Pros of Freedom Ring

With the Fourth of July approaching fast, what better way to remember our history and our sense of independence and freedom than to remember the words of those who have gone before us, looked after us and sheltered us; our independence, and our freedom. "We look forward to a world founded upon four essential human freedoms. The first is freedom of speech and expression everywhere in the world. The second is freedom of every person to worship God in his own way everywhere in the world. The third is freedom from want... everywhere in the world. The fourth is freedom from fear... anywhere in the world." -- Franklin D. Roosevelt   "The future doesn't belong to the faint-hearted. It belongs to the brave." -- Ronald Reagan "America is best described by one word -- freedom." -- Dwight D. Eisenhower "If we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity." -- John F. Kennedy "America was not built on fear. America was built on courage, on imagination and an unbeatable determination to do the job at hand." -- Harry S. Truman "A man who has never lost himself in a cause bigger than himself has missed one of life's mountaintop experiences. Only in losing himself does he find himself." -- Richard M. Nixon "Americanism is a question of principle, of purpose, of idealism, or character; it is not a matter of birthplace or creed or line of descent." -- Theodore Roosevelt "We have a place, all of us, in a long story -- a story we continue, but whose end we will not see. It is the story of a new world that became a friend and liberator of the old, a story of a slave-holding society that became a servant of freedom, the story of a power that went into the world to protect but not possess, to defend but not to conquer. It is the American story -- a flawed and fallible people, united across the generations by grand and enduring ideals." -- President George W. Bush And my personal Favorite: "Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." -- John F. Kennedy

Window Treatments Don't Have to Be a Pane

Do you have windows that you just don’t think you can cover? Check this out. To cover or not to cover windows: that is the question. If your answer is not to cover, then your job is done and so is mine. If a covering is more apropos, then let's get on with some solutions. Corner windows: If the windows meet at the corner with minimum space in-between, mount a track on the ceiling or just above the window frame and have the treatment draw back to the outside edges of the windows. Floor length or sill length is up to you.If you are mounting the track just above the window, you will want to cover it with a top treatment or make the track itself decorative. If ceiling-mounted, the track will become virtually invisible and you will not need additional treatment. If you prefer blinds, stick to vertical ones. Any horizontal blind or shade will snag at the corner where the windows meet. Casement windows: If the windows are deep-set and open out, curtains can be mounted inside the frame. If floor-length or outside mount is preferable, a decorative rod or ceiling mount will work well. If the window opens into the room, you will need to mount the track outside and have the treatment clear the opening when drawn back so as to avoid catching on the open window. Blinds can be of the vertical or horizontal flavor if the window opens out. If it opens into the room, only the vertical blind will work. Here again, the treatment must be made wide enough to completely clear the opening. Windows with sloping top: This is an architectural beauty. If possible, leave this window untreated. If sun and/or privacy prohibit leaving this window bare, draperies can be hung from the horizontal point down, thus leaving the sloped part untreated. Any type of blinds or shutter works well here. Skylight: Though privacy is seldom the issue here, sunlight often is. Curtains can be fixed onto the window frame or mounted on a decorative pole and fastened to the ceiling around the window. Roller or vertical blinds can also be mounted; they come with special mechanisms that are mounted at reachable heights for opening and closing the treatment. Horizontal windows: If these windows are off-center on the wall, you can create an illusion of symmetry by making one side of the window treatment extend farther beyond the edge of the window than the other. The draperies can meet in the middle of the wall instead of the center of the window. The illusion you've created will be that of a larger window that is centered on the wall. Arched windows: As with the sloping top windows, these are best left untreated. If that is not possible, here again, treat the window from the horizontal point down. If you want to treat the arched part also, a semicircular shirred-on fabric can be custom-made to fit the arch. Wood shutters work beautifully on this type of window, and you can even cover the arch with wood slats, too.

