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Cordless Blinds – What’s The Big Deal?

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It seems like more than ever before, the designs that we create are done so with the intentions of removing some of the minor headaches that we receive through older designs. As a homeowner, it’s nearly impossible not to fall in love with the updated designs and functionalities of kitchen features, design elements, and yard maintenance, which are constantly being worked with. One of the features that people didn’t expect to see improvements and functionalities improved on were window treatments. These various window treatments have designs that are old as time but haven’t ever really had issues with functionality, and even when there were improvements to be made, we saw them. Well, there is one recent improvement of functionality that has been made, and we are crazy about it: cordless application.

The pull cord is something that we have had on window treatments for as long as we can remember, and while they haven’t always been a downfall of the treatment themselves, they are definitely something that we have seen a few difficulties and receive some of those headaches from. In fact, this small detail of the window treatment has made news because of the dangers that it is capable of posing to families.

With this recent change, there definitely has been an increase in the cost of the improved treatment, and for this reason, people seem to turn their backs to all of the possibilities that this new design has. Of course, there are always those changes that happen where you immediately start to wonder if it’s truly a necessity that you are investing in, or if it’s simply a luxury addition. We’ve given this some consideration, and we’ve found that there are a few reasons that this new addition is a must, for some families and people in particular, and not just a strange new feature.

Children

We mentioned earlier that the drawstrings of blinds have made the news, and for good reason. These “harmless” looking drawstrings proved to be extremely dangerous when in the hands of a child that was not supervised. Without understanding the functionality of the strings, children were wrapping themselves up in the cord, and some of them were had the misfortune of being strangled by them. While it seemed like a harmless game or just playing with something that was sitting out, these drawstrings took the lives of too many children. Having been the most common option in regards to window treatments, they continued to be the immediate choice of people that were shopping around or construction companies that were building new homes.

Rather than stick with an option that might be more affordable, having an option that leaves your children safe is something that makes sense to us. The chances of it happening to your child may be small, or even impossible in your mind, but the reality is that they exist. At least, they exist until you eliminate the drawstring that is creating the issue in the first place.

Pets

Children aren’t the only ones that have been put in danger because of the drawstring. Cats and dogs are the two most commonly found pets that seem to struggle with drawstrings and the overall safety of them. For cats, these are merely a toy that they can paw at and play with. Once they see that the string moves, and is connected at the top of the blinds, they find the opportunity to jump onto the blinds and ruin the slats. Other issues that happened in regards to pets were similar to those that happened with children. Dogs would wind up wrapping themselves up in the cord until they could no longer breathe.

The chances of you leaving your child unattended may be slim, but think about how many times a day you leave your dog unattended. Are they wandering around the home while you’re at work? Or even when you’re home, how often do you go and check when your dog isn’t right by your side or barking? This is a concern, one that was big enough to be noted when children were being strangled by the same drawstrings.

Damaged & Dropped

Aside from these two main issues, drawstrings provide an opportunity for the window treatment to be pulled down entirely. If you haven’t ever tried to pull down on a drawstring only to look like an idiot that can’t figure out a window treatment, then consider yourself lucky. Such a simple task seems to be pretty difficult for a majority of society, so we’re going to go ahead and say that it isn’t just us on this one.

When people try to pull too hard, the blinds can come with them. This is another thing that you might not feel is a huge deal, but when you’ve installed these window treatments into the interior of your window frame, it can be a pretty big deal. When this treatment is installed with screws and the actual equipment to hold the blinds, a good tug can bring all of that down, leaving more than just the blinds ruined. This could call for some new equipment to hold new blinds in place, as well as some patches on the interior of the window frame. Rather than let this ever be an issue, you could eliminate the drawstring as a whole.

