Posts

Types of Wood Window Shutters For Your Home

/in , , /by

blogpic259

If you’re looking for a way to add charm and elegance to the windows throughout your home, you may want to consider investing in shutters. Window shutters are a unique type of window treatment that can be installed either inside or outside for protection against the elements, privacy, and lighting control. With the large variety of window shutters available on the market today, you may feel intimidated when it comes time to start shopping for your new window treatment. That’s why, in this blog, we’ll look at some popular wood window shutters that you should consider for your home.

At Arjay’s Window Fashions in Ventura, we’re proud to be a leading provider of window treatments throughout Los Angeles county. Whether you’re looking for shutters, blinds, or shades, our professional staff is here to help. If you’re interested in learning more about our company or you’d like to learn more about our window treatment showroom, contact us today!

Window Shutters For Your Home

Whether you want to save money on your electric bills or you’re looking for a little more privacy in your home, window shutters are a wonderful option. These window treatments have been around for hundreds of years, and they can be used for both interior and exterior window treatments, depending on your individual needs. Let’s take a look at some of the most popular shutter materials to consider for your home below.
dreamstime_xxl_6374026

Wood Window Shutters 

Wood window shutters can add elegance and style to your California home. With the large variety of wood shutters available, it’s easier than ever to find the perfect window treatment to complement your home. Before you choose the first wood shutters you see, it’s important to note the differences between the different types of wood available. Whether you’re looking at basswood, alder, maple, or cherry shutters, each one will have its own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at some common wood shutters to consider for your home below!

Basswood Plantation Shutters

A very popular shutter choice among California homeowners is the basswood plantation shutter. Due to the slow growth of this wood, basswood is known to produce less sap. This can make it easier when it comes time to apply primer or stains to the wood. Since basswood shutters are fairly light in weight, you can invest in larger panels to help improve the interior decor of your space.

Alder Plantation Shutters

If you’re looking for window shutters that offer a rustic charm and beauty, you may want to consider alder plantation shutters for your home. This hardwood is mostly known for its high-quality, furniture-grade finish, which has become very popular among Malibu and Santa Barbara homeowners. This wood possess a fine grain that is very similar to that of cherry, birch, and maple wood.

At Ajay’s, we’re proud to provide our customers with a full line of affordable handcrafted wood and engineered faux wood shutters. We also offer custom window shutters that can be made to order from specialty woods that match your home’s existing architecture. When you visit our window treatment store, you’ll find a large selection of frames, colors, and styles to choose from. If you live in the Simi Valley or Thousands Oaks area and you need assistance choosing the best window shutters for your home, contact our experts today!

bedroom-architectural-interior-lifestyle-53603

Maple Wood Shutters

Maple wood is a classic material that is often used in flooring, furniture, musical instruments, and more. When it comes to your home’s shutters, maple wood shutters offer a strong and beautiful aesthetic that many homeowners have come to love. As a rugged hardwood, maple is resistant to fire, denting, and splitting, making it a superior option for your home’s window treatments.

Cherry Wood Shutters

Cherry wood is another fantastic material to consider for your window shutters. This wood type offers a natural pigment variation that will darkens with age and light exposure. Grown in the eastern part of the United States and in the southeastern part of Canada, cherry wood’s limited availability makes for a unique and one-of-a-kind window treatment.

Faux Wood Shutters

“Faux” is a French word that stands for false or imitation. As you may have guessed, faux wood shutters are not constructed from wood, but from a solid polyurethane synthetic material that has similar characteristics of real wood. Also known as synthetic shutters, poly shutters, and poly faux wood shutters, these window treatments offer definitive differences between their real wood shutter counterparts. For one, the surface of faux wood shutters is more durable and energy efficient than wood. These shutters also require less maintenance that real wood shutters as well.

Composite Shutters

Composite shutters are made from medium density fiberboard (MDF), which is wrapped in vinyl or PVC coating. While these shutters are not made from wood, you can have them customized to look like real, natural wood.These shutters are known to be very sturdy, while also offering weather- and humidity-resistant characteristics. If you’re looking for a more affordable alternative to wood shutters, composite shutters may be for you!

