Wood Blinds

This group includes Faux Wood and Metal Blinds.

True Wood Blinds

The classic lines of wood blinds have the looks of a shutter while offering the function of a blind.
The versatile nature of a blind you can close for full privacy,
tilt the slats for sun control or raise the shade for open viewing.

2" slat size is by far the most popular;
also available are 1-3/8", 2-5/8".

There are many options to consider,
wand or cord tilts,
braided ladder tapes or decorative cloth tapes,
different slat shapes as well as trim details and valance choices.

Wood blinds are made of real wood, "Basswood "
this wood comes from a Linden tree,
a large shady full height tree grown in southern regions.

Basswood is also known as "The Carver's Wood ",
a soft even grained wood that carves and finishes with ease.

Faux Wood Blinds

As the name suggests, Faux is a Polymer Vinyl material,
the costs are less than Wood.

This product is grouped in together with Wood blinds.

I, Terry am not a fan of this product.

The material is not as structural as Wood,
it requires more support in added ladder tapes.

A typical 6' wide Wood blinds uses 4 ladder tapes,
where as a similar sized Faux wood needs 6 ladder tapes
to support the otherwise sagging material.

The weight is also greater on the Faux material than Wood.

Metal Blinds

Another alternative material is 2" Aluminum Slats.

This is considered a line in a different category
but shares many similar traits as Wood and Faux Blinds.

The cost of Metal or Aluminum blinds is considerably less.

Considered the tried and true classic of the industry,
metal blinds have been the product of choice to deliver a clean look,
full function blind at an economical price.

The versatile nature of a blind you can close for full privacy,
tilt the slats for sun control or raise the shade for open viewing.

The classic Levolor is a 1" slat size,
also available in 1-3/8", 2" slat sizes.

OPTIONS

Tilt Controls

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We have the option of a Wand to turn the slats
or a set of 2 Cords that toggle the slats,
one cord pulls in a direction the other cord pulls opposite.
A Slated blinds also has cords that raise or lift the shade.

Tilt and Lift controls can be specified on the Left or Right of the blind,
grouped together, sharing the same side or split apart on opposites sides.

In the case of a Cordless shade,
The Tilt mechanism is only avaible on the Left side.

Valance features

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The valance is a wood cover a the top of the shade,
it covers the metal headrail the blind is assembled upon.

Clips and magnets attach the Valance to the metal headrail.

We have four Valance profile styles to choose from:
The standard Decorative,
Crescent,
Modern all of these are 3" tall,
and the 4" Forte Valance.

Other features that can be included in a valance
are a Keystone to accent the center of a wide valance
or a Cloth Tape added to the Decorative Valance.

Ladder Tapes

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Ladder tapes are the strings that support the Slats,Ladder Tapes; we have 3 options from to choose.

A Traditional route hole is drill thru the slats
at the point where the support cords
( Invisable Ladder Tapes ) are holding up the slats.

The elongated holes facilitate the pull cords for the function of raising the blind.

A small amount of light sneeks thru this route hole.


A Routless slat is absent of this hole,
instead the lift cords are run on the outside of the ladder tapes.

The technique eliminates extra light that comes thru the Traditional Routing method.

There are 2 negitives to this approach,
the cording is more visible on the sides of otherwise " Invisable " Ladder Tapes.

The other more important aspect is the slats are completley loose
just lying on the tape rungs,
only held in check by a small notch in the slat.

This is fine for an inside mounted blind,
but can be bumped by a passer by on a outside mounted shade.

If bumped significantly the slat can come completely out of the blind
this would be an exterme case.

I have seen blinds ending up very sloppy looking
with several slats bumped out a few inches from side to side.

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Cloth tapes are a throwback to the 1940's Venetian Blind era.

Nylon " Invisable " ladder tapes were not thought of in those days,
instaed the a twill cloth tape was fashioned to make a slatted blind.

We still have this option avaible today in many colors and patterns.
This can be a fun history inspired decorating element for your house.

Function

Slatted blinds are only available as a conventenal blind,
stacking at the top of the window,
No bottom up functions.

A Cordless version is avaible for those who would like to eliminate cords,
but our highly technical manfactures will only give us the Tilt mechanism on the Left side.

The humor continues if we contact the other Hunter Douglas Line,
their rule is " Only Tilting on the Right ".

I've been tempted to order my Lefts from one and my Rights from another,
something tells me this might be a bad idea.

Maybe they could invest in two machines,
but this has not come to pass.

Motorized Slat Blinds are available,
however this is only available the mechinized tilting of the blind,
just not the lifting portion.

This can be especially useful for high window such as stairwells.