August 2022 - McNeill Palm

Get Your Ceilings to Look Taller

August 22, 2022 by McNeill Palm Team

You don’t have to suffer through short ceilings anymore. From removing crown molding to installing new motorized shades, there are tons of ways you can make a ceiling appear higher than it actually is:

Hang High Window Coverings – Rather than hanging your window treatments right above the window, try hanging them closer to the ceiling. This will trick the eye into believing that the window is taller than it really is, which helps elongate the room. Worried about hanging your shades so high you can’t operate them? Use motorization to help! Motorized shades are easy to operate with the touch of a remote control or app on your smart devices.
Get Low Furniture – Short or low furniture pieces will maximize the room’s actual height. Plus, the lower the furniture the more natural light you will get from your windows.
Add More Windows – The more natural light a room has the bigger it feels, both vertically and horizontally. Add more windows to make a room look bigger.
More Mirrors – Mirrors reflect whatever is in the room, including light. This reflection increased the perceived square footage of a space and makes the room seem taller.
Install Transom Windows – If you can’t install new replacement windows, try adding transom windows on top of your existing openings. Transom windows allow extra light in to create the appearance of more height in the room.
Install Tall Bookshelves – Tall, narrow bookshelves that go all the way up to the ceiling also help trick the eye into elongating the space. Also, try and place books in clean vertical lines on the shelves to further promote the trick.
Do Some Repainting – Make sure the ceiling is painted a light color, white being the best. White lifts and lightens a room to help make it look bigger and taller. You should also use a high-gloss paint on the ceiling as its mirror-like finish reflects more light to make the space feel more expansive.
Go with a Bold Rug – A bold rug will draw attention the floor of a room, which will in turn make it seem further away from the ceiling.
Lower the Lines – While you’re repainting you can also paint the ceiling down a few extra inches below the line. This is a classic tip that will trick the eye into thinking the ceiling has more height.
Declutter – Get rid of any unnecessary items you may have on shelves or on the floor, as the more stuff is in a room the smaller and boxier it will feel.
Add Up Lighting – Up lighting is a light that shines up a wall. This kind of light makes a wall look taller than it actually is, so installing up lighting, like wall sconces, can make your ceiling appear higher.
Get Rid of Crown Molding – Crown molding can actually make a ceiling look lower. Get rid of crown molding for a clean, longer look or paint any existing molding the same color as the ceiling to make it feel taller.

Do you want more design tips or want to learn more about motorized shades? We are here for you. Call or visit us today.

Keep Your Home Cool

August 15, 2022 by McNeill Palm Team

These tips, from checking your ducts to installing new motorized shutters on your home, can help you stay cool and comfortable in your house while maybe saving a little money on air conditioning.

Check Your Air Conditioner Ducts – Your AC unit can work hard all day long, but it won’t do a thing if your AC ducts are leaky. Misaligned, leaky, or otherwise damaged ducts can leak cool air and prevent it from getting where it needs to go. You can do small duct repairs yourself, but for bigger issues be sure to hire a professional.
Invest in New Doors – Just like windows, your doors can let out all your air-conditioned air if they’re old or leaky. Investing in new entry doors can go a long way towards cooling off your home and lowering your energy bill.
Install Window Shutters – Window shutters are very energy efficient as they help keep the cool air inside your home and the hot air outside. Plus, the US Department of Energy says that we lose up to 30% of what we spend on cooling through inefficient windows. That means if you you’re your windows more efficient by installing window shutters you can save 30% of your current energy costs.
Reinforce Your Insulation – Even the best insulation will degrade over time, causing leaks that suck out all the cool air in your home. Reinforcing your insulation where it has deteriorated can be a huge help when you’re trying to cool your home.
Change Your Filters – Air conditioners have filters that need to be changed, especially in the summer months when the AC is working overtime. Creating a regular filter replacement schedule can prolong the life of your AC unit and help keep your home cool.
Cook Outside – You know what ovens and stoves produce? Heat. Try cooking outside on the grill during the summer to avoid adding additional heat to your home. Plus, grilled foods are delicious.
Clean in and Around Your Air Conditioner – The areas in and around your AC need to be clean and clear in order for it to perform at an optimal level. Clear away weeds, vines and other debris from the area around your unit and be sure to clean inside the unit as well.
Close the Shutters – While sunlight is lovely, it can really heat a space. Try closing the shutters, curtains, blinds, or shades in rooms that aren’t in use to help prevent extra heat buildup from sunlight. Make it even easier to close your shutters or other window treatments by investing in motorized shutters!
Close Unused Vents – You can close off the air conditioning vents in unused rooms in order to help direct the cool air into rooms that are used. You should also close the AC vents in your basement as basements are already cool enough without the extra cool air.
Use Ceiling Fans – Though ceiling fans don’t actually change the temperature of a room, they help us feel cooler. Moving air feels cooler against our skin than stagnant air, plus the circulation helps move the hot air up to the ceiling and the cool air down towards you.

We are here for you if you want more tips or information on motorized shutters.

Window Treatments for Rooms Without Curtains

August 8, 2022 by McNeill Palm Team

If you don’t want to deal with the fuss of curtains you can easily use other window treatments. From shades with motorization to shutters and more, here is a list of window treatments for rooms without curtains:

Blinds – Blinds, especially wood or faux wood blinds, can easily stand alone in a room without curtains. They give rooms and clean and minimalist look when installed without curtains, though they can be paired with curtains if you so choose. Look for a darker blind color if you want them to stand out in the space.
Cellular Shades – Cellular window shades, sometimes called honeycomb shades, are both practical and stylish. They can be custom ordered to fit almost any size window, even large sliding doors. These shades are made with unique honeycomb-shaped pockets that offer increased insulation to help keep your home at a comfortable temperature without putting too much stress on your heating and cooling systems, or your energy bill. This honeycomb design is also great for light and privacy control. You can find these shades in many different light control options, including sheer, light-filtering, and room-darkening, and blackout fabrics, as well as different cell sizes, fabrics, colors and opacities, allowing you to mix and match to complement your personal home décor. For example, you can choose darker colored cellular shades to make a bold statement in a room without curtains.
Roman Shades – While most people don’t think about shades as a stylish kind of window treatment, Roman shades can be very elegant when installed on their own without curtains. In fact, Roman shades are often so thick that they look like curtains but also offer additional privacy, light control, and customization options because you can raise and lower them unlike curtains. These shades come in a range of colors from neutrals and pastels to rich hues like red, green, and more.
Shutters – Window shutters, like plantation shutters, truly don’t need the added weight of curtains as they can support a room all on their own. Shutters can be made from tons of different kinds of materials from basswood and MDF to synthetic materials like vinyl and aluminum, which means it’s easy for you to find a shutter type that works with your function and style needs. Shutters can be custom made to fit almost any shape and size of window so you can get shutters that work with your space Plus, shutters have a timeless and sophisticated look that make them stand out as window treatments.

Make any of these window treatments more functional and energy efficient by making them motorized! Motorized treatments are easy to use and help keep your home usable, comfortable, and modern.

Gone are the days when you have to have formal curtains in every room of your house. We are here to help if you want to learn more about window treatments with HunterDouglas PowerView motorization. Stop by and visit us or give us a call today to learn more about what we can do for you and your windows.