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The Perfect Plantation Shutters for Every Room

Interior shutters, also known as plantation shutters, are a classic and elegant addition to any room in your home. They blend long-lasting finishes with exceptional craftsmanship, and are both durable and easy to operate.

Louvers, the trademark feature of interior shutters, give them an elegant look, which works well in dining rooms and bedrooms. But these versatile window treatments also translate to a more casual setting like living rooms and kitchens. Shutter options include the following popular trends: wooden, plantation, faux wood, composite and door shutters.

Here’s a breakdown by type to help you determine which is best for your home.
Composite Plantation Shutters
Composite plantation shutters, sometimes called engineered wood, fake wood or faux wood, are made of engineered wood, which is MDF wrapped in a vinyl or PVC coating. They are very sturdy, while also being weather and humidity resistant. They offer an affordable alternative to wood shutters.

Vinyl Plantation Shutters
Vinyl shutters are the least expensive of the plantation blinds. Vinyl shutters contain no wood, but they can have PVC or aluminum supports for stability. Their main advantage is cost. They’re also weather resistant and good in high-moisture areas.

Wood Plantation Shutters
The ultimate shutter is a true wood shutter.  It has the highest strength-to-weight ratio, making it very light and strong. Wood can be customized into varying shapes and sizes, and it can be painted or stained, unlike vinyl and composite, which are prefabricated into styles and colors.

With all of the different window treatments available, it can be difficult to make the right choice. No matter what style you are looking for, you can count on our team of interior designers to bring your design ideas to life. Schedule a consultation with our team today to create custom shutters in Phoenix, AZ that are perfect for your home.

Plantation Shutter Are Timeless and Stylish

Window with wooden shutters in the stone facade of a house.

When you are upgrading the interior design of your home there are some choices that never go out of style. Options like wood floors, stone countertops, and solid wood doors are always ideal selections no matter what year you are planning your remodel. Plantation shutters in Phoenix, AZ, are also always stylish and popular in many regions across the country. They have the advantage of being as practical as they are stylish.

Plantation shutters function as insulation aides in hot and cold weather. Whether they are open or shut they maintain the overall attractiveness of whatever room in which they are placed. Classic plantation shutters may be trendy but they work well without distracting whatever look you seek. They always add an element of finish and today’s brands come in a number of louver sizes, colors, and materials.

When you are looking for privacy, style, or the ability to block or let in the sun, you won’t get tired too soon with the classic look of plantation shutters. No other window covering looks as appealing as shutters while controlling air flow and sunlight. Visit SouthwestBlinds.com to review the many styles we offer at our showroom.  Contact us today for more information.

 

 

Tips on Buying Custom Drapes

When finding the perfect drapes to complete the look of a particular room in your home feels impossible, turn to Southwest Blinds & Shutters for custom drapes in Phoenix, AZ. Our design team will work one-on-one with you to discover the perfect drapery for every room in your home, and that includes custom drapes designed specifically to your taste.

Add layers of volume, texture, and effortless design when you choose from hundreds of different fabrics in the very latest design styles. Customized treatments turn an ordinary window into a beautiful focal point. If you’re looking for inspiration and designer tips to help you find the perfect drapes, here are a few.

Less is More – Replace heavy window coverings with simple shades. Another way to accomplish this is to use upholstered cornices.
Keep It Current – Make sure the fabrics you choose are a contemporary color, pattern and shape.
Choose the Right Fabrics – Look for drapery panels that fit your style, environment, and room decor while requiring the least amount of maintenance.

First and foremost, drapes should offer privacy when you need it and versatility when you want to let the sunlight in. When shopping for custom drapes, aim for a balance of functionality and fashion for window treatments that elevate your home. Schedule a visit with us today to work with our designers on the perfect custom drapes for every room in your house.

Selecting the Perfect Bedroom Window Treatments

Your bedroom should be your sanctuary. After a long day, you should be able to retreat to a place of tranquility in order to wind down and catch up on some precious sleep. Whether you’re looking for romantic ambiance, blinds to control sunlight or window treatments to protect your privacy, you can dress up your bedroom windows without sacrificing style; after all, window coverings should be both useful and beautiful.

