chaotic world. We want homes that are sanctuaries, spas and above all, safe. Windows have been described as the house’s eyes to the world. Window coverings are what separate personal from public space and as such, now more than ever, they are a prime element in home décor. Hunter Douglas, always the innovator in window fashions, has new offerings to meet the latest needs and trends at the window.
Light Can Change Everything
It is a scientifically proven fact that light affects our moods and health. Window fashions like light-transforming Silhouette® window shadings put you in charge of this vital natural resource in your home. Since its introduction 15 years ago Silhouette window shadings with two sheer fabric layers and gently curved fabric vanes between them have transformed the light in a room from harsh and unyielding to soft and controllable. In addition, because of their unique construction, they are one of the few products that protect against the sun’s harmful UV rays without compromising the light or view. There are more options than ever with the following fabric selections: The Matisse Collection™ is the first-ever fabric with colored sheer facings as well as colored vanes. The Lumiere™ fabric features a chiffon-textured fabric vane with a semi-sheer opacity. Even when the semi-sheer vanes are closed, there is a soft, diffused view to the outside, while the view into the home is obscured. The Bon Jour™ fabric is translucent, similar to most of the fabrics in the existing line, but offers a horizontal linen-textured vane for a less formal, yet elegant look at the window.
Serenity Reigns Supreme
“Spa” and “zen” have become aspirational buzzwords associated with the home. Trend-spotters at the recent Maison et Objet show in Paris reported frequent sightings of figures of Buddha in materials as varied as fine crystal to rough-hewn rock. But even with a figure of a Buddha presiding, a room without privacy and filled with harsh light will not seem serene. Luminette® Privacy Sheers, a similar concept to Silhouette shadings that is oriented vertically, is available with PowerGlide® remote control motorization, an ideal solution for rooms with large expanses of glass like sliding glass doors. If the doors open to a beautiful view, you can see the view and control light with the touch of a button!
The World is Flat
Communications are instant, travel is frequent, and economies are connected. We are citizens of a global village and our homes reflect that. Rooms or wardrobes that feature only one style or place of origin seem as out of date as last week’s headlines. As photos from outer space reveal, we are all neighbors on one small planet and should be concerned about preserving its resources. Hunter Douglas has introduced what’s said to be the first-ever hybrid shutter. Hybrid – a term usually used to describe a type of car designed to appeal to consumers concerned about energy savings – here is used to describe a new type of interior window shutter that combines the style of finely painted wood with the strength and straightness of advanced modern-day materials, to create a quality shutter at an economical price that is also easy on natural resources – NewStyle™ hybrid shutters. Hunter Douglas Designer Screen Shades – offered in dozens of colors and even stripes – are another good option for rooms in the global village. They provide UV protection to preserve your world treasures while screening the light.
The Healthy House
We want our homes to be safe and healthy, not only for our families, but also for our furnishings and artwork. Duette® honeycomb shades, which today are available in single, double and triple honeycomb layers and a multitude of fabric and hardware options, increase the energy efficiency of your house and help protect furnishings from the suns harmful UV rays. Duette shades with three layers of honeycomb cells in winter, with an insulating R-value of 4.8 (double glazing), more than double the energy efficiency of a double-glazed window, and increase the efficiency of a single pane of glass by nearly four times. In the warmer months, they block up to 80 percent of solar heat from entering a home. New fabric and color introductions have enhanced Duette shades, making them now, more than ever, a fashionable and healthy choice for your home. Moreover, they reduce noise.
The New Antique is Modern
Dealers report that classic modern furnishings are so sought after that they are
commanding the prices of centuries-old antiques. These furnishings are complemented by rooms with large windows and simple, tailored window treatments. The new modernism is a softer, gentler more welcoming look that the hard edged 60’s style. Vertical blinds have always been a favorite feature of modern interiors. Hunter Douglas has recently introduced Crosswinds™ Wood Vertical Blinds which combine the warmth and richness of wood with modern ingenuity. There are four paint and six stain finishes to select from and all have as a standard feature the exclusive TopShield™ finish, a clear top coat that is applied to every vane and valance and helps protect against everyday wear and is smooth and easy to clean.
