How blinds can transform a window, keep draughts at bay, and even roll themselves up and down
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Your support makes all the difference.Blinds make practical and pretty additions to the home. As well as turning windows into room features, they also help with privacy and keep draughts at bay in chillier months.
There is a new product on the market which will appeal to gadget lovers. Apollo Blinds recently introduced the One Touch motorised system where blinds are operated from a remote control anywhere in the room. A chat with a representative shed light on this nifty new system. It is battery powered, which removes the need for mains wiring and the charge lasts for approximately a year. Adding a motor also avoids using a cord, meaning blinds are extra safe for families.
"Mass motorisation is due to hit homes from spring," says Mike Stephen, of Apollo Blinds. "At just £75 [which includes remote control and lithium battery charger], homeowners can now put their feet up and enjoy a little luxury for less. It is one of those things that, once you have it, you cannot live without."
They look smart, too. Our room makeover demonstrates the foliage gold sheen roller blinds which shimmer in different lighting and can match a variety of schemes. They worked for this space as we wanted to add a metallic edge without taking away from the generously sized windows (from £176, apollo-blinds.co.uk). However, before deciding on your fabric consider the size, depth and room type.
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Stephen has some advice: "Bedrooms need more privacy and light control than a kitchen or living room. If you are a particularly bad sleeper or your bedroom window gets a lot of sun in the morning, then blackout blinds would be beneficial. Roman blinds would be another option and offer a very classic and sumptuous look for bedrooms." We love the flutter coral roman blind which makes for a feminine touch and contributes to a relaxing palette (from £245, apollo-blinds.co.uk).
"On the flipside, Romans aren't suited to rooms that don't get a lot of natural light. A better choice here would be a semi-transparent or sheer material in a pleated or roller blind," Stephen adds. He recommends vertical blinds as they provide unrivalled light control. The vanes can be positioned to offer privacy yet still let the light flood in. Pleated blinds can be fitted directly into the window frame, meaning they can operate with a top-down bottom up function. This allows a wide range of options for limiting glare.
As for bathrooms or kitchens, wooden shutters are never a good idea. Opt for UPVC instead. Duette energy-saving blinds , which have a honeycomb structure that traps air as an insulating layer, can be useful for spaces such as conservatories which fluctuate in temperature (from £150, duette.co.uk).
Although they can be easily changed, good quality blinds can prove costly so think of them as an investment. It is worth bringing an expert in who can measure your space and run through colour, material and pattern options. Apollo Blinds offer an efficient free home design visit and quotation so you know exactly what to expect.
Likewise with Thomas Sanderson who make LifeTime shutters which do not distort, crack, chip or fade and come with a 25-year guarantee. "They protect a room from excessive heat and glare in summer, provide instant noise reduction and offer the greatest insulation during the colder winter months," says head of design Helen Sanderson. Priced from £270, they are made-to-measure following a free in-home design consultation (0800 688 8113, thomas-sanderson.co.uk).
It is so important to do your homework and have a reliable pair of hands on board as the right blinds can make or break a space.
Twitter: @amiranews
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