http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/This is the Shades To You BlogCopyright (c) 2012 Sat, 19 May 2012 04:32:05 ESTSat, 19 May 2012 04:32:05 EST5The Somfy TaHomA system is the latest in home innovations, a Total Home Automation system which provides you with remote control over many things in your home, including motorized shades, awnings, lights, and even your thermostat.  It uses the latest in wireless technology so you can control, schedule, and monitor the processes in your home.  By monitoring your home, you can help to optimize the efficiency of the interactions between a variety of things, including the natural and artificial lighting, as well as heating and cooling according to your personal preferences.  This helps you to save time, energy, and money....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/home-motorization-with-the-somfy-tahoma-system.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/home-motorization-with-the-somfy-tahoma-system.htmlThu, 17 May 2012 12:00:00 ESTIn previous blogs, we have written about the benefits of solar screens for your home’s budget.  They prevent the sun’s heat from coming into your home, lowering your electricity costs.  But the benefits of solar screen shades don’t stop here, rather, they can even help with your health!  For example, they can protect you from the damaging ultraviolet rays of the sun that might peek through your windows and harm your skin on a daily basis.  They also help to shield your eyes from the harmful glare of the sun.  The fewer of these ultraviolet rays your eyes and skin are exposed to, the better....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/what-are-the-benefits-of-solar-screen-shades.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/what-are-the-benefits-of-solar-screen-shades.htmlTue, 01 May 2012 12:00:00 EST  As the Floridian summer months hit, you might be thinking of ways to keep your home cool and also lower your electricity bill.  One such option you might consider is solar shades.  Solar shades are an easy and comparable replacement for conventional window screens, allowing you to still enjoy the view and for air to come in the room, while blocking out the sun’s harmful rays.  In fact, most solar screens can keep out 80 to 90 percent of the sun’s heat, as well as the sun’s harmful rays....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/summertime-savings-with-solar-screen-shades.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/summertime-savings-with-solar-screen-shades.htmlTue, 17 Apr 2012 12:00:00 ESTSometimes open floor plans are exactly what you want to create a sense of grandeur or openness, but many times there needs to be a clear definition between one space to the next. How about having the option?   We can offer a beautiful, sophisticated and streamlined option with a product originally designed for windows and sliding glass doors.   The Hunter Douglas Skyline Gliding Window Panels create visual interest when mounted to the ceiling and drawn across the width of the room. Separate kitchen and dining, living and office......

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/window-treatments-or-room-dividersor-both.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/window-treatments-or-room-dividersor-both.htmlWed, 28 Mar 2012 12:00:00 ESTSetting the Standard     Custom window treatments are one of the best ways to decorate and insulate your home. Purchasing custom treatments is now affordable for virtually every budget. You will also save on both time and headaches by letting the professionals provide a design consultation, measurements and installation.   One thing to remember: there is no such thing as a standard window size.   Whether your home is new or old there is not a standard window measurement that it's possible to guess a price for and it be accurate. This is what makes the full service of ShadesToYou that much more unique for you....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/setting-the-standard.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/setting-the-standard.htmlWed, 08 Feb 2012 12:00:00 ESTModern Roman Shades  By:ShadesToYou       We meet with a lot of people in our showroom as well as in their homes. Recently, we have had a lot of requests for Roman shades. These are not a new design, but a treatment virtually everyone has heard about. Window treatments, just like clothing fashion, comes and goes and comes back again. We are seeing trends come back in the window treatment industry, but we don’t consider it a trend if they can make a lasting impression and have a long shelf...err window sill…life. There have been a lot of upgrades and modernization that has taken place since Roman shades first made an appearance in American homes....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/roman-shades.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/roman-shades.htmlWed, 25 Jan 2012 12:00:00 ESTHappyNewYear!          We are nearing a week into 2012; the holidays are over and we are already looking forward to the thought of a warm Spring. It's a time to make (and keep) new year resolutions. Resolutions are to make ourselves feel better, more comfortable, happier. Well this may mean a few extra trips to the gym or a few less fast food drive thru's, but it can also mean getting your home to look and feel the way that truly reflects who you are.   