Ideas Window Blinds

Window blinds have been in usage for long time now covering windows preventing entry of light. The historic evolution of blinds are not very clear, but there are theories that blinds were first designed and used in Venice if one were to go by the popular blind type.

People have been using window blinds for privacy also in addition to light preventing Sun light and eventually heat in summer. Although there are many types of window blinds, one which is a hit with every one is the Venetian blinds.

Varieties of Window Blinds

When we distinguish blinds according to their making, we can differentiate door and window blinds just by their respective sizes. The different kinds of blinds are as follows.

At the top are Venetian blinds because of their popularity. The slats of the blinds are made of plastic or metal. Wooden slats and bamboo slats are not unusual and they are known by their respective names only. For example wooden blinds and bamboo blinds. The usual width of slats is 50 mm but you can occasionally find someone using blinds of upto 120 mm width too. One window on a wide wall having 120 mm slats add to the aesthetics of the room. Venetian blinds have a couple of equally popular variants too.

1. Mini blinds; here the slats are pretty narrow and you can’t expect it to be wider than 19 mm.

2. Vertical blinds; slats are vertical here thus giving it the name. Additionally, you can find the slats made of stiffen fabric. It is possible to turn the slats by 90 degrees when they hang from their ends from a guide rail.

Slat type window blinds open by turning in place which is facilitated by turning rotator attachments connected to strings.

There are special types in window blinds, such as solid blinds referring to those which can be opened by pulling up or by pushing up only. These can’t be opened in place as they are made of one solid sheet material. Examples of these are here.

Holland Blinds: One most common Holland blind type is woven wood blind, woven by simple strings so that they can just roll up or fold up to open. These are preferred in tropical conditions because of their higher efficiency in Sun control. The natural appearance gives an exquisite feel and gels totally with the ambience.

Pleated Blinds: Stiffened fabric made blinds just pull-up to open and when pulled up they fit the recess at the top.

Honeycomb Blinds: You can call these as cellular shades also because of their two or more layered cellular construction. These provide better insulation thanks to their cellular design.

Draperies Window Coverings

When redesigning a room you should always take into account the effect that the window coverings can have on your overall look. A careful choice of color and material in curtains can completely change the style and feel of your windows. The way curtains hang is another factor that can change your home design. Curtain tie backs can be a great detail, and you will probably be surprised how many different positions of tieback there are to be used in giving your curtains a completely unique look.

The type of tie back depends on the way the curtains are hanging. The following types are for standard curtains where one or more panels hang straight down from a rail or pole. The high tie style is when the curtain panels are pulled back to the edge of the window by a tie back positioned above the horizontal centerline of the window. Similarly, the middle tie gathers the curtain panel at around the center point. This can look oddly symmetrical if located right at the centre so should preferably be slightly higher or lower to achieve a good effect.

A low tie pulls the curtain to the window edge about three quarters of the way down to the curtain base. A center tie gathers the curtain panels together in the vertical centre of the window space roughly a quarter or a third from the bottom of the curtain.

If two curtain panels are hung one on top of the other, a crisscrossed tie can be used. To achieve this look the top panel is pulled to the left and secured with a tie, while the inside panel is pulled to the right and fastened in the same way.

The angled tie works best with just one curtain panel covering the window space. The panel is tied loosely in the high tie position, and is then tied more firmly to the edge of the window in the low tie position. This creates a pleasing silhouette against the light coming on through the window.

Curtains are available in both formal and informal styles and choosing the right style for your room can really make your final design come to life. Formal curtains can also be known as draperies and have a number of layers. The layers include a sheer base, often made from very thin lined or lace, heavy, floor length drapes, and a valance that runs across the top of the window and can vary greatly in its complexity. Formal curtains are usually made from a rich material, are heavily lined, and can be found in sitting rooms or dining areas. Informal curtains tend to be just one layer, are often unlined and are used mainly for privacy. They tend to be available in more contemporary colors and designs and are generally less expensive than formal drapes. They are also easier to clean and can often be washed and ironed with your other household linen.

