Mid-Summer Blow Out

Last year we had our first annual MidSummer Blow Out sale. This sale combines all the special discounts we get from the manufacturers and passes them straight on to you. What does that mean for you? Well, it means a couple things. First, realize that the price on the price list may not be what you are actually going to pay for the shade. Make sure that you click on The MidSummer Blow Out logo on the homepage. This will take you to a page that has all the items that are on sale. If you click on any of these items, you will be taken to the price list of that item. The price list has the REGULAR price, not the discounted price, so say the promotion is for $5.00 off, take that $5.00 off the price on the price list and that is what you are going to pay! Our regular prices are already under most competitors. Our sale prices are B-Low any on the web. Even more exciting is that the better we do this year, the better the sale prices we can give you next year. So help us help you. “Not only do we have the best pricing…we have the best customer service in the industry." Just in case you have not seen, the items that are on sale include Natural Woven Wood Shades, Comfortex Shangri La, Harmony Cellular Verticals, Comfortex Woodwinds Wood Blinds, Comfortex Plantation Shutter Blinds, and Hunter Douglas Countrywood Wood Blinds. Plus we are adding more products all the time. We also price match. That right, if you can find a price that is less than ours, on the web or in person; if we can verify that price via the web or by calling the company you are getting the price from, we will match it! and give you the same product at the lower price! That’s how confident we are in our prices. Not only do we have the best standard pricing, out of this world sale prices, and price matching; we also have the best customer service staff in the industry. If you have a problem with your order it is handled in the most immediate and direct fashion, keeping you the customer in mind. We strive to be the best for your entire window covering needs. Our customers agree, check out the testimonials on our site. With our prices, and outstanding customer service, let us earn your business. Remember, Our Passion is Your Window Fashion.

Where to Find Ideas for Decorating

It’s time to think about changing the look of your home. Where do you start? A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words When I begin a decorating project for myself, I look at decorating magazines. When I’m helping someone else, I tell them to look at decorating magazines. There are so many publications on the market with so many wonderful ideas. True, you may not be able to duplicate exactly what you see, but you can get inspiration and direction. Do you want a formal or a casual look? Are you drawn to American Country or French Country? Do you hate the color of the room but love the style of window treatment? Cut the page out of the magazine and make a few notes on it about what you like. Is there a wonderful arrangement of plates on the wall that you can adapt to display your grandmother’s china? Tear out the page and make a note of it. Get Real Reality TV that is. With dozens of decorating reality TV shows on the airwaves you are sure to find one that uses styles and projects that may appeal to you. From Trading Spaces to Bravo’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy there are more ideas than ever for the taking. Some of the programs are more fantasy than reality, but most of them have helpful tips to offer. And you get to see the wonderful transformations right before your eyes. Surf the Web Interested in a certain line of furniture or lighting? Look up the web sites for these companies to learn more about their products before heading out the door to shop. It's a great way to obtain measurements and specifications as well as browse options and finishes. Print out possibilities and compare them at your leisure. Many times you'll be able to find these items for sale on the web. In other cases you'll want to locate a retail outlet and see the products in person. Either way you can save time, energy, and gas by browsing the web first. A Little Help From Your Friends Another source for ideas is your friends. Now that you’re thinking about decorating, look around you. Be more observant. Probably the people you like have homes you like, since their home reflects who they are. Sometimes you’ll be surprised. More often than not, you’ll see ideas that you can bring into your own home. When you do see things you like, be bold and ask for sources, recommendations, and advice. Most people are happy to share this information and you will have a place to start for your project. Stepping Out Retail stores hire professional window dressers to prepare their window displays. That goes for furniture stores, too. Often stores are set up like rooms in a house. These arrangements are set up by decorators experienced in putting displays together to make the most of what they have. See how they combine colors.

Design by Sign-How Does Your Sign Decorate?