High / Low
Just as consumers feel franchised to pair a Chanel jacket with Gap blue jeans, rooms can sport priceless antiques with money-saving furnishings. Designed to capture the warm, luxurious look of real wood, while offering all the benefits of an alternative wood product for the value-conscious consumer, the EverWood® Collection boasts a complete assortment of slat sizes and colors plus a host of options and top-quality components and hardware that make it the premium collection in the alternative woods product category.
Jewel Tones
Homeowners are discovering that they don’t need to limit decoration to neutrals and pastels. Rooms can have the same brilliant shades seen on fashion runways, jewel tones have become increasingly popular, adding a rich glow to interiors and making rooms sparkle. To fulfill this desire in window fashions, the Matisse Collection from Silhouette window shadings comes in the following lively colors, which cast a tinted-toned glow: Watercolor Glass, Ink Sketch, Artist’s
Wine, Wooden Easel, Seascape and Purple Palette. They are all available in both the two- and three-inch vane sizes.
Back To Nature
We increasingly want to bring nature indoors. Just as spas add tranquility to their interiors with natural materials and the addition of flowers and plants, homeowners are seeking furnishings with natural finishes. Currently the best seller in the Alustra™ Collection, which marries the flawless engineering of Hunter Douglas window fashions with a touch of luxury, is Alustra Woven Textures™. These shades are an innovative alternative to solar screen shades and woven woods that highlight natural textures and exquisitely filter light, with 20 unique natural-textured and light-filtering fabrics available in both Roman shades and window shades.
The New Urbanism
Not only does the younger generation gravitate toward cities, but also newspapers across the country report that aging baby boomers as their nests empty are attracted to the culture and convenience offered by city living. Many of these urban residences feature the large windows of loft-like interiors. Duette honeycomb shades are a great choice for urban interiors. Not only do they offer superb light, temperature and noise control and UV protection, but a 1 ¼-inch pleat size is ideal for today’s larger windows.
At Your Service
Time is our most valuable commodity and so anything that makes life easier is popular. Both hotels and condominiums are marketing their services as much as their location. As the window fashions innovator, Hunter Douglas is adding the value of convenience to many of their products. Now combining the timeless beauty of a Roman shade with the practical functioning of a totally modern window covering, Vignette® Modern Roman Shades boast the PowerRise® easy, affordable, battery-powered remote control option.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
COUNTRY WOODS COLLECTION WOODS BLINDS
ACHIEVE THE DRAMATIC EFFECT OF DEFLECTED LIGHT
For the chiaroscuro of the Old Masters and the dramatic effect of deflected light, choose Country Woods® Collection™ wood blinds from Hunter Douglas, the most complete and innovative wood blind offering on the market. As showcased in the living room above, this product makes for a dramatic architectural statement and allows you to direct the light precisely where you want it.
Featured is the Country Woods Reflections® line with 2 5/8-inch beveled slats for a shutter-like look. It is one of four lines offered. Also showcased: a 4 ½-inch valance, Sage Foliage decorative tapes that are the perfect complement to the Sugar Maple color of the blinds and furnishings, and fixed specialty arches with rounded corners. All Country Woods Collection wood blinds include the exclusive TopShield™ finish to help protect against everyday wear.
ACHIEVE THE DRAMATIC EFFECT OF DEFLECTED LIGHT
For the chiaroscuro of the Old Masters and the dramatic effect of deflected light, choose Country Woods® Collection™ wood blinds from Hunter Douglas, the most complete and innovative wood blind offering on the market. As showcased in the living room above, this product makes for a dramatic architectural statement and allows you to direct the light precisely where you want it.
Featured is the Country Woods Reflections® line with 2 5/8-inch beveled slats for a shutter-like look. It is one of four lines offered. Also showcased: a 4 ½-inch valance, Sage Foliage decorative tapes that are the perfect complement to the Sugar Maple color of the blinds and furnishings, and fixed specialty arches with rounded corners. All Country Woods Collection wood blinds include the exclusive TopShield™ finish to help protect against everyday wear.