Cordless blinds offer easy functionality, but they also look incredible and allow for the window treatments in your home to remain safe. Now, we aren’t saying that the standard blinds are an inhumane and horrible option, but there are some instances where these updated designs are going to be a better fit and a much safer option. For instance, the families with children; this is a time where safety can easily be prioritized and is a quick switch. This tiny change is one that has made a revolutionary difference for homes across the world, and while it may not seem like much, to those that had the misfortune of being a case where danger became the end result; it’s one that truly can make a difference. This is primarily the reason that we decided that this change was one that truly was for the better. Taking the cord off of the window treatment is not a luxury for some, it’s a necessity.

At Arjay’s Window Fashions, we tailor your window treatments to your needs. For any questions that you have regarding this new window treatment design, or any of the other options that might be a good fit for you and your home, call us. We would be more than happy to schedule a consultation where we can review your options and get you set up with the perfect treatments.

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Patterns: Why They Aren’t Scary

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Patterns can be intimidating when you first start to look at the various options that you have. When you are looking at putting them into your home, the last thing that you want is a pattern that is going to clash with the rest of your interior and create an overwhelming look for your family while you’re in the space. Now, we aren’t saying that there aren’t busy patterns that can create a clash of aesthetics in your home because there definitely are, but there are a few ways to make them work. Here are a few tips that you can consider while you determine whether patterned drapes are something that will work in your home.

Solid Accents

If you’re nervous that a pattern might be a little bit overwhelming, then you can balance it by adding solid accents to your home that offset it. For example, if there’s a pattern that you love, but you don’t think you can make an entire room work based off of the pattern, break it down to solids. What we mean by that is create a color scheme off of the colors in the pattern, and incorporate these patterns into your space. If you paint the walls in one solid color and add accent pieces to the room that are in the colors of the pattern, your pattern won’t be as overwhelming. In fact, this is one of the best ways to incorporate a pattern into a space, especially a small space, without it being busy.

Personality

A house is only a house until you make it your own, and when you finally do add those unique touches, you have a home. When you sprinkle those touches of unique, and personal taste throughout your house, you are creating a space that represents you. If you really want to add a unique touch to your home, and one that has some personality to it, you should consider adding a pattern to your home. This is a great way to create a home that is all your own. Of course, you can do this with standard colors, and your classic window treatments, but there are some patterns that can add much more voice to a space than simple colors.

If there’s a pattern that you find that really does create a feel to the space that you’re in, then find a way to incorporate into your space. Window fashions are one of the best, and easiest, ways to get the pattern in there without having to go over the top with how much of a pattern you’re putting in the space.

Texture

Now, texture isn’t something that everyone considers adding to a space, but it is one that can make a room all its own. It can add a feel to a room, but also contribute to an overall aesthetic in the space. A lot of people will try and add texture through the paint on the wall, the material that the couches are made of, or even the grain of the wood. If you have a fairly sleek setup for your room, then adding texture through a pattern can be a fantastic way to add some texture to a space, without having to go and get entirely new furniture. It’s a quick and easy fix and one of the more affordable options that you have for adding texture

These aren’t all of the reasons that patterns can be fun to add to your home, but they are some of the more important ones.  We would love for you to take a chance on the various patterns that we carry; we know that you’ll find one that you love and will fit perfectly in your home.  And if you’re simply not sure about a pattern or how to make the most of it, well, we can help.

When you’re looking for window furnishings that you love, you can count on Arjay’s Window Fashions. We have a wide selection to choose from so that you can finally turn your house, into a home. Call our team today so that we can schedule a consultation and provide you with more information on the installation process that will follow. We can’t wait to be an active part of the finishing touches on your home.

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Unique Touches to Add to Your Drapes

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Drapes are an incredibly popular window treatment. We have seen them incorporated into any room, each adding a different look. In fact, it’s probably because they are always able to offer a different look that they are so popular amongst people. With shades you are able to pick and choose different designs, textures, and colors so that you can perfectly fit the design of your home. This is something that you can’t do with any other window treatment, so it’s not uncommon to see the two paired when looking for a specific look and purposeful use. Here are a few of the ways that you can add a unique twist on your shades so that they have the exact look you’re hoping for.

