Ask the Experts

We can provide a general quote by telephone, provided we have the dimensions of your windows. However, a true estimate can only be offered with a free in-home consultation, once all material and design considerations have been estimated and the homeowner has chosen the actual window treatment. The estimated phone price can be more or less than the actual price, once our sales representative has presented the best options for your window coverings.

Yes, you can, but it’s not usually recommended. Most stores will not be held liable if your custom window coverings do not fit due to imprecise measurements that you have done yourself. Because the products are custom-made to your home’s specifications, they cannot be returned. However, if you feel that you would rather measure yourself, be sure and use a sturdy, metal tape measure. Cloth tapes can stretch, and yardsticks are usually not long enough. Also, be sure to measure your windows at least twice and confirm your measurements with your spouse or a friend. Many independent retailers who offer shop-at-home services will measure your windows and give you an estimate for free. Still others will charge a fee, but will apply it to a subsequent purchase. Check with the individual store policy regarding measurements before doing it yourself.

We can usually match your existing window coverings without a problem. We work with many different manufacturers and demand the same level of service with each and every one.

When you call our window specialist to your home, you’re inviting an expert in the industry who knows, from experience, what is available in new products, appropriate fabrics, and materials for any use, plus any special innovations and values from the many window fashions manufacturers and suppliers out there. Your specialist will have suggestions and ideas to add to yours, and will be able to help you create any look your heart desires. To see an even greater variety of examples, as well as actual working blinds and shades, visit our showroom, where you can see how the finished product actually looks and works.

If you had your home appraised prior to refurbishing it, and replaced everything, including upgrading old verticals to new horizontal blinds, you could potentially increase the value of you home with the new window coverings. But the only window covering that is known to actually increase the value of your home is the plantation shutter. Once attached to your window, it becomes a permanent part of the home, just like granite counters and tile or hardwood floors. Shutters give the home instant curb appeal from the end of the driveway.

You can go in many directions, from beautiful interior wood shutters to wood blinds, in a variety of slat sizes. With the popularity of cottages and Charleston-style homes in our area, wood shutters are increasingly fashionable today. Additionally, many customers view shutters as a lifetime investment that enhances the value of their home. For a more economical choice, consider wood blinds. In wider slat sizes, they emulate the look of shutters for a fraction of the cost. There are also vinyl products that emulate the look of wood, both in shutters and blinds.

For a nursery, the most effective window treatment is a lined drapery (called a “room darkening” liner) that helps keep the room dark during the day, so your child can sleep peacefully at any hour. You can get lined shades, too, but those are not as effective as fully lined draperies. With shades, the light is still going to peek through at the shade’s edge, along the sides of your windows. You could design room-darkening shades with stationary panels on the sides to minimize this problem, if you prefer the look of shades to drapery. There are also shades available with side channels that minimize the light coming in around their edges.

With French doors, the most popular option is treating the doors themselves by attaching a blind or shade to the door and installing brackets at the bottom to hold the blind or shade steady as the door moves. A second option would be to use draperies with a rod attached to the wall above the doors, but this means that the drapery does not move with the door. The formality of your room or the level of traffic through your French door will probably determine which choice is best for you. Sliding doors are more challenging than French doors. Although they are less popular today than in previous years, vertical blinds are still a good practical choice for those who want privacy and have sliding doors. More high-end options include sliding panel systems such as Skyline from Hunter Douglas as well as the Luminette, a drapery and blind hybrid. Another elegant option is to have a pretty drapery that can be drawn to one side with a valance above the door to conceal the movable track.

A faux blind is a blind made from synthetic material instead of wood. Faux blinds are usually made of one of three materials: a hardened foam, a type of plastic, or a PVC material. Faux (pronounced foe) is the French word for fake, or more specifically forgery. Though the material is not real wood, it is much more durable and easier to clean than wood, making it ideal for those looking for a cost effective, low maintenance, and aesthetically pleasing way to cover their windows. Did we mention that it’s significantly less expensive than wood?