Design Confidently, Live Comfortably
| March/April 2005 Choosing Shades & Blinds 6 Ways to Shop If you’re not sure where to go for your window coverings -- never mind whether you should opt for cellular versus pleated shades -- you’re not alone. So our Inspired House editors decided to explore the options for replacing the window shades in an old house -- with privacy, light, cost, and looks as key considerations. Here’s what we learned: 1. Online CHOICES Anything is available if you know how to search for it. TIME FRAME Depends on your shipping option. INSTALLATION None. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE None. COST Overall, on the less expensive side, but don’t forget shipping charges. NOTE After spending an hour or so online, we were confused. A search for window coverings resulted in dozens of Web sites through which we could order shades and blinds, but it was hard to find general information about product categories. 2. Catalog/phone CHOICES Limited to the “private label” products offered by the individual catalog. TIME FRAME We placed an order with Smith+Noble on a Friday, and our shades arrived on Tuesday. INSTALLATION None. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE Limited. COST Relatively low. NOTE Our experience doesn’t represent catalog shopping as a whole. We strongly recommend requesting samples before ordering, so you can feel the fabric and test its translucency. We used the company’s measuring instructions and were pleased with the service, the product, and the fit. 3. Off the shelf CHOICES Very limited. TIME FRAME Immediate, if what you want is in stock. INSTALLATION None. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE None. COST Relatively low. NOTE We checked out Target, Home Depot, and Lowes but soon discovered product choices were limited, and only standard sizes were available. We learned we’d have to customize to fit old, irregular windows. Aside from this, store inventory tended to be low, and there were no knowledgeable salespeople on hand to answer questions. 4. Home center CHOICES Wider than off-the-shelf but not extensive. TIME FRAME About two weeks. INSTALLATION For a fee. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE Hit or miss, depending on who is working. COST Products are priced well, but measuring, installation, and delivery are extra. NOTE We sat down with a “home decor specialist” at Lowes and found her to be helpful, but we were still left with a lot of unanswered questions. Different treatments were demonstrated, but they were mounted on fluorescent panels in a harshly lit warehouse, so it wasn’t easy to imagine how they might look in a home. We found the choices to be limited and weren’t able to learn much about insulation or light control. We requested samples but were told we couldn’t take them home. 5. In-home consultation CHOICES Broad. TIME FRAME About two weeks. INSTALLATION Included. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE We got a lot of help, including ideas or alternatives that would save us money. COST More than online, less than a designer. We were offered a volume discount. NOTE A knowl-edgeable window specialist brought us a range of treatments, demonstrated them, and explained the pros and cons of each type. We were able to feel every kind of product, hold it to a window, and test its operation. We looked through sample books and asked very specific questions. We were told the consultation, measuring, and installation were all included in the price. (Look under “window treatments” in your local yellow pages.) 6. Interior designer CHOICES Anything you can think of, including fabrics available to the trade only. TIME FRAME Depends on the designer’s availability, fabric stock, and, in the case of custom treatments, the workroom’s schedule. INSTALLATION Included. PROFESSIONAL ADVICE A good designer will be able to explain your options, recommend coverings that are appropriate for your use, and most important, help you balance what you want with what you need. COST There is a mark-up on everything you buy through a designer. In addition, you pay for her time, which includes measuring, ordering, installation, and on-site “primping,” if necessary. NOTE We asked designer Deborah Wiener what we could expect if we were to hire her (or any interior designer) to help us choose our window coverings. She said that a competent interior designer will come to your home, provide samples of a wide range of products (and be able to answer any questions), do all the measuring and ordering, and oversee the installation. You will pay for those services, though. So, if you’re on a budget and can’t imagine customizing your order in any way, Wiener advises you to save your money and not go this route. |  |
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