Help w/Sheer Shades (Silhouettes)
I am very interested in putting Sheer Horizontal Shades in my LR DR, but because our windows are rather large, the cost is an issue. I've found more reasonable prices online than the major manufacturer offers. So, ultimately I have a few questions. 1: Does anyone have any experience with IslandBlinds.com or JustBlinds.com? I want to save money, not waste it. 2: If you have this type of window treatment, are you happy with them? Are they hard to keep clean? Do you have any draperies or valances over the shades? I would love to hear any first hand experience anyone may have with this type of window treatment. I've been researching this particular treatment for awhile now and I'm starting to make myself a little crazy... so I'd just like to order them and get them up already! thanks so much! Cat Hunter Douglas created this treatment, they call it the silhouette.. http://windowsbeyond.com/images/silhouette.breakfast.1.jpg The only quality knock off i have seen is made by comfortex and is called the Shangri-La http://hotblinds.com/photos/shangrilamoonlightrbigprodshot.jpg in my opinion, the hunter douglas product is superior.. The comfortex product never seems to lay as smooth or looks too synthetic depending on the fabric you choose.. But i have never had a customer not like the comfortex, yet I'm sure that would change if I were replacing the hunters with comfortex both are easy to keep clean, a can of compressed air is very helpful for dust and dead flies and Routine vacuuming always helpful.. People will clean these shades for ya but they will charge you an arm and a leg.. All they are doing is dipping em in a tank + cleaner (like oxyclean) and some of them will tell ya some story about ultrasonic vibration blah blah blah.. If you get creative and find a vessel your open shade will fit in, you can do this yourself.. I have no experience with IslandBlinds.com or JustBlinds.com.. I would recommend you ask what brand shades you are buying from them.. If they say they are made for them, I would not chance it.. There are some real crappy Chinese products out there. Often I will put side panel drapes with a nice wood rod + finials on the same window, this is always a winning combination.. the shade itself looks great with nothing else on most windows. A cornice would be good too, as long as it doesn't look old lady like I appreciate you sharing your thoughts and suggestions. The brand I am looking at is Comfortex and I did notice the material they use is more synthetic, but I would have thought that might be a good thing, making them more durable. Funny that you mentioned people telling you that they clean these shades. I just had someone here to measure for me (I didn't trust myself for such a price-y product to measure correctly) and he mentioned that he invested in a machine to clean sheer shades. I didn't ask how much he charges, I figured I'll deal with that when the time comes. But thanks for sharing your insight on that aspect! The man who measured mentioned that the headrail that HunterDouglas uses is theirs alone, and that is the prime difference between them and Comfortex. Have you heard of anyone having issues with the Comfortex headrail -- that would be a concern since each of my windows is 88 wide. Also, he sounded like he was discouraging me from using a window scarf since you'll see the head rail where the scarf swags. My shades would be mounted outside the window on the moulding, so where would you recommend mounting the decorative rod -- in front of the headrail or above it? Just want you to know how much I appreciate your help! Have a great day! Cat I'll let BLD help you with the headrail question but wanted to comment on the scarf swag. First, you might want to reconsider this style because silhouette's are contemporary looking and not too sure they'll look good together. I think a tailored valance (box or inverted pleats or cornice) would look better, not to mention the top of the blind will be covered. If you decide to hang it anyway, hang the rod high enough so the drop will be right above the headrail. Yes the head rail is theres alone, just like comfortex is theirs alone.. The operation of the hunter douglas is smoother, no doubt, but the comfortex does a fine job.. Both look the same to me.. The Comfortex bracket isn't as elegant but ya don't really see either of em.. Comfortex does send a wedge that you use under your bracket that tilts the headrail flush to the ceiling on an inside mount application..The result is a much smaller light gap compared to the hunter.. and like 99.9% shadeladies advice I agree with her 100%.. You got to be careful with what you pair with these shades.. Sometimes less is better.. I find this especially true when putting these shades in a nice deep inside mount window.. An outside mount is a good candidate for side panels in my opinion, but also looks great alone.. as for a top treatment, a cornice board with a simple material that matches your room will be good.. a structured board mount valance that cascades down the side is nice too, as long as you don't get too crazy.. I do not think a cheap throw valance is the right choice, but if