The Blind Guy Vancouver WA

Exterior or Interior: A Buyer’s Guide to Window Shutters

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 19:18:00 GMT

When it comes to beautiful yet versatile window coverings, shutters are your best bet. That said, it can be hard to decide between exterior or interior window shutters in Vancouver, since they each provide practical benefits. Here, we examine their differences to help you make the right choice for your home.

Benefits of interior shutters

Instant style

Interior shutters are a great way to give any room an instant makeover. They come in a wide range of designs and colors to complement almost any interior decor. Unlike blinds which can look simple and sterile, shutters transform the feel of your entire home by adding warmth, color, and elegance.

Simple maintenance

Since interior shutters are not exposed to the elements, they do not require heavy maintenance. They can easily be wiped down with a cloth or disinfected with a vacuum cleaner. Shutters are sturdier than most window treatments which means you don’t have to worry about ruining delicate materials when cleaning. This saves time and money in the long run.

Temperature control

Interior shutters can go a long way towards maintaining your desired room temperature and reducing energy bills. They can block out intense sunlight or seal off cold wind, putting less strain on your HVAC unit. Closed shutters also provide a level of sound insulation , keeping your home free of outside noises.

Advantages of exterior shutters

Weather protection

Exterior shutters offer a simple and cost-effective way to weatherproof your home . They can be latched over your windows during severe weather and reduce the likelihood of leaks, broken window glass, and destroyed furniture. Doing so will save you on costly window repairs. In warmer months, they can provide reliable shade from the sun, keeping your interiors cool throughout the day.

Enhanced curb appeal

Exterior shutters can brighten up and add character to any home. The increased protection and energy efficiency can also improve your property’s saleability and ability to attract potential buyers. Something that can work to your advantage if you decide to sell in the not-so-distant future.

Extra level of security

When fitted correctly, exterior shutters provide a sturdy defense against burglars. Sometimes, seeing that a home has shutters can discourage intruders, as they would commonly target properties that are easier to break into.

Which should you choose?

Ultimately, the decision will depend on what’s best for your home, lifestyle, and unique needs.

Exterior shutters are ideal if you live in areas where severe storms and high winds are common. They’re also a great addition if you’re planning to boost your property’s resale value or simply want to make your home stand out.

On the other hand, interior shutters are the better option if you’re redesigning your rooms. They can also be useful if you want more flexibility with light, privacy, and ventilation.

Whatever you choose, both types of window treatments will surely add security, visual appeal, and energy efficiency to your home.

If you’re still unsure which would make a better option, our contractors can help. We’ve been offering in-home estimates and custom window coverings for 15 years, so you can trust that we know what works and what doesn’t.

Call 360-771-9780 to schedule a free consultation today.

The post Exterior or Interior: A Buyer’s Guide to Window Shutters appeared first on The Blind Guy Vancouver WA .

3 Steps to Childproofing Window Blinds

Fri, 26 Feb 2021 18:19:00 GMT

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) lists window coverings with cords as one of the top five hidden hazards in the home . Children tend to wrap cords around their necks or pull cords and become entangled in the loops. In fact, a child between 7 months and 10 years old dies from window cord strangulation every month and another child experiences near strangulation.

Accidents can happen anytime. Parents must always think two steps ahead when it comes to childproofing their home. That said, here’s how you can protect your kids from window covering hazards:

1. Upgrade to cordless

Going cordless is the simplest and safest way to childproof your window treatments.

Motorized window blinds ensure children and pets can’t get tangled while eliminating the need for manual labour.

Instead of dealing with long, dangerous cords, families can now control window treatments with just a press of a button. Some models even allow voice control and advanced scheduling options for greater convenience.

At The Blind Guy, we deliver quality custom window blinds in Vancouver, Washington including cordless variations. Our flexible options include automated controls and energy-efficient models. Feel free to ask our consultants to help you choose the right style, material, and functionality that meet your requirements.

2. Stay compliant

See to it that all your blinds and shades comply with the safety standards set by the U.S. CPSC. Buying non-compliant window blinds and shades will only invite undue risks.

The following safety components can make your window treatments safer to use:

Cord cleat – a plastic or metal safety device used to wrap dangling cords against the wall so kids can’t reach them.
Cord tensioners – a safety mechanism attached to all continuous cord loop lift systems. The cord tensioner secures the cord to prevent children from sticking their head or any appendage into the loop.
Inner cord stops – Designed to limit how inner cords can be pulled and looped, reducing the risk of injury or death.

3. Keep furniture away from windows

Children like to climb furniture and explore. Unfortunately, if the furniture is located near a window, children can easily reach up and pull any cords.

Cribs and other heavy furniture should be located as far away from windows as possible. Additionally, educate your kids on household safety and be firm about the consequences of playing with cords and other hazardous objects.

Quality window blinds for child safety

Childproofing window treatments is not only a way to give yourself peace of mind at all times, but effectively, it will create a safer and more comfortable environment for the entire family.

If you’re looking to enhance the safety of your window treatments, our team will be happy to help. For over 15 years, The Blind Guy has installed quality window blinds designed for greater security and convenience. We bring a wealth of product knowledge, professionalism, and workmanship to every project to ensure the most accurate results and 100% client satisfaction.

