Keeping Cats Out of The Blinds

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catwinThose four legged friends of ours may be cute and fun to cuddle in our down time, but they have a way of getting into so many parts of our home that sometimes they can be extra destructive. When it comes to cats, there are few things that they don’t get into. From tearing up the toilet paper to climbing on top of cabinets, there are so many different ways that your cat can get into things. One of the spaces that you are going to want to avoid your cats climbing onto will be your blinds. Not only are these an investment into your home, but they’re extremely noticeable and provide tons of functionality and efficiency to your home, the last thing you’re going to want is for them to be damaged.

The team at Arjay’s Window Furnishings know how hard it can be to manage the well being of your window coverings when you’ve got a cat in the house, so we have worked together to compile a few ways that you can minimize the chances of a cat jumping onto your blinds anytime in the near future.

Wrap the Cords

If the window coverings on your windows have long cords that your cat can play around with, make sure that these are out of reach or tied up so that your cat can’t get into them. If you install a small hook by the top of the window so that they can’t jump onto the ledge and still manage to get a hold of it. These are usually the primary reason that cats are even aware that the blinds are something that they have access too. Taking away this dangling string could help minimize the chances of your cats messing with the blinds.

catwin2Vertical Blinds

If your home has mini blinds, vinyl blinds or really any other design that goes directly up and down, consider switching them out for vertical blinds. These blinds offer a different look, but they also allow for your cat to ex
plore and chase after their curiosity without doing any serious damage. These blinds will provide you with the same amount of privacy, coverage from the sun, and will definitely minimize the amount of damage control that you have to worry about.

Plantation Shutters

Another option that you have is switching out your blinds for shutters. These are much more sturdy and offer an entirely different look, but they definitely leave zero room for messing around with. Leave them open during the day so that natural light can make it’s way into your home or so that your cat can make the most of the view, but close them and shed your worries of your furry friend doing any damage to them.

You can find these other window treatment options at Arjay’s Window Fashions, but hopefully these tips provide you with enough to keep you from having to stop by our showroom for new blinds more than usual. While we love having you stop by, we want you to at least enjoy these blinds for a while before they need replacing!

For any other questions, reach out to our team and we would be more than happy to help out.

What to Consider When Shopping for New Window Treatments

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window2Arjay’s offers tons of window treatments to choose from, but there are plenty of times that people walk in thinking they have an idea of what they want, and then don’t realize how many styles there are to choose from. If you are in the market for a nice new set of window treatments, then there are a few things that you should consider before you stop into the showroom and commit to a style.

Window Size

This is something that you are immediately going to want to consider when you are looking into window treatments. This will have a huge affect on the type of coverings that look great, provide enough coverage and fit well. While there are windows that every style of window treatment will work for, there are some blinds that are too small or too big for certain ones. For instance, a window that is exceptionally narrow might not be the best fit for mini blinds. Or vertical blinds may look extremely clustered when in this small of a space. On the other hand, windows that are extremely large might look absolutely ridiculous with mini blinds or require quite a few sets of blinds in order to fully cover. All of these are important notes to make.

Window Location

Depending on where your windows are located, there are styles that you may want to choose instead of others. This could be because they are high up and would be difficult to maneuver or because they are somewhere that gets more sun than other parts of the house. Factors like these could change the styles that you use or could even determine whether or not you want to add various styles of window coverings to a room or whether there is one that can provide you with everything that you need to have functionality, privacy, and aesthetics taken care of.

window5Usability

When you have windows that are too hard to reach or that you need extra functionality for, you may want to consider mechanical blinds, which may only come in certain styles. If you are looking at a certain style, you can ask our team whether or not mechanical styles are an option for that specific type, and if not, what styles would be similar to that style. Otherwise, we can provide other options that you might want to look into while you determine which of these styles will give you everything that you want in your blinds, and still provide you with the same usability that will allow for you to make the most of your window treatments.

Stopping into the showroom isn’t a horrible thing to do. It really can expose you to all of the different styles that are out there so that you can come to a conclusion with what you want in regards to style, color, texture, and feel. Stop by Arjay’s Window Fashions and let us help you order the perfect style for your home.

Make sure to check our next blog post where we cover a few more things that should go into the style of blinds that you choose.

Things to Consider with Your Custom Curtains

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curtainDeciding which type of window treatment is going to be the best fit for your home is something that requires consideration, testing out a few different designs and ultimately figuring out which type of material is going to fit in with the aesthetic of your home and be the most efficient for your style. At Arjay’s Window Fashion in Ventura, we have a large selection of materials that you can consider for your home, each offering something different when selected as a window treatment. Here are a few of the different things that you need to consider when you are choosing the material for your custom curtains.

Durability

One of the primary things that you’re going to want to consider when purchasing curtains is how durable the material is. Most of the curtains that we find in common home good stores are going to be made from common fabrics, like cotton or a blend of fabrics that can look nice when first purchased, but won’t hold up to the various things that your curtain will come across. If you’re not sure what we mean by this, don’t worry, we’ve broken it down. When you hang your curtains, you’re going to want a material that is durable enough to maintain its color even with the sun shining on it every day. If you are looking at getting curtains for efficiency reasons, then you’re definitely going to want to make sure that your curtains are thick enough to actually help maintain a temperature within your house and block any air that could potentially escape. Curtains that are more durable may be more expensive initially, but you will see that you pay for their worth in the time that they last.

