| Special Events Coming Up! |
January 9, 2006
Our commercial has started running on DIY Network. To check it out, tune in to DIY or call your local cable provider!
January 2, 2006
Graber Traditions Real Wood Shutters are here. Check them out just click on plantation shutters under products.
February, 2006
New Products to look for:
Hunter Douglas Silhouette
Hunter Douglas Applause
Hunter Douglas Duette
BlindsOnSale Woven Woods
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| They
have it all! Get the best of the best with a Hunter
Douglas Blind! Request your free
sample now! |
| "Our
Passion is Your Window Fashion" |
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Seven Lillypads Float Calmly Together! |
That's one easy way to remember the five basic principles of design: Space, Line, Form, Color and Texture.
Space is the first element you should think about when decorating a room. How much do you have to work with? To visually expand, keep the color contrast between wall and window low. To make a room feel cozier, create a high contrast.
Lines can have a huge effect on the overall feel of a room. Vertical lines add height and dignity. Horizontal lines suggest relation and informality.
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Form is a shape or combination of shapes of the elements in a room. If you have square windows, window treatments can lengthen them and give them a taller more rectangular look.
Color is the most important mood-determining element in a room. It intensifies as you increase the area of coverage. A good rule of thumb is to allow your main color to occupy about 75 percent of a room ( including floor and wall space), your secondary color 15 to 20 percent, and your accent color about 10 percent.
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The five basic principles of design
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Texture is great for adding interest to a room, so feel free to add some here and there. Dramatic contrasts are in. Even corduroy and silk are an acceptable pair these days.
BlindsOnSale.com has design coordinators to help you utilize all five of the principles of design, call us today! |
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Why Woven Woods are on Fire! |
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Woven woods used to be very popular twenty years ago, but then they diminished in popularity. In recent years, woven woods products came back dramatically with different weaves, different materials, and different colors. Those new materials used in the weave have created a unique look and special feel. The momentum of woven-wood popularity propels companies to expand their product lines. |
As weave styles evolve, and more materials, textures, patterns, opacities, colors, and operating options become available, designers benefit by having a greater selection to suit any design style. Woven-wood products serve more than just the window; they add to overall decor. They project a sense of mystery and understatement, all while appealing to a return to nature. |
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| Another proponent to using woven-wood products is that they are both natural and ecologically friendly. It is no secret that we need to protect our planet and environment. With the lead of interior designers, customers are following in the purchase of the ecological friendly shades. Designers say that woven wood is an all-natural product that feels like bringing nature into the house. |
The product is mostly hand-woven, adding a more distinct character. Becoming, less exotic and more mainstream, woven woods and the environmental focus of the products, has not been ignored by manufacturers or consumers. The pictures left show Provenance woven-wood shades in Mali (top). These shades are made from a heavily textured grass cloth-like fabric. |
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“The trend toward natural products for the home has made the woven wood-shade a fantastic choice because of its use of grasses, reeds, woods, and Bamboo. Provenance woven woods work well with any decor that strives for natural, earth toned beauty,” says Mark Schneider, marketing manager, Hunter Douglas. BlindsOnSale currently sales B&W Horizons, Provenance woven woods, and starting in February we will start selling our own line of woven-woods. |
Wait till you see the patterns that we have lined up in our latest product release. We have been working hard to bring this line to you and we are excited to show it to you, for a preview of the line check out the article in this month's newsletter entitled “BlindsOnSale Woven Woods - Product Highlight.” For more information on what the benefits of woven woods are check out BlindsOnSale.com and click on natural wood shades under the product menu. |
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Designer
Tips and Trade Secrets |
In this month's Designer Tips and Trade Secrets we pull an article from the December issue of Window Fashion's Magazine:
From Christopher Lowell's Lookout
A glimpse at the inner workings of Christopher Lowell's design enterprise, reveals how very selective and detailed he is. Author, entertainer, trend forecaster, and Emmy Award-winning host and designer, Lowell comes from an immensely varied and creative background, and has developed a successful design empire, in which he reigns.
Rule #1 and More
As the viewers of his various television shows can attest, Lowell is a charismatic expert, with a definite opinion about knowing his audience. "I'm a writer, executive producer, and futurist," he explains. "I spend time with other world futurist and global technologists, so that we can get a handle on what's coming, and so that we can tell the American people what to guard against, and what to embrace." Research and development plays an essential role in Lowell's evaluations, as well as a determining factor in the projects he becomes involved in. |
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“Design is simply the end result from the kind of work we put into our company,” says Lowell. With ongoing market research, “we go directly to the American public. I have the ear of very specific futurists, but we have the most incredible relationship with our audience. We did not just win the respect of the American public, we won their affection. You have to take real good care of that. When we poll, we don't do it to sell them something,” says Lowell.