Call our team at 360-771-9780 to schedule a free consultation today.

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How to Maximize the Natural Light In Your Home

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 18:34:00 GMT

A house that’s well-illuminated with natural light will never go out of style. Whether it’s country, industrial, or ranch-style; Federal, Colonial, Greek Revival, Mediterranean, Scandinavian minimalism, or modern architecture, natural light can enhance a house’s interiors and improve the ambiance of its rooms.

How can you ensure that your house gets enough natural light throughout the day? Below are five things you can do.

1. Mind the sun’s position in the sky when designing your house

Ideally, a house’s orientation should be designed based on the direction and position of the sun.

Recall the basics: the sun rises on the east and sets on the west. This means that east-facing rooms are bathed in sunshine in the mornings while west-facing rooms get a blast of sunset glare, especially since the sun sinks so low in the sky.

It would be a great idea to put the breakfast nook and kitchen on the side that faces the east. Bedrooms in this direction are also doable, but not for people who like to sleep-in. They’ll likely be happier with west-facing bedrooms since they won’t be baking in the sunshine when they wake up. The remaining warmth from the sunset can help heat their bedrooms, too, which can help them sleep well at night during winter.

As for the north and south-facing rooms, the former receive even sunlight throughout the day while the latter get lots of sunshine during winter and very little of it in the summer. This means that the dining area, living rooms, home office, and the kids’ study room — the common areas and rooms where people stay the most during the day — would be great on the north side. Meanwhile, the laundry room and garage are best placed on the south side of the house.

2. Install big windows and glass doors

If, unfortunately, your house wasn’t designed relative to the sun’s position, the easy way to let as much natural light in is to have large windows and glass doors. This is more cost-effective than redesigning and renovating your house. If you don’t have the luxury of time or resources for a massive reconstruction, just open up your house more by replacing a series of tiny windows with one huge bay window or picture window.

3. Use window treatments that let in natural light

When you already have the right windows, you’ll need appropriate window treatments next. This is our specialty at Blind Guy Vancouver: we can recommend custom window coverings that will match your windows’ aesthetics and satisfy your needs like privacy, shade, and security. If your property is anywhere near Vancouver in Washington State, we got you covered.

4. Make your interior design match

It would defeat the purpose of having large, picture windows if you’re going to put a tall bookshelf directly in front of it. Similarly, if you’re trying to let in as much sunlight as possible in a southwest-facing room, it would be better to have a light color palette for the walls and furniture.

5. Trim the trees directly outside your windows and doors

Obstructions outside your house will also keep sunlight from entering your home. There’s not much you can do if the issue is a tall building right next door; but if the problem is an overgrown tree outside your window, you can remedy the situation by keeping it trimmed if not replanted to a more ideal position in your yard.

Any of these tips can increase the natural light in your home and let you maximize its benefits . If you need professional advice on optimizing your house’s design so that you can maximize natural lighting, our window treatment specialists can help.

Get in touch with Blind Guy Vancouver today.

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Why Choose Café Style Window Shutters?

Wed, 11 Nov 2020 14:30:00 GMT

Anyone who knows anything about interior design understands the value of window shutters. They influence one of the most important features at home – light. Because they are such an important consideration for any room, getting to know the options available out there helps.

Café style window shutters are among the most underrated choices. If you’re not familiar with the name, you may be familiar with the style. These are excellent shutters that offer a lot of benefits. If your curious about café style or other window shutters in Vancouver , read on.

What are Café Style Window Shutters?

These shutters are defined by how they leave the upper side of the windows uncovered. They are placed in the bottom half of the window. The height of the shutters intentionally leaves a portion of the window above with just the glass to let the light in. Today, it’s one of the most popular styles of window shutter designs.

Why Choose Café Style Window Shutters?

There are several reasons to choose café style shutters for your windows. Here are a few that might convince you:

Stylish

This style of shutters started during a time when glass wasn’t that widespread – only wealthy homes had an abundance of glass and they made the most of it by using café style shutters on their windows. Today, this design continues to be one of the most stylish choices for window shutters. It can be used in any kind of property.

Perfect fit

Café style shutters are almost always custom-made for specific windows. This means property owners can expect a perfectly fitting design every time. In many cases, they can even choose just how much of the window they want their shutters to cover.

Highly durable

Since these shutters can be made from sturdy hardwood, they promise durability, requiring little to no maintenance even after years of use.

Privacy

This style of shutters is perfect for street-level windows. Passers-by aren’t likely to see through the shutters even if the upper part of the window is left uncovered.

Light

Homes that have café style window shutters get the best of both worlds – aside from offering a reasonable level of privacy, the upper part of the window still allows the light in. Even if people leave the shutters closed during the day, light will still come in from the top.

Amazing on bay windows

Bay windows are a modern classic. Today, more and more properties are incorporating this kind of window design. Using the café style window shutters for bay windows is a match made in heaven. They complement the strengths in each design offering the room decent light and privacy, while also looking stylish. If you have more questions about café style window shutters or other shutters and blinds designs, visit our other pages or give us a call at 360-771-9780.

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