Window Treatments Shades and Blinds Blog Archive

Window Treatments

Luminette® Privacy Sheers Control The Sunshine

Luminette® Privacy Sheers by Hunter Douglas diffuse and disperse the sun’s rays into a soft natural light.

Press play to watch the beauty and function of Luminette® Privacy Sheers

Luminette® Privacy Sheers…..

The perfect solution for wide windows and doors.

A vertical application with a sheer fabric to let light in and soft fabric vanes to keep light out.

Enjoy full view-through or complete privacy

Accents panoramic views

Control the sun by rotating the vanes 180 degrees

Filter out brightness and glare

Transform harsh sunlight into soft natural light throughout the room

Protect furnishings from UV damage while maintaining the view

Updated fabrics, colors and textures enhancing any style room

Coordinates well with other Hunter Douglas products.

Elegance and craftsmanship in every detail.

Sleek concealed hardware with easy operation.

Child safe with no dangling cords.

Optional motorization with PowerView® available.

Made in the USA

Beautiful and functional

Luminette® provides endless ways to manage light and privacy in expansive applications.

Check for current promotions.

In what room will you use Luminette® Privacy Sheers?

xoxo

Marie

Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decision to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Hiring a professional saves you time, frustration and money.

You, your family, your house, and office deserve it!

July 1, 2015/by Marie Mouradian

Decorating With Black Is NOT Dark And Boring

Decorating With Black

Decorating with black details make this Southbridge, MA dining room anything but dark and boring.

Custom gathered tied tab drapes in a vibrant black floral chintz frame the view.

A whimsical hand crafted wooden drapery rod is a perch for custom cut black bird silhouettes.

The coordinating Wilton Weave area rug repeats the black with vibrant floral pattern. The rug softens the terra cotta floor and anchors the table.

White walls and trim are a nice backdrop to the striking black accents.

Tips For Decorating With Black

Black never goes out of style. It’s timeless!
Combining black with vibrant colors makes them pop.
Black is a universal color across all styles.
Artwork with a black frame looks fabulous.
Everything matches with black.
Afraid of commitment to decorating with black? Use black accessories in wrought iron.
Black brings out the grain in wood.
Contrary to what you may think, black makes small rooms seem larger. My favorite place to use black on the walls is a small powder room.
Black is glamorous.
Consider painting an accent wall in high gloss black for extra drama.
Decorating with black appeals to both men and women.

Follow These Sites For Decorating With Black Inspiration

The Skeptic’s Guide To Black Paint

Warning – These Rooms Will Make You Regret Your White Walls

8 Black Rooms That Aren’t Scary

xoxo

Marie

Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decision to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Hiring a professional saves you time, frustration and money.

You, your family, your house and office deserve it!

Please share this post

Bringing the decorating showroom to you in the Worcester, Massachusetts area including Holden, Princeton, Sterling, Rutland, Paxton, West Boylston, Shrewsbury, Boylston, Grafton, Sutton, Millbury, Lancaster, Leominster and beyond.

January 25, 2015/by Marie Mouradian

Home Decorating, Window Treatments

Throwback Thursday – Nursery From The Early 90’s

Timeless Nursery Design

Twenty-four years later and this adorable nursery is still in style today. A non-gender specific theme of teddy bears is the theme for this Shrewsbury, MA nursery.

A Designer’s Guild fabric was selected from London.

Attention to detail is a true sign of custom. Check out the hand painted rod the curtain ties onto.

How sweet are these hand painted stuffed bows?

What a fun tieback!

Often the #TBT’s in this series are good for a laugh at the past.

Like the sweet smell of a baby and the softness of its skin, this nursery never gets old.

Good design is timeless!

XOXO

Marie

Did you like this post? Please do me a favor and go back up to the top and share it with your friends. They will appreciate it and so will I. Thank You!

Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Hiring a professional saves you time, frustration and money. You, your family, your house, and office deserve it!

November 20, 2014/by Marie Mouradian

Window Treatments

Throwback Thursday – Mauve and Seafoam Swags and Cascades

Do you remember Mauve and Seafoam?

Pinky mauve and seafoam green were popular colors 20 years ago. Window Designs Etc. custom made these swags and cascades for a Holden, MA home.