Based on one particular poll and rigorous R&D, Lowell entered into the position of executive designer director in a Manhattan Beach, CA, hotel design for Shade Hotel. “The goal was to design a non-gender-specific sexy space that can be easily duplicated by anyone who comes through the hotel as an inspiration.” |
To address both genders equally, “the homes of the future should reflect them both. They should be easy to maintain and adaptable to today's style of living, from in-home office to how we chill.” Lowell's upcoming book, Sexy Spaces, was written in tandem with the design of the luxurious boutique Shade Hotel, which opened its first phase in November, with phase two scheduled for spring 2006.
Why Wovens?
Organic materials, like woven woods, have increased in popularity, in part, thanks to the lifestyles we lead. The trend toward elegant simplicity persists. “Americans have gone from tasking to multitasking, to hyper-tasking, which is where we are now. |
We started tracking the day-spa figures only to find out that within one year, 2004, the day-spa industry shot up 42%. That's telling you something. How does that affect our homes? Suddenly the whole spa experience with the marble, and the Zen, and the organic materials, and the fountains, water, and candles, all of that's going back into the home in a very big way. It's also very sexy as well.”
Sign of the Times
From one extreme to another, Lowell notices that currently, people are either not doing window treatments at all or what they are using is absolute quality in shutters and shades. "We're seeing people using a lot of shades and shutters, in conjunction with straight inexpensive panels. |
Suddenly curtain panels don't have to provide privacy. They don't even have to open and close anymore. They just have to look great."
"People are going more towards solids and textures in flanking their windows, and then they're going with the cellular shades, very high quality shutters, and now the woven shades. Whether they're using them either separately or in conjunction with panels, we're seeing simplicity".
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The Inside Look |
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I have a cat. My cat is precious and sweet and all those things that our animals are supposed to be for us. However, my cat loves to play with my blinds. I am sure those of you with cats know what I mean. He will just not quit playing with the wood tassels on the cords, or wanting to sit in the window so he can see out. Here are a few solutions that I have found to fix the problem so that the kitty will not be fricasseed. Take your blind cords with tassels and undo the knot holding the tassels on. Next take the tassel off and have your cat try to reach the cord keep a tab on how high he has to jump to reach the cord and cut it just above that, then attach the wooden tassel back on with a knot.
Nice Kitty!
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| Now your cat should not be able to attack the wooden tassels or to reach the cord. Also before you leave the house in the morning, lift your blinds about 12” off the window seal so that the cat can see outside and does not jump into the blinds throughout the day. Finally, check with your local Pet store for items that keep animals from touching things that you do not want them touching. These items usually come in a spray that is very easily applied and repels the animal from touching or clawing things. In my experience this has worked great on curtain panels! Remember; be nice to your animal before you leave for the day so they will be good throughout the day. |
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BlindsOnSale Woven Woods |
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BlindsOnSale brings you our very own line of woven wood shades. They will be available starting February 2006. These woven woods are made of natural ecologically safe elements and come in many styles and weaves. Not to mention, the upgrade options available such as liners, three different folding styles, continuous loop cord and more. These shades will have it all! |
They come standard with a 6” valance in the ordered shade material. You can also get a fabric valance. This allows you to coordinate with a fabric in the room, or you can even add the edge binding with the same fabric for a beautifully appointed shade. You can also choose a wood crown valance in several finishes that coordinate with your wall color. |
Product Highlight
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| Want to keep the sun in but keep your privacy? Try the top down/ bottom up option. Its light control your way! If you have hesitated to choose the woven wood because you have thought you would have to settle with a different vertical or treatment that did not match. Well, the BlindsOnSale woven wood collection will offer a vertical natural wood shade to coordinate with the horizontal shade. |
We have thought of it all with this collection and are excited to bring it to you. Check out some of the colors and styles below. We've got what you need! |
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Credits |
BlindsOnSale.com
thanks, Hunter Douglas, Comfortex, Graber,
and Better Homes and Gardens.
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About
Our Organization |
| You
will enjoy shopping here because, BlindsOnSale.com
is a family owned and operated business based in
Oklahoma City. We have been in the blind industry
for over thirty years, and work with some of the
top designers and name brands. We back every product
with a limited warranty and guarantee the quality
of our products. |
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Happy Valentines Day!