LIGHT
~ Nature’s Natural Mood Transformer ~
If you have any doubts about the emotional effects of light, ask Dr. Judy. According to world-renowned radio advice host Dr. Judy Kuriansky, it can increase your energy, elevate your mood and when properly controlled, it can facilitate more healthful sleep patterns and create a romantic atmosphere. Window coverings play a crucial role in controlling light. “The key to a good relationship is creativity and flexibility and that is also what to look for in a window covering,” Dr. Judy advises. Perhaps most widely known as a radio call-in therapist, Dr. Judy is an adjunct professor at the Clinical Psychology Program at Columbia University Teachers College and at the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia Medical Center.
“Light has a tremendous effect on mental health,” she says. “There are early birds and night owls.” Dr. Judy asks that people think carefully about both their own circadian rhythms (the 24-hour psychological rhythms associated with the 24-hour cycle of the earth’s rotation), and those of their significant other. “It is important for people to feel that they have control over their environment and some window coverings enable you to do that,” she says. Dr. Judy advises consumers to be assertive about their needs when shopping and favors Hunter Douglas products for the variety and flexibility they offer in controlling both light and views from wide open to the outside sunshine to the glow of diffused light, the dramatic effect of deflected light and to the warmth of screened light. If in order to get a good night’s sleep you need a window covering that will totally block light, demand it!
She encourages people to experiment to see what gives them the most pleasure with light control as well as romance! Continuing its tradition of award-winning innovation, Hunter Douglas has recently introduced Trio® Convertible Shades, a window covering that offers so much flexibility in light control that it invites experimentation. This soft window covering features 1 1/8-inch individual, hexagonally shaped horizontal vanes that “open” (compress) and “close” (expand), even when the shade is partially raised. Vanes close for soft, diffused light
and complete privacy; can be adjusted to anything in-between for full control of an environment; and open for a full view-through. A single operating cord both opens and closes the vanes and raises and lowers the shades – allowing the product to transform itself from a shade to a blind in one smooth motion for options in light control never before available.
Dr. Judy notes that there is a segment of the population that is so seriously effected by light deprivation that during the short days of winter they may suffer serious bouts of depression. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter. It is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypolthalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. Hunter Douglas window coverings can help alleviate this disorder because many of the products beautifully soften and diffuse through two fabric layers or gently filter incoming natural light, rather than simply blocking it, so that its positive effects can be felt without its harsh glare and heat.
Cheryl Terrace of New York City-based Vital Design, an advocate of green, or ecologically sensitive design, is so acutely aware of the emotional effects of light that she advises friends and clients to take a walk on the sunny side of the street every day. For window coverings, Terrace likes Alouette® LightLouvers, one of the newest products from Hunter Douglas – it has a shutter-like look without the heavy framing. This innovative window covering consists of soft fabric 2 ¾” rotating louvers that are elliptical and cellular in shape with a headrail that pivots with the louvers to virtually disappear. Because the louvers consist of two layers of fabric with space in between they soften and diffuse light while controlling it. Terrace also favors natural fibers, like woven woods, especially bamboo for the texture they add to décor. Provenance® woven wood shades from Hunter Douglas has unique designs in bamboo, reeds, grasses and wood slats, and has expanded its offerings to 65 fabric options.
Christine Baumbach, an interior designer in Oak Park, Illinois, says, “The winters here are long and dreary, so people need as much light as possible, but in the summer my clients are concerned about light and heat control.” Moreover, although Oak Park is a suburb, houses are frequently only 20 feet from their neighbors, so Baumbach generally specifies top-down / bottom-up window coverings for all first-floor rooms and for second-floor bedrooms to give rooms privacy and still allow them open to be open to sky and sunlight. Hunter Douglas recently introduced its popular Silhouette® window shadings with the Top-Down / Bottom-Up
TiltAnywhere™ feature for ultimate flexibility. Silhouette shadings provide a soft diffused light with its two layers of sheer fabric with rotating fabric vanes between. Baumbach also likes the flexibility provided by Alouette LightLouvers.
