Custom Window Treatments

Custom Window Treatments

Why should you invest in Custom Window Treatments? What is the difference between Custom Window Treatments and the ready made options available on-line or in the big box stores? As custom window treatment experts we would like to shed some light on the subject for you!

Choice

1st major difference is the literally hundreds and hundreds of fabric and blind options available as custom product vs the limited options available in ready mades. For a full range of options the obvious choice is custom treatments. We work hard to curate the choices that we present to our clients because these options are literally limitless. That doesn’t mean that all these potential options are right for you, and we like to narrow down the selection based on your feedback to avoid completely over whelming you with choice.

What do we mean by choice? How about 800 colours of cellular shades? Add on 800 more choices for roller shades. Or custom printed fabric options for both. Did you see a picture in a magazine, like Elle Decor, or Traditional Home? If the source is listed we can easily find this fabric for you.

Fit and Finish

Ready made treatments are quite limited as to the options for sizing, and when ‘cut to fit’ the compromises are obvious. You can easily tell, even from the street side, that your treatments are ready made. The biggest offender is ready made box store drapery panels. It’s a matter of detail and taste whether your drapery breaks just at the floor, puddles slightly or allows a subtle 1/2″ clearance. However if your baseboard is exposed because your panels are too short it just looks temporary. Make sure you invest in  window treatments that the value you have invested in your home.

Fullness

Ready made drapery is simply not as full as custom made. What does it matter? In this instance you can see the difference that quality makes. Ready made drapery looks skimpy and floppy. Custom drapery should look rich and tailored. Even custom blinds are easy to spot. Did you know that ready-mades have more cords for example to make up for the weaker materials used in their construction?

Hardware

Sure the telescoping drapery poles that you can pick up for a couple of bucks are handy, but the truth is unless your drapery is purely decorative they don’t work well at all. Brackets that you cannot traverse,  bumpy glides that hit the join and snag, you know exactly what we are talking about. With custom hardware the drapery can smoothly traverse a wide expanse, hand drawn, cord drawn or motorized. There are numerous material options and we can suggest options that are well under $100 depending on the application.

Quality Materials

Take the typical faux wood blind as an example. There are a variety of materials that can be used to create the faux wood slats. From foam PVC, to vinyl, all the way up the quality continuum to composite materials. Unlike the ready made faux woods in the picture the Hunter Douglas Everwood is guaranteed not to yellow, fade or warp in the window.  Mechanisms for blinds are another quality point, you can’t rely for long on plastic moving parts.

Professional Advice

Since ready-mades are generally purchased online or in a big box outlet the experienced advice of a window treatment professional is absent. Often you can pick up several different treatments in your self guided attempt to get it right, adding expense and time to the equation with every purchase. An experienced window treatment professional will help you avoid costly mistakes from the start of the process, saving you time and money!

Warranty

One year vs Lifetime Warranty for Custom.

Ready made trying to pass as custom….

Beware! There are ready made ‘cut-down’ shades that attempt to pass themselves off as custom fit. These shades are simply ready made shades, cut to size. Again, they have few of the options, and generally lack the quality features of true custom made.

Value

Certainly the initial investment in a window treatment is less when you go with a ready made option. However you really need to consider when assessing the value the overall cost. If the treatments doesn’t function properly, doesn’t look right, and needs to be replaced you haven’t saved anything in the long run. Another consideration is that properly fitted Custom Window Treatments can add to the appeal and value of your home on the resale market. A great example would be Custom Shutters that are widely recognized by Realtors as an upgrade that increases your resale value in proportion to your investment.

Complimentary in home consultations

Allow us to find the right treatment for your home. We bring samples, and explain the process thoroughly, no hassle, no pressure! Another way we make quality custom window treatments easy. Call us at 613-706-1250 or by email.

Window Treatment Specialists

What is the benefit of working with Window Treatment Specialists?

Last week a couple of things happened that made me really think about this. What is the benefit of dealing with a specialist in a certain field? Why work with a Window Treatment Specialist?

A friend of mine operates a Security/Locksmithing business and over breakfast he described a new client interaction he had earlier in the week where the client need a lockset changed on a commercial door. When they went to do the work, they realized that the door was a fire door, with the appropriate fire rating, but the hardware was not. Did you know that a fire-rated door also requires fire-rated hardware to meet code? A specialist like my friend does, and as he tells it the customer was very frustrated to learn the hard way that his previous installation was inadequate and that he had to spend his hard-earned money all over again.