Window Coverings Curtains

One of the easiest and least expensive ways to transform the look of a room is to change the curtains and window coverings. Instead of using the same old curtain rod and drapes, try putting your imagination to work to see what you can come up after being inspired by the following ideas for curtains and window coverings.

One of the most popular ways of making your own window coverings is to buy a designer curtain rod and pinch clips. These pinch clips grip the edge of the fabric and allow you to hang any kind of material, hemmed or unhemmed from your window. A popular look is to buy wrought iron gothic style rods and clips and attach hemmed or unhemmed sheers or a swath of plain fabric.

This is a very romantic look that can also be achieved by simply attaching long white sheets, which are much cheaper than fabric from a store. You still get that billowy romantic look without the expense. Whether you use sheers or fabric this look is also very much improved by tying ribbons or ties as pullbacks to enhance the appearance of the window coverings.

You can also buy curtains and window coverings that don't require any type of clip that slides along the rod. These curtains, which come in a variety of designs and fabrics, simply boast loops at their edge that allows you to thread the curtain through the rod. It would also be very simple to make your own curtain like this by attaching ribbons or fabric strips with buttons to a length of fabric.

Curtains and window coverings made from specialty papers are also very popular right now. Hand made papers and rice papers make pleasing semi-transparent blinds that compliment many modern decors. These are quite expensive in most stores but it is easier than you think to make your own. All you need to do is find a store that specializes in selling handmade or specialty papers.

Some of these papers are gorgeous and feature details such as glitter, leaves or threads pressed right into mesh of the paper fibers. Once you buy the paper you simply cut it into the right dimensions that will cover your window. You then string the paper on wire and attach the paper with binder clips. Keep in mind that this type of window covering is best for rooms that still need light but need privacy such as a bathroom.

Another way to liven up your décor is to hang hand painted Venetian window blinds. These types of window coverings can be very expensive but you can achieve a similar look by creating a collage or painting your own. The best way to do this is simply take a stencil and spray-paint one solid design on the Venetian blinds. A stencil and a can of spray-paint can also be used to personalize simple roll down blinds with your favorite symbol as well

Bay Window Coverings

You cannot stand it. The same old dreary windows that do little to add life to your home. It is time for a change. But, where do you start? How do you keep from making an expensive or embarrassing mistake? In fact, how can you know what you really want?

1.Start with one room at a time.
There may be the temptation, especially when moving into a new home, to decorate all of the rooms at once. This takes far too much energy and can sap your creative juices, leaving the decorating flat and less interesting. It can also make decorating your home an overwhelming task. Go slow. Do one room at a time and then move on to the next one.

2.Assess, review your needs.
With pen and paper in hand, jot down some notes about all of the windows in the room. Measure them and note their size and shape. Rough sketches will help. Are the windows too large? Too small? Odd sizes? Mismatched sizes? Is there too much light in the room? Not enough light? Do you want to block an unattractive view? Do you want to enjoy the beautiful view? Do you need privacy? Daytime privacy? Nighttime privacy? Or both? Do you want to liven up a dreary room? How do other family members feel about these needs? What is your budget for the windows?

3.Look for help, tips and ideas.
Seek inspiration. One thing is for certain, no matter what the challenge or situation that you are facing with your windows, someone else has already dealt with the same situation. There is a way, or many ways, to attractively treat the windows in your room. You can find examples of how others have decorated their windows in magazines, window decorating books, window decorating websites and by talking with friends and relatives.

4.Make a plan.
Using your list of needs, rank the needs in order of importance and then make a plan that addresses your needs in that order. There is a way to treat issue.

5.Address your window coverings in stages.
This is especially if you are uncertain about your preferences or if you are working on a budget. Begin with the shades, blinds or shutters. Once these are selected and installed, move to draperies or curtains, including the traverse or curtain rod. Finally, add the finishing touches such as cornices, decorative tie backs and finishing hardware.

6.Combine and contrast colors.
Using color in your window treatment is an excellent way to put life and energy as well as set the tone and mood of a room. Experiment with mixing colors from opposite ends of the color spectrum.

