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4 | VISION

9/10.11VOLUME 32 / NO. 5

THIS ISSUE / COLOR AND DESIGN TREND REPORTS

20 AnInnovationDrySpell A call for truly new products for our industry. By Mary Ann Plumlee

22 TheCordSafetyIssue: StandardUpdate A recap of the past year’s progress, or lack thereof. By Susan Schultz

26 RomanShadeRedux: ANecessaryUpdate B&W launches a new Roman shade collection designed for safety, convenience and profit. By Howard Shingle

36 RisingtotheTop An overview of search engine optimization for your website. By Tamara Coalwell

62 R+T2012:ALookattheNearFuture

Preview of the tri-annual shade and shutter show.

64 2012EnvisionDesignCompetition

The final group of winning designs from this year’s competition.

MeyStyle is a partnership—between two sis-ters and between design and technology. The company specialized in wallcoverings with a modern, romantic feel, such as this moody, violet-hued design, called Maya. But then they integrate LED lighting and other digital details, creating truly unique installations. As seen at Maison&Objet.

26 Woods’Worth Experts discuss the profit and potential of one of the industry’s strongest categories—wood blinds and shutters. By Howard Shingle

38 RunwaytoWindow: Color-Blocking Imaginative window treatment designs inspired by the current fashions.

44 Montage Color and design trends for 2012, as forecast by Heimtextil.

48 Trace The 2012 color and style fore-

case from Pratt & Lambert.

50 ColorMix2012 Four nature-influenced palettes from Sherwin-Williams.

52 PushingtheBoundries New textile trends as seen at MoOD Brussels. By Corina Santoro

54 ADesireforDifference Trend directions and new product inspiration from Maison &Objet.

EVERY ISSUETHIS ISSUE SPECIAL IN THIS ISSUE

6 Viewpoint: WhatWe’reLovingNow Comments from contributors

8 Viewpoint:OurView President/CEO Grace McNamara

10 Viewpoint:InfoBar ColourLovers.com

12 Viewpoint:WFCP Hirschfield’s takes the Fast Track to WFCP certification. 14 Viewpoint: I’mOfficiallyObsessedWith Kate Smith on Harlequin Pottery. 70 ProductShowcase

72 What’sNext

Onthecover:Barbara Tabek, of Decorating Den in Har-risburg, Penn., designed this multi-func-tional guest bedroom. For more on this design go to page 68. For all the Envision Design Competition entries in this issue, turn to page 64.

F o r T h e N a t u r a l W a r m t h O f P r e m i u m W o o d S h u t t e r s ,

S o l s t i c e I s P r e f e r r e d .

S LS T ICE

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Solid Basswood ShuttersBeautiful Paint ColorsRich Stain FinishesMultiple Design Options

Arches & Archtop PanelsPatented Tilt Bar ConnectorPatented Clearview® “Hidden” Rear TiltLifetime Limited Warranty

6 | VISION

WINDOW FASHION VISION MAGAZINEPresident & CEO • Grace McNamara • [email protected]

Vice President/Circulation Director • Peggy Yung • [email protected] Director • Susan Schultz • [email protected]

Managing Editor • Nichole Day Diggins • [email protected] Design • Beth Hansen • [email protected]

WFCP Director & Trend Specialist • Deb Barrett • [email protected] Manager • Anne Will • [email protected]

SALESAdvertising & Trade Show Director • Shannon Leclair • [email protected]

Publisher’s Representative • Kerri Caldwell • [email protected] Classified Advertising • Paulina McNamara • [email protected]

IN THIS ISSUEContributing Writers •, Tamara Coalwell, Mary Ann Plumlee, Corina Santoro,

Howard Shingle, Kate Smith2011 Envision Design Competition Winners:

Mary Susan Bicicchi, Susan Day, Mary Sue Hafey, Sumiko Mori, Barbara TabekFeatured WFCP Designers & Workrooms:

Debbie Bowis, Valerie Kile, Anne Lubner, Candace Phelps, Jill Ragan Scully, Connie Valente, Ruth Zahler

2011 EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARDDonna Elle, Donna Elle Seaside Living

John Fitzgerald, ComfortexNeil Gordon, Decorating with Fabric

Joyce HoltSusette Kubiak, Drapery Connection

Rory McNeil, TechStyles Window Covering Products Inc.Tom Perkowitz, B&W Window Fashions Inc.

Jane Shea, Blinds Unlimited

CIRCULATIONNCS Fulfillment Services • 877/344-7406 • [email protected]

Window Fashion Vision® (ISSN 0999-7777; USPS 708930) is published six times a year,

by AIM Communications LLC, 4756 Banning Ave., Suite # 206, White Bear Lake, MN 55110;

NEW NUMBERS: Tel 651/330-0574; Fax 651/756-8141. Visit our website at www.wf-vision.

com. Periodicals class postage paid at St. Paul, MN and additional offices. Postmaster:

send address changes and subscription correspondence with mailing label to Window

Fashion Vision, 4756 Banning Ave., Suite # 206, White Bear Lake, MN 55110. Allow 60 days

for address change. Subscription rates: $22/yr. U.S. and possessions; $29/yr. Canada; $90/

yr. Foreign (includes airmail postage). Single copies/back issues $6 each, except for special

issues, which are individually priced. (Payment must accompany order.) Copyright ©2010

by AIM Communicaations LLC. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permis-

sion prohibited. Canadian Publications Agreement Number: #40036514. Canadian Return

Address: Station A, PO Box 54, Windsor, ONT N9A 6J5

WF-VISION.COM

Window Fashion Vision magazine makes every attempt to credit each person involved in

the process of creating a window covering and will not be responsible for crediting any

person whose name, company or participation did not surface during the information-

gathering process. Crediting disputes between parties other than Vision magazine are

solved at the discretion of those involved.

