In my opinion, the folks at TD Industries in Tempe, Arizona did an amazing job choosing an affordable and beautiful look for their new solar roller shades for their office.  They had several high windows over some cubicle areas which faced South which caused a fair amount of discomfort for those employees assigned to that area.

They chose a 3% white linen material to increase the natural light while decreasing the glare and heat.  These white shades were then matched with black hardware, cord, and hold-down to match their windows mullion.  They deployed these shades in the lobby, conference room and cubicle bullpen for maximum effectiveness.  The result was extremely pleasant.

Of course, we would love to help you with your office's roller shade project.  Contact us today for a complimentary consultation!  Thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!

Here is a quick "did you know that" heads-up.  The top piece that covers your wood or faux wood blinds headrail is called a valance.  No, that is not the heads-up.  The heads-up comes when you are ordering wood or faux wood blinds for large windows.

Heads-up 1 - For Basswood Blinds: Any valances over 84" will likely need to be made of two pieces and spliced in the center.

Heads-up 2 - For Engineered Faux Wood Blinds: Any valances over 106" will require the valance to be made of two pieces and spliced in the center.

But, here is the little twisty-turney aspect of this decision.  For larger windows, real wood is a better option because they are lighter and can be ordered as one blind for the whole window, but the valance will be spliced.  However, if ordering a faux wood blind on a larger window, the blind must generally be ordered as multiple blinds on one head rail, or else the warranty is waived, but the valance can come as one piece.

So, which is a better option?  We will usually recommend real wood with the spliced valance on large width windows simply because the one piece blind looks cleaner then multiple blinds on one head rail.  Of course, if the functional use of the window lends itself to multiple blinds on one head rail, then that is what we opt for.

Hopefully, knowing this information will help you have an educated conversation with your window covering professional and avoid any little. "oh, you didn't know that" moments at the time of install.

Are you are ready for some new wood or faux wood blinds on your large windows?  If so, then we would love to help you. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation. Thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!

The pictures above depict a roller shade project we completed for a really nice Chipotle in Goodyear, Arizona.

Roller shades allow natural light into the workspace and therefore can reduce the need for some overhead lighting.

Roller shades reduce cooling and energy costs. They also help to reduce the glare on computers at work.

Roller shades are a preferred treatment in restaurants as well because they provide protective functionality while contributing to a pleasant atmosphere for the customer.

Motorization is also available for this product and they can be custom printed as well!

Of course, we would love to help you with your roller shade project! Contact us today for a complimentary consultation! Thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!

"Faux wood blinds" is a leading search term for those shopping for window coverings. This is because they are economical and versatile, and as such are a great alternative to the more expensive real wood blinds. Faux wood is considered an environmentally friendly modern technological advance. And, faux wood blinds offer a natural wood look despite the fact that they are manufactured rather than grown.

Versatility is defined by Websters as "the quality or state of having many uses or being able to do many different kinds of things."  So when we say faux wood blinds are versatile, we are saying that faux wood blinds have many uses and can be applied to many different kinds of things.

For instance, if a tropical feel is the décor of choice, faux wood blinds are an excellent option. Faux wood is a man-made material with a high UV rating and are generally warp resistant. These blinds are perfect for rooms in homes that have extreme temperature changes in heat and/or moisture, such as bathrooms and kitchens. Color and wood look choices are numerous in the faux wood lines.

Whether seeking a warm or traditional decor, faux wood remains extremely stylish and practical for a fraction of the costs compared to real wood. Faux wood blinds are helping today’s cost conscious consumer create a custom, beautiful, one of a kind, interior design. Creating a beautiful room, while saving money, is definitely a consumer's dream.

Additionally, faux wood blinds are easy to clean with simple soap and water, or any type of soft dust rag. No more having to purchase professional or specialty cleaning products. Faux wood blinds will shine for years with simple and consistent cleaning.

Are you are ready to enjoy the versatility of new faux wood blinds?  If so, then we would love to help you.  Contact us today for a complimentary consultation.  Thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!

Creating walls or headboards covered in reclaimed wood from an old barn is a trend in interior design.  But, did you know it is possible to create that look with a wood blind that utilizes a natural distressed blind slat?  Well, it is - and there are some really beautiful slat types to choose from without the worry of wood worms.