These are a variety of the traditional swag and cascades. Notice the style variety of the swags. Instead of the pleats forming at the ends, some of the pleats originate in the middle creating a fan effect.

Hunter Douglas Duette®s were only single cell in 1996. The shades provide privacy and insulation. The difference between these Duette®s and the Duette® Architella of today is the amount of insulation. Today’s Duette® Architella is the premium energy saver.

Child safety regulations have also become stricter. Sadly, there are still many of these outdated shades with dangerous dangling cords. Today’s Hunter Douglas products have cordless operating systems – a VERY safe development.

This #TBT series is good for a laugh but safety developments are serious.

See more #TBT’s here.

Thankfully classic, timeless and SAFE design is the current trend.

Share this post with everyone you know who has small children.

XOXO

Marie

Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Hiring a professional saves you time, frustration and money. You, your family, your house, and office deserve it!

November 6, 2014/by Marie Mouradian

Design Project Stories, Window Treatments

Home Office Valance Styles

Selecting from many home office valance styles can be overwhelming to clients. I draw up a few styles and give the client a great visualization of how it will look in the fabrics we select.

The home office/library of a CFL (Client for Life) in Princeton, MA needs updating.

Here’s the BEFORE photo.

The “pouf” valance is out of style. It looks like I got my days mixed up and should be posting in the #TBT (Throw back Thursday) series.

Window Designs Etc. did not make this window treatment. It was a semi-DIY.

To keep the room warm, the new design features closing drapes and a valance or top treatment.

The drapery fabric

Adding interest to a solid, we choose this textured golden tan with flecks of blue/gray from Trend Fabrics for the draperies. We’ll line and interline the drapes for added body and insulation.

Drapes with pinch pleats will be on a traverse rod. This will make it super easy to open and close them.

We will install the drapery rod 6-8″ beyond the width of the molding and above the top of the molding 4″. Extending out and up allows for maximum glass exposure when the drape is open and additional overlap is better insulating when the drape is closed.

The valance fabric

To keep the room masculine, we choose this blue/gray traditional print with touches of golden tan from Trend Fabrics. LOVE it!

To make the window look taller than it is, we will mount the valance up to the ceiling. We’ll want a tailored and flat style to show off the large scale of the fabric.

Home office valance styles – Which would you choose?

To help the client visualize, I’ve done computer renderings of three different home office valance styles.

This Imperial style valance has two scalloped sections with a small jabot in between. Flat-box pleated cascades anchor the ends.

A straighter look is achieved with this valance. the center jabot is cinched together with a covered button. Tapered cascades contrast lined in the drapery fabric finish the ends.

A variation of the Moreland Valance, shown here and here, focuses all of the attention to the center jabot which is much more substantial than the others. Narrow cascades tuck in behind the valance at the ends.

All are great choices for the look and feel we want to the room. Which one will the client choose? Stay tuned for the AFTER photos.

Which style would you choose?

Let’s get this conversation started so comment below your choice and why.

There is no right or wrong answer!

XOXO

Marie

Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Hiring a professional saves you time, frustration and money. You, your family, your house, and office deserve it!

June 19, 2014/by Marie Mouradian

Window Treatments

What Is A Duette® Architella Window Shade?

When it comes to dressing your windows with shades, Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shades are the only brand you need. They are just as beautiful as they are beneficial.

Hunter Douglas says “Smart and stylish solutions. That’s our promise to you”

Textures and colors inspired by the latest fashions.
Revolutionary construction for improved energy savings.
Innovative lift systems with enhanced safety.

Designed with a patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb construction, Duette® Architella shades offer the largest selection of fabrics and colors in the industry.

This is just one of the reasons I am committed to Hunter Douglas.

Here are a few other reasons I think they are the best for your windows.

Duette® Architella – Abundant Selection

Eleven distinctive fabric styles and over 130 colors are available in Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shades.

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shades are available in sheer, semi-sheer, semi-opaque and opaque.

The four opacities offer the widest range of privacy and light control.

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shades in Opaque Elan give the most room darkening effect. Room darkening shades are the perfect choice for bedrooms. This a teen’s room on the coast of New Hampshire. I had so much fun designing the cornice with the nautical rope. Notice how we shaped the cornice to follow the angle of the ceiling. Truly custom. The Duette® Architella shades hide away under the cornice during the day.