WHAT WE’RE LOVING NOW …

Mary Sue (Collegial)It was wonderful to have met colleagues at the Vision11 awards ceremony. Mary Sue Hafey and Mary Susan Bicicchi are now known as “The MSs, In-ternational Award Winning Designers” thanks to the Envision Design Competi-

tion! We met up again in Denver to “talk shop” and are already planning our next adventure for the 2012 show in Chicago.

Debbie (ilove)I love, love my new iPad 2! I use it as a second mobile phone with the Line2 app, navigate to appointments with MotionX GPS, show cli-ents my work with Portfolio, draw measurements directly on a photo with Photo Mea-sures. I can review my jobs

on Connexion and even draw a floor plan or unique drapery treatment with Minutes Matter Studio. I read Oprah, House Beautiful and Elle Decor on it while listening to my favorite international radio stations. I love my iPad so much I sleep with it … and use Dream Clock to wake me up in the morning!

Corina (Farm Fresh)There is nothing like a crisp fall morning at the local farmer’s market. I can’t wait to get home to my kitchen. Cooking inspires me, not unlike design. As I blend ingredi-ents and experiment with new flavors, I’m always

delighted to see something new appear. Pleasing the palate is equally as important as pleasing the eyes. Taking cues from nature’s colors and flavors, each season presents a new opportunity for culinary delights. But fall, with warm bellies, warm hearts and warm homes, may be my favorite.

Kate (Mood Indigo)Indigo found its way into my heart long ago. An intriguing, mysterious color with just the perfect amount of earthiness, in-digo been part of cultures around the world since be-fore the time of recorded history, connecting each of

us to this color of faith and fairness that is thought to help us rise above fear and frustration. Is it any wonder that I'm falling in love with this tried and true hue all over again?

We’re on Facebook twice!facebook.com/wfvisionmagazine and facebook.com/vision.iwce

Keep up with all the VISION11: IWCE Las Vegas tweets attwitter.com/VISION’11IWCE

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8 | VISION

OctoberkicksoffNationalWindow Covering SafetyMonth and the issue isheating up between the

industry and the Consumer ProductsSafety Commission (CPSC). Look forthe latest information on page 22 ofthis issue. As difficult of an issue asthishasbecomeforourindustry,ithasspurredsomeactionandcreativitybya fewsavvycompanies thathaveac-knowledgedtheproblemandcomeupwith NEW products.Throughout thisissueyouwillfindagreatselectionofcompaniesandproductsthatofferyoudifferent but compliant solutions tothecordsafetychallenge.

Beginning now and continuingthrough next April, we are focusingon bringing you BIG IDEAS—ideasthatcanhelpyougrowand thrive inthisstillchallengingeconomicclimate.OurBigIdeasthemekicksoffmonthsof sharing and culminates with theVISION12: International WindowCovering Expo next April 24-26 inChicago,wherewewillsharewithyou

inpersonsomeof thebestandmostingenious BIG IDEAS. We’ll be ask-ing you to share your ideas with us,andwiththeindustry,onourwebsiteand Facebook page, so watch for de-tails!Webringyouoneofthesegreatideasonpage26whereB&WWindowFashionsunveilsareallybrilliantandstylishideaforsoftwindowcoverings.ThisisjustoneofthecompaniesthatareexhibitinginChicagothatyouhavetoputonyour“mustsee”list.

Forthesecondyearinarow,wewillbeco-locatingwiththeKitchenandBathShow (KBIS) which will help drawthousands of new design profession-alstoourannualindustryevent.Visitwf-vision/Shows over the next fewweekstoseethelineupofourcuttingedge CEU-accredited seminars andeducationprograms.

TheWindow Fashions Certified Pro-fessionalsProgram(WFCP)launchesahostofnewprogramsandtwonewSu-per Memberships this month includ-ingaWorkroomCertificationTraining

Program online. WFCP is committedtohelpingdesignandworkroompro-fessionals keep up with cutting edgeinformation and recognition. For acomplete list of new programs andbenefits,visitwf-vision.com/Educationandregisterforsomegreatnewtrain-ingprogramsthatyoucantakeinthecomfort of your home! By the way, ifyou haven’t checked out our websitelately,pleasedo—you’llfindsomenewideasandinspirations.

My BIG IDEA for this issue: Writedownwhereyouwanttobeoneyearfromnow,blowitupandputitonyourwall and each day ask yourself whatyoudidthatdaytogetyourselfthere.

Onthatnote,Ineedtogetbusyget-tingmygoalandactionplantogetherand planning my daily activities tomakeithappen.V

GraceMcNamaraPresidentandCEO

Think Big

Put Ideas Into ActionVIEW

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10 | VISION

InfoBarPalette People

It’s amazingly easy for me to lose track of time when I’m on ColourLovers.com. Sometimes it’s exploring the new palettes that have been uploaded, or the new

fabrics created in conjunction with Spoonflower.com. Sometimes its the engross-ing act of creating my own palettes for projects or for fun. But always it’s a fantas-

tic opportunity to see and connect with thousands of others who, yes love, and obsess over color. If you’ve never taken a look, here’s a brief overview. —Susan

I browsed on the Palette page and chose to view the most-loved palettes ever posted and “Giant Goldfish” was listed as number one. Click on a palette to see it larger, and then, you can choose to create patterns from any selected palette, or cre-ate your own pattern and color it.