The effect is clean, easy and transforms your windows into that rustic flair you crave while the rest of your decor can be as modern as you prefer.  These sorts of distressed rustic looking blinds are the most expensive type of wood blind on the market today, however when you calculate the time and effort associated with sourcing, finishing, cutting and installing a rustic wood accent wall, you might just find that the rustic distressed wood blind is a wonderful simple and elegant solution.

Are you are ready for some for that splash of rustic next in your modern space?  If so, then we would love to help you. Contact us today for a complimentary in-home or in-office consultation. Thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!

Do you want a classic look for your home's windows?  White faux wood blinds come standard in many homes for a reason. They’re durable, keep out light, and blend perfectly with most molding. Plus, they look great from outside the house and comply with white-to-the-street home owners’ association policies.

This classic white color works so well that many new homes come with white faux wood blinds as a standard add-on enticement.  We have dedicated a lot of our blog space to the discussion of white faux wood blinds, but they are number one for a reason.

So, keeping the main thing the main thing, know this - a classic white faux wood blind is almost never a wrong decision.  It is economical, attractive and sturdy.  Classic white works with just about every possible color - though there are a few exceptions - and this is why online retailers sell the white faux wood blind more than any other window covering.

Are you looking for a high quality, full service experience for your classic white faux wood project?  If so, then we would love to help you. Contact us today for a complimentary consultation and thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!

This week reminded us of why we enjoy using a local fabricator for our wood and faux wood blind projects. When a customer's requirements match the product, we will default to offering our local wood and faux wood blind fabricator's product line.  They offer a very high quality product at a mid-range price point.  While this is not the right choice for every project, it is the right choice for many projects - and this week we were reminded why.

You see, local fabricators of wood and faux wood blinds have to do things to differentiate themselves from the Chinese or Mexican made product which is cheaper, as well as the big name brands sold at the big box stores. As such, local fabricators must differentiate themselves from these competitors.  In our case, they offer exceptional quality at the mid-point price, but beyond that they add a layer of service which is unmatched in the industry.

So, to our story.  One of our customers, who had purchased faux wood blinds as provided by our local fabricator, had a minor issues with the lift mechanism and cording on one of their blinds.  With other brands it would be several iterations and visits to the house to troubleshoot, reorder, decide who was at fault, etc.  These sorts of minor issues can turn into a multifaceted struggle when dealing with the cheaper blinds or the large corporate entities.

In our case, one call to our local faux wood blind fabricator, who guarantees their product with a "bumper to bumper" limited lifetime warranty, and the problem was handled.  You see, they will send their own factory trained service professional to any location in our region to handle any issue with their blinds free of charge for one full year.  In this case, a quick call by us to our fabricator resulted in a service call being scheduled with our customer with 24 hours.  The problem was fixed with no fuss.  And, this particular fabricator offer this "white glove service" as part of their price point. Beautifully, this year of extra protection handles 95% of all issues which can arise - which to be fair is a very rare occurrence.

Of course, we would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project. Contact us today for a complimentary in-home or in-office consultation! Thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!

Many manufacturers require what is referred to as a template to produce custom wood blinds for an arched window.  This type of customization either can have fan top slats or the slats can be horizontal all the way to the top.  In either case, a template may be required, and making it correctly will ensure that your arch wood blind fits properly.

So, without further adieu, here are steps for making a template:

To create a template you will need a sheet of paper that will allow light to show through and is large enough to cover the opening (we recommend craft or butcher paper).

1. Tape the paper over the window opening.
2. Outline the opening of the window with a well defined line.
3. Remove the paper from the window opening and cut the template out.  There should be no rough or jagged edges.
4. Place the template back into the opening to verify it is the correct size.  The template should also match your measurements. (The arch will be made 1/4” smaller for an inside mount to allow for installation clearance)
5. Mark the template to indicate the top of the window and which side of the arch faces out into the room.
6. Roll the template, place in mailing tube and mail it, along with your completed order form, to your manufacturer.

It is also a great idea to make and keep a second copy for yourself from the first as we have seen more than one template lost in the busy shuffle of a manufacturer's shop.  Within 2-4 weeks, you should be able to enjoy your arch shaped wood blind which matches the other wood blinds on your standard "right angle" windows.

Of course, we would love to help you with your wood or faux wood blind project.  Contact us today for a complimentary in-home consultation! As always, thanks for your interest in Latreia Blinds and Shutters!