I believe it is
human nature to love a beautiful view. I
search for them wherever I go: on the top of a mountain, at the top of a
sandstone cliff on Cedar Mesa Utah, or inside a home. Beautiful views create good feelings. One of my latest projects, providing interior
design for a new home in Pagosa, was oriented to magnify the beautiful
view of Squaretop Mountain. The owners
love this area so much they had June Jurack (a water color painter known in
Durango for her whimsical gift cards) paint the view on a label for their
home-crafted wine.
Large windows are
often installed that showcase incredible views.
However, unless the windows have been well designed with thoughtful
planning, those “take your breath away” glories come with a price. I have worked with numerous homeowners
who complain that their lovely and large windows either heat the room up
too much, or cool it down too much, or the room occupants are blinded with
glare.
There is one window
covering family that offers many solutions to the issues posed by excess heat,
cold or glare. The Duette Architella honeycomb shades by Hunter Douglas were
first invented in Broomfield, Colorado over 30 years ago. From its humble
beginnings it has grown to be the number one window covering in climates such
as ours. The Duette Architella is energy efficient to the maximum!
Five reasons why
Duette Architella shades are so popular :
Cold and Hot Climate Benefits; Duette Architella shades reduces cold,
exterior air from entering and prevents interior air from escaping, and vice
versa for the hot climates.
Reduces Energy Consumption; Duette Architella
shades are one of only a few that are so insulating they qualify for a Federal
Tax Credit. See www.hunterdouglas.com
for details.
Environmentally Sensitive; All Duette Architella
fabrics are GREENGUARD certified. Select fabrics contain sustainable and
recycled content.
Architella Duettes are extremely versatile. They
come in hundreds of fabrics and colors, five different headrail systems
including a vertical system for sliding
glass doors, and various opacity options from sheer to semi-opaque to
blackout. They are low profile to retain
most of the view.
There are numerous
other window covering solutions. Most shades are available with hard wired motorization, which include
options for home automation and integrated IPAD apps (for the techy person,
tons of info can be provided). Many
types of window shadings are on the market today, including the infamous
Silhouette shade, and the new Solera Soft Shades by Hunter Douglas.
Sunscreens
are popular in offices and restaurants to retain the view yet cut the glare.
Some shades look like drapes but roll up in a low profile such as the Vignette
and Roller Shade Collections. For the fabric lover, custom draperies also offer
high insulation and glare cutting capabilities.
The need
for window coverings tend to be similar for most people; heat, cold, glare,
privacy, and aesthetics. The best
options for meeting those needs are varied and complex. To get the most out of
your time and money, consult a professional
who can assist you with balancing your needs and your budget. You will
be glad you did.
Tell me about your favorite view: email me at sarah@fusioninteriors.biz
or call 970-749-0061.
700 Main Avenue Suite A
Durango, Colorado 81301
Sarah Sumner is LEED accredited in Interior Design and
Construciton and has a specialty in green design for interiors.
www.fusioninteriors.biz