Next I chose a different palette, the sixth on the all-time most-loved list, called “Let Them Eat Cake”. I like to compare palettes by using the same pattern first, and then explore other design options.

Switch the option on the Palette View page to see the most popular palettes of the day, week or month. This was a weekly favorite titled “I Wanted To Be …” that was posted with a lovely colorized vintage photo.

WF-VISION.COM | SEPT/OCT 11 | 11

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12 | VISION

New WFCP Program Delivers Immediate Results

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The Fast Track To

heWindow Fashions Certified Professionals teamtookitsFastTrackCertificationProgramtoHirshfield’s,aMinnesota-basedfullservicedesignretailerwith15showroomsintheMin-

neapolis, St. Cloud and Rochester areas. In business forover100years,Hirshfield’sDesignStudiooffers the lat-estfashionsinfabrics,wallcoverings,carpetandcustomarearugs,aswellascustomfurnitureandlighting.Theirdesigners have loads of experience and a love of homefashions,andinadditiontheynowhavesuccessfullycom-pleted theWindow Fashion Certified Professionals FastTracktraining.

Recognizing the value to their customers working witha professional and wanting to equip their staff with thenecessary tools to be successful in the window cover-ingarena,Hirshfield’smanagementrecentlyapproachedWFCPtofillintheblanksfortheirdesigners.InlateJulyacustomized,full-dayFastTrackProgramwaspreparedforHirschfield’sandincludedtopicssuchas:•Historicalsurveyofwindowfashions•Specialtywindows•Measuringforsofttreatments–rulesofthumb,standard

calculationsandpatternrepeats•Understandingbasicanddecorativehardware•Elementsandprinciplesofdesign•Productknowledge—fabric,textilesandlinings•Project management skills customized to Hirshfield’s

merchandisingpolicies

Combinedwithpost-traininghomestudy,exercisesandre-viewwebinars,allattendeessuccessfullytestedasWFCPDesignSpecialists.

The FastTrack program was developed as an answer torequests to offer a comprehensive accreditation programthat gives a higher understanding of the window fashionindustry.Itisastreamlinedtrainingcoursethatallowspar-ticipantstotestforSpecialiststatusinoneortwo-days,de-pendingonthehome-studyoption.Normally,gettingthe30creditsneeded for theSpecialist levelwould take severalmonths,butthenewlyrevampedFastTrackprogramdeliv-ersthesameresultsinaconvenient,quickandcustomized

manner.Formatsavailableare theoneor two-dayonsiteinteractive workshops, online coaching and self directedstudy.Thecoursealsoincludeslivevideochatandhands-ontimewithexpertinstructors.Eachsessionisspecificallytailoredtosuityourneedsinanaturalprogressiontobe-comingaWFCPCertifiedDesignSpecialist.Formorein-formationontheWFCPprogramandFastTrackopportun-ties,visitwf-vision.com/Education.V

What do you get with a room full of newly certified WFCP Specialists from Hirshfield’s? Beautiful results—and hundreds of years of experience.

WF-VISION.COM | SEPT/OCT 11 | 13B&W Window Fashions • Waukegan, IL 60085 • 800-858-2352 • www.horizonshades.com

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14 | VISION

Kate Smith on Harlequin Pottery

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I’m Officially Obsessed With

It was in a dusty box under a table at a local thrift store where I discovered my

first pieces of Harlequin and it was love at first sight. The pointed handles,

the angled sides, the band of rings circling each piece and the many off-beat

vintage colors all spoke to my color- and design-loving soul. The box was

marked ‘mismatched odd lot dishes’ and priced very low and when the shop

owner saw my interest, he offered the box to me for just a few bucks. As I paid

we both smiled at our good fortune. ¶ That was 35 years ago and all I knew

about the dishes I purchased was that I liked them. Later I learned that the

great Art Deco designer Fredrick Rhead who had designed Fiestaware also

designed this line of tableware called Harlequin. The line was produced by

Homer Laughlin from 1936-1964 and sold exclusively through the Woolworth

Company. The first colors were Harlequin yellow, spruce green, maroon,

and mauve. Later tangerine, turquoise, rose and light green were added

and in the ’50s, grey, chartreuse and forest green, were produced. ¶ What

started with just a first few dusty

pieces has grown into collection

that includes every hue. Those

brightly color-dipped pieces have

adorned the kitchen of every one

of my homes, found their way into

many of my still life paintings and

continue to make me smile every

time they catch my eye. V

All of the colors work together and create an engaging arrangement in my kitchen that always provokes comments from my dinner guests.

See more from Kate’s Harlequin collection on page 16.


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16 | VISION

Kate SmithSensationalColor.comColorConsultantCertification.comFacebook.com/sensationalcolorTwitter.com/colorexpert

CLOSER LOOK

Kate Smith is a color expert and ca-reer color trend forecaster, a design lover and color inspiration maven. Above all, Smith is an inspirational keynote speaker and seminar leader, blending color theory and psychology into entertaining and informative talks that bring color to life.

Color is her passion. Helping you to en-joy it—understand it, have fun with it, go wild with it - and use color confidently is her purpose.

ABOVE: Any way I look at them, the Harlequin teapots are still my very favorite pieces in the collection.

TOP RIGHT: The distinctive rings around their base tell you they're part of the Harlequin family but their squat, round shape is sometimes mistaken for the classic Hall Ball Pitcher, another item I am obsessed with and own in 14 colors.