7.Mix fabrics for texture.
Fabric is composed of either natural or synthetic fibers and how they are woven, knitted or felted together. The type fiber and the weave or knitting will determine the texture of the material or fabric. Mixing fabrics and textures can be an excellent way to create interest and set the tone of your window treatments. For example, you may consider using velvet over organdy or silk over linen. Common fabrics for window treatments include brocade, cambric, canvas, chintz, cotton duck, crewel, damask, gingham, lace, linen, muslin, organdy, satin, silk, taffeta and velvet.

Window Curtains Draperies

Window blinds are versatile home design elements. They come in a variety of materials, fabrics and style to suit your tastes. We’ll look at several materials.

1) Metal. These are the original blinds. For many years, aluminum was the predominant metal used in blinds. It’s durable, affordable, cleanable and flexible. The slats come in a variety of lengths and widths to fit any space or taste.

2) Wood. This is a popular choice for window coverings for the warm touch it gives to a room. It’s not a great choice when the room is prone to humidity, such as in a bathroom or a kitchen. They’re not good choices in humid geographic areas either. Wood can warp, crack or swell, rendering them useless when they won’t open or close correctly, or the louvers won’t move. Wood is used in Venetian blinds and woven blinds.

3) Cane. You’ll see this in woven blinds. The slats are very thin, and they’re only adjustable as an entire unit, not by a single slat. Light filters into the room through the thin slats, that are usually tied together with rope. They add a very natural look to a room.

4) Vinyl. This is the most popular material for blinds. It can take on the look of wood, but it’s also very low-maintenance. It won’t crack or warp like wood, and it doesn’t attract dust like wood blinds do. Miniblinds are most often vinyl. They’re among the most popular type of blind, due to their thin slat and their versatility.

5) Fabric. Sometimes you’ll see fabric backed with a stiff material to create slats. These are exceptionally nice when they complement the décor in a room. Fabric can be used to bring a room together.

Blinds can be used by themselves, or layered with other window treatments. The severe lines of blinds can be contrasted with the softness of curtains or a valance, providing a polished, finished look.

Blinds can work in any room with windows. They can be horizontal or vertical, small or large. They can be subtly colored, and offset with a bold curtain or punchy valance.

Blinds are not only functional, as they keep light out and can act to obscure drafts from cracks around windows, but they’re decorative as well.

Blinds can make a great addition to any room. They’ve advanced so much in recent years, that you can get the look of yesterday with the technological advances of today.

Window Coverings For Patio Doors

The patio is one location of the house that is very versatile. It can be a place to relax and unwind after a hard day's work; it can be a place to view the garden; it can be a place to have a refreshing breakfast or even an afternoon cup of coffee and it can also be an interesting nook of the house that has its special purpose for the family. In some apartments where space is more of a luxury, the added space provided by patios are quite welcome. Of course, since patios are technically outside, you must have a quality patio door that connects the interior of the house to it. This is where patio doors come in.

If you think that patio doors are simple entry or access points to the patio then you are mistaken. Patio doors are more than just connectors to two places in the house. Take a look at the pointers below so you can have a clearer understanding of how patio doors can contribute to the overall quality, appearance and value of the house.

Choosing the Material

As with any kind of door for the home, your patio door can also be made of different materials. A patio door can be made of wood which is the most popular one. Wooden patio doors are popular because wood can easily blend in with both the interior and exterior of a house. French patio doors, for instance, has always been made of wood. Nowadays, though, you can also consider other materials such as fiberglass or even PVC doors for your home's patio. When choosing the kind of material, of course, you should consider the kind of protection that you will need. Be sure that your patio doors are protected from harsh sunlight, strong winds and rain. Also, you can consider having your patio screened so that the insides of your home can also be protected from insects and bugs.

Choosing the Style

It is now easier to choose the style for your patio door because homeowners now have more choices. In the old days, most patios can do with any kind of door. Some even think that any door is good enough just as long as it closes and opens when you please it. Of course, if you want your home to be in style then you also have to make sure that the patio door style you choose should not go against your home's general theme.

Choosing between Sliding, Folding or Standard Patio Doors

While sliding, folding or standard push-pull doors are part of style, they are given much important because they also have a lot to do with space. Sliding and folding patio doors are more preferred since they can give you more house space. Not only that, but a patio door that folds can also lead to a wide open patio that can make the sun shine in your home. Deciding on the type of opening for your door is based on your general preference; be informed though that there are many options to choose from.