Elan is one of the eleven distinctive fabric styles. There is a color to fit every room style.

***Note all of the colors show white to the street for a uniform look from the exterior.

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shade in Batiste with IllumiCell.

IllumiCell is the Hunter Douglas exclusive clear inner cell that increases light transmission which enhances the fabric’s texture.

Architella Batiste fabrics are as beautiful as they are earth friendly. They contain recycled content and Batiste Bamboo is made up of 45% sustainable fibers.

India Silk creates a compelling design statement. It has a tinted IllumiCell to enhance its woven texture. This is one of my favorite shades to specify.

Duette® Architella – Energy Wise

The patented honeycomb construction helps to provide superior energy savings both in winter and summer.

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shades can reduce heat loss through windows up to 40%.

Installing these shades significantly improve energy savings during the cold months.

I can personally attest to how well Architella shades keep the cold out, I have them in my own home!

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shades can reduce solar heat gain through windows up to 80%.

Reduced solar heat gain keeps your home cooler in the summer and lowers energy bills.

Duette® Architella – Innovative Designs

We installed this Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella Top Down Bottom Up shade with LiteRise® in a Sterling, Massachusetts bathroom.

LiteRise® is an intuitive cordless lifting system that provides an uncluttered look with no visible cords. This makes a wise choice for child safety.

Top-Down/Bottom-Up

Open from the top or the bottom, or settle somewhere in between. With this feature, you create the perfect balance of privacy and natural light.

This is a perfect solution for bathrooms. Who wants to be in the bathroom with the shade down and the light on during the day?

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella honeycomb shade with Ultra Glide.

Ultra Glide

Effortless operation with retractable cord eliminates cord pooling on the floor. Ultra Glide is a Hunter Douglas Exclusive lifting system.

This Sterling, Massachusetts kitchen has Duette® Architella shades over the kitchen sink and on a door.

The LiteRise® cordless lifting system means no tangled cords getting caught in the door.

Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella with Duolite pairs fabrics of different opacities for optimum light control and privacy. This shade has a semi-sheer on the top and an opaque fabric on the bottom. It is two shades in one with all of the possibilities in between.

Duette® Architella – Motorization

Control shades from a hand-held remote, wireless wall switch or your mobile device with the Platinum App. ***Update – As of July 1, 2015 the new PowerView® motorization system is used. Now you can control your shades from anywhere in the world!!! Ask me how?

Celebrating Hunter Douglas at a recent Premiers event for dealers who are committed to education.

I am proud to be a Hunter Douglas Certified Priority Dealer.

The combination of Hunter Douglas’ innovative products and my interior design expertise; there is a solution for every window in your home or office.

Read about more details on Hunter Douglas Duette® Architella here.

Duette®s come with a Hunter Douglas Lifetime Guarantee.

Click here to see the latest Hunter Douglas Promotions.

Are Duette® Honeycomb Shades Right For Your Windows?

Would you like to see how Hunter Douglas Duette®s look in your home?

Hunter Douglas Duette®s help solve many homeowners window challenges.

The combination of Hunter Douglas’ innovative products and my interior design expertise; there is a solution for every window in your home or office.

Do you have a friend or neighbor who would love this? Please share with them.

Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love.

508-868-2270

Bringing the showroom to you in the Worcester, Massachusetts area including Holden, Princeton, Sterling, Rutland, Paxton, West Boylston, Shrewsbury, Boylston, Grafton, Sutton, Millbury, Lancaster, Leominster and beyond.

Photos other than those marked Window Designs Etc. are from www.hunterdouglas.com

April 17, 2014/by Marie Mouradian

Window Treatments

Throwback Thursday – A Design Blast From The Past – Too Much Icing

1980 Arched Window Treatment

Most of the McMansions feature large arched top windows the homeowner doesn’t know how to treat themselves. No wonder us window treatment designers loved the architects of the 1980’s!

This Sterling, Massachusetts client didn’t want anything too “heavy” on her window in the family room so we selected this light and airy neutral sheer fabric. Decorative cording is draped over the custom painted wood holdbacks. Matching tassels finished off the cording which highlighted the rich jewel tones of the furniture.

