New Styles, Energy Efiiciency and Green Design Window Treatments

Would you believe that your window treatments can be stylish, contemporary, green and energy efficient? Well now it is possible to have it all for your home. Hunter Douglas has created the best of all worlds for your windows.
Natural Elements is their new collection of horizontal blinds that combine modern metal alloys with the warmth of real wood accents. Textured and shimmery finish slats give maximum view. Rich wood valances and keystones create a fashion statement. Materials used in these blinds are 95% recycled making them a green product. That is a winning combination of style and earth friendly materials.
Solar Energy Sensors for Hunter Douglas shades automatically raise or lower window shade treatments according to the changing sunlight to provide energy cost savings. They couldn’t be simpler to install- just stick them to the window where the shades are installed. Watch them go to work adjusting the shades to keep out the heat. Many of their shade products have a high R-value- an indicator of a product’s resistance to air flow passing through it from outside. A high R-value can stop much of the hot air from entering your home. Even the efficiency of low e-glass windows can be doubled with certain energy efficient shades. And the Federal Tax Credit applies to some of these products to boot. How can you lose? You just have to see them! Call me to arrange your personal energy saving design consultation and see all of the stylish, green and efficient products.

Environmentally Conscious Fabrics

I now carry a collection of drapery/upholstery fabrics that are made of organic cotton and blends. This material was fabricated with minimal effect on the environment. The group is called "Footprints" and the assortment is beautiful. Using these fabrics for your custom window treatments helps all of us and Mother Earth.

Green Is "In"

Here at Creatively Yours Custom, we firmly believe in green decorating to help our planet and environment. It is not about a green color choice rather it has to do with using eco-friendly products in design. To introduce this practice let’s start with a few simple choices we all can make.
♣Purchase organic cotton bath towels available at most major stores. Cotton is a renewable source and when grown organically, uses no chemicals. You help preserve the soil and get a really soft towel. Cottonis also biodegradable.
♣Bamboo makes a wonderful wood floor. It is a renewable resource and does not use formaldehyde or give off toxic odors in your home. You’ll all breathe better!
♣We all have old draperies, bedspreads, etc. sitting around the house waiting to go to the landfill. You could donate them to shelters, Humane Societies, veterinary clinics to name a few. Think reusable not disposable.

Give "Green" A Chance

There are a lot of budget friendly and earth friendly things you can do in your everyday life. Here are a few thoughts to get you started:
♥Use low – VOC paints. They give off considerably less fumes and are less toxic to the environment.Think of it as making a better choice and not sacrificing a thing!
♥Whenever possible, opt for quality furniture. It will last longer and not make its way to the landfill. Plus it can gain new life through refinishing.
♥Be a creative recycler. Rescue beautiful pieces from your attic or a thrift store. Give them a
makeover and a place of honor in your home.
♥Long before air conditioning, we all knew that tall ceilings, porches, and trees helped keep us cool in the summer. If you are building or remodeling consider these alternatives to cut down on air conditioning costs.
♥Green living is about making smart, healthy, long term decisions. Purchase only natural materials, choose energy-efficient options when buying everything from appliances to lightbulbs.
♥Resist the urge to bring home cheap disposable stuff. Remember that everything that you throw away will last a lifetime in the landfill.

Earth Friendly "Green Decorating"

As the events of Earth Day are winding down, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on ways our interior design can become a part of the solution to this issue. Here are some ideas you may have already heard and hopefully some new ones.
When you purchase new draperies, spreads-anything with fabric- consider that the old fabrics can have a second life. They can be donated to a shelter for use by the needy. They can be given to school and theater art groups for use in scenes or costumes. They can be cut up and used as cleaning rags rather than paper towels and save some trees.
Bamboo floors are a beautiful alternative to wood floors and help save trees. The bamboo tree replenishes itself quickly and is a renewable source for use in our homes.
Look for low VOC paints that give off less gasses into the environment we breathe and live in.