Eminent Atlanta-based designer Nancy Braithwaite admits that as a young designer, she favored “the clean look of no window coverings at all.” Several years and many complaints from clients later, Braithwaite has come to appreciate the light-diffusing qualities offered by some window coverings. Braithwaite found woven wood shades to be a good solution to the afternoon glare in a sunroom and now understands that there are a variety of products that offer a clean look plus light control, a big plus in Atlanta’s climate.
Dr. Judy suggests that another important emotional factor to consider in selecting window coverings is that the window is your access to the world. Some people like the sense of enclosure provided by layered window dressings, while others want open access. Dr. Judy says to ask yourself, “When you are at home do you need to feel part of the world or do you prefer to escape?” Los Angeles designer, Peter Dunham says that most Californians like to bring the outdoors in, yet there is a need to filter light for heat control. He is partial to window treatments that “dress the room without blocking the light,” such as products like Silhouette shadings that offer top-down / bottom-up flexibility. Baumbach notes a generational difference among her clients, saying “my older clients like the sense of privacy and concealment provided by layered windows, while my younger ones want to be open to the outdoors but still have privacy at night. Hunter Douglas gives me both the reliability and variety I need for all of my clients.”
When selecting a window covering, Dr. Judy advises to also analyze and express your personal style. “It has a lot to do with fantasy,” she says. “Are you the French maid or cheerleader type? Classic people tend to like traditional relationships and traditional decoration as compared to people who prefer experimentations, surprises and wild colors. Remember that in your home you are the subject of the painting. Do you prefer the chiaroscuro of the Old Masters or the light-filled canvases of the Impressionists?” Whatever your needs and desires, Hunter Douglas has a window covering that’s a perfect match.
Hunter Douglas Inc. is a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, covering windows in every Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.
~ Nature’s Natural Mood Transformer ~
If you have any doubts about the emotional effects of light, ask Dr. Judy. According to world-renowned radio advice host Dr. Judy Kuriansky, it can increase your energy, elevate your mood and when properly controlled, it can facilitate more healthful sleep patterns and create a romantic atmosphere. Window coverings play a crucial role in controlling light. “The key to a good relationship is creativity and flexibility and that is also what to look for in a window covering,” Dr. Judy advises. Perhaps most widely known as a radio call-in therapist, Dr. Judy is an adjunct professor at the Clinical Psychology Program at Columbia University Teachers College and at the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia Medical Center.
“Light has a tremendous effect on mental health,” she says. “There are early birds and night owls.” Dr. Judy asks that people think carefully about both their own circadian rhythms (the 24-hour psychological rhythms associated with the 24-hour cycle of the earth’s rotation), and those of their significant other. “It is important for people to feel that they have control over their environment and some window coverings enable you to do that,” she says. Dr. Judy advises consumers to be assertive about their needs when shopping and favors Hunter Douglas products for the variety and flexibility they offer in controlling both light and views from wide open to the outside sunshine to the glow of diffused light, the dramatic effect of deflected light and to the warmth of screened light. If in order to get a good night’s sleep you need a window covering that will totally block light, demand it!
She encourages people to experiment to see what gives them the most pleasure with light control as well as romance! Continuing its tradition of award-winning innovation, Hunter Douglas has recently introduced Trio® Convertible Shades, a window covering that offers so much flexibility in light control that it invites experimentation. This soft window covering features 1 1/8-inch individual, hexagonally shaped horizontal vanes that “open” (compress) and “close” (expand), even when the shade is partially raised. Vanes close for soft, diffused light
and complete privacy; can be adjusted to anything in-between for full control of an environment; and open for a full view-through. A single operating cord both opens and closes the vanes and raises and lowers the shades – allowing the product to transform itself from a shade to a blind in one smooth motion for options in light control never before available.