Hunter Douglas

Port Douglas and beaches are synonymous. It offers a unique experience to the tourists. Yes, it is far from the madding crowd. Here you can have your own little space, your own apartment or holiday house, your own tropical beach, and your own private dinner.

Perhaps, if you are in the mood to declare your lifelong devotion, you might plan your own lavish wedding – on a pristine beach, in a tropical rainforest, under water surrounded by corals, or up in the air.

It is not for nothing that Port Douglas is called the wedding capital in these parts of the world. Yet, close by Port Douglas lie other enticing places that you may visit if you are in need for variety. Today, we take you to a charming place not a terribly long drive from Port Douglas, called Lake Tinaroo.

So, very close to Port Douglas lie different charms which are otherwise equally attractive, one of them being Lake Tinaroo. A man-made reservoir created by the Barron dam, this huge lake provide opportunities for a dozen water sports and other activities, taking your aquatic adventures inland away from the well known coastline.

Tinaroo is the heart of the Atherton Tablelands now also known as the Cairns Highlands. The Tablelands is a huge plateau west of the coast, at an average height of about one kilometre. During prehistoric times volcanoes in this region were a little too active, but fortunately resulted in creation of the charming crater lakes on the Tablelands. Tinaroo, however, is a different story, as it’s man made, created by the plugging of the Barron River for a dam. The low-lying areas then filled up to create a huge reservoir called Lake Tinaroo.

Created during the mid-fifties, the Barron dam was a multipurpose dam, preventing flooding, providing drinking water supply, generating power (only since 2004) and providing the irrigation needs of an area covering more than 400 square kilometres. Of course, most multi-purpose dams do that; so what’s so special about Tinaroo? You have to see it to believe it! Tinaroo is a creature of developmental need that has turned into an object of beauty, a venue of real lakeside romance and adventure.

Tinaroo is the darling of the Tablelands. People come in groups, as couples, or alone to savor the multifarious beauty of this lake. It looks different at sunrise, daytime or sunset, in autumn or in summer, under a torrential rainfall or during the dry season. The still waters of the lake are the right recipe for sweet-water fishing, and anglers from near and far crowd here for some prized fish.

Here you can find the prized barramundi, black bream, mouth-almighty or the famous red-claw yabbies. Spread over more than 33 square kilometres, Tinaroo is also the theatre for a variety of water sports. Water skiing is hugely popular, although for safety reasons, it is held mainly in the far end of the lake, leaving the main sections for swimmers, sail and paddle boating, and others. Although windsurfing has waned a little during recent years, the fluctuating winds reflecting off the mountains, and the huge placid expanse of the lake, make it ideal for such pursuits. 

Window Covering Ideas

A room does not always need a new paint or new furniture to transform its ambiance and create a new mood in the process. Believe it or not, with just a little bit of furniture rearranging and attention to details on your windows, you can be looking at practically a different room. For instance, putting on cornices give your windows height and structure. Adding indoor shutters can give your windows depth as installing blinds give them volume. The most obvious, and by far the most fun, treatment for your windows is dressing them up with curtains and draperies. They simply make your windows stand out in the entire room. They also come in a myriad of different shapes, sizes, lengths, patterns, colors, texture, and fabric. By all means, express your creativity and show your personality with the way you dress up your windows. Here are some window treatment ideas to give your windows a make over:

1.An adorable sari that goes well with the color of your room can be used as drapery for your bedroom window. Of course, you do not want your guests to see your clothes hanging in your living room window so keep the sari in the confines of your bedroom unless you will actually use it to cover your body.

2.Sarongs come in vibrant colors and loud patterns. They will look good as curtains on relatively small windows. They might not look good on the windows of your living room, office, and bedroom but they can add color and style on your bathroom and kitchen windows.

3.Putting wooden blinds or shutters on windows in a room where either the floor or the walls are wooden can make the place feel stuffy and tasteless. Accentuate instead with a touch of fabric to soften up the place.

4.For rooms with carpet flooring and wallpaper, wooden shutters or wooden cornices contribute a wooden sophistication to the space.