Does anyone else think the cording and tassels look like fancy icing on a wedding cake? It is a HOT trend on this 1980 arched window treatment.

This is the second house I design for this client (I’ll have to go way back to find the 1st house photos). Many clients from my early days have become lifelong clients. Last spring I helped make this client’s third house into a home. The current house is much smaller with classic and clean decor.

Fess up now, who had something like that in their house?

25 + years later it’s pretty funny.

Thankfully classic and timeless design is the current trend.

Happy Thursday!

XOXO

Marie

Need help decorating? Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Please don’t be shy. Comment below, Pin to your favorite board, Tweet to the world, Give it a + on Google, Post on your Facebook wall, E-mail to a friend, Link, Tumble and Stumble it…..Your friends will love it and so will I!

February 20, 2014/by Marie Mouradian

Window Treatments

PVC Pipe Window Treatment Style Throwback To 1980’s

PVC Pipe Window Treatments

Do you remember what the 80’s style of window treatments were? What happens when a Master Plumber marries a custom window treatment designer? A PVC pipe window treatment is born. PVC, polyvinyl chloride, pipe and elbows become the hardware on the windows of her designs!

Yes, it was quite convenient for our professions to merge but we were following the 80’s style trend of fabric covered 2 1/2″ diameter rods. PVC pipe was much lighter and more cost-effective than large wooden poles.

We use various angle elbows to fit the rods into bay windows. It is a HOT and trendy window treatment style of the late 1980’s.

Window Treatments 1980’s Style

This Northboro, Massachusetts kitchen bay window featured draped or throw swags wound around PVC pipe that was shirred with fabric………….It was custom and we thought it looked spectacular!

Fess up now, who had a PVC pipe window treatment in their home?

Are your window treatments still hung from plumbing pipes?

25 years later it’s pretty funny.

Thankfully classic and timeless design is the current trend.

Happy Thursday!

XOXO

Marie

Need help decorating? Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Please don’t be shy. Comment below, Pin to your favorite board, Tweet to the world, Give it a + on Google, Post on your Facebook wall, E-mail to a friend, Link, Tumble and Stumble it…..Your friends will love it and so will I!

February 13, 2014/by Marie Mouradian

Window Treatments

Holiday Solutions For Naked Windows – A Special Offer

More ways to cover up your naked windows

Yikes, the holidays came quickly this year, life got in the way and you just didn’t get to contacting me about those NAKED windows.

Home Alone

Now the relatives are coming for Christmas and you can hear Aunt Agnes saying “Dear, when ARE you going to do some decorating around here!”.

YOU are not alone!

I’ve found some more creative TEMPORARY holiday solutions for naked windows.

I have a SPECIAL OFFER for you at the end.

Holiday Solutions For Naked Windows

Snowing outside and snowflakes inside. Everyone remembers cutting out snowflakes. My friend, Martha Stewart, uses stiffened doilies.

Martha Stewart

Wreaths are a classy addition to the window.

Nell Hills

Pine garland and snowflakes as window treatment WindowDesignsEtc.com holiday solutions for naked windows on the blog http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vO

A combination of snowflakes and greens for a layered window treatment! I do love the pillows.

The Lettered Cottage

Swags of greens and pinecones with satin ribbon bows. Very festive! This is one of my favorite holiday solutions for naked windows.

These spectacular windows are calling for a formal custom window treatment but for now, a wreath hung from a bow will do.

The Well Appointed House

WindowDesignsEtc.com More solutions for naked windows on the blog http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vO

A birch branch makes a good temporary curtain rod to hang the pine and stars from.

Women’s Day

WindowDesignsEtc.com More holiday solutions for naked windows on the blog http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vO

Now, THIS is a creative use for those vintage aprons! Use the top one and it’s a valance. Put up just the bottom apron and it is a cafe style. Use two aprons and you have a whole window treatment, right? What’s next, your nightgowns?

Nicety Live Journal

A Special Offer

Marie@WindowDesignsEtc.com

Happy Window Decorating

XOXO

Marie

Need help decorating? Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Please don’t be shy. Comment below, Pin to your favorite board, Tweet to the world, Give it a + on Google, Post on your Facebook wall, E-mail to a friend, Link, Tumble and Stumble it…..Your friends will love it and so will I!