As you can see, there are many different types of wood shutters that you can consider for your home. At Arjay’s Window Fashions in Ventura, we take great pride in providing Los Angeles county residents with some of the best window treatments available. When you visit our window treatment showroom, one of our experts will work with you one-on-one to ensure you find the perfect shutters for your home. Stop by our window showroom today!

Tips To Minimize Pet Damage To Your Window Treatments

/in /by

tips-pets

At Arjay’s Window Fashions, we love our furry, domestic friends just as much as you do. While common household pets like dogs and cats are fun, give us great company, and incredibly rewarding to take care of, there are some notable drawbacks when it comes to having household pets. As you can imagine (and may have even experienced once or twice in the past), damage to your precious blinds as a result of your dog or cat going rogue can and does happen – more often than you might even think.

Protecting Your Window Coverings With Arjay’s

Arjay’s is all about optimizing your window covering solutions so that you’re getting a useful product that stands the test of time and does the primary purpose that it should: evenly covering your windows from the outside sun and prying eyes. However, with ripped, crumpled or just generally damaged window blinds, you might not get the performance out of your window treatments that you’re looking for. That’s why in today’s blog post, Arjay’s is going to write about some useful tips to keep in mind when it comes to keeping your blinds and windows shades safe from your adventurous household pets.

To learn more about our custom window treatment solutions, learn more about our services or feel free to get in touch with our Los Angeles blind company today. Now, let’s take a look at some ways to keep those blinds safe from dogs, cats, and other valued pets that you may have.

minimize-pet-damagecta

Keep The Blind Cord Out Of Reach

This tip is obviously meant for curious kitties (though your dog or puppy could go for that dangling cord), but there’s just something tantalizing to cats about seeing a hanging cord. Call it instinct, but they just have to swat at it. While this is obviously tempting for cats, blind cords can be harmful to them.

Fortunately, the solution to this problem is a fairly simple one: just keep the cords wrapped up and out of your cat’s reach with something simply like a cord cleat or tie it up in a bundle. A good general rule of thumb with cats is just to not leaving any ‘dangly’ things laying around.

Cats And Vertical Blinds

Another thing that cats tend to do is absolutely destroy standard aluminum blinds. And by destroy, we mean destroy, like to the extent of an evil villain. While cats like to slip behind blinds, vertical blinds present a good option because they will always fall right back into place when they’re moved around.

Sure, if a louver or two gets damaged, you can always replace individual ones instead of spending the money to get all new blinds. This way, with vertical blinds, your cat can get behind them and be near the window without destroying your perfect blind setup. As an added bonus, pet hair can easily be removed from vertical blinds with a quick swipe. It’s a win-win for you, your cats, and your allergies as a result of your arguably questionable pet choice.

Your Puppy Chews On Everything, Including Your Blinds

Part of raising an adorable puppy is sacrificing some items to satisfying their teething obsession. While this is a pretty normal part of owning a puppy, it does unfortunately come at the expense of near-destroyed or even completely destroyed items, including your blinds. Usually, chewing up random objects that weren’t meant to be chewed means that your growing furry companion needs something to…well, chew on. That’s why dog toys and things of that nature exist.

Make sure to stock your home with plenty of chew toys like squeakers, bones, and more. If you want to target the blind issue specifically, one thing that you can do is spray the slats on your blinds with a sour apple spray that’s widely available at many pet stores. Neutral to humans, this sprays smells and tastes terrible to dogs, so they’ll most likely steer clear of your blinds if you do this.

Overall, be a good dog owner and make sure that your four-legged friend has a chance to relieve their stress and energy on a daily basis. Try doing things like taking your pooch for a long walk before you leave them at home alone.

Leave Your Blinds Slightly Raised For Cats And Dogs Alike

This is a simple and incredibly effective solution to damaged blinds and window coverings. You see, cats and dogs choose to look at blinds as a barrier to the outside world, obstructing the clear view that a window provides. By raising your blinds from Arjay’s just enough so that your dog or cat (or both if they get along well!) can sit near the window and see outside, they won’t get all frustrated and try to mangle up your window coverings.