Rings

There are certain drapes that will require you to put rings through them in order for them to be placed on the curtain rod. These are a great, and often affordable, way to add a unique touch to your drapes. If you have a theme, you can often find rings that will easily play into the design and provide an authentic look, while still being pretty subtle. Most drapes that you purchase will come with pretty standard rings, but you can easily find a variety of rings that better suit your style when you go to home improvement stores or any store that is going to offer those design add-ons.

Curtain Rod

We mentioned the curtain rod in our last point, but this is a huge opportunity for changing this and adding a unique touch to your window treatments. A standard curtain rod will always work, but there are plenty of rods with design implements added to them so that you can add an additional touch of styling to them. Whether it be in the color that you choose or the decorative touches at the end of the curtain rod, you will see that there is something unique to the look once it’s finally up and hanging.

Tie Back

If you are someone that loves having maximum amounts of natural light in your home, then a tieback will likely wind up being a part of your window treatment plan. This is easily one of the pieces that you can get most creative with because there are so many different opportunities available for ways that you can implement them.

The way that most are set up will incorporate two different pieces, one of them being a hook that is drilled into the wall, and the other will be the tie that allows for you to tie the drapes back. While normal sets will add a hook, people have definitely gotten creative and incorporated different styles and objects to add a special touch. For example, some people have used door knobs, small pipes, spoons, and all sorts of other objects to create original looks. As for the tie, people have definitely gotten creative. You can find beading, clips, rope, cloth, and all sorts of other concepts. If you’re short on ideas, check out Pinterest. There are tons to enjoy there.

When you need to find the perfect drapes for your home, Arjay’s Window Fashions is the first place to go. Call us today to schedule an appointment for your custom window treatment consultation.

 

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Windows That Might Require Custom Blinds

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There are so many homes now that have windows in places that add a unique touch to a home. These windows can come in different shapes, sizes, and be installed in some unusual places, and while they definitely do add a unique touch to a home, they can make it so incredibly difficult to find window coverings that work. Arjay’s Window Fashions know that while you may have found a home you love, and these windows are definitely a part of it, you still want to have some control over the sunlight that comes in and the privacy that window coverings can provide, and that’s why we offer custom blinds.

Our blog post today is going to go over some of the places that we have installed custom blinds. For some people, they may know exactly which window in their home is going to need custom blinds, but for others, the spaces that you might feel need blinds the most might feel like impossible options.

Large Windows

Most homes now have windows that are up higher. One of the first windows that come to mind are those that are placed often in living room spaces, such as living rooms, often above the fireplace. These windows are strategically placed to give off the feeling that the ceilings are higher and the room is larger than it actually is. Both of these are tremendous benefits, but they can also cause some frustration with unwanted sunlight. While these windows may be large and so high that you can’t even begin to imagine what the pull string would look like, they are in fact things you can do in regards to window coverings.

Custom blinds to fit the window are an option, and we can take care of them. We’ll work out the size of the window that you have and determine what type of material is going to be the best option for the size and height of the window, for ultimate functionality. After that, we will talk about options in regards to mechanical windows. This is a great option when windows are pretty high, and a draw string might be a little unrealistic. As a team, we will work with you to determine which of these options will be the best for you and the window in your home.

Narrow Windows

Another example of windows that might need custom blinds are the narrow windows throughout your home. These are the windows that can add height to a room as well, but they’re usually smaller than the average size that mini blinds are made in, but too small for narrow window fashions like plantation shutters. If you are not interested in having drapes as the only option for these types of windows, then you can rest easy knowing that we also make custom blinds for windows of this size.

With these windows, there’s usually not much else to consider other than the width and height that might be slightly different than your standard window. We can always visit the other options in regards of materials, colors and mechanical functionality, if that is something that you would like to have in your home.

Kitchen Windows

Whether it’s a window over the sink or a few different windows that you have behind the eating area, the last thing that you want is to worry about drapes dragging on the floor or any water clinging to them if they’re over the sink. One of the best options that you can have are custom blinds. These windows are usually wider than others so they can be a little difficult to fit, unless you have a reliable team that is knowledgeable with creating custom blinds that fit your windows perfectly.