5.It is easy to overdo the treatments on your windows. If your windows are beautiful in its unadorned state, opt for minimal and subtle window treatments. Try not to cover up the effort that was put into customizing these windows.

6.If the room has already a lot of patterns on its walls, choose a simpler and more subdued color for your curtains and draperies. By doing so, you are creating balance and harmony within the space. On the other hand, rooms with plain walls look good with curtains that have pronounced prints and patterns.

7.To make your windows pop out, have your treatments in a color complementary to the color of the room. You may want to inspect the color wheel for this or you might as well consult an interior decorator for opinions and fresh ideas.

8.Rooms that get too much sunlight are very good candidates for window shade installation. Wooden shades go well with windows that have wooden moldings.

9.Cornices are practical for housing the curtain rods and they add elegance to your draperies. Have them in a much darker shade than your wall but make sure the color of your cornice and your room belong to the same palette.

Window Covering Accessories

The world of window treatments goes beyond curtains and blinds. There are entire lines of accessories. If you thought the only additions to your rooms that window treatments made were some blinds for privacy and a flashy fabric to add visual appeal, then you'll enjoy this article! There is an entire line of accessories for curtains that anyone trying to dress up a room with some inexpensive techniques should know about.

Curtain Tie Backs

Do you ever walk into a room and notice the beautiful swoop of curtains that are open and tied back? If you're looking to create this elegant touch with your curtains, you have a few different options. Thick cording with tassel ends tends to be popular tie back. You can also buy various different hooks that mount on the wall. Some hooks are larger, intended to hold the entire curtain panel back on its own while others are smaller and meant to hold the curtain tie in place.

Pulls

You can also buy decorative knobs to attach to the end of your blind pulls. These add a touch of class to the functional style of blinds or any other curtains that are controlled with a pull. There are also wrought iron draw rods. Instead of a string, rope or chain, these pull rods are solid. They are the most unique of the pulls and can really catch the eye.

Trimmings

If you're looking for curtains to dress up a room and don't want something as plain as a solid fabric, or as flashy as a floral or pattern, trimmings might be the answer for you. You can have trimmings added to the edge of your curtains. Trimmings can be as simple as a braided or cord edge or as elaborate as tasseled or bobbled fringe. This is a simple decorating option that I believe is often overlooked.

Coordinating Options

Many places offer services that will make decorative throw pillows or head boards to match your curtain choice. This is a nice thoughtful touch to any room. If you've found that fabric that gives a room that special something that makes people stop and compliment your savvy decorating eye, than why not have that same fabric turned into some pillows or a table runner? This is a fantastic way tie a room together with consistent flow.

Iron Windows Designs

People now are shifting from installing the traditional windows to installing the newest home window models because this is a requirement to enhance the looks of homes and increase their value. Home windows are now used as aspects to raise the value of homes because plain windows often appear to be boring and lifeless that house buyers will not take notice of the overall features of the house if the windows do look bare and unattractive.

However, if you do not have the budget for replacement windows, there are other alternatives that can help you improve the look of your home windows so that you do not need to spend so much for total window replacement. What you need is just adding elegance and beauty to your windows to make them appear brand new, exciting and refreshed. Interior fashion designers understand that with only flair of designing skills, you can make your old windows really look good and here are some of their suggestions so that you can enliven your home windows and make them look interesting.

Use shutters, curtains, blinds, drapers or solar shades to your windows so that another appealing look would surface. If you just let your windows stay there without any adornment then they will surely become boring and lifeless.

2. Hang attractive curtains that have light and natural colours which can make the appearance of your curtains interesting and you can also add ribbon strips with contrasting colours for added beauty.

3. When it comes to window frames, painting them with other colour can solve the issue of dullness in your home windows but make sure the paint you will use will match the whole interior decoration of your house.

4. You can also put a vase with beautiful flowers on top of the windowsill or hang beautiful pictures along with the curtains. The idea is to put an extra colour and life to the existing natural beauty of the windows.

