March 2023 - McNeill Palm

Motorized Shades and Your Kitchen

March 27, 2023 by McNeill Palm Team

Spring is traditionally a time of refreshing, cleaning, and restyling. While you’re doing your spring cleaning, why not do a little kitchen refresh as well? After all, your kitchen is probably the hardest working room in your house and could most likely use a little TLC. Use these simple ways to refresh your kitchen for spring, like adding motorized shades, as inspiration.

Do Some Cleaning – The most effective and efficient way to refresh your kitchen or any room in your house is to give it a good clean. The best place to start is with your counters. Take everything off your countertops and give them a serious wipe down, and then only replace the items that are absolutely essential or decorative. No one likes a busy countertop. Work your way down from the countertops and finish with the floor.
Bring in Some Plants – Nothing says, “Hello spring!” quite like fresh flowers or houseplants. Bring a little bit of nature into your kitchen with some greenery like a bouquet of fresh flowers, succulents, herbs, or ferns. If you’re worried about sunlight or maintenance – it’s hard to remember to water them all the time – then try fake plants.
Invest in Fresh Towels – Kitchen towels work hard, so they can get run down, threadbare, or stained quickly. Since at least one kitchen towel is out every day, investing in a new set is a great way to refresh your kitchen. Pro tip: get white ones. Why? They’re easy to bleach when they get stained.
Brighten Things with Color– White or otherwise neutral kitchens are super trendy these days, but that doesn’t mean that you want a space that’s completely devoid of color – especially in the springtime. Refresh your kitchen by adding a fresh pop of color with a new rug, a new piece of art, or even some small new decorations like decorative bowls, candles, or even a bowl of fruit out on the counter.
Get New Shades– Whether you’ve recently added new windows or not, a quick way to breathe new life into your kitchen with some new window treatments – like motorized window shades that allow you to open or close them with the touch of a button or a setting on a phone app. You can also try out a new curtain color or have fun with new shades. If you don’t have it in your budget for totally new treatments, at least take your existing ones down and give them a thorough cleaning.
Make it Smell Good – Spring definitely has a different scent than winter. So, if you’re still burning your holiday candles or using a cinnamon diffuser, it’s time to make your kitchen smell like spring. Try fresh scents like mint, citrus, or light florals.

These are just a few quick and simple ways you can make your kitchen fresh for spring. Do you want more tips on décor or motorized shades? We are here to help. Stop by and pay us a visit or give us a call to learn more about what we can do for you and your home.

Guest Room Tips

March 20, 2023 by McNeill Palm Team

The holidays might be over but that doesn’t mean that your home will be guest-free. In fact, many people love traveling and visiting friends and family in the spring and summer months. From clearing out space in the closet to installing new motorized shutters, you need to get your guest room ready.

It oftentimes feels like a chore to have to prep your home and your guest room before you have people come to stay with you. However, your guests will greatly appreciate having a clean, comfortable, and welcoming space in which they can relax when they come for a visit. That’s where these tips come in:

Install Motorized Shutters – Most people like to sleep in complete darkness and also appreciate privacy. So, you need to make sure that your guest room has proper window treatments, like window shutters or shades. Motorized shutters and shades offer both light control and privacy, plus, they’re also very stylish and charming.
Clear Out the Closet and Drawers – If your guests are going to stay for more than a couple of days, they will need some space for their stuff. No one wants to live out of a suitcase for longer than necessary. Make sure your guests feel welcome by clearing out the dresser and nightstand drawers as well as the closet.
Make an Amenity Basket – People often forget to bring necessities. So, make it like a fancy hotel and prepare an amenity basket for your guests with handy items like disposable toothbrushes, over-the-counter medication, and other common toiletries.
Choose Quality Bedding – You can’t have a comfortable bed without comfortable bedding! Plus, nothing makes a room more welcoming or relaxing than a bed with soft, clean linens, fluffy pillows, and warm comforters. Take inspiration from fancy hotels and furnish your guest room bed with luxurious white cotton sheets and a matching white duvet. White might seem like a bad idea since it stains, but white sheets and white duvet covers are easy to bleach in case of spills. Don’t forget the fluffy pillows!
Fresh Flowers – Fresh flowers add color and a lovely fragrance to any room. Plus, adding a vase of fresh flowers shows your guests how much you care as it’s a very thoughtful gesture. You can easily pick up a premade bouquet at your local grocery store or you can build your own with fresh stems.
Invest in a Good Bed – No one wants to sleep on an old, creaky, uncomfortable bed! Make sure your guests get a good night’s sleep by investing in a good bed for your guest room. You don’t have to break the bank by buying a fancy mattress but do purchase a quality mattress with plenty of support and a strong, sturdy bedframe that won’t squeak. Since it’s hard to predict who will want a firm bed and who will want a soft bed, choose a mattress that’s somewhere in the middle.

Want more tips on how to make your guest room or your home the best it can be with motorized shutters? We are here to help. Call or visit us today.

Make Your Bathroom Better

March 13, 2023 by McNeill Palm Team

Your bathroom might not be the most glamorous room in the house, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be a relaxing, beautiful space. And you can use these simple ways to update your bathroom, like adding motorization to your bathroom window treatments, as inspiration.

To begin, you can get new blinds. No matter if you’re working with new replacement windows or old models, it’s likely that the window treatments in your bathroom need a little attention. At the very least, take them down and clean them. But if you have it in the budget, it might be nice to bring in some brand-new ones for a fresh start. A good option for bathrooms? Motorized window treatments, as they allow you to open or close them with the touch of a button.

What about storage and mirrors? Tired of having toiletries cluttered about your counter? Add some storage to your bathroom. If you have the space, try installing a hanging shelving unit above the toilet or on a back wall. If you don’t want to bust out the hammer, you can find lots of floor storage units that are just as helpful as they are stylish. The mirror above your bathroom sink is a huge focal point in the space. Plus, you look at it every single day. Ugly, generic, builders-grade mirrors are so blah. Especially when you can usually find a stylish, brand-new mirror for less than $200.

You can also get new linens, hardware, and shower curtains. Bath and hand towels are used a lot, so it might be time to invest in a new set. You don’t have to break the bank to find quality bathroom linens, either. While you’re getting new towels, don’t forget to get a new bathmat, too. Frankly, bathmats can get super gross if not changed out enough. Get a new one to match your new towels for a cohesive look. A simple set of new drawer pulls or cabinet knobs can refresh a space like nothing else! Plus, most hobby stores sell knobs and pulls for pretty cheap. Shower curtains generally cost at most $50, so you can update your bathroom’s style no matter your budget. If you want to get even fancier, try updating your shower curtain rings to go with your new curtain.

Finally, don’t forget to clear out the clutter and freshen things up with new spring scents.

Update your bathroom candle or diffuser with some light, fresh scents for spring. Subtle florals like lilac, mint, and citrus are best for a springtime vibe. It’s easy to let bathroom clutter get away from you, but it’s even easier to tame it again. All you need is a little time to clear out all the unused toiletries, old products, and décor items that are covered in dust.

Make your bathroom the best it can be by giving it a little refresh for spring. We are here to help if you want more home décor tips or information on Hunter Douglas PowerView motorization. We have the expertise necessary to make your windows the best they can be. Call us today to learn more about what we can do for you and your home.