And because you’ve only raised your blinds just enough for them to see outside, you’ll still be blocking most of that unwanted sunshine into the zen climate of your home. So with this simple piece of advice, you win, your pets win, and your energy bill mostly wins. Hooray!

Pet Or No Pets, Find The Right Custom Blinds Solution Today

Depending on your specific window covering needs, you might need custom solutions to work with the shape of your windows or the habits of your pets. That’s one of the reasons why Arjay’s offers custom blinds solutions in Southern California so that your window coverings are optimized to the greatest extent that they can be. To make it happen, contact Arjay’s today!

Why Add Window Shutters to Your Home’s Exterior

/in /by

Plantation shutters are one of the most popular window treatments that can be added to the interior of a home, but long before they were used on the interior of homes, they were used on the exterior. Arjay’s Window Fashions has specialized in window fashions for years, so we’ve seen the transition of shutters going from the exterior to the interior, and while we are all about the way they look on the inside, we also love the classic look of window shutters on the exterior of a home. There are a few reasons that we love them, and we’re going to go over them with you today. That way, if you’ve been on the fence about them, you can have a better idea of what it is you’ll get out of them.

Aesthetic Appeal

If you are purchasing a new home or selling yours, then you might be considering the exterior aesthetic. This is something that is often one of the main selling points, so it is a great thing to invest your finances in. These can be added to as many, or as few, levels as you’d like. Whether you only want them on the windows that are on the second level of your home, or you would like them on all of them, window shutters can add a classic look to any home.

Color Scheme

When you create the color scheme of your home, and you choose the color duo, or trio, that you’re going to make the most of, it can be fun to add touches of other colors in places other than the trim. If you want to incorporate more of the other colors that you’ve selected, doing so in the form of window shutters is a great way. This is a subtle way to make the most of your color scheme that is also a fantastic addition to the exterior of your home. When you do so, you’re almost double dipping in the advantages of making your home more beautiful, which is a win in the end.

Body & Texture

These aren’t always things that we think about when we think about the exterior of our home, but the truth is that they both offer something that can make a home all the more “you”. Window shutters are pretty simple but they contribute a lot of texture and can make a home look entirely different. These types of touches can create a home that looks bigger, taller, longer, all with the small touch of a window treatment, which makes it a great reason to add this type of fashion if you’re trying to sell a house, or spruce up your own.

Arjay’s Window Fashions can provide you with the window shutters that you need. Call our team to set up an appointment and we can provide you with a consultation on your window shutters. Don’t wait any longer, we can provide you with a quick and easy quote so that you can get the project started immediately.

ARJAYBANNER3

Times You Might Add Drapes Without There Being a Window

/in /by

blogpic239

I know, I know, we were just talking about drapes a few days ago, but that post got our creative juices going and we immediately started thinking of all the creative and fun ways that people use this window treatment without there even being window. I mean, let’s face it, these window treatments provide you with the most opportunity for creativity. HGTV has covered this topic a few times, and in looking at what they’ve found we got to thinking about plenty of other instances where blinds work perfectly.

Separators

There are so many times where a separator would make a nice addition to a room. Whether you have items that you’d like to have tucked away so that they aren’t visible when people visit, or there are rooms that have multiple uses, having a separator can create a whole new use for a room and make it so that you can use each area as it’s own. What’s great about using drapes for this purpose is that they are thin and easy enough to move. They don’t require much setup in regards to getting them to move, but they also allow for so much opportunity with matching the design of a room.

Headboard

This is one that we’ve seen used in a few examples, but we can’t help but love the idea of adding drapes to a room as a headboard. Like we’ve said a hundred times, they’re available in so many different colors and designs that there is quite a bit of freedom. They also offer a very smooth texture and the slight look of movement even when there isn’t any. This is also an easy way to switch out drapes when you change the look or color of a room, without it being super expensive. And on top of that, they’re so easy to clean!