5. When choosing your curtains, vases, flowers, drapes and window frames for your home windows, choose their colours accordingly that they must not contradict to each other and strain the eye of the beholder. Remember that you put these things into your windows to put life into them and not to overly decorate them so that they may appear strenuous to the eye.

6. Lastly, one of the best ways of changing the look of your house windows is through home window tinting. When windows are tinted, they can look better from the inside and because tints can reduce the entrance of harmful UV rays, tinting home windows can also be beneficial. Many homeowners are now opting to tint their windows because they can save energy from it as tint serve as insulation to windows. It can also provide more privacy and offer more security for the home dwellers. Burglars will have second thoughts of breaking into homes if all windows are tinted. Choose curtains also that can blend well with tinted windows.

Windows Designs For Home

If you're a homeowner, one of the best things you can do to increase the value of your house is to invest in home improvement windows. When you replace old windows with new versions that are well insulated and modern, people will instantly notice. It's amazing what new windows can do to make a home more attractive. When you combine your new windows with window treatments like shutters, blinds and curtains you can really transform the appearance of your house. If a person's eyes are the windows to his or her soul, the windows of your house are the...uh...windows to its soul. Whatever, I'm sure you get the point.

Home improvement windows are also one of the more affordable ways to remodel your house. Unlike remodeling a kitchen or a couple of bathrooms, windows can be purchased at a reasonable cost. If you take the time to read up on how to install them, you can save yourself a lot of contracting fees. Also, once you put a couple of them in, the rest of the windows in your house will be a breeze to replace. Exchanging old windows for new models is really an affordable and easy way to add value to your home.

In addition to the obvious money saving costs of replacing windows over a kitchen or several bathrooms, there are a few hidden money savers as well. For example, if you buy well insulated windows you can save a lot of money on your heating and cooling bills. Without all of the heated or cooled air escaping from your house and into the rest of your neighborhood, your house will have a controlled climate at a fraction of the previous cost. Purchasing home improvement windows is a fantastic investment to make, and I highly suggest you consider it if you have some extra money.

Blinds Designs In India

There are many different colours of Venetian blinds available to choose from. The colours available for Venetian blinds include metallic hues which give blinds a modern appearance to any room. The ever popular white PVC Venetian blinds compliment bathroom decors and provide a clean, pristine effect which is durable and resistant to steamy atmospheres. When the slats of the blinds are angled they provide complete privacy and yet allow plenty of light to enter the room. Ready made Venetian blinds are manufactured so that they can be trimmed to fit both the width, by a small amount and the length by any amount to provide a perfect fit to your windows.

A metallic rust coloured Venetian blind which has contrasting top and bottom rails, cord pull and a clear acrylic twist control presents a modern, contemporary feel, which is stylish when used in a bedroom or study.

Remote controlled Venetian blinds which are battery operated are the ideal solution for people who are less able bodied as the remote allows for the same amount of flexibility in controlling the tilt of the slats for reducing the amount of light coming into the room. They are convenient to put up in any home or office space you choose. Automatic Venetian blind kits are also available to provide a custom made blind for a bay window which comes with three individual blinds. They are fitted with low voltage motors which can be controlled individually to raise, lower or tilt as per your convenience. The blind kit also includes a receiver and remote control handset for you to control the angle. The blinds can also be operated by a timer or be set to work automatically according to the light level in the room they are put up. These may be the ultimate indulgence in Venetian blinds and although they are called kits cannot be made at home, they are made and installed to meet personal requirements.

Venetian blinds are a popular choice of window dressing for offices as they are durable and practical. These blinds are available in a variety of different widths, lengths and slat widths which suit large expanses of glass or small windows in boats and caravans. Venetian blinds made from aluminium are fire resistant and durable which is an aspect which needs to be considered both in the office and home environment, especially if the blind is to be used to dress a kitchen window. These blinds are ideal for the kitchen where fire resistant window coverings are necessary for your safety.

The smooth, sleek and slim line appearance of Venetian blinds offer an affordable and flexible approach to window dressings which will suit any room in a home. Although they are generally used to provide a complete window dressing many people use them rather than net curtaining for privacy against the window glass and have contemporary style curtains hung on the outside recess wall. Venetian blinds offer you the privacy and appealing touch you need to any room.