RIGHT: The Art Deco inspiration comes through in the shape of another of my favorite pieces—the casserole. Shown here in what is called red but is really a very bright orange.

LEFT: Chartreuse is one of my favorite colors and I especially like it with the turquoise and light green. I enjoy moving the pieces around to see how the colors play one against another be-cause it is the interaction between colors that fascinates me.

WF-VISION.COM | SEPT/OCT 11 | 17B&W Window Fashions • Waukegan, IL 60085 • 800-858-2352 • www.horizonshades.com


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20 | VISION

Why Our Industry Needs Something New

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An Dry Spell’vebeeninthewindowcoveringsbusinessforover25 years, which makes me a relative newcomer insomerespects.But,25yearsislongenoughtohaveseenmanychangesintheindustry.

ForsomereasonI’vealwayshadaknackforseeingwhat’smissinginthemarket.Irememberyearsagostandinginaconveniencestoreandsaying,“wouldsomebodytellmewhereIcouldjustbuysomewater?I’msickofsodasandI’mtiredofdrinkingoutofthehosebythegaspumps.”Sev-eralyearslaterbottledwaterbecameahugeindustry.

Inmyownbusiness,I’verecognizedmarketshiftsonthehorizonmanytimesandmadeadjustmentstogetoutaheadofanever-changingmarket.Movingfromemphasizingsofttreatmentstohardandbacktosoftagain,beingoneofthefirsttosellshuttersinmymarket,embracingmotorizationand hundreds of other small adjustments in order to bewherethemarketwaswhenitgotthere.

Iwasaskedtospeakatanationalcompany’ssalesmeetingandIspokeabouttheneedtohelpMiddleAmericahavemoreoptionsinwindowcoverings.Atthattimetherewerelow-end,ready-madeproductswithlimitedchoicesatoneendofthespectrumandhigh-endcustomproductsontheother.Thatvoidwaseventuallyfilledwithcatalogbusiness-esthatbecamewildlysuccessful.

Meetinganexistingneedisonething.Butcreatinganewmarketwithentirelynewproductsrequiresadifferentkindofinnovation.Inourindustry,we’vebeendemonstratedin-novation inproductmarketing,sales,delivery,measuring,ordering, time management, communication, human re-sourcesandeveryotherareaofbusiness.But,what’strulynewandrevolutionaryintheproductcategory?Andwheredonewproductscomefrom?Inourindustrynewproductsstartwithcreativeindividualstryingtoselltheircustomerssomethingnewanddifferent.Forexample,Iwasgladwhencompaniesstarteddevelopingdecorativehardwareforourindustry. It was easier than hiring a blacksmith to weldfencepartsontheendsofpipeandhammeroutbrackets.So what is next on the horizon for our industry?What’smissing?Whatnewproductcategorydoweneed?Ithink

By Mary Ann Plumlee

Workroom Association of AmericanWorkroomAssociationofAmerica.com

Window Coverings NewsWindowCoveringsNews.com

Plumlee PlacePlumleePlace.com

CK Lift SystemCKLiftSystem.com

CLOSER LOOK

theanswer isobvious.Weneed innovativeproducts thatdeal with the cord safety issue. But, can safety featuresalone create an entirely new product trend that will beembracedbythemarket?Doubtful.Creativityandbeautydriveourmarket.Thenutsandboltsofhowbeautyworksisasideissue.Usingsafetyasthemainsellingpointpres-entsdealerswiththetaskofjustifyingsignificantlyhigherprices forproducts that lookessentially thesameexceptfor the promise of no dead or severely injured children.Some customers embrace that concept, but for the mostpart,ifgivenanoptionofcordsatfarlessercost,theywilltakethecordsandassumeitwon’thappentothem.

Asdealersanddesignersourbattlecryshouldbe:Inno-vate something new and beautiful,somethingthecustomercan’tlivewithout.Andohyes,makeitsosafethatIdon’tevenhavetotalkaboutsafety.

Mary Ann Plumlee is a businesswoman, writer, inventor and speaker. She is the founder of Workroom Association of America, LLC, the only trade association developed specifi-cally for the benefit of the workroom industry and is also the founder and publisher of WindowCoveringsNewsMaga-zine and president of Plumlee Place LLC, a successful design and workroom business in Waco, Texas.Additionally, she is the inventor and developer of the CK Lift System, which lifts Roman shades without exposed cords and has earned the seal of approval from Parents for Window Blind Safety, and evaluated by CPSC as 'no strangulation risk'

APRIL 24-26, 2012MCCORMICK PLACE, CHICAGO, IL

One Badge, Two Shows!Vision12 will be Held in conjunction with KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath’s largest industry Event!

Collaborate with others. Learn from one another. Be inspired. Walk away with innovative BIG IDEAS that will transform your business, your product, yourself!

WHY EXHIBIT?• Introduce new products and services

• Find new prospects

• Demonstrate your equipment live and in person

• Meet face-to-face with the decision makers

• Generate leads and sales

• Strengthen relationships

• World-renowned speakers in conjunction with KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath’s largest industry event• Private vendor presentation opportunities• Vision12, IWCE, sponsored by Window Fashion Vision Magazine

WHY ATTEND?• Shop an extensive show floor showcasing the latest products and services

• Attend the industry CEU’d conference seminar program • Compete in the Window Fashion Vision Magazine’s Design Competition• Experience the Construction Zone – a real working- workroom on the show floor• Enjoy the WFCP Window Fashion Certified Professional’s Special Events• Attend Industry Dynamic networking events • Meet world-renowned speakers in conjunction with KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath’s largest industry event• Vision12, IWCE, sponsored by Window Fashion Vision Magazine

Interested in exhibiting? Contact:Shannon LeClair, 651-707-3655, [email protected] • Kerri Caldwell, 773-775-9293, [email protected] McNamara, 651-756-8834, [email protected]

wf-vision.com/Shows • 651.330.0574

The one world event where thousands of US and international visitors and buyers go for the BIG IDEAS in window fashions, styles, trends and continuing education comes to CHICAGO!


