Month: February 2019

To get the right window shutters for your windows, you’ll first need to decide whether you want to cover part of the window or all of it. Some rooms may need just the lower part of the window covered, while other rooms need the window shutters to fit over the entire window.  

Next, for windows that will be fully covered, you’ll need to decide whether you want a single-panel window shutter or you want two rows of stacked window shutters (this allows you more flexibility because you can open just one of the rows of window shutters and leave the other one closed or you can open both at the same time). 

Then you’ll need to decide whether you want window shutters with slats (which can be opened while leaving the window shutter closed) or without slats. 

Full-height window shutters are a single panel (you’ll have two per window) that will cover the entire window. Tier-on-tier window shutters cover the entire window as well, but since the top panels are separate from the bottom panels, they can be opened independently of each other. This allows you to get light in the room, while still maintaining privacy. 

Café-style window shutters (also known as half-height window shutters) only cover the lower part of the window. Many times the top part of the window will be covered with a balloon shade. 

Solid window shutters don’t have slats at all and are good for rooms that require privacy, like bedrooms and bathrooms. 

Half-solid window shutters have one row of panels (the bottom) without slats and the other row of panels with slats (the top). These provide privacy while still allowing light to come into the room. 

Window shutters available in polyvinyl and wood. The polyvinyl window shutters look like wood, but they can hold up to high-humidity rooms like laundry rooms and bathrooms, better than wood window shutters. Both of these kinds of window shutters are available in many colors, so that they will fit in with the décor and style of your home. 

Measuring for window shutters requires you to determine whether the windows are recessed or not. In recessed windows, the window shutters will fit inside the recess (either at the front of the recess, which allows the shutters to be completely folded back, or against the glass of the window), so that’s where you’ll need to measure. In windows that aren’t recessed, the window shutters will be installed outside on trim, walls, or doors. Once you decide where you want window shutters installed on non-recessed windows, you’ll measure using that place. 

If you have bay windows, they may have three sections side by side or a main section with a section on either side angled at 90 degrees from the main section. You need to measure each of the sections. 

Window shutters can have small or large slats. Small slats give rooms a more traditional look, while large slats give them a more contemporary feel. You can choose between a visible rod and a hidden rod to use to open and close the slats. 

If you need help choosing and measuring for window shutters, you can speak with our experienced staff at McNeill Palm. You can come to our showroom at 655 Grand Blvd Ste 106D, Miramar Beach, FL 32250, or you can call us at (850) 613-6228. 

Choosing window shades for your home can be a daunting task because there are a lot of different options you can select. Window shades are necessary to dress your windows, ensure your privacy, and manage light coming into your home. Window shades were originally created to protect homes from sunlight exposure, and they still serve that purpose in the 21^st century as well. 

Painted window shades are believed to have originated in Holland during the 17^th century. By the 18^th century, window shades were common, not only in Holland, but in England and France as well. Translucent paper or fabric window shades made their first appearance in American structures somewhere around 1870. 

These window shades had elaborate artwork that was hand-drawn, hand-painted, or stitched (cloth). Imaginative and romantic landscapes were very popular for window shades in the early 1800s, and some well-known painters made their living early on working on the window shades. 

As time and technology moved on, window shades began to be mass-produced by manufacturing companies, and, in the process, innovations for design, safety, and durability have continued to make window shades more diverse and better. 

Cellular window shades are a very common type of window shade. They provide very good insulation for your home and they are reasonably-priced. There are two kinds of cellular window shades: single cell (sun protection and privacy) and double cell (more insulation and room-darkening for people who work at night and sleep during the day). Cellular window shades come in many styles, so you’ll be able to find something that will fit in well with your home’s décor. Cellular window shades come in both corded and cordless (best for small children and pets) designs. 

Roman window shades are designed for a more aesthetic appearance. This window shade pulls up in billowing folds and can add a nice decorative touch to just about any room in your home. 

Roller window shades are very easy to use and they are safe for small children and pets because there are no cords involved in raising and lowering them. They come in many colors and some kinds have remote controls that will raise and lower the window shades. 

Balloon shades are fabric (thin) and they balloon around the window. They allow a lot of light in your home, but they don’t give a lot of privacy. These window shades are more decorative and are generally used over a more traditional shade like a roller shade or a cellular shade. 

Tie-up window shades are very pretty and are raised and tied with a decorative ribbon to keep them up. These window shades can be hanging from a curtain rod or they can be attached to a mounting board. 

Solar window shades are similar to cellular window shades, but they differ substantially functionally. These window shades a specifically designed to reduce the amount of sunlight that comes into your home. These shades can used to help keep furniture and rugs from fading due to direct exposure to the sun. Because of the function of solar window shades, they tend not be as stylish as other types of window shades. 

If you’d like to discuss different types of window shades, you can talk with our knowledgeable staff at McNeill Palm. You can come to our showroom at 655 Grand Blvd Ste 106D, Miramar Beach, FL 32250, or you can contact us at (850) 613-6228. 

Window covering choices are often made hurriedly because we don’t like bare windows and we just want to get something up. So we might choose a generic window covering in a color we like without thinking about functionality, style, taste, or the décor of our home.  

One mistake, however, is getting so overwhelmed with window covering choices that we don’t put any window coverings up and we just leave the windows bare until we can make a decision. This mistake affects the privacy in your home and it lowers your ability to keep your home comfortable, temperature-wise. Windows are a focal point in each room, and leaving them bare is like having empty picture frames sitting on tables or mantles. With window coverings and a fresh coat of paint, you can completely transform any room into something brand new. 

Another common mistake with window coverings is choosing hardware that doesn’t match anything else in the room or won’t work. For example, if lamps and window locks are silver, and you choose brushed chrome curtain rods and hooks, the room will be off, thematically. Additionally, if you choose hardware that is not sturdy enough to accommodate your window coverings or it’s installed incorrectly, you may actually end up causing significant damage to the walls of the room. 

To avoid this mistake, make sure your hardware matches the other finishes already in the room (or replace those to match the hardware for your window coverings), and be sure that curtain rods are sturdy enough to bear the weight of the window coverings you are planning to use. 

Functionality is another area where mistakes are commonly made with window coverings. There are several things you need to consider before choosing window coverings. One is how much light the window covering should or should not allow into the room. Another is how much privacy you want in the room. A third is whether the window covering is for a window that is designed to be a focal point for your home (bay windows or picture windows, for example) and to enhanced your home’s curb appeal. 

Not having window coverings that properly fit each window is another common mistake in choosing window coverings. For examples, curtains and drapes should, optimally, expose the maximum amount of window and no wall when they are opened. If they’re too small, the walls will be exposed; if they’re too big, they will obscure more of the windows.  

Curtains and drapes also should not drag the floor. If your window coverings are too long, you’ll need to put the hardware to hold them as far above the window as you can (leave about an inch between your ceiling or crown molding) to ensure they’re not piled up at the bottom on the floor. 

Another common window covering mistake is not thinking about the materials. Some window coverings are not safe for small children or pets. Some are very hard to clean. If the window coverings are going to be in the laundry room or bathroom, choosing the wrong type of wood can damage them. 

Not considering curb appeal is another common mistake when choosing window coverings. We often don’t think about how things look outside our homes, but window coverings are what add to our home’s appeal on the sidewalk or the street. 

For experienced guidance with window covering choices, you can speak with our knowledgeable team at McNeill Palm. You can come to our showroom at 655 Grand Blvd Ste 106D, Miramar Beach, FL 32250, or you can contact us at (850) 613-6228.