Here are a few options to consider when selecting a style for your bedroom windows.

  • Shades are extremely popular because of their nearly endless range of styles, colors and patterns, not to mention they work well with just about any decorating style. There are many varieties of shades, including bamboo, cellular, Roman, pleated, solar, motorized, and roller.
  • Blinds are a simple, modern window treatment that is great for bedrooms because they add privacy and are effective at blocking out sunlight. Blinds in Chandler AZ are available in wood, metal and vinyl.
  • Shutters are a classic, sophisticated window treatment that are energy efficient, offer ample light control, and are timeless in their design. They work especially well in coastal, cottage, country, or rustic rooms by adding structural and architectural lines to the space.
  • Drapery panels can add color, character, and privacy to a space. Also, if you’re sensitive to light or sleep during the daytime and need to keep daylight out, blackout drapes are ideal.

Let our design team help you choose the window treatment option that is both stylish and functional with a free in-home design consultation. Contact Southwest Blinds & Shutters today at (480) 415-8542. You can also visit our showroom located in Gilbert, AZ.

Functional and Fashionable Glass Door Treatments

Whether your home has sliding glass doors, French doors, or glass patio doors, there is a glass door treatment covering available that will suit your style and design aesthetic. Just as you’ve selected the window coverings that function best for your needs and looks best in that room, the same applies to glass door window treatments. Don’t limit your options to only coverings designed specifically for doors. Window coverings work just as well and as seamlessly as coverings made specifically for doors.

At Southwest Blinds & Shutters, we can create specialized options for glass doors that will leave your home standing out for the very best reasons. When you work with us you can be sure you’ll receive personalized advice, guidance and the inspiration you need to transform your home. Forget vertical blinds; consider some of these functional and fashionable glass door treatment options.

Wood blinds add instant warmth to any space. No matter if your style is traditional, modern, contemporary, or rustic there is an affordable, durable option available.

Sheer shades help showcase the beautiful architecture of a door. They are also great at allowing plenty of light and brightness in without sacrificing privacy.

Shutters are perfect for a country cottage or in a clean, crisp, classic setting. A unique choice for patio and sliding-glass doors, our team will create the perfect setup, installing the right wooden shutters to fit your aesthetic.

Explore the many options that are available for door shutters in Phoenix, AZ and transform any room in your home from ordinary to extraordinary.

Lower Your Energy Bill with Window Treatments

Window treatments usually serve two purposes in our homes: One, for the most practical reason, they offer much-needed privacy, especially in bedrooms and bathrooms. Two, we dress up our windows in drapes, blinds and decorative shades for beauty and style purposes. But, what if we told you that with the right materials those same window coverings could help lower your monthly energy bills?

Whether you prefer shades, blinds, drapes, or shutters, you can minimize heat loss in winter and heat gain in the summer, which can significantly lower both heating and cooling costs. This is a cheaper alternative to replacing windows that are weak and allow cold air in or warm air to escape. Most importantly however is proper installation. For example, mounting shades as close to the glass as possible and right up against the adjacent wall creates a tight seal.

Before investing in energy efficient window treatments, consider which room(s) the treatments will be going into, what the room is used for and how much you plan to open or close them. Knowing these details will help you make the right decision based on the room and your usage.

To learn more about energy efficient window treatments and blinds in Chandler, AZ, contact Southwest Blinds & Shutters for a free in-home estimate and consultation.

How to Choose the Right Window Coverings

When your window coverings need updating there are many options to choose from. Are blinds best? Which shades are ideal; roman, roller, sheer? Or rather, would wood or plantation shutters look best? It can be a hard choice to make, for sure!

Pinpointing your wants will help you to narrow down the choices. If you’re looking for clean lines and defined boarders that frame your window, roller shades in Phoenix AZ are the perfect solution. Fashion and function are rolled into one design and will give your home an understated elegance.