APRIL 24-26, 2012MCCORMICK PLACE, CHICAGO, IL

One Badge, Two Shows!Vision12 will be Held in conjunction with KBIS, the Kitchen and Bath’s largest industry Event!

Collaborate with others. Learn from one another. Be inspired. Walk away with innovative BIG IDEAS that will transform your business, your product, yourself!

WHY EXHIBIT?• Introduce new products and services

• Find new prospects

• Demonstrate your equipment live and in person

• Meet face-to-face with the decision makers

• Generate leads and sales

• Strengthen relationships

• World-renowned speakers in conjunction with KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath’s largest industry event• Private vendor presentation opportunities• Vision12, IWCE, sponsored by Window Fashion Vision Magazine

WHY ATTEND?• Shop an extensive show floor showcasing the latest products and services

• Attend the industry CEU’d conference seminar program • Compete in the Window Fashion Vision Magazine’s Design Competition• Experience the Construction Zone – a real working- workroom on the show floor• Enjoy the WFCP Window Fashion Certified Professional’s Special Events• Attend Industry Dynamic networking events • Meet world-renowned speakers in conjunction with KBIS, the Kitchen & Bath’s largest industry event• Vision12, IWCE, sponsored by Window Fashion Vision Magazine

Interested in exhibiting? Contact:Shannon LeClair, 651-707-3655, [email protected] • Kerri Caldwell, 773-775-9293, [email protected] McNamara, 651-756-8834, [email protected]

wf-vision.com/Shows • 651.330.0574

The one world event where thousands of US and international visitors and buyers go for the BIG IDEAS in window fashions, styles, trends and continuing education comes to CHICAGO!

22 | VISION

Uncertainty and Confusion Limit Progress

VIEW

POIN

T

The Cord Issue:Standards Update

thasbeennearlyayear sinceInez Tenebaum, chairman ofthe U.S. Consumer ProductSafety Commission, addressed

thestakeholdersoftheWindowCov-erings Manufacturers Association atameetingat theSPSCheadquartersandlaidoutthefollowingmission:

“…ayoungchildislikelytodieev-erymonththatthisstandardisbeingworkedon…butthesetragediesarepreventable.Theyhavebeenprevent-ableinthepast,theyarepreventablenow,andtheywillbepreventableinthefuture.

“I'mlookingforafullcommitmentinthe important work that you all areundertaking to eliminate the risk ofstrangulation.

“Letthepastnotrepresentaprologuetothefuture.Chartanewcourseto-day—acourse that ismore inclusive.A course that promises to eliminate,not justmitigate, the riskofharm tochildren.

“ …This has not been the traditionoftheANSI/WCMAA100committee.However, this must be your missionstartingnow.

“…Wheretherearedeaths,especial-lydeaths involvingyoungchildren, Ihavelittlepatienceforideasthatad-vancethenotionofsafetybeingdis-regarded.Thiswillnothappenagain.This is your chance to get the stan-dardsright…”

By Susan Schultz

One Year OnUnfortunately,formanyofthoseintheindustrywhowerehopingforaquick,clearresolutiononthisimportantissue,ayear later, little seems tohavebeenresolved. While there are many newproductson themarket thatmeet thecurrent standards and minimze cordtension and loose, dangling cord andcord loops, confusion still reigns overwhatcanbeinstalledandhowitshouldbeconstructed.

Somedesignershavestoppedspecify-ingcertaintreatmentsandsomework-rooms have stopped production, butthereiswidespreadmisunderstandingregardingwhatproductsfallunderthestandards.Someassumethatstandardsapplyonlytotheroll-upshadesoftenseenonporchwindows,knownforthelengthy tangles of cord; others imme-diately think of Roman shades; oth-ers believe continuous loop productsareexempt,butthefactisany corded window treatment product iswhattheCPSCstandardsareconcernedwith.

The Road So FarIn 2009 the CPSC issued a recall for50millionRomanandroll-upshades,one of the biggest product recalls inhistory. It also laid the groundworkfor establishing a task force chargedwithrevisingthestandards.Itwasthisgroup that Tenebaum addressed onNovember9,2010.

But within months it was clear thatwindowcoveringindustryrepresenta-tivesandtheconsumeradvocateshad

fundamentallydifferentvisionsregard-ingestablishinganewstandard.Foranindustry that isn’t often discussed inmajor media, anApril 20, 2011 pieceinThe New York Timesclearlyexposedthedivisionsonthetaskforce,andthewindow treatment industry does notcomeofflookinggood.

The New York Times piecelays out the core issue simply:“…Likesomeotherregulatorybattlesthat involveconsumersafety, thisonecomes down to a sobering question:howmuchshouldmanufacturers,andultimately consumers, be required topaytopreventthemaimingordeathofachild?”

Buttheissuesitbringsupareanythingbut simple, as the article notes thatwhile window treatment manufactur-ersofferedseveralfixestoreducecordhazards,allwererejectedbytheCPSC.