We challenge you to take that next step to refresh your home with new window treatments - to provide better energy efficiency, light control and aesthetics....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/happy-new-year.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/happy-new-year.htmlWed, 04 Jan 2012 12:00:00 ESTHappy 4th of July from all of us at ShadesToYou!   We are proud to say that all of our ShadesToYou products are made in the USA at our Orlando area workshop! Each window shade, blind, and shutter is fashioned by our skilled craftsmen in this facility.    We are also a Hunter Douglas Dealer Service Center for Central Florida....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/happy-independence-day.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/happy-independence-day.htmlMon, 04 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST    In this ShadesToYou install, the Orlando based decorator chose dark wood shutters that contrast the white window. Window treatments that contrast, rather than blend with, their surroundings, provide a striking accent to the room. Our wood shutters, crafted here in the United States, compliment the vivid red wallpaper in this office, adding another rich layer to the environment.     Though similar shutters were used in this room, the wall color matches the wood window treatment. By coordinating the shutter and wall color, the white window frame stands out, as if it is framing the outside view....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/window-treatment-styling.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/window-treatment-styling.htmlMon, 06 Jun 2011 12:00:00 ESTBefore:             After:     A ShadesToYou custom window treatment consultant in Chicago, Kate, installed these distinctive Hunter Douglas designer roller shades for a client of hers. The window shades' artistic pattern enhances the large off-white wall, each acting as work of art. Light softly permeates the translucent fabric, creating a chic, yet comfortable atmosphere in the living room....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/before-and-after-in-chicago.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/before-and-after-in-chicago.htmlMon, 06 Jun 2011 12:00:00 EST...When it comes to route holes that is.    Traditional wood and faux wood blinds have holes drilled into the center of each slat where the cords are threaded through, thus allowing them to operate. With this construction, the holes are visible when slats are traversed open and the sight is, well, unsightly.   Here at ShadesToYou, we like to keep our showroom full of options that go above and beyond the norm.   That is why we'd like to familiarize you with route-less wood and faux wood blinds. In this kind of blind construction, there are no route holes in the slats. Instead the lift cords are notched in the front and back of the slats at each ladder position....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/route-less-is-more.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/route-less-is-more.htmlTue, 08 Mar 2011 12:00:00 ESTPicking the right shades for your home is important for many reasons.  Not only do they add an aesthetic element to any room, they also can help keep your home cool by keeping our unwanted light and heat.  But did you realize that they can also save you money?  Windows are known to be the cause behind most of the energy loss in our homes – whether they are letting out hot air in the winter or letting in the sun’s rays in the summer, heating up our homes.  Many shades can help prevent these wastes of energy from occurring, by reducing your home’s energy consumption and therefore lowering your energy bills....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/save-money-with-solar-screen-shades.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/save-money-with-solar-screen-shades.htmlMon, 07 Mar 2011 12:00:00 EST They give your home a timeless look. They add to your homes value. They give you light control and privacy. They are plantation shutters. Now the only question left is whether to purchase real wood, faux wood or solid poly shutters? Well, we’re certainly glad you asked. Here’s the breakdown:     1. Material and Manufacturing:   Wood: Each shutter is custom hand crafted from premium Phoenix hardwood, which has a tight grain for long-term stability and durability. Mortise and Tenon joint construction withstands tension stress over time. Lifetime limited warranty....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/plantation-shutters-faq-s.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/plantation-shutters-faq-s.htmlFri, 11 Feb 2011 12:00:00 EST Emotions, The Stock Exchange, finances, weather temperatures: things that may not be a good thing when they go up and down.  Motorized blinds and shades: always a good thing when they go up and down, especially with just a push of a button. Motorized window coverings are becoming more popular and thus more common in households and offices today. Motorization is garnering vast exposure due to television broadcasts streaming into thousands of households nationwide. One such example is HGTV’s Dream Homes where beautifully designed homes inspire with their energy efficient interiors and the latest technology for comfort and sustainability....