Here are a few pictures of a recent faux wood blind project completed in Mesa, Arizona.  This project was for a repeat customer who purchased a new home and appreciated the quality and value offered by our previous project.

This particular customer knew exactly what she was wanting as a design statement.  She was after the brightest white faux wood we carry.  She wanted the fabricator the carried the limited lifetime warranty and was know for ungraded internal components.  She also wanted the mishmash of old verticals and cellular shades removed. 

One item of note, this project did have one fairly large window - 95" wide by 60" tall.  While a blind this size can be made, it fall outside of the warranty range because it is so heavy to raise and lower.  After consider the pros and cons, the customer opted for a 3 on 1 option.  This means three separate blinds were mounted on a single headrail - with a single valance.  We set blind sizes so that the gaps created would be located above the vertical mullion breaks in the window. 

End result - a very affordable transformation of the main entry, family room, dining nook and kitchen.

We would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your project might cost, check out our online wood and faux wood blind calculator.

We assume you know what a standard wood or faux wood blind looks like.  They are “literally” everywhere.  Okay, maybe not literally, but pretty dang close.  Anyway, you have your basic wood or faux wood blind slat either with holes, or not, running horizontally through the blind.  So generally, whatever color your blind is – the horizontal cord matches.

Now, for the “Pop!”  Add some tape to the blind.  No, not duct tape – but rather, decorative bands of fabric that contrast the color of the blind.  You still have cords running through the blind, but they are not noticeable because mounted in front of them is this strip of decorative fabric.  Not only does this fabric provide a design statement, but it also provides some privacy.

So, are you ready to let your dormant internal design urges roar?  Then, start by playing with same tape.  Just saying! 

We would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your project might cost, check out our online wood and faux wood blind calculator.  And, if you would like a rough idea on cost for wood or faux wood blinds with tape, then please use this form to send us your rough window sizes and please kindly indicate that you would like an estimate for blinds with tape.

A client writes, "We moved in over the winter and are finally getting around to replacing our temporary shades with a more permanent window treatment. We've pretty much settled on wood (or faux wood) blinds but can't quite pick a color that won't clash with what we have or what we're planning to do. The walls, carpet and sectional with matching ottoman are all various shades of beige but the windows, molding, fireplace and ceiling are all white. Part of me wants to add some depth and color contrast with a darker color blind like maple or walnut but the other part of me says to keep it safe with a variant of white and just add color via accents around the room. What would be my best choice? Any input would be greatly appreciated."

So, here are a couple questions to help you decide how to proceed.

How long are you planning on living in this house?  If you are planing on staying for a while, then the options open up - as you don't need to worry about what another buyer might think.  If you are moving within a 1-5 years, then stick with a matching white or bright white.  It will bring lots of light into the space, will not risk chasing off potential buyers, and will generally be easier to keep looking clean and new.

How important is heat control to you?  If you live in a place where 117 degrees is fairly common, then white will keep the window areas cooler.  If heat is not an issue, then you can play with all sorts of color options.

Do you want a clean, bright, modern look or a more classic rich look?  And, this is really the crux of the matter.  For the clean, bright, modern look stick with a white faux or wood blind.  If you like a richer, classic look, then move to a stained wood in one of the darker richer tones.

In today's marketplace, white outsells stains by a huge margin, so it is clearly the preferred style for today's taste and economics.  With that said, when we do have an opportunity to complete a project with real stained wood blinds, the results are always stunning.

With any luck, by asking yourself these few questions you can work through the critical thinking process of whether to purchase white or stained faux wood or wood blinds.

We would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your project might cost, check out our online wood and faux wood blind calculator.

Ready for some straight talk?  Okay, here it is.  When it comes to how nice your wood and faux wood blinds look, the valance that is ultimately chosen is one of the key factors.  Yes, believe it or not a $2 upgrade for a nicer valance will add crazy amounts of esthetic appeal.  This is one of the little tricks we have learned in years of providing wood and faux wood blinds to our clients.

Your wood or faux wood blind valance, and the way it is attached, can honestly make or break the whole final impression of your project.  Because of this, we tend to stick with blinds that have a crown molding type looking valance.  Our brand is called the Orlando valance and is a full 3 1/4" high and 1/2" thick.  This extra 1/4" to 1/2" in height is noticeable and just goes that extra step in making the blind look and feel custom.  Now truthfully, you would never know these slightly bigger valances looked nicer unless you were an industry insider or were able to see the side by side in your window.  But the little extra coverage really makes for a better look with more coverage of the blind's head rail.

Also, whenever possible, we add small returns to the valance.  Returns are small added parts that often extend approximately 1/2" from the valance to the wall.  We add about an 1" to the width of the valance as compared to the width of the window and then attach these returns.  The end result is a finished valance system at a great price.

It is little understandings like these that cause us to believe that experience matters.  Your average big box or online retailer will likely not know to consider these sorts of nuances - unless they care enough to read a blog  like this.  But, even so there is nothing quite like seeing the before and after of different options as installed in people's homes.

Bottom line, be an informed consumer when buying wood and faux wood blinds.  A lot of value lies in the details - in this case a small upgrade to an Orlando style valance.

We would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your project might cost, check out our online wood and faux wood blind calculator.

We have encountered many large windows in Arizona where there is a standard rectangular window with another window above.  The standard rectangular window opens and closes, as you might expect, however the window above is generally a solid glass arch or smaller rectangle.  These windows are often only separated by a metal mullion - no more than 3" wide.

So, how do people proceed when faced with this situation.  Well, it all depends.  Here are some ideas:

• Consider leaving the transom window uncovered.  If you have privacy at that height and no real need to block the direct sunlight, then this can be a great look.  This works particularly good when utilizing wood or faux wood blinds, as their side mount capabilities and 3" crown molding look valance system compliment the window configuration nicely.  This is a really great option if your home is equipped with low E windows.  In that case, you can have design beauty and efficiency.

• For windows with rectangular transom windows above, consider mounting the wood or faux wood blind all the way to the top and simply ordering a longer blind.  Depending on the size of the window, this is not as stunning from a design perspective as leaving the transom open, but in some applications function trumps design - and this is the balance that must be struck for each individual.

• Finally, for windows with an arched window above, you may want to consider using a faux or wood arch blind mounted above a standard faux or wood blind.  Professional window covering dealers know how to make the window look finished despite installing two blinds.  You also might want to look at a plantation shutter option for an large arched window, as they are an ideal product for those type of windows.  However, you want to consider other things with that and be extra careful before mixing wood blinds and shutters in the same space or across the front of your home.

• One cautionary note, if at all possible avoid mounting an outside mount faux or wood blind above a window with an arch.  While it gets the job done of covering the opening, you risk not being able to find wood to install the blind into, and frankly you will create a very awkward design look in your space.  You are better off leaving the arch uncovered and putting a stationary solar sun screen on the outside of the window.  Just some food for thought from experienced window covering folks that have had to fix that mistake for more than a few clients.
  

We would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project.  Also, for a rough idea of what your project might cost, check out our online wood and faux wood blind calculator.