Blinds, of course, are a go-to feature in many homes, too. Wooden blinds, in fact, are one of the most popular window coverings to date. Wood blinds are light-weight, strong, and durable. You also won’t need to sacrifice style in your window treatments, as custom wooden, aluminum and vertical blinds come in a wide variety of colors and textures.

So what exactly do you take into consideration when choosing a window treatment? First, do you prefer more of a hard/sturdy look of a wooden or aluminum blind, or the soft look of a linen or cotton roller shade?

You must also consider the lighting in the room. Blinds have slats or vanes that open and close for light adjustment, whereas shades are constructed in a continuous roll, with the only adjustment for light and view is up or down. However, if you choose a light filtering fabric, you’ll be able to let in natural light while keeping your window covered for complete privacy.

Both blinds and shades can give your home a high end look. If you’re decorating a formal living or dining room, try wood blinds or roman shades in a luxurious fabric. If you want your windows to make a statement rather than blend into the background go with roller shades in a colorful print.

The Benefits of Plantation Shutters

Plantation Shutters Phoenix, AZPlantation shutters take their name from the grand plantations in the American South. They were, however, first used in ancient Greece as louvered window coverings made of marble that added security and protection from severe weather. Today’s plantation shutters are becoming increasingly popular.

Customers in states like Arizona, Nevada, California, and Utah purchase them for their ability to reduce the intensity of the sun. By reducing the damaging effects of UV rays, they add extra protection against the fading of furniture and floors. Other major benefits of plantation shutters include:

Ease of Use: The separate controls on plantation shutters make it possible to open the top and bottom louvers separately, which is particularly good for transitioning from day to night.

Curb Appeal: These shutters are viewable from the outside as well and are known to add curb appeal to any home.

Increased Property Value: Adding plantation shutters makes your home more appealing to potential buyers as they stay with the home when it is sold.

Privacy: The added level of privacy also adds more security. Blocking visual access is a deterrent to would-be criminals who try to scope out your possessions.

Sound Barrier: Plantation shutters add an extra level of noise protection against sounds coming through your windows.

Southwest Blinds & Shutters carries a wide variety of plantation shutters in Phoenix, AZ. The company’s collections include the traditional 2.5 inch size as well as a 3.5 inch size for large areas with high ceilings. Contact them today for more information and a free in-home estimate.

All You Need to Know About Roman Shades

Roman shades in pet-themed bathroomRoman shades can be a gorgeous way to accent any room in the home. At Southwest Blinds & Shutters, we offer a variety of Roman shades in Chandler, AZ that are sure to fully pull your home together. There are a variety of different types to choose from and they are perfect for homeowners who don’t want to take up a whole lot of wall space with their curtains. Below are some of the different types of Roman shades available for the home.

Flat Roman Shades: Flat roman shades are perfect to pair with drapes for a multi-dimensional look with your window coverings. When pulled up, they fold into each other, creating a flat and paneled look.

Relaxed Shades: Relaxed shades have a slightly more traditional look to them, but can be stunning in a bathroom above a sink or in a little girl’s bedroom. There isn’t much construction to them, so they have a slight bow in the middle, providing a rounded look.

Butterfly Shades: Butterfly shades look best in a traditional home and have the same bowing as relaxed shades, but there’s an extra bunch of fabric on either end. These are beautiful shades to use in a large bathroom or living area.

If you’re interested in learning more about how these gorgeous shades can fit into your home, contact Southwest Blinds & Shutters today at (480) 415-8542. You can also visit our showroom located in Gilbert, AZ.

Somfy Blinds Arizona – Motorization by Southwest Blinds

We are a leading provider in Arizona of Somfy Blinds and Motorized Solutions. We offer their full line of products including battery powered blinds and shades, hardwired blinds and shades, and the Somfy My Link. We also work with automation companies and integrators on more complex systems that need to integrate with home automation systems like Control 4 and Crestron that require an URTSI and programming.