Outside

The California sun is so incredibly bright, warm and sometimes unbearable, which is why one of the places that we thought about adding curtains to was outside. If you have a deck, a patio with a nice awning above, you can’t imagine what adding drapes can do. This is a great way to block the sun from cooking you and your guests while you’re out there, and create a space of it’s own in a fun way. There aren’t a ton of opportunities for aesthetic in these areas, so adding this can also help you create a theme, set a mood, and the like. What you will want to consider is the durability of the drapes that you consider using.

There are so many different ways that people have used drapes in a creative and fun way, and we’ve only just scraped the surface with the blog post today.

Arjay’s has all of the window treatments that you could need in your home. If you’re ready to find the perfect fit, call our office today and schedule a time where we can provide you with a full consultation and all of the available options that you have access to! We know that there’s a good chance you’ve got something creative up your sleeve.

 

curtains

The Latest Trends in Outdoor Blinds

/in /by

blogpic231

Your outdoor space is your oasis. When you get home after a long day, you love being able to sit in the shade of your patio, enjoying the sight of your kids playing in the backyard as you enjoy a cold beverage. It’s where you entertain your guests on those warm summer evenings, and where you and your family enjoy backyard birthday BBQs. However, if you have had the same outdoor blinds for a while, your outdoor space may be feeling a bit stale these days. Whether your outdoor blinds are dated or damaged, this is the perfect opportunity to liven up your space with a new set. At Arjay’s, we offer outdoor blind installation to our customers in southern California. If you are looking for a new way to add beauty and practicality to your outdoor space, here are some outdoor trends that are quite popular at the moment.

A Natural Look

When you spend time outdoors, one of the benefits is your view of the lovely flowers and greenery in your backyard. If you love the color and beauty of these plants, you want to make sure your outdoor blinds allow you to see them. Why not take this a step further and include plants inside the blinds? Incorporating potted plants inside patios is a new trend that benefits from outdoor blinds. The enclosed space creates the feel of a greenhouse without the humidity, separating you from the elements while still allowing you the feel of sitting in a gorgeous garden. As an added bonus, your outdoor blinds give you the ability to protect your plants. Whether during a heat wave or a hurricane, when you invest in outdoor blinds to protect your plant-filled patio, you have greater control over your verdant paradise.

Open Up to the World

While outdoor blinds are a fantastic way to enjoy the great outdoors without the sun exposure, many people miss the ability to see out into the backyard and beyond when they draw down their opaque or colored blinds. This season, the latest trend is to solve this problem with transparent blinds. While these outdoor blinds block out bugs, inclement weather, and 90 percent of UV rays, you are able to see through them so you can enjoy nature unobstructed. Relax in your shady oasis, free of pests or blinding sunlight, without compromising on seeing everything you wish to see.

Lighten Up Your Space

When you place patio furniture outdoors, you have to be careful about your color selection. While white wicker is popular for outdoor furniture, this attractive option also requires far more maintenance than darker furniture. This why many people forgo the light colored patio furniture they desire for the easier to clean or more practical darker colors on the spectrum. However, with outdoor blinds to protect your patio furniture from the elements, you can choose whatever color you wish. This has started a trend of choosing lighter patio furniture as well as colorful area rugs, giving an outdoor space a homier feel. With outdoor blinds, you can furnish your outdoor space any way you wish without worrying about dirt, dust, and rain causing damage to your belongings.

Roll it on Up

This season, it is all about versatility when it comes to your outdoor space. This season, more and more people are catching onto the flexibility of outdoor roller shades for their patios, and it isn’t hard to understand why this trend caught on. Regardless of how you use your outdoor space, sometimes, you may wish for an enclosed space; other times, you may want to open it up, allowing a soft breeze to come through. When you are looking for greater versatility for your outdoor space, roller shades offer a refreshing and innovative option. This outdoor blind trend is perfect if you are looking for the simplest way to adapt your outdoor space to your specifications at a moment’s notice.

Are you ready to breathe new life into your outdoor space? At Arjay’s, we are happy to provide you with the outdoor blinds you need to transform your outdoor space from your vision to your reality. Contact us today to learn more about our installation services and what products we can offer you.