Sizing

Curtains are made to fit a variety of window sizes, but making sure that you have the right size for your windows is something that you need to take a moment to double check and make sure that this window treatment will actually fit your window. There are certain materials that will only be made in certain sizes, so if you are looking for a material that you can use throughout your house, you need to have an idea of what size windows you’re going to need these custom curtains fitted to. If there are certain materials that you’re looking for, we can do our best to try and fit them to windows, even when they aren’t custom for that type of material, but there are certain materials that you’re going to want to stay away from for window sizes.

Thread Count

Materials that are commonly used to make clothes will usually have a smaller thread count than most of the materials that you will see are used for the curtains you’ll be looking at. If you start looking into different materials to use for your custom curtains, it’s always worth looking at the thread count so that you can tell what the quality of your curtains are going to be in relation to standard clothes and threadwork. This is a great way to really determine what the various quality levels are when switching between fabrics and threadwork.

Texture

From velvet to cotton, all different types of fabrics will create a different texture for the curtains that they create. If you are looking to have a very particular type of fabric for your curtains, then you should definitely sample a few different types of fabric so that you know you’ve selected the right one. We can help you do that when you stop by our showroom in Ventura.

If you’re ready to get started choosing which types of materials you’d like for your custom curtains, then it’s time you stop by Arjay’s Window Fashions in Ventura. We will be more than happy to help you narrow down the options that you have.

Blinds vs. Curtains: Which One Should You Choose?

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blindsvscurtains1

When it comes to custom window treatments, one of the first decisions you’ll need to make is whether to opt for blinds or curtains in your home. It’s a debate that has been going on for decades within the interior design community. The Arjay’s Window Fashions team has listened to both sides of the argument, though, and we’re here to help you sort it out. Here is a quick guide that can help you choose the right custom window treatments for your space.

Blinds or Curtains?

Should I choose blinds?

Pros

Blinds offer a variety of nice benefits to a space, including the ability to control the amount of light that is coming into the room and giving you more privacy. Blinds also take up less space than curtains do, making them a good option for small spaces that you want to make feel as big as possible. Blinds are also a good investment of your money. Because of their classic look, if you choose a good quality blind in a neutral color, you should be able to have them in your home for years to come without worrying about them going out of style or needing to be replaced. That makes them a good investment for your money.

Cons

Blinds don’t bring as make character or warmth to a space as curtains. Blinds will also need to be cleaned more regularly than curtains, meaning you’ll need to wipe up each slat to remove dirt and dust buildup.

Should I choose curtains?

Pros

People who prefer curtains in their home do so most often because of the decorating options curtains allow. They come in all kinds of colors, textures, and styles so you can choose something that’s really perfect for your home and that adds interest to your room. Curtains are also relatively convenient to clean. You won’t need to do it often, and when you do, you can throw most curtains into the washing machine or have them dry cleaned. Curtains are also terrific at blocking out drafts, which could help lower your energy bill.

Cons

Curtains aren’t good for all rooms in your home, especially in kitchens and bathrooms where they could present a fire hazard or be prone to mold and mildew. Depending on the type of curtains that you choose, they could require a larger investment upfront and might not last as long due to changing styles and decor in your home.

How to Decide Which is Right for You

Think about the function of your room first and foremost. Blinds are usually a better option for kitchens and bathrooms, while curtains are nice in bedrooms to block out light and provide some character. Above all, though, which one you choose is going to come down to personal choice. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to your custom window treatments! Choose curtains, blinds, or both for the windows in your home! Whatever you want, the Arjay’s team will make sure you get what you need. Give us a call or get in touch with us through our website and we’ll get started on the custom window treatments of your choosing today.

How are Single Cell and Double Cellular Shades Different?

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singledoublecell-001Are you looking for window treatments that combine aesthetics and practicality in equal measure? You’ll probably love cellular shades. If you ever have to choose between slats and cells, go for the cells unless you need the aesthetics of slats. Why?

Cellular Shades Can Do Both

  • You can identify cellular shades by looking at the profile. They look like honeycombs.  They come in two forms: single and double. Single-celled shades are a series of cells stacked in series. Double-celled shades feature pairs of cells stacked in a sturdy configuration.
  • From the front or back, cellular shades are a series of horizontal lines that are great to work with. They come in many different colors and can be installed to raise from the bottom, top, or both. They have the lines to enhance any room, and their cellular construction provides incredible insulation.

What Are the Main Advantages of Cellular Shades?

As we have said, they look amazing. We’ve talked about the way window treatments can transform rooms; these add a touch of quality that brings any space up a notch. Additionally, their cells allow them to protect a space from dramatic temperature fluctuations due to lack of insulation.

Are There Differences Between Double and Single Cell Shades?

  • Single cell shades mostly contribute to aesthetics. They are uniquely equipped to do this in that they come in all different sizes. Double cell shades usually only come in one size.
  • Double cell shades cost more than single cell shades, but they offer higher insulation, which means protection from sun damage.

I Want Custom Shades. Is That Possible?

Absolutely. Cellular shades come in many different colors and can be motorized or designed to be raised and lowered from the top and bottom. They are some of the most dynamic, effective window coverings you can find, and with the help of a designer, you will have no trouble finding the perfect fit for your home.

At Arjay’s Window Fashions, we have worked with cellular blinds for decades. We love offering them to our clients as beautiful options. However, we always put our clients’ interests first, and that is what has made us a favorite window fashion company in Southern California. When you live where we do, window treatments aren’t an option, but their beauty is. Don’t settle for window treatments that don’t protect your home and enhance its value. Instead, invest in your home by equipping it with world-class window treatments from Arjay’s Window Fashions!