Funny to hear that story, because I also had a similar interaction. A suburban strip mall restaurant owner had called me in as a 3^rd or 4^th quote on a drapery job for the front of his restaurant. First thing that I noticed was that the treatment proposed by previous companies would have obscured a fire exit. Obviously rendering a fire exit inaccessible is not something that would go over well in a visit from the fire authorities! Nor would the fabric specified and requoted by all subsequent companies that was not fire rated. Commercial premises require Fire Rated fabrics, a distinction overlooked until I looked at the project. What did all the companies have in common? Window treatments are a sideline to their main business. With a paint company, a flooring company and a decorator quoting, the regulatory requirements of the project were totally overlooked. The customer was as pleased to learn that I had potentially saved him from some major fines, as he was angry that the others had potentially left him at risk.

So, the obvious benefit of dealing with a specialist is that we simply have more experience in our field, with the knowledge to avoid expensive pitfalls. What else could be an advantage?

• Better knowledge of the product lines equals better advice on products that really meet your needs from the functional side of the equation.
• More volume in a single product category equals better pricing.
• Good advice means you get the right product the first time, without having to pay for the learning curve of your supplier.
• The best trades sales people have field experience and have actually seen the installed finished product on a regular basis. They can install it and troubleshoot if there are any issues.
• We have a passion for the business. And therefore we are enthusiastic to help you find the right solution.
• We have a focus that allows us to learn more about the technical aspects of the trade, and therefore we give you better advice.

I’m a do it myself kind of guy in many ways, having grown up in a predominately farming community it is a big part of how I was raised. However, I’ve learned time and time again to trust the experts. It saves me time, money, and gives me great peace of mind.

Do you have a similar story that comes to mind? Please share in the comments below!

Window Treatment Specialists

Contact us today for your free shop@home consultation. Remember that here at Steven’s Creek Shutter Company we are Specialists in Custom Window Treatments. We focus on one business in order to bring you the knowledge and experience required to guarantee you full value for your project. We are happy to hear from you with any questions you may have.

Call today 613-706-1250 or email info@stevenscreekshutterco.ca

 

Hunter Douglas Blinds Ottawa

Hunter Douglas Priority Dealer

If you’re looking for Hunter Douglas Blinds Ottawa, you’ve come to the right place! In fact, at Steven’s Creek Shutter Company we are a Priority Hunter Douglas Dealer with all the benefits that entails.

 

 

 

 

 

What does this mean to you?

• We carry the complete Hunter Douglas Lineup of products.
• We receive the latest samples and updates automatically ensuring that we are always up to date.
• We can offer exclusive rebates and promotions in concert with Hunter Douglas Canada.

With a long history of featuring Hunter Douglas products (we remember the launch of the Duette product line way back in 1985!) we are proud to represent the market leader in Custom Window Treatments. We are your local source for Hunter Douglas Blinds Ottawa, Manotick, Kemptville and the surrounding area.

The Hunter Douglas Advantage

At Steven’s Creek Shutter Company we believe in form following function, a philosophy that aligns with the Hunter Douglas product line perfectly. Beginning with advanced operating systems that make product usage a pleasure. And moving forward with beautiful, tasteful fabric choices Hunter Douglas leads the way.

Privacy and Light Control

 

Hunter Douglas window treatments come in a wide array of product designs with exclusive fabrics and materials. The visibility ranges from sheer to blackout—offering varying degrees of privacy and light control options.

 

Energy Efficiency

With the ever rising costs of energy both to the climate itself as well as your pocket book it makes more sense than ever to make efficiency a priority in your purchasing decisions. Hunter Douglas has been the industry leader in developing energy efficient treatments for your windows.

Innovation

Hunter Douglas blinds are engineered and designed in North America. With leading edge operating systems, proprietary hardware options, and new product categories being introduced every season Hunter Douglas is by far the world-wide industry leader.

 

Child Safety

From cordless manual and motorized operating systems, retractable lift cords, cord tensioners and wand controls, we offer a wide array of innovative lifting system options for enhanced child and pet safety as well as especially easy operation. Child Safety is serious business. For information on how Hunter Douglas builds Child Safety improvements into many of it’s products please click the graphic to the right.

Affordable?

There is a perception in the marketplace that Hunter Douglas products are ‘high end’ and therefore expensive. We think this is a result of their many premium products, but the truth is the line has products for every budget. For example the cellular shade line starts with the Applause line of products and moves up the line in options and price all the way to the Duette Architella. The choice is yours!

Hunter Douglas Blinds Ottawa

Contact us today for your free shop@home consultation. Remember that here at Steven’s Creek Shutter Company we are Specialists in Custom Window Treatments. We focus on one business in order to bring you the knowledge and experience required to guarantee you full value for your project. We are happy to hear from you with any questions you may have.

Call today 613-706-1250 or email info@stevenscreekshutterco.ca

Introducing Steven’s Creek Shutter Company!

Welcome to our new site, and new business! We are looking forward to working with you on finding the right solutions to your window covering needs. With years of experience in the business, we are very excited to be back!