March 2022 - McNeill Palm

Motorized Shades and Your New Home

June 24, 2022March 28, 2022 by McNeill Palm Team

From the act of actually moving into redecorating, cleaning, and making sure the house is functioning well, new homeowners have a long to-do list. There is a lot to do after you move into a new home! You want your home to look stylish, but you also want it to be comfortable. That’s why one of the first things you should do in your new home is to upgrade the windows and motorized shades in your new house.

While the shades on your new house might look nice, they might not be as functional or efficient as they should be because, even when windows and shades are well maintained, they still deteriorate over time.

When move into a new home you pretty much immediately get a clear feeling for its character and overall atmosphere. But what you can’t easily tell right away is how efficient and functional the windows and shades are on a new house. That’s why, after a few months of being in your new home, you may begin to notice some issues that come with older windows and shades like drafts, difficulty maintaining a comfortable temperature, or high heating and cooling bills.

If this happens, it’s a good idea to upgrade your windows and window shades. When doing so it’s a good idea to replace both windows and shades at the same time. You can replace them at different times, but the newness of one will definitely just make the issues of the old other more noticeable and problematic. While curtains can cover up old shades, they just defeat the purpose of the shades and prevent maximum visibility, privacy, and light control.

It’s also a good idea to replace both shades and windows at the same time to maintain home aesthetics. You can replace the windows to be better at maintaining comfort and energy efficiency in the home but replacing the shades too will also help support your windows in their function and keep the two pieces looking nice and cohesive.

Changing the style of your windows will call for a similar or complementary style of shutter that accents or complements your new windows. Have fun shopping for new shades in various styles like plantation or café to go with your new windows in your new home. You should also look into both exterior and interior shades as they have different tasks and intentions though they both add to the style, comfort, and character of your new house.

From upgrading appliances, painting walls, and adding a personal touch to making sure the windows and window shades work and look their best, these new homeowner tasks can bring satisfaction and a sense of accomplishment. Moving into a new home is thrilling. You get to take a house a turn it into your own personal space and home for your loved ones.

McNeill Palm is here to help with any and all of your motorized shade needs. We are ready and willing to assist you in any way we can. Call today.

Motorized Shutters Vs. Window Blinds

March 25, 2022March 21, 2022 by McNeill Palm Team

From weighing the different factors like design preferences and function to staying within your budget, there is a lot to consider when choosing the right window treatment for your home. Both motorized shutters and window blinds are popular, so how do you choose between the two for your home as both offer natural light control, privacy, and a host of other benefits? This guide can help:

Home Value – Your window treatments have a big impact on your home value. While blinds are cheaper upfront, they don’t add any value to your home in the long run. However, shutters can definitely add value to your home which means that it will be easier for you to sell or refinance your home for a better price down the line.
Maintenance – Taking care of window treatments it just a part of owning a home as dirty window treatments don’t function well and don’t look good. Frankly, it can be a pain to clean blinds as getting in between narrow slats is difficult. Plus, the cords can get tangled up which is not only annoying but also can be dangerous for pets and small children. But shutters, on the other hand, are much easier to clean. Wider slats mean more ease of dusting, and they only need a wipe down every so often to function well and look good. And shutters don’t have any dangerous cords.
Durability and Cost – Blinds are cheaper to install than motorized shutters, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing because that means blinds aren’t built to last as long as shutters. Most blinds last about five years, but the right kind of shutter can last for decades. Shutters are built to be strong in the face of sunlight, moisture and other chipping, cracking, or damage over the years. But blinds are easily damaged. They can be broken, bent or just generally wear out in just five short years meaning that they will need to be replaced more often. These frequent replacements can quickly add up in cost, making you spend more money over time than you would have spent on installing shutters.
Energy Efficiency – Energy efficiency should be a big consideration when you choose window treatments for your home. Better energy efficiency means lower heating and cooling costs, which saves you money. And better energy efficiency is better for the environment. Blinds are OK when it comes to energy efficiency as they block sunlight, but they don’t offer any insulation. In other words, closing blinds in the daytime can keep heat out but closing blinds in at nighttime won’t keep heat in. Shutters, on the other hand, are great insulators. They help trap heated air inside when it’s cold out and help keep hot sunlight from getting in when its warm out.

While motorized shutters might seem like the obvious choice, window blinds can still be a good option for your home depending on your needs, preferences, budget and more. Choosing window blinds is right if its right for you.

If you want to learn more about motorized shutters, McNeill Palm is here to help.

Window Gardens and Motorization

March 15, 2022March 15, 2022 by McNeill Palm Team

Spring means the perfect time for some gardening. But if you don’t have much of a green thumb you can still enjoy fresh plants with a window garden. Luckily, it’s never been easier to pair a garden with windows featuring coverings with motorization.

Window gardens are great for many reasons. First, they allow you to start working on some fresh plants long before the great outdoors is ready. Second, window gardens are lovely for adding color and life to a home. And third, they make it easy to always have something fresh on hand for your cooking. Want to add a window garden to your windows? Go ahead and give it try.

Even though the space in your garden window is limited, you can grow a number of beautiful plants that will better your home, your mind and your palate. For example, succulents! Succulents are very trendy right now, and for good reason. These unique plants are ideal for exploring your creative side and having fun with different arrangements and varieties. You can plant different succulent varieties all in one pot or put different plants in different pots for a more varied look. You can also use succulents that have uses beyond décor, like aloe. Aloe plants are great for helping soothe minor burns and sunburns and ease dry skin.

Fresh herbs and spices really take cooking to whole new levels of deliciousness. But it can be tough to run to the grocery store or farmer’s market whenever you have a need for a pop of freshness in a dish. That’s where a garden window comes in. A great use for your garden window is as an herb garden! You can use the space to grow a range of herbs to use in tons of recipes. Some classic herbs for garden windows are rosemary, mint, thyme, chives, basil, and oregano. But keep in mind that since each plant has different watering needs its best to grow each one in its own pot.

Winter can be grey and colorless, so why not bring some spring hues into your home to liven things up? Garden windows are ideal for growing colorful flowers that bring beauty and freshness into your home. Choose a colorful flower that will put a smile on your face every time you look at it. Take tulips for example. These hardy flowers are very easy to grow and do very well in garden windows. Put some pebbles in thin glass holders and put a single tulip flower in each one. Line the glass holders along with your garden window so the flowers get plenty of sunshine and you get all the fresh flower views you could want.

Window gardens are always a good choice for any home and homeowner, whether or not they have green thumbs. Don’t worry, it’s easy to pair a window garden with motorization as the mechanisms make it easy for your plants to get the light they need. Call McNeill Palm today to learn more about Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization and other options for your home.