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/motorized-blinds-and-shades.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/motorized-blinds-and-shades.htmlThu, 27 Jan 2011 12:00:00 ESTPut your hand up to your window. Do you feel the cold air seeping in? Me too, which is why I wanted to address this frigid problem right here, right now. With your heating bill skyrocketing and your layers of clothes doubling, there is a fashionable yet affordable way to take care of this problem without putting in brand new windows.  You are in luck to have stumbled upon this blog since I, ShadesToYou's personal Fashionista, have some great options for you! The first note-worthy option for energy saving window coverings are cellular shades (often referred to as honeycomb shades)....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/cold-is-out-heat-is-in.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/cold-is-out-heat-is-in.htmlMon, 20 Dec 2010 12:00:00 ESTNot everyone would consider themselves a Fashionista like muah, but I know that each and every one of you has a creative bone in your body. Let today be the day you let the creative juices flow and experiment with custom window treatment looks for your home.   Virtually put up various types of window treatments selecting from endless styles and colors - without the commitment! (Because we know we can all be commitment phobes......

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/designer-for-a-day.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/designer-for-a-day.htmlMon, 29 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST It's here! The Holiday Season, that is.   Have you seen all the commercials and in store promotions? We've all been knocked over the head with the winter wonderland whimsy and jingle bell giddiness. But that's unfortunately not the case for all.   We are so thankful for what we have here at ShadesToYou, that we want to help give back to those less fortunate in our community. We need YOUR help, though.   We have an entire showroom full of window coverings that have been marked down a staggering 50%! A wonderful assortment of blinds, shades and shutters. Faux wood, real wood, woven woods and everything in between....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/the-holiday-season-is-in-full-swing.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/the-holiday-season-is-in-full-swing.htmlMon, 22 Nov 2010 12:00:00 EST Hi everyone, it’s Windee here and I’m sporting my favorite leather boots and light sweater as I prance around in this glorious fall weather. I have some thoughts to share with you as the cooler months draw closer and I truly believe it’ll make selecting new window coverings less of a pane. What do you think of when you hear the words fall, autumn or harvest? Perhaps pumpkins, hot apple cider, cinnamon and natural earth tones… Well, there is a way to bring the natural feel of the outdoors inside....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/weaving-fall-into-your-home.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/weaving-fall-into-your-home.htmlWed, 20 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST Well, it’s already nearly two weeks into October and aside for the weather alluding to the holiday season, it is also Child Safety Month. Although this month was selected by The National Window Covering Council to bring attention to our children's safety when it comes to window coverings, we feel at ShadesToYou that is our duty to inform you of a few simple ways to keep those kiddos safe around your home. Our friend’s at Hunter Douglas have been working hard and are now proud to announce a new safety precaution to all Roman style shades that will keep your little Tommy safe in case he were to use the chords, let’s just say, as a swinging apparatus....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/child-safety.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/child-safety.htmlTue, 12 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST Introductions are definitely in order! Hello faithful ShadesToYou readers, I'd like to introduce myself as The Fashionista (a little mysterious, but all fashion forward). I will be your window covering fashionista and blogger! Because honestly, who wants to read a blog that doesn’t have an author on the other side of the screen? Forget your typical generic company blog. On behalf of ShadesToYou, and based on your feedback, comments and questions, I will be bringing you the latest industry news, information on our events and promotions, as well as a few decorating tip and tricks....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/nice-to-meet-you.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/nice-to-meet-you.htmlThu, 07 Oct 2010 12:00:00 EST Welcome!  Our specialty is window coverings, but we’ve found a little niche in the blogosphere because when it comes down to it, we are all about open communication at ShadesToYou....

]]> http://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/welcome.htmlhttp://shadestoyou.smtusa.com/blog/posts/welcome.htmlThu, 16 Sep 2010 12:00:00 EST