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.

Blackout Blinds

Blackout Blinds

For many folks window treatments are all about light control. Having an effective way to control natural light levels in bedrooms especially for young ones is often the key to a good night’s sleep. If you work shifts, have light sensitivity issues, or consider light sources at night a health concern we have a variety of solutions for blackout blinds.

Defining Blackout

Widely understood in the industry as a misnomer, Blackout Blinds generally refers to blinds that are able to block outside light sources nearly completely. We can get awfully close to 100%, but there is some subjectivity built into this equation that needs to be acknowledged. We can eliminate light penetration at the window 100% with a stationary treatment, but that is impractical for most folks who want to be able to enjoy light and view when appropriate to their schedule. With an operable treatment even in intense sunlight we can get to around 99% blackout with only a little light refraction around the edges. With these systems the bigger issue with light control becomes light penetrating the room from the interior sources like clock radios, or around the interior door.

Most shades have an element of room darkening, but for true blackout performance there are some top performers!

Blackout Drapery

Regardless of the colour, pattern or texture of the drapery fabric, it’s the lining that is key to creating a cozy environment with blackout drapery. With a topped valance, rich fullness and a generous overlap drapery can be a very effective method of light control. And the days of blackout drapery linings creating a stiff and awkward drapery are over. At least they should be, when a quality lining is used! We have a variety of options for linings that can compliment the hand of face fabrics beautifully, creating a lasting design statement.

Blackout Roller Shades with Sidechannels

This system is fantastic for home theatre set ups, and corporate boardrooms where near room darkening is the goal. Blackout roller shade fabrics with sidechannels, and extensive weatherstripping on the channels and top headrail cassette system. With this system we can create a consistent feel for office environments, and provide a high level of room darkening. Available colours : White, Black, Anodized and Commercial Brown.

The Ultimate Blackout System

Stevens Creek Shutter Co’s Blackout Cellular Shades with side channels combine energy efficient and insulating blackout cellular shades with a light blocking sidetrack, creating a amazingly dark room for a long, deep and restful night of sleep. Providing you are past the toddler stage!

Energy Saving Blackout Sidetracks

Made from durable exterior grade PVC, the energy saving blackout sidetracks seal off the gap between the blackout cellular shade and the window to create a light blocking barrier. This exclusive sidetrack system seals tight around the window frame, without the light gaps you have with blackout curtains or other shades. Tracks are available in three colours: white, tan or bronze and are removable for cleaning.

Light Absorbing Technology

The co-extruded blackout sidetracks are black lined to absorb incoming light. The inside of the sidetrack facing the room remains white for visual aesthetics.When properly installed, they block 99% of all visible light. In certain installations with intense sunlight, a very small amount of light may reflect around the edges of the honeycomb fabric along each side of the shade. This is a normal attribute of the system.

Retro fit

If you love the look of your current treatments but find that you don’t have quite enough control over the light entering the room we have a solution from our friends at Hunter Douglas. The Micro Pleat option that was originally designed as a backing for the Provenance line of Woven Wood shades is available as a stand alone option. At only 5/8 of an inch deep the Micropleat liner is our most compact blackout blinds option and can be used to provide a high level of room darkening to any treatment that has the room for this option to be installed!

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

 

HunterDouglas PowerView Motorization

Here is an installation we did recently of Hunter Douglas Roller Shades motorized with the HunterDouglas PowerView System, utilizing an Android Mobile App and Powerview Hub to control the shades.

HUNTERDOUGLAS POWERVIEW

Installing the PowerView Mobile App means your shades will be controlled with the swipe of a finger. Scene Settings add functionality, programming shades with automated commands. Your blinds can be programmed to follow the changing seasons and react to sunset and sunrise times automatically.

On this installation we utilized the Hunter Douglas product line, primarily for the choice of “Urban Loft” fabric that the customer loved. We’d have to agree that for this application the choice was stunning.

The PowerView system can be operated via the PowerView App or via two different types of Pebble controls—a Pebble Remote Control or a Pebble Scene Controller.

The PowerView Pebble Remote Control offers a modern alternative to a traditional remote control, allowing you to pre-set and easily operate up to six different groupings of window treatments—either individually or together—with just a press of a button.

The PowerView Pebble Scene Controller features an advanced display screen that lets you conveniently preview and select room scenes—different combinations of shades and shade positions—that you previously programmed using the PowerView App.

Ergonomically designed and beautiful to look at, the PowerView Pebble is available in seven stylish colors to enhance any décor.

You can also wall mount a PowerView Remote or Scene Controller using the PowerView Surface, available in three on-trend colors.

CONNECT FROM OUTSIDE THE HOME

Clients with health challenges or impairments are provided more accessibility in controlling their window coverings through the use of motorization and automation controls.

Motorized treatments eliminate the control cords on standard treatments that pose a serious risk for children. They ensure child safety adding the element of peace of mind.

And let’s not forget the cool factor, it’s pretty amazing to see these shades operate!

We also have similar functionality from some of our other manufacturers, including Maxxmar and Altex. We have options that include nearly silent motors, and hard-wired systems that never require a battery change! Working with leading edge companies like Somfy and NeoSmart blind control systems there are a world of options to meet the needs or your project.

The future is here, and it’s more affordable than you think! Call us today for more details and your own Shop@Home visit. 613-706-1250

 

 

Maxxmar Shutters

Went over to a friend’s the other night, and was delighted to see how well these Maxxmar Shutters look a year after installation.

When the treatment was installed we were looking for an elegant solution, one that would compliment their treasures collected from postings around the world. Functionally the shutter works well, as the window faces the street side of the house. With the minimal divider rail of the Maxxmar Shutters we are able to get light into the room by opening the top louvers. With the top louvers open we can maintain privacy with the bottom louvers. The center rail is a consistent 2 ” in all heights of Maxxmar shutters, it’s a great feature of this product line. Can you pick it out in the picture? The material is Maxxmar’s exclusive PolySilk compound in the Summerview line. It  is showing no signs of age or yellowing despite being fully exposed to heavy sunlight for much of the day. This isn’t a surprise of course because the shutters are warrantied against such defects for 25 years. Shutters were a great choice for this window because they also help to insulate the rooms from the heavy UV exposure, have protected the hardwood floors and textiles in the room while cutting down traffic noise from the street.

SOME FAQs About Maxxmar Shutters

Does the vinyl product off-gas or have an odour? Maxxmar Shutters meet regulations regarding formaldehyde and VOC emmissions and are certified under the Greenguard program. Personally I don’t notice any off gassing from this product, but recognize that individual’s levels of sensitivity vary widely. If you are a sufferer of environmental sensitivities we have solutions for your window treatment needs.

What materials are available? We have shutters in Wood and Polysilk exterior grade vinyl.

Can you make an operable shutter for my arch or shaped windows? Yes, absolutely we can, we have solutions for all kinds of shapes including Arched, Eyebrow, Octagon, Angled or Circular windows.

Are shutters a good product in regards to child safety? Yes, with no cords and restricted openings shutters are an ideal solution to maintain child safety.

Can shutters in hard to reach areas be motorized for ease of operation? Yes, contact us for a custom quotation.

CONTACT US TODAY FOR DETAILS AND A CONSULTATION ON YOUR PROJECT.

Call us now and we’ll work with you to find the ideal solution to your window treatment project. 613-706-1250

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!