“Itwasmyunderstandingthatwewereeliminating the hazard,” said CarolPollack-Nelson,asafetyconsultantandmember of the task force. “We don’twant reduced strangulation.We wantnochanceofit.”

A Difference of Opinion & ApproachThe article goes on to quote RalphJ. Vasami, executive director of theWindowCoveringManufacturersAs-sociation, “The objective is to mini-mizethehazardasmuchaspossible,”saidVasami.“Idon’tknowifyouhaveit in your power to eliminate everyhazardforeveryproduct.”


LaterinthearticleVasamimentionedthe fairly stable rate of strangulationdeathsevenastheindustryhasgrownasproofthattheindustry’seffortshavehadapositiveeffect.Andhepredictedthat the number of deaths would in-evitablydeclineasolderproductswerereplaced by those with more safetyfeatures, including cordless products.“Just looking at it from a statisticalstandpoint, there will be a lesseningovertime,”hesaid.

Tenebaumacknowledgesthatcordlessblindsarepartofthesolution,buthadalreadystatedinherNovember9thad-dressthatshedidn’tseeitastheonlysolution. “For the past year, the Com-mission has recommended to parentswithyoungchildrenthattheygocord-lessintheirhome,”shesaid.“Weknowthat this is the best approach; but inthesetougheconomictimes,noteveryfamilycanaffordtogocordless.”

Given thebreakdown incommuncia-tion and the clear divisions betweenwindowtreatment industryrepresen-tativesandconsumersafetyadvocates,it’snosurprisethatthenexttimeTene-baumwentonrecorddiscussingcordsafety,ataAugust4,2011conferenceoftheInternationalConsumerProductHealth and Safety Organization, shesoundedmorethanabittesty.

“… After hundreds of preventabledeathsoverthepasttwodecades,thetimeisnowtofinally,onceandforall,eliminate the strangulation hazardwithexposedwindowblindcords.No-

ticehowIdidnotsay,“reducethehaz-ard.”Isaid,“eliminatethehazard.”

“TheWindowCoveringManufacturersAssociation did a great thing last fallby publicly announcing—with someencouragement from me—that theywouldtakeacomprehensiveapproachto updating their standards.And thattheywouldhaveapackageofimprovedvoluntarystandardsoutforballot thisOctober…we are three months awayand I am standing before you feelinglessthanconfidentthatthisprocessisheadedintherightdirection.

“TheWCMAneedstogetthetrainbackon the tracks, heed my call and callsfrom Members of Congress to elimi-nate thehazard,andkeepCPSCstaffandtheconsumeradvocatesmeaning-fullyinvolvedintheprocess.

“Theknow-howisthere,thetechnolog-icalinnovationisthere,whatweneedinthewillofthewindowcoveringin-dustrytoputsafetyfirst.”

Asbelieversinthepurposeandpow-er of this industry, it is the sincerehopeofallofusatVisionthatinournext issue we will have significantnewstoimpart.V

… how much should manufacturers, and ultimately consumers, be required to pay to prevent the maiming or death of a child? —New York Times, April 20, 2011.

24 | VISION

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Top Window Coverings100% in stock and ready to rock your rollers with Top TwinLight Eclisse™ true sheer & Twinlight® double shade, eco-friendly screen, decorative black out roller and panel fabrics. Over 30 collections, more than 200 colorways.

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Xentric Drapery Hardware Xentric Drapery Hardware is your one-stop shop for custom, unique drapery hardware, featuring contemporary and traditional collections in wrought iron, wood, and glass. From finials, tiebacks and brackets to rods and rings, our quality products speak for themselves; custom bending rods available for most rod styles. Traversing systems and mo-torized options available. New custom-ers get an extra 10% off first order. Mention Promo Code: XEN10A

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Golden Tassel, LLCFarmingdale, NY

Tel: 631/249-3023 • Fax:631/249-3027Email: [email protected] • Website: www.golden-tassel.com

• Tassel Tie-Backs• Key Tassels• Cords• Chair-Ties

• Tassel Fringes• Bullions• Rosettes• Brush & Scallop Fringes

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• Tassel Fringes• Bullions• Rosettes• Brush & Scallop Fringes

Distributor of Quality Trimmingsat Reasonable Prices

ZMCThe universal locking tensioner (ULT) has been designed for both inside and outside mount. As a safety device for children, it keeps the chain in paral-lel, preventing it from crossing. Three designs are offered: ULT for regular chain; ULT for endless chain with a plug to secure the continuous loop; ULT for cord to be used with cord with a smaller size. Available in five colors. All versions patent pending.

Phone: 800/541-2557 (US toll-free), 877/670-8909 (Canada toll-free), fax: 800/905-856-3388 (toll-free); e-mail: [email protected], visit www.zmc.ca


SB2 Concepts

Ultratab’s Impulse Welding Machine automatically folds and welds roller shades up to 157" wide. Ultratab is a man-ufacturer and global supplier of roller shading equipments. With over 30 years of experience working with window cov-

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Hunter Douglas window fashions

From cordless manual and motorized operating systems, retractable lift cords, cord tensioners and more, Hunter Douglas offers the widest array of innovative lifting sys-

tems designed with child safety in mind. Our Vignette® Mod-ern Roman Shades are even constructed with no back cords to eliminate poten-tial hazards associat-ed with these cords.

Visit hunterdouglas.com/childsafety to download our Child Safety Brochure which includes more information and can be shared with your customers.