Under the influence of the stars, a group of interior designers turned 12 rooms into spaces they think would appeal to each of the signs of the Zodiac. Displayed at the 48th annual GMC Southern California Home Show in Anaheim, CA, the rooms reflected the personality of the astrological signs through colors, fabrics and styles, according to the designers. The Leo bedroom by Dana Neillie of Rest Area Home Furnishings in Toluca Lake, CA, for example, was dominated by a large mural of a lion, which represents the sign. Its bold, red walls showcased an African safari retreat with exotic accessories meant to pay homage to Leo, the king of the jungle. The bed is custom made by Rest Area, which specializes in iron furniture. Another red room, a living area designed for Scorpio, was created by Michael McBride for Pier 1 Imports and features accessories, furnishings and window treatments available at the national chain store. The living room highlights entertaining, a flair among those born under the sign of Scorpio, which is also know for passion, intensity, mystery and romance. Deep red walls were also chosen for fiery Aries by Chrysteen Braun of Aegean Designing Whims in Los Alamitos, CA New and vintage furniture were combined to cater to the ram's strong style. On the cooler side of the color scale, Restoration Hardware created a soothing nautical-inspired room for Cancer the crab, the moody, home-loving water sign. Also in a pale blue was a living room for Libra, ruled by Venus, the goddess of love and beauty. The Libra room was one of two contributions by Expo Design Center. The second was also a living room, this time for Virgo, in a soothing shade of green for the earth sign. Touches of the harvest, which Virgo rules, in the form of apples and pears accented the room along with a chocolate leather sofa. Pisces, another water sign, had the perfect turquoise walls in an Asian-themed bedroom, also designed by Rest Area. A striking red duvet covered the bed and was complemented by a pair of red secretaries. Capricorn's element is earth, but the sign's color is red. Both are used in this room. Capricorn's element is earth, but the sign's color is red. Both are used in this room. Another cool-hued room was for Aquarius, which featured aquamarine green walls and rattan furniture. It was designed by Exotic Furniture in Fountain Valley, CA Gemini, sign of the twins, was surprisingly represented by a bedroom that had a groom's tux draped over a chair and a bride's wedding dress hanging in front of an armoire. Designer of the plantation-style honeymoon room, complete with mosquito netting and a four-poster bed, was Rebecca Katsampes of Ethan Allen, which was celebrating Gemini's June as the wedding month. Sagittarius's room was designed by Exotic Furniture again. The lavender walls were accented by wicker furniture and teak accessories that would be best appreciated by the Sagittarian, known as the lover of world travel. Finally, stubborn Taurus was put in an updated traditional country room with chartreuse walls accented by splashes of pink.

He may not be a psychologist, an anthropologist or even a divorce lawyer, but one thing Michael Payne knows is the differences between men and women, at least when it comes to decorating. As the host of HGTV's "Designing for the Sexes," Payne plays design counselor to a couple on each episode, trying to reconcile their often competing ideas on how the two genders want to feather their shared nest. Men? Leather couches, overstuffed recliners and large-screen televisions, the bigger the better. Women? Collections of chotchkes, floral sofas and throw pillows done up to the nines. How does Payne, an interior designer, smooth over the clashing tastes men and women have while creating a space both feel comfortable in. "It's all about compromise," he says. Take color on the wall. Color Anyone? "When given the choice of what to do with a wall that's white, a man will almost always say, 'What's wrong with white? What's wrong with the way it is?' The woman is eager to embrace all manner of color, from truly, wonderfully exotic colors to cranberry red in a dining room or deep blues or vibrant yellows while men literally shake their head in disbelief," he says. The answer is surprisingly simple. Designing for the Sexes "She wants color on that wall and he doesn't. I've got to do something in order so she feels that she gets some of what she wants. I have to make sure not to do anything that makes him upset. That's where I do something like sage greens and taupe and colors like that. They very much satisfy her need for color but they are still neutral colors, which means they're not upsetting to him," Payne says. And when it comes to a sofa or sectional, "leather pops out of a man's mouth long before it pops out of a woman's," he says. One solution is upholstery made of Ultra suede, a soft but pricey polyester micro fiber that mimics real suede. But if a man has to have authentic leather, Payne proposes he get just that—in a club chair earmarked specifically for him. "He gets what he wants—it's only a chair—and then it doesn't matter what I do with the sofa or draperies. He's got his own turf. When she looks at the room, she doesn't spend a moment looking at that chair. She's focused on the sofa," he says in his precise English accent. And then there's the bane of many women's existence... the behemothic TV. Payne believes there is a compromise to be had there, too. "In many men's eyes, they simply cannot be big enough. In women's eyes, any TV that's seen is too big," he notes. "It really is a big problem. The big-screen TVs present an enormous challenge." Most notably, in a room dominated by the television, where's the focal point? "Once upon a time, the focal point used to be the fireplace," Payne says. "These days the fireplace is losing out. Do men and women decorate differently? What if there is a magnificent view of the back yard? Do you put the sofa with the back to the view so you can see the TV?" His answer is to leave the public areas for all to enjoy but, if at all possible, dedicate a room to the television."The beauty of that is you then free up the family room. It becomes what it always was—a place to read with the kids, play Scrabble, maybe do some homework. Payne isn't sure where the differences between the decorating styles of the sexes originates. "But that doesn't stop me from guessing," he says. "One of the things I've often thought is that it starts at childhood. Little boys are dressed in neutrals—white T-shirts, khaki pants, blue jeans. Little girls are ginghams, checks, stripes, florals. From Day 1, she is surrounded by color. Little boys aren't, other than their rooms end up blue. Whether it's in our genes, who knows?"

Beat the Heat!