Dr. Judy notes that there is a segment of the population that is so seriously effected by light deprivation that during the short days of winter they may suffer serious bouts of depression. SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is a type of winter depression that affects an estimated half a million people every winter. It is caused by a biochemical imbalance in the hypolthalamus due to the shortening of daylight hours and the lack of sunlight in winter. Hunter Douglas window coverings can help alleviate this disorder because many of the products beautifully soften and diffuse through two fabric layers or gently filter incoming natural light, rather than simply blocking it, so that its positive effects can be felt without its harsh glare and heat.
Cheryl Terrace of New York City-based Vital Design, an advocate of green, or ecologically sensitive design, is so acutely aware of the emotional effects of light that she advises friends and clients to take a walk on the sunny side of the street every day. For window coverings, Terrace likes Alouette® LightLouvers, one of the newest products from Hunter Douglas – it has a shutter-like look without the heavy framing. This innovative window covering consists of soft fabric 2 ¾” rotating louvers that are elliptical and cellular in shape with a headrail that pivots with the louvers to virtually disappear. Because the louvers consist of two layers of fabric with space in between they soften and diffuse light while controlling it. Terrace also favors natural fibers, like woven woods, especially bamboo for the texture they add to décor. Provenance® woven wood shades from Hunter Douglas has unique designs in bamboo, reeds, grasses and wood slats, and has expanded its offerings to 65 fabric options.
Christine Baumbach, an interior designer in Oak Park, Illinois, says, “The winters here are long and dreary, so people need as much light as possible, but in the summer my clients are concerned about light and heat control.” Moreover, although Oak Park is a suburb, houses are frequently only 20 feet from their neighbors, so Baumbach generally specifies top-down / bottom-up window coverings for all first-floor rooms and for second-floor bedrooms to give rooms privacy and still allow them open to be open to sky and sunlight. Hunter Douglas recently introduced its popular Silhouette® window shadings with the Top-Down / Bottom-Up
TiltAnywhere™ feature for ultimate flexibility. Silhouette shadings provide a soft diffused light with its two layers of sheer fabric with rotating fabric vanes between. Baumbach also likes the flexibility provided by Alouette LightLouvers.
Eminent Atlanta-based designer Nancy Braithwaite admits that as a young designer, she favored “the clean look of no window coverings at all.” Several years and many complaints from clients later, Braithwaite has come to appreciate the light-diffusing qualities offered by some window coverings. Braithwaite found woven wood shades to be a good solution to the afternoon glare in a sunroom and now understands that there are a variety of products that offer a clean look plus light control, a big plus in Atlanta’s climate.
Dr. Judy suggests that another important emotional factor to consider in selecting window coverings is that the window is your access to the world. Some people like the sense of enclosure provided by layered window dressings, while others want open access. Dr. Judy says to ask yourself, “When you are at home do you need to feel part of the world or do you prefer to escape?” Los Angeles designer, Peter Dunham says that most Californians like to bring the outdoors in, yet there is a need to filter light for heat control. He is partial to window treatments that “dress the room without blocking the light,” such as products like Silhouette shadings that offer top-down / bottom-up flexibility. Baumbach notes a generational difference among her clients, saying “my older clients like the sense of privacy and concealment provided by layered windows, while my younger ones want to be open to the outdoors but still have privacy at night. Hunter Douglas gives me both the reliability and variety I need for all of my clients.”
When selecting a window covering, Dr. Judy advises to also analyze and express your personal style. “It has a lot to do with fantasy,” she says. “Are you the French maid or cheerleader type? Classic people tend to like traditional relationships and traditional decoration as compared to people who prefer experimentations, surprises and wild colors. Remember that in your home you are the subject of the painting. Do you prefer the chiaroscuro of the Old Masters or the light-filled canvases of the Impressionists?” Whatever your needs and desires, Hunter Douglas has a window covering that’s a perfect match.
Hunter Douglas Inc. is a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, covering windows in every Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada.
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