26 | VISION

A Cordless Standard Comes to Market

NEW

PR

OD

UCT

NEW

S

Roman Shade A Necessary Update

fferingaproductthatmeetsallthedemandsofconsum-ersanddealersalikeisvitalforanymanufacturer.Itbe-

comesextraordinarywhenitrisesaboveeverythingthathascomebeforeit.

This month, B&W Window Fashions,Waukegan, Ill., launched what it be-lievesissuchaproduct:VitaléShades.The Vitalé Roman shade line offerswhat consumers desire: beautiful fab-rics,avarietyofstylesandaccessories,simplicityinselectionandaffordability.Vitalé Shades also offer what dealersneed:abeautifulsofttreatmenttosell,with simple sampling and price grids,marginsandfeaturesthatwillgivethemanedgeovercompetitiveproducts.

But there are some surprises to theVitalé Shades line that take it be-yond other offerings. For one, thereareseamlessfabrics.Shadesupto96by108inchesarefabricatedwithoutseams.Notwithhiddenseams.With-outseams.Thebiggestsurprise,andwhat’slikelytobeanindustrygame-changer, istheoperatingsystem.It’scordless—andit’sstandard.

Cost-neutral SafetyB&WbelievesitsCordlessONECon-trols™ innovation will change theindustry. “For the first time ever, acustom Roman shade is availablecordless without a surcharge,” saysWilliamO’Connor,B&Wpresident.

O’Connor likens it to safety featuresin a new car.There is no surcharge

By Howard Shingle

for seatbelts as an option.You don’taskhowmuchextratheairbagscost.These and other safety features arepartofthetotalpackage,standard,allincluded in the price. O’Connor saysin the window treatments industrytheCordlessONEControlstakesafetyfeaturescompletelyoutofthepricingequation,makingsafe-tycost-neutral.

Allsafetyrequirementsaremetwith the Vitalé Shades. Thereare no dangling lift cords.Thecords on the shade’s back areshrouded and there is nevermorethanasix-inchgap.For the consumer, the Cord-less ONE Controls are so in-herentlysimpletousethatin-struction is hardly necessary.A tugon thecenterpull ringalongthebottombeginsrais-ing the shade, which can bestoppedatanyheight. Inop-eration it’s similar to a rollershade, but the Roman pleatsstackneatlyandbeautifully,astheyshould.B&W is so committed to theCordless ONE Controls thatO’Connor says, “Vitalé Shadeswillnotbemadewithcordlocks,evenifcordlocksarerequested.”

The ProgramVitalé Shades is a soft shadeprogram that answers thedemands of consumers and

dealers beginning with beautiful fab-rics.Solids,printsandembossed fab-rics are offered in a broad range ofdesigner colors. The fabric choicescoordinate, so it’s easy to select sidepanelsoraboard-mountedvalancetomatchorcomplementtheshadefabric.


Theprogramalsooffersavarietyofshade styles and accessories.Thereare six shade styles: classic/flat, re-laxed, London, knife pleat, ribbedand hobbled. In sizes ranging from24by36inchesto96by108inches,it’s important tonoteagain that thefabricsareseamless.To complete the window treatment,and to give dealers more to sell, 10sidepanelsizesareofferedin20-and40-inchwidthsandinlengthsfrom60to240inches.Otheroptionsavailableinclude gathered tab tops, premiumandblackoutliningsandcutyardageat a surcharge. Four board-mountedtoptreatmentsareavailable,eachof-fered at a price for widths up to 96inches. If that weren’t enough, thereare29decorativehardwareselectionstocompletethedesign.

SimplicityThepresentationmaterialsforVitaléShadescouldn’tbesimpler.Allthein-

formationaconsumerneedstoknow,oradealerneedstopresent,isprintedinthreesimplepricepages.Onepricegrid covers classic/flat, relaxed orLondonRomanshades,anothercov-ershobbledRomans.Asecondpagecoverssidepanels,op-tionsanddecorativepoleandrodsets.The third page shows the four pre-miumtoptreatmentsalongwithpric-ing.There’senoughroomleftoverforseveralfull-colorroom-settingphotosshowcasingtheVitaléShadesinvari-ousstylesandfabrics.

Installerswillnotethateitherinside-or outside-mount, the Vitalé ShadeswithCordlessONEControlsaresim-ple to install. They are no differentthananyotherRomanshade.

TheVitaléShadeslinerecognizesthatpriceandaffordabilityareuppermostinmanyconsumers’mindthesedays,sothat’scovered,too.Theprogramis

B&W Window FashionsHorizonShades.com

CLOSER LOOK

sosimpletopricegiventheline’seasygridsandoptionchargesthatdealerscanpresentapriceproposalwhileinthe customer’s home the first time.Smartconsumerswhotaketheirtimetoshopfortheirbestproposalsshouldhavelittletroublerealizinghowmuchwindow treatmentstyle theycangetatabottomlinecost thatbeatsevenlesscomparableproducts.

Whatmorecouldanewproductlinepossibly have to offer? How’s this?TheVitaléShadecollection isn’tfin-ished.TheOctoberintroductionistheline’sinitialpresentation.B&Whintsatmorefeaturestocome.V

OPPOSITE PAGE: The Cordless ONE Control on the back of B&W Vitalé’s Roman shades works much like a roller shade control—easy, intuitive and, with all the cords shrouded, very safe.

ABOVE: The Vitalé program was developed to make selling Roman shades simple and profitable, and it includes options for selling side panels, top treat-ments and decorative hardware.