1. Ceiling fans are not only decorative, but they create a wind-chill effect that helps you keep cool while using only as much energy as a 100-watt bulb. They are efficient, stylish and more powerful than ever. Go traditional, contemporary or even Mission or Art Deco ... there are choices for all tastes. Your energy savings? You can reduce your energy use by 40 to 60 percent. (Source: Energy Efficiency for a Green Los Angeles) 2. If you are using an air conditioner, make sure the unit is in a shaded spot on your houses north or east sides. Direct sun on the unit decreases efficiency. If your unit is in the sun, try planting trees or shrubs to shade it. A shaded air conditioner uses 10 percent less electricity than one in the sun. Don't forget to clean and replace your filters! A clean filter can lower energy consumption up to 15 percent. (Source: Energy Efficiency for a Green Los Angeles) 3. It's as good excuse as any to get a new refrigerator. New models today can be such energy misers that they use the same amount of power as a 75-watt bulb. (Source: Seattle City Light) Look for the Energy Star label for energy efficient appliances. Another tip: Make sure your refrigerator and freezer are sealed tight. Replace your gaskets if you can easily slide out a dollar bill when you close your door on it. 4. Consider plantation shutters on your windows. You can control the airflow at the same time as blocking out the suns harsh rays. Insulating shutters are a very expensive form of window treatment, but may reduce heat exchange by as much as 80 percent. (Source: Alliance to Save Energy) "Consider plantation shutters on your windows." 5. Because windows let in nearly 40 percent of the unwanted heat in an apartment or house, you might install high-performance windows or glass coatings. (Source: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse) These sun-control films reduce heat and glare, but they also reduce light. Its the same concept as tinting your cars windows. Another option is double-pane thermal glass, which provides extra insulation from the sun all year. 6. On the horizon are "smart windows" using Research Frontiers SPD technology. With these windows in your home, you'll be able to instantly adjust your windows from clear to dark and all levels in between, even eliminating the need for window treatments. 7. The right kind of window treatments can help you save 40 percent or more on your electricity bill. (Source: Alliance to Save Energy) Honeycomb shades, or cellular shades, act as insulators, trapping heat. Sold in single, double and triple-layer pleats, they are also available with reflective coatings that block light. And honeycomb shades are elegant, too. Try "Duette" honeycomb shades from Hunter-Douglas or Symphony Shades, from Comfortex that specializes in energy efficient window treatments. 8. Go outside and see where you can add shade. Install awnings over your windows, build a pergola covered with shade cloth or plant trees. Outside shading is more efficient than indoor shading. 9. Love your waterbed? A heated waterbed can use as much energy as a large refrigerator. (Source: Seattle City Light) Keep your energy costs down with an insulated bed pad. And make sure you make it every morning to keep the heat inside the bed, not outside. 10. Switch from cotton sheets to a linen set. Linen will keep you cooler, decreasing your need for an air conditioner or fan.

Graber Traditions Wood Blinds

Traditions™ Wood Blinds Traditions wood blinds are anything but ordinary – they add natural beauty to your home, keeping it warmer in winter and cooler in summer. Built with an attention to detail designed to last a lifetime, our wood window treatments are crafted predominantly of North American hardwoods. Traditions wood blinds are available in 1”, 2” or 3” slat sizes in a beautiful color palette of rich stains and fresh paints with matching wood tassels. Our wood blinds feature the SureClose® headrail system with a light-blocking lip for optimum closure, privacy, and light control; the 2” and 3” slat size also feature a trapezoid bottomrail for tighter closure. Two valance choices are also available – the standard Signature valance or the optional Legacy Valance . Additional options include solid color decorative cloth tapes (2” only), NoHoles™ for better closure and a cleaner look (2” slats only), AutoMate® Remote Control Tilt System (2” only), and movable custom wood arches. Graber Wood Blind Product Options NoHoles-Privacy Blinds The Graber NoHoles option is the optimum in light and privacy control. The little rout holes found on blinds can be a big distraction – light leaking through when a darker ambiance is desired, the uncomfortable feeling that someone is peering into the home, or simply the visual disruption to the linear look of the blind. The exclusive patented design of NoHoles eliminates rout holes, providing total privacy and the best available light control. In addition to a clean linear look, the handsome design keeps the slats in perfect position. Decorative Cloth Tapes Decorative cloth tapes cover rout holes and cords while allowing you to personalize your blind with a touch of color. Coordinating or contrasting solid colors are available in 1” or 1 ½” widths on 2” Traditions™ wood and 2” Traditions composite blinds. AutoMate® 2” Tilt System The AutoMate 2" Horizontal Tilt System tilts blinds open or closed by means of a hand-held remote control, a Dusk/Dawn Sensor, or a small push button switch located in the upper left corner of the blind headrail. AutoMate does not lift blinds. Available on all Graber 2" horizontal blinds, except for Lake Forest™ faux wood blinds. Not available on Traditions 1” and 3” wood blinds, or on specialty shapes. The AA lithium battery-powered motor delivers effortless operation for up to five years, depending on operation. The hand-held remote operates blinds from up to 50 feet away, allowing for easier operation of blinds in tall windows, hard-to-reach windows behind furniture, and those above sinks or bathtubs. It also puts operation within reach of the elderly.

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.