Designer Tips and Trade Secrets- Windows for Hire

Your window coverings set the mood for the room. You can go formal, you can go casual or the look can be contemporary or traditional; in short, it can be just about any description you can conceive. But it stands to reason that a formal window treatment in a casual room would look out of place. So let's take a look at how to make the various combinations work. The formal look emits an impression of luxury. The draperies are usually floor-length and full. Most often the treatment is layered with a sheer underneath, a heavier over-drapery, often tied back, and then finished with a top treatment. The top treatment is the one that really sets the mood. A formal treatment as mentioned above, and then finished with a straightedge cornice across the top, will look contemporary. But a top treatment that is scalloped with jabots on the ends will be more traditional looking. Formal window treatments look best in a room with high ceilings and tall windows. They work well in less grandiose rooms as well, so long as they are made in proportion to the room's size. In other words, be sure there is enough wall and ceiling to balance the display of fabric. Putting this formal treatment in a room that is too narrow, too small or has a low ceiling will look like a little child dressed up in mommy or daddy's shoes and clothes. Get the picture? The window covering does not need to be heavy to be impressive. A simple treatment sometimes enhances the room's motif better than a layered look. A Roman shade, for example, can be quite sharp. The impression here is one of crisp organization, a clean, no-nonsense look. That doesn't mean you can't have fun in this room. It's more like 'let's cut the small talk and get down to having fun.' Balloon shades send out a similar signal, though in a more frilly tone. There was a time when fabric overpowered the home. Rooms were divided with draperies, draperies were hung on walls where there were no windows and you couldn't get into your bed without swishing fabric out of your way. Today, the look is simpler. Listen to your room; then listen to your drapes. Are they talking the same language? Look for fabrics that are heavy enough to hang gracefully, yet lightweight enough to pleat well. A window can be decorative on its own, without any treatment whatsoever. It can be heavily covered with layer upon layer or fabric, or it can be simply dressed with the lightest of fabrics, just enough to add color, dimension or hominess to a room. Sheers are very versatile. We know they will do the basic pinch pleat dance quite well, but have you tried them artfully pirouetted around a pole across the top of the window? This treatment is simple to sew; all you need do is hem the top, bottom and sides. It might take a bit of fussing, fixing and folding to get it to look just right. Once you've got it where you want it, be sure to secure the material onto the pole so that the first person, puppy or cat running near the drape doesn't pull slightly at a long corner and destroy your work. With this in mind, go ahead, be a lightweight and let the sun shine through.

Prices Going Up Again?

Last July I told you that prices were going up, and they did. It’s happening again folks and as always we want you to buy before it happens. Hunter Douglas started and everyone else is following suit. In the last newsletter we learned that Comfortex was also raising their prices. Here is exactly what is going up and by how much. Effective July 1st, Shangri-La Window Shadings will go up by 5 %. Also the price of horizontal window shadings fabrics will increase by 3 %. There will be no price increase on the Stardust Soft Sheer Verticals. Comfortex cellular shades will increase by 5%, however the perfect pitch pleated shades will stay the same price. There is also a 5% increase on roman shades. The exciting news is that there are no scheduled price increases for Comfortex Woodwinds blinds or for the Harmony Cellular Vertical. The Comfortex sale that we have had will continue this month. Get your orders in now for your Comfortex products. Woven Woods are going on sale as well. We are adding 5.00 off per shade to the BlindsOnSale Natural Woods Woven Treasures blinds. We pass all the savings on to you. BlindsOnSale wants to thank you our customers for all your support and we pledge to continue in providing the best possible customer service and support that we can. If you have any ideas how we can better serve you, please e-mail us or call us at 1-800-919-4301. Remember, our passion is your window fashion.

News You Can Use: Tips for Cleaning Mini Blinds

Mini-blinds are an attractive window treatment that seems to be a magnet for dust, grease, bugs, and animal dander. Yours may look all right now, but sooner or later, simple dusting won’t be enough. Here are some tips that may help the process of cleaning washable blinds. First, vacuum your mini-blinds while they are still hanging. Next, remove one section of blinds at a time, laying it out fully extended in your bathtub. Mix a grease-cutting dish detergent and warm water, covering the blinds completely. Let them soak for at least five minutes. Start washing each slat; you shouldn't’ have to scrub hard. If the grime does not remove easily, let the blinds soak longer in the solution. Rinse under the shower head, and lay the blinds on large towels or hang them from the curtain rod. Wipe off excess water and allow to air dry fully extended. To prevent future dust buildup, spray lightly with Static Guard or run a dryer sheet across the slats, Re-hang, Enjoy!

