PLATINUM LCD TIMER

The Platinum LCD Timer

The Platinum LCD Timer is used to automatically operate PowerRise 2.0 and PowerGlide 2.0 with Platinum Technology products at any time of the day.The Platinum LCD Timer can be wall mounted in the same room as the motorized window coverings.

PLATINUM  RF ADAPTER

Platinum RF Adapter

The Platinum RF Adapter uses current-sensing technology to operate PowerRise 2.0 and PowerGlide 2.0 products. The adapter plugs into a standard outlet and detects AC power. The device will send out a signal to open or close window coverings based on whether or not power is present in the outlet. The RF Adapter can be used in conjunction with an off-the-shelf lamp timer or switched outlet for simple operation.

PLATIMUM SOLAR ENERGY SENSOR

Platinum Solar Energy Sensor

The Platinum Solar Energy Sensor automatically adjusts window coverings to the changing sunlight to provide energy cost savings. The sensor’s compact design blends easily with any interior décor. Activation levels can be adjusted and controlled via the solar energy sensitivity dial on the top.

Hunter Douglas Everwood Blinds

You have decided that faux wood blinds are the perfect window treatments for your project needs.  Fabulous!  Now….which, of the the 50+ available manufacturers and styles, will best meet your project needs and provide you with the most value and beauty?

Hunter Douglas continues to lead and define beauty and value within the faux wood blind industry by producing the highest quality blind, with the most design options and the strongest warranty.  By understanding the qualities that allow it to provide the highest value to consumers, you will be able to make educated decisions about the rest of the products available to you on today’s market.

Faux Wood Blinds possess several comparative characteristics that allow us to define the value of the product relative to price; Environmental Impact, Child Safety, Resistance to Sun & Heat, Quality of View Through the Blind, Aesthetics, Cleanability, Smoothness of Operation and Warranty

Environmental Impact – Hunter Douglas “Everwoods” are the only blinds on the market that are PVC free.  This characteristic reduces the release of VOC’s (volatile organic compounds), improving indoor air quality and earning the product the “Greenguard” certification.  Additionally, they are made in North America and not shipped overseas resulting in less fuel consumption and pollution.

Child Safety – Hunter Douglas meets all of the current child safety guidelines with break-away tassels, as is required of all manufacturers & distributors of faux wood blinds in the US.  Hunter Douglas also provides cordless lift options for their “Everwood” collection that allows the blind to be lifted and lowered by pushing and pulling the bottom rail of the blind thus completely removing one set of cords.  If this feature is combined with wand tilt, all cords and potential safety hazards are removed.

Resistance to Sun & Heat – Hunter Douglas “Everwoods”, in paint and wood grain finishes, are formulated against yellowing, fading and discoloration for life unlike any similar blind offered in the market.

Quality of View Through the Blind – Hunter Douglas “Everwoods” are designed with exceptionally stable slats that provide the widest ladder spacing in the industry (16” – 18”) and warranted for life against twisting, warping or bowing.  Most brands average 9” – 14” thus requiring 5 ladders on a 48” blind as opposed to the 3 ladders that Hunter Douglas requires for the same size blind.  Less ladders result in better view through the blind and a less cluttered appearance

Aesthetics – The Hunter Douglas “Everwood” faux wood blind collection provides consumers with 59 slat and color combinations and 4 valance styles to meet the design needs of any environment.  While many manufacturers offer 2 ½” wide slats to provide an appearance similar to that of a shutter, Hunter Douglas offers this slat size with beautiful beveled edges that add architectural interest and tighter slat closure.

Cleanability – The most difficult part of a faux wood blind to clean is the cording and the slats around each ladder/cord location.  By providing a blind with less ladders, the consumer can clean the slats more quickly and there is less material to become dingy over time.  Keep in mind that “wood grain” textured slats, by any manufacturer, will trap more dust and grime in their ridges and become dingy looking more quickly.

Smoothness of Operation –  The entire Hunter Douglas blind collection now utilizes their newly re-engineered “Epic” headrail system comprised of higher quality components, some of which are silicone impregnated, to improve the smoothness of operation and increase the longevity of their cording.  With an “Epic” headrail you will not only feel the smoothness of operation but you will see the Hunter Douglas logo on all of the components inside the headrail.  Remember that Hunter Douglas owned companies such as Comfortex or Timber do not manufacture Hunter Douglas blinds.

Warranty – The Hunter Douglas “Everwood” blind carries the strongest product warranty in the industry.  In the event of fading, yellowing, warping or bowing, the blinds will be completely replaced.  Additionally, Hunter Douglas warrants their cords for 7 years.  Due to the stress put on these cords to carry the weight of faux wood blinds, they all break with time and exposure to the sun.  The industry average for cord warranty is 30 days to 3 years.  Regardless of which blind you purchase and from whom, ask about the labor/shipping costs associated with facilitation of the warranty to understand the long term maintenance costs and support that you can expect.