December 24, 2013/by Marie Mouradian

Window Treatments

Holiday Solutions For Naked Windows And A Special Offer

Yikes, the holidays came quickly this year, life got in the way and you just didn’t get to contacting me about holiday solutions for NAKED windows.

Home Alone

Now the relatives are coming for Christmas and you can hear Aunt Agnes saying “Dear, when ARE you going to do some decorating around here!”.

YOU are not alone!

I’ve found some creative TEMPORARY holiday solutions for naked windows.

I have a SPECIAL OFFER for you at the end.

Holiday Solutions For Naked Windows

Solutions for naked windows Christmas balls hung on a window like a curtain. See more creative ideas on the blog http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

A Christmas ball curtain

Solutions for naked windows Crafty cards hung across a window on twine and clothes pins. Please come take a look at more ideas http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

Crafty cards hung across the window with twine and clothes pins.

Country Living

Red ribbons hang a collection of petite wreaths. WindowDesignsEtc.com Please come take a look at more ideas http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

A variety of petite wreaths hang from a group of red ribbons. Pretty festive for a temporary window covering.

Family Holiday

Solutions for naked windows WindowDesignsEtc.com Please come take a look at more ideas http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

A little bit of everything here, evergreen garland, snowflakes and glass balls.

Country Living

Solutions for naked windows Candy canes make great window treatments! WindowDesignsEtc.com Please come take a look at more ideas http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

Hang lots of candy canes from ribbon. Add some greens around the outside and no one will notice there is no window treatment.

Good Housekeeping

Solutions for naked windows A window dressed for a wedding. WindowDesignsEtc.com Please come take a look at more ideas http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

Very creative use of baby’s breath to make these wreaths and swags. This would also be a wonderful solution for naked windows at a wedding.

Intimate Weddings

Solutions for naked windows Window candy? With all of this going on, no one will ever notice you have no window treatments! WindowDesignsEtc.com Please come take a look at more ideas http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

A little window candy? With all of this going on, NO ONE will ever notice you don’t have window treatments!

Indulgy

Windows dressed up for a party in Candy Land?

Ivy Clad

Solutions for naked windows Ribbons and christmas balls WindowDesignsEtc.com Please come take a look at more ideas http://wp.me/p2RXdv-vv

Colorful balls hung from colorful ribbons. This window treatment even provides a bit of privacy!

Love It So Much

A Special Offer

Marie@WindowDesignsEtc.com

Happy Window Decorating

XOXO

Marie

Need help decorating? Contact me today, I will guide you in the best decisions to make your house into a home you love to live in.

Please don’t be shy. Comment below, Pin to your favorite board, Tweet to the world, Give it a + on Google, Post on your Facebook wall, E-mail to a friend, Link, Tumble and Stumble it…..Your friends will love it and so will I!

December 23, 2013/by Marie Mouradian

Luminette® Privacy Sheers by Hunter Douglas diffuse and disperse the sun’s rays into a soft natural light.

Luminette® Privacy Sheers…..

xoxo

Marie

Decorating With Black

Tips For Decorating With Black

Follow These Sites For Decorating With Black Inspiration

xoxo

Marie

Timeless Nursery Design

Good design is timeless!

Do you remember Mauve and Seafoam?

The drapery fabric

The valance fabric

Home office valance styles – Which would you choose?

Which style would you choose?

Let’s get this conversation started so comment below your choice and why.

There is no right or wrong answer!

Duette® Architella – Abundant Selection

Duette® Architella – Energy Wise

Duette® Architella – Innovative Designs

Duette® Architella – Motorization

Are Duette® Honeycomb Shades Right For Your Windows?

1980 Arched Window Treatment

XOXO

Marie

PVC Pipe Window Treatments

Window Treatments 1980’s Style

Fess up now, who had a PVC pipe window treatment in their home?

25 years later it’s pretty funny.

Thankfully classic and timeless design is the current trend.

Marie

More ways to cover up your naked windows

YOU are not alone!

Holiday Solutions For Naked Windows

A Special Offer

Happy Window Decorating

XOXO

Marie

YOU are not alone!

Holiday Solutions For Naked Windows

A Special Offer

Happy Window Decorating

XOXO

Marie

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