Define your Style

In order to define your style, it’s good to know what is available to you. Fabric offers a wealth of opportunities for enhancing your home decor--especially your windows. Whether you like the simple look of straight-lined shades or the more traditional style of a swag and jabot, take a look at all of your options and decide what works best for your home. Curtains vs. Draperies Ready-made curtain panels are the norm in home stores. Usually hung from clip rings, tab-tops or a rod pocket casing, they’re available in different lengths and widths to fit a variety of window sizes. Unlined and lightweight, they're the alternative to formal custom-made draperies, which are usually lined, pleated and constructed to fit the exact dimensions of a window. If draperies are not attached to the rod with rings, they are usually hung on traverse rods, allowing the panels to be opened and closed with a cord that hangs behind the fabric. Shades A traditional Roman shade provides a clean, classic look for any interior design. There are many different versions of this popular shade, including the most traditional look of a flat panel that creates soft folds when raised and one with overlapping folds that are visible when lowered. Roller shades were once only found in white vinyl--today there is an endless variety of fabrics to choose from. From translucent sheers to opaque polyester, you can achieve a look anywhere from simple to sleek. Cellular shades are the fabric cousin to the ubiquitous mini-blind. Available in single, double and triple thickness, they filter natural light and insulate against the heat and cold, bringing a soft look to rooms that don't require 100 percent privacy. Balloon shades are similar to Roman shades in that they have a pull-cord mechanism for raising or lowering the fabric, however inverted pleats create soft billows at the bottom for a more romantic effect. Check out next month’s newsletter when we will continue with our window treatment definitions to help you define your style!

Comfortex Woodwinds, Innovation a Must!

Product Highlight With traditional styling as inspiration, Woodwinds wood alloy blinds maintain the fresh appearance of wood, but with increased resilience. Woodwinds are durable enough to withstand the elements for superior performance in any climate. No cracking. No warping. No fading. The unique slat composition allows Woodwinds blinds to defy nature and defy expectation. The look of real wood blinds adds warmth and elegance to a room. Their function and performance allow for superior light control and convenient versatility. What detracts from their natural beauty is their tendency to warp, chip, crack, and fade when exposed to the elements. Ultraviolet light, along with temperature fluctuations, cause the slats to deteriorate with prolonged exposure. Comfortex Window Fashions understood the need to create a wood blind that maintained the fresh appearance of wood, but with increased resilience. This lead to the introduction of Woodwinds, the first line of wood blinds made from proprietary materials. Woodwinds blend the richness of American hardwood with the durability of thermal polymers. Unlike wholly synthetic slats made from materials such as PVC, Woodwinds wood alloy does not discolor or fade over time. Woodwinds retain their original finishes and block 100% of UV rays year after year. Laboratory tests yielded impressive results. When exposed to moisture, sun and scratching, Woodwinds outperformed both 100% wood and PVC slats. Regardless of what slat design you choose, it will maintain its original appearance throughout the life of the product. Every slat- Reed Flat, S-Curve, Privacy Plus, and Plantation- is covered under a limited warranty that protects against forms of deterioration. Laboratory tests are not the only reason Woodwinds are impressive. Their unique properties have garnered multiple awards from the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) for creativity, innovation and technical advancements. Woodwinds Reed Flat Blind Woodwinds Plantation Shutter Blind Woodwinds S-Curve Blind Woodwinds Privacy Plus Blind

Credits

BlindsOnSale.com thanks, Hunter Douglas, Comfortex, Graber, and Better Homes and Gardens. If you have any questions about our newsletter please feel free to send an e-mail. To unsubscribe from our newsletter please send e-mail and put Unsubscribe in the subject line.

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.