Hunter Douglas “Everwood” faux wood blinds define quality within the market and offer consumers the best value for their investment however, many other brands and grades are available.  With an understanding of the characteristics to consider, you can now make educated decisions about the product that is best for you.  At “Eye on Design” we offer 6 different styles of faux wood blind from 3 different manufacturers and provide on-site installation and warranty services from our 1,500 square foot Belleville showroom.  Call us for a quote today!

Solar shades offer any commercial business space with  high-tech convenience in a functional shading system. The simplicity of shades with the versatility of motorized operation.  They are available in any size and can retract completely when not in use for an unobstructed view.

Call today to view our wide selection of Solar Shades and how they can help enhance your work environment. 618.257-9750.

Unlike clothing textiles, most home decorating fabrics are not designed to withstand laundering.  Many detergents contain a variety of harsh chemicals that can damage the fibers and may leave a film that attracts more dust and dirt to your window treatments, custom bedding and decorative pillows after cleaning.  In fact, certain fibers such as rayon and silk, should never be exposed to water.  To increase the longevity of your custom pieces, it is often better to leave the original fabric finishes in place.   Dry cleaning solutions and techniques vary in quality and there is much to risk in bringing your custom treatments to an establishment that is not willing to warrant their work against damage, shrinking and/or color changes that might occur.  Below are some maintenance techniques that you can apply to your custom home textiles to help you to obtain the longest life possible for them with the least amount of laundering or dry-cleaning.

Drapery

If at all possible, drapery and or custom top treatments should never be dry cleaned or laundered. These products can include a face fabric, interlining and lining fabrics that are all composed of different fiber contents and weaving structures.  These different layers will react to wet cleaning processes differently and they may shrink at different rates.  The result can be irreparable.  Even without cleaning you may notice that your drapery shrink up a bit or sag over the years in response to the changing humidity and temperature levels in your home throughout the year.  To minimize these reactions, keep your home environment as constant as possible.

To care for your custom window treatment, vacuum them with a clean brush attachment in order to remove dust and debris.  Frequency is dependent upon the amount of dust in your home.  If the coffee table needs dusting, it is wise to vacuum, at a minimum, the horizontal planes of your custom décor pieces.  Vacuum the entire piece bi-annually or more frequently if you have pets, live on an unpaved road or leave your windows open frequently throughout the year.

If you have floor vents below your drapery, buy deflectors to push the air away from the windows and prevent them from becoming air filters for your home.

Be careful not to touch draperies when opening and closing them unless your hands have just been washed and thoroughly dried.  Our skin contains a great many oils and environmental residues that can stain your drapery.  Consider use of cord drawn traverse rods and or operating wands to help you to accomplish this feat.

Upholstery & Pillows

We recommend that you spot clean these items with a damp white cloth as soon as a stain occurs.  ALWAYS test the fabric first with a clean white rag in an inconspicuous spot to see if any color from the cloth comes off on your rag. If it does, the fabric is not colorfast and professional cleaning may be necessary.  At a minimum, vacuum the horizontal surfaces of your upholstered pieces and pillows with a clean vacuum brush attachment each time you dust to remove dust and debris before it can be pressed down into the fibers of the fabric.  Don’t be afraid to take your cushions and pillows outside for a good hand beating prior to application of the vacuum.

Each piece should be completely vacuumed at least twice per year on all sides. Remember, these dry, in-home, cleaning techniques need to be applied to your home textiles more frequently if you have additional dust-generating environmental factors in your home.

Sun

Even before dust, sunlight is the great enemy of your custom textiles.  Consider use of sheers, shades or blinds behind your custom drapery and top treatments to reduce the amount of ultra violet light that they, and the rest of your home furnishings, are exposed to.  Like your flooring and furniture, your drapery will show the damage done by exposure to East, West or South facing windows very quickly and the damage is irreversible.  To even out the damage to your upholstered pieces, flip your cushions and pillows every month while dusting and use well placed “Throw” blankets to protect the arms and backs of sofas that receive the most direct sunlight every day.  Remember that the sun moves throughout the year so this strategy should be changed up in the spring and fall.

Professional Cleaning

If you feel that you must have your treatments professionally cleaned, please find a resource that will work on them in your home to avoid much of the damage that can occur when they are removed from the window.  At Eye on Design we recommend that you talk to Bill & Lucille in Waterloo, IL.  (618) 939-8070 and tell them that we sent you.  They are also trained to professionally clean your Hunter Douglas treatments.   If you would like to take your more intricate top treatments into your trusted dry cleaning facility, and insure that they match the original design as closely as possible after cleaning, consider hiring one of our professional installers to remove and re-install them for the best results.

If you integrate good maintenance habits into your home cleaning routine, your high quality home décor pieces can last many years.  As always, we are here at Eye on Design to support your needs and questions as they arise.