Motorized Blinds and Shades Do More Than Make Life Simple

When we say motorized blinds and shades many of our clients initially think they don’t want or need a motorized feature for their custom window treatments.  But if you are considering adding new blinds or shades to a room, or your entire home, you definitely want to hear what we have to say about them.  There are many other advantages to motorized shades and blinds (drapes can be motorized too!) than just the amount of light that you let in, there is so much more.  Here are some of the reasons we think motorized shades and blinds are a valuable option.

The first reason is the obvious one:  Convenience!  Just by pushing a button you can open and close your shades, drapes or blinds, without having to get up, cross the room and reach over furniture.  As the sun moves through the sky, or darkness falls you can adjust your blinds and shades with just the click of a button. 

If convenience isn’t your concern, then how about protection of your furniture, carpeting and finishes.  We all know that these items are costly for any homeowner, but when you add motorized blinds and shades you can protect your valuable assets, no matter what the angle of the sun’s rays.  You can even get them synchronized so that when you push the button all of the window shades in your home are opened or closed at the same time!  No more running from room to room and no more fading of fabrics and finishes!

Energy efficiency is a big deal these days.  From appliances to heating and cooling systems and everything between and inside the walls of your home are geared toward saving energy.  With motorized blinds and shades you can easily let in enough sunlight to warm your home on cooler days and shade your rooms when temperatures are warm to take some of the load off of your mechanical systems.  By giving a helping hand with motorized shades and blinds, your home’s efficiency will increase, which will help to decrease those dreaded utility bills!

Lastly, when it comes to feeling safe and sound, motorized blinds and shades can help too.  From a security standpoint, you can keep rooms hidden during the day or night just by lowering or closing your shades.  If you want to give the appearance that you are at home, even when your not, motorized shades can help with that too.  Some systems even allow for control through your computer!

Who said custom window treatments are just for looks?  We love that they can add more to your home than warmth and style!  For more information on how to bring you home into the 21^st century with new custom motorized window shades, blinds and drapes, contact Interiors by John Henrytoday.

Your Home Your Design – Interior Decorating for Homes on the Beach

Living by the beach is calming, serene, breezy, sunny and peaceful.  Chances are if you own a beach home, you love the beach and the water.  Sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming to design a beach home without being “too literal”.  We are going to break it down simply to help you bring the beach into your home so that it is subtle and beautiful. 

·      Color:  Like we stated before the beach is calming, serene, peaceful and breezy.  Using creams, beiges, light greens and blues help to achieve a calm, cool feeling to your beach home.  Based on the psychology of color, blues and greens cause the body to produce chemicals that cause a calming sensation. Many of your windows may have incredible water views, so having the right colors and style of window treatments will preserve the view, while enhancing the warmth and feel of the space.

·      Texture:  The sand, the shells and the boardwalk all have a specific feeling and texture to them.  Touch is an important sense to focus on when decorating your home.  You want to engage your visitors with touchable fabrics and finishes, especially with your custom window treatments.  Textured furniture and accessories add visual interest to a space.  Adding wide planked wood floors bring the boardwalk into the home in a tasteful approach.

·      Light: Once again windows become the hero of the story, so taking in the beautiful view of the ocean and letting in light can be your motivation.  However, sometimes the afternoon sun can be a bit too much.  Adding the right custom window treatments will help to add some privacy and keep the sun at bay during the hottest time of the day, while allowing the light to brighten your space when you want.  Roll up shades of rattan or wicker adds texture to a room, but also provides a sufficient amount of shade to cool your home down at high noon.  Floor to ceiling grommet drapes on rods also provide shade, but can give a light airy feeling to a room when opened.  Custom cornices in a bold print will draw attention to your windows, while maintaining the open view.

·      Natural elements:  Soothing colors and wood-grain ceramic and porcelain tiles can make any bathroom feel warm and cozy.  Finishes in champagne bronze and oil-rubbed bronze bring richness to your bath.  Along with stone countertops and weathered wood vanities in grey tones like driftwood can make your home feel like a seashore getaway, no matter where it’s located.  Consider custom wood blinds to accent the textures of the counters or floors with motorized options to make opening and closing easy!

·      Don’t forget to finish it off:  All natural décor make the perfect finishing touches to your new oasis of relaxation.  Check out the readily available cotton linens for furniture and accent pillows and try some beeswax candles to set the mood.  Glass countertops and bamboo accessories are perfect for creating a luxurious atmosphere.

  

When decorating your home we find the most fun part for our clients are selecting the finishes for things like furniture, accent décor and custom window treatments.  There are many choices and materials that can make your home at the Jersey shore feel “beachy” on the inside in a subtle, suggestive way.  Interiors by John Henry has provided custom window treatment design, production and installation, as well as kitchen and bath remodeling services throughout New Jersey and New York. Please contact us today for more information on how we can help you design and decorate your home with the latest custom window treatment and décor trends.