you must, make sure the TOP of the swoop doesn't go below the headrail or window moulding.. *Disclaimer ..... i'm just a stupid installer Thank you to both Shadeladie and BLD for the additional information. I'm sure I came to the right place, because I'm wondering if the look I'm after is better achieved with different products. I hope you'll have patience with me! My L/R and D/R are a combination room. Our floors are medium oak, the walls are painted Benjamin Moore Maidenfair Fern (a light sage green) and we have brownish/burgundy leather LR furniture. Same paint in the DR, and the furniture is Mahogany. So, other than the walls, the contents of the room are rather masculine and dark and I would like to bring in some light, give the rooms a less masculine touch with the window treatments. As I said, originally I thought the Comfortex Sheer Shade with a floral patterned scarf above would be best. But it sounds like I may be wrong. I just felt that in order to lighten up the rooms the fact that the Sheer Shades open to allow light in for the full length of the window might be our best bet (and they are a bit more dressy than 2 wood blinds). And I thought adding the scarf would make it a bit less masculine. Our shades would be mounted outside the window, and you recommended side panels. Can you explain that a bit? Would there just be Sheer panels (with a pattern) on the sides? Or would you recommend a heavier material? I just feel that in order to get a really finished look, I would prefer to have some type of soft topper or curtain. Maybe Sheer Shades aren't right for the look I'm trying to get -- what would you recommend? Cellular shades? Pleated shades? Something else entirely? I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help and advice! I would hate to be responsible for steering you away from a very nice product.. The sillouhettes form follows its function and looks great while doing so, not many products can say that. A floral pattern to go along with your shade is just fine.. I don't think your gonna find many designers that would encourage you to put the simplest, cheapest, most elementary, uninvolved, etc, etc, etc, top treatment on top of such a nice shade.. can you tell I really hate throw swags? lol If it were me, and I wanted to add something to it to femm it up, I would have pinch pleat side panels made for the windows out of the fabric of my choosing.. I would put these drapes on a wood pole w/rings + finials, about 4 inches above the molding so you cant see the molding above the side panels. Your side panels would be non functioning and strictly for looks The shade will go with any fabric, its the style you make the treatment in that may make it clash. Just don't put hub caps on a ferarri I promise not to accuse you of steering me away from anything! I truly appreciate your thoughts and expertise! I've never used a scarf, so I thought that might be nice, but yes, I see that you're no fan! Can you tell I'm extremely confused?! So.... the pinch pleat side panels would be it? Nothing along the top? And mounting the rod for those 4 inches above the headrail of the shades? If I'm understanding you, you'd still be able to see the headrail, is that OK? And I don't want to put anything cheap looking either, but my husband is about to have a total stroke when it comes to the price of these shades, so I'm really trying to be a bit economical and in the process save him a bit of heartache too! Which is why I'm starting to think I may be better off with faux wood blinds and shears for the warmer months and sheers and side panel drapes in the cooler months. If I decide to do that, though, what color do I use for the blinds? As I mentioned previously, we have medium oal moulding floors and same moulding around the windows, but mahogany wood in the dining room. My tendency would be to go with white because I've never been a fan of seeing a color shade or blind from the outside... but maybe I'm being waaay to conservative? I am constantly watching the DIY network and would love for any of those guys to come in and do it for me!!! Thanks again for all of your help... again, I really appreciate your thoughts! Enjoy the weekend! Since you are looking at the Shangri-La shades, you may also check into prices on the Vienna Soft Sheers. Virtually a clone of the Comfortex product, but a lesser known name. You could go to HunterDouglas.com and look at the photo gallery for the Silhouette to see lots of pics of this type product, many adorned with side panels, scarves, etc. Lastly, dont fret so much about seeing the headrail. This product has a sleek looking, color-coordinated headrail that covers and conceals the roller and hardware. Its not raw, or unfinished looking like other products, and is even available covered in the matching shade fabric. Oh, and just a FYI, when doing the drapery side panels on a decorative rod as BLD suggests(a fantastic look that I completely agree with), the reason you dont need anything else along the top is because the decorative rod itself provides the visual impact that should easily draw the eye away from that dastardly headrail.
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