This is another area where we’ll be able to provide you with plenty of options so that you feel comfortable and happy with the way your windows look in the end.

If you are ready to have windows that you fall in love with and leave your home looking incredible, you can count on Arjay’s Window Fashions to have them. Custom blinds are one of our specialties and we promise to work diligently with you so that you are fully aware of all your options and end up with window fashions that you perfectly fit into the aesthetics and design of your home.

Make sure to keep up with our blog space so that you can learn about different opportunities that you have for custom window fashions and details that you might need to consider while choosing the blinds for your home. We promise to provide you with all of the things that you need to consider so that there aren’t any surprises and so that you feel taken care of throughout the process. Call to schedule a consultation with a member of our team today.

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Types of Damage Window Treatments Can Get

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Through the rough patches of natural weather, to the different accidents that can happen just by a chance of bad luck, it’s not uncommon that we have to think about replacing the exterior parts of our house. For instance, the fast hit of a golf ball can easily lead to some window replacements, the same way that a huge hail storm can require repairs for your roof and deck. While these are the more commonly required repairs, there is a chance that your window treatments could require full replacements as well. Here are a few of the signs of damage that you may notice and how they happen.

Warping

This particular type of damage happens most commonly to vinyl mini blinds. It’s not because the treatment itself is weak or flimsy, but the material itself can be effected by the sun if they go beyond the standard time for replacing. When the sun hits mini blinds day after day, especially on the days where temperatures get extremely high, the blinds react by having their molecules spread out, which leaves them warped. This isn’t a huge issue when it first starts happening, but over time you’ll see that there the slats slowly become more and more warped. Eventually, they don’t leave you with any control over the amount of light that comes into your house but they also lose all of the efficiency that they provide to your home.

There isn’t much that you can do to improve this situation, simply because the slats themselves cannot be replaced unless they are entirely restrung and restructured, which would take quite a bit of time and the understanding of the construction of your blinds. If your blinds are warped, then it’s time to replace them with new ones entirely.

Discoloration

Unfortunately, discoloration can happen to just about every type of window treatment. This is nearly impossible to avoid because it happens when the sun comes through the window. The only real way to avoid this is through window treatments that minimize the rays of the sun coming through, or by having some form of coverage from the sun, outside of the window. When the sun hits the window treatments, it fades the color and can quickly age the material that the treatment is made out of.

This is another tough one to fix. Depending on the material, it can be impossible. In regards to drapes or mini blinds, there’s no real way to fix them from discoloration or fading, and it’s better to invest in a replacement. If you have plantation shutters, whether they be wood or painted, you can improve the look with a good staining or painting job, though, depending on how faded they are, you might want to look into other window treatments to see what they offer.

Cracks

There is one specific type of window treatment that we’re talking about with cracks, and it’s film. There is no doubt that film is a fantastic option when you want to enjoy the view from your window without putting too much of a treatment up. When installed correctly, you shouldn’t have to worry about bubbles forming or any cracks just from the installation, however, as the film passes on through years there is a chance of it bubbling from the heat or cracking. This shouldn’t happen unless the film has been on for a while, or if there has been a purposeful action done to scratch the film.

This isn’t something that will create a huge issue, considering the film is used to block the rays of the sun from coming in, and not as much related to insulation. However, this is an issue that is going to need to full replacement if you’re going to eliminate it. Because the film is so tightly secured to your window, there’s no real way to patch it otherwise that isn’t going to be more noticeable than the crack itself.

If you need to replace the damaged window treatments in your home, you can count on Arjay’s Window Fashions to have the perfect fit. Call our office today and let us help you with scheduling an appointment so that we can sit down with you and go over a few of your options and any new window treatments that might also be a good fit. We serve the surrounding Ventura area with these high-quality window treatments, so make sure to call today and get your appointment secured.

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