Q. Why do you think that is?

A. Three key reasons. First and foremost, our customers continued to support us even as demand got sluggish. We all want to control costs during such times, but our customers mostly avoided the temp-tation to trade down to cheaper products. It is easy to do the math and calculate the savings per unit on a purchased cost basis. Much harder and requiring some long-term vision is to add in the cost of lesser quality on customer retention and satisfaction, which can take years to see, the costs of rebuilding an order or installer call-backs, the distractions to skilled resources trying to work with a different or sub-par product, and the loss of valuable in-country technical and product support. RollEase has always provided quality parts and service and in these times of stiff competition I think our customers focused on quality and rewarded us by ordering our products.

Second, we invested in new people and product development at an unprecedented level. We expanded the senior management team, almost doubled our sales force, refocused our R&D group almost exclusively on safety-related products, and aggressively courted part-ners for new products we can offer to our fabricator customer base. This has been a tremendous strain on our system as the changes have been deep and rapid. Unfortunately, some of our customers have felt that strain first-hand, but the short-term issues will pay off with substantial long-term gains. We now have the underpinnings of a management, intellectual, product and distribution framework that will let us build a solid and long-term franchise.

Third, we looked outside the US. While the US struggled, we saw great opportunity in emerging and developed countries as far away as Brazil, Australia, Russia and elsewhere. We do not have limitless funds, so we partnered with like-minded companies such as Blind-ware, Almedahls, Somfy and Castellanos to help build our presence in such areas and the results have been terrific.

Spotlight on RollEase An interview with Derick Marsh, President

New team, new products, a changing company

Familiar faces make up new leadership team. Pictured left to right; Cindy Parker, Vice President Sales, Derick Marsh, President and Greg Farr Senior Vice President

by Peter Maine, Freelance Writer

Q. It has been a difficult past few years for the window covering industry. How is RollEase doing? Are you struggling like so many other companies that are tied to the housing industry?

A. The housing market and general economic downturn have certainly had an impact on the entire industry and RollEase is not immune to such external factors. But, fortunately, RollEase has fared pretty well. In fact, we managed to grow during this difficult period.

Q. Recently you brought in a new management team with some familiar industry faces. Why the change and why Greg Farr and Cindy Parker?

A. Although RollEase was riding the economic downturn pretty well, it is my job to look ahead years, not months to figure out how RollEase not only survives but thrives. I wish we could count on the tide to rise and all our customers to start buying more of our tradi-tional product, like clutches. Instead we need to plan for a world that includes sustained lowered demand and heightened competition.

I knew the future was going to be rough if we did not make some dramatic changes in how we conducted business both internally and externally. I needed to bring in some experience and fresh thinking. RollEase has an enviable brand, product range and customer posi-tion, but that alone will not guarantee growth and longevity. We needed to expand and solidify our intellectual and experience base.

I started by bringing in Greg after speaking with a number of indus-try insiders. Greg was an executive for both Hunter Douglas and Springs Window Fashions, understands the issues our fabricator cus-tomer base faces and is experienced in driving change in struggling programs. I first started speaking with him as an advisor for RollEase but soon realized I needed to get him on our staff. Right now he runs Operations, Marketing, Engineering and almost anything else he feels warrants his attention. He is very customer-centric and knows how to get the job done. He has been a great addition and is helping to “shake-up” RollEase in a good way.

Greg recruited Cindy who worked for him at Springs. Cindy also brings tremendous industry knowledge, having worked for both Springs and Levolor, and provides us with strong leadership and discipline for our sales team. Prior to Cindy arriving, I was handling sales along with all my other duties. I enjoy working closely with the customers but as the business grew in size and complexity it was

Spotlight on RollEase becoming difficult to give them the attention they deserved. Having Cindy here has helped free up some of my time to focus on other growth initiatives but also will allow me to still visit our customers and spend more time on strategic issues with them.

We also brought other important team members on board to bolster our finance, purchasing, marketing, product development and customer support areas. These individuals bring fantastic skills with them and come from a variety of backgrounds not just the window covering industry.

Q. There are many rumors swirling around that you brought Greg and Cindy on board because RollEase is interested in becoming a fabricator. Is there any truth to that rumor?

A. I have heard the rumors too and field many calls from customers inquiring if that is our intention. The answer is a very simple and em-phatic “NO.” Our goal is to build a portfolio of products, services and skills that will allow our core customers to become more competi-tive and build a better and more profitable product. The better our customers do, the better we do. We could never attract high quality partners looking for the best distribution and sales support team if we were merely offering to become a single, large fabricator using their product for our own purposes.

Our industry has clearly experienced permanent structural change, not just a cyclical downturn, but there is no business logic behind RollEase attempting to effectively turn itself into one of its custom-ers. There is plenty of opportunity doing things we are good at and that differentiate us from our competitors.

Q. You recently made a big announcement that you are now the ex-clusive US distributor for the SunShadow fabric line manufactured by Alkenz. What can you tell me about that?

A. After distributing Mermet product for a number of months we realized how important it was for RollEase to offer a full line of fabric products. Mermet is a great partner and pulling this program together offered a valuable learning experience, but RollEase always needed a companion program that could achieve higher volumes and a deeper penetration. We were looking at several options when the folks from Alkenz approached us. We thought the quality of their product was second to none and perfect for our program. Now we offer two quality fabric products along with a complete operating sys-tem for our customers. We have become a true one-stop resource for all solar shade products.

Q. You were recently appointed to the Board of Directors for the Window Coverings Association of America. How will that benefit RollEase?

A. First of all, I am honored to have been asked to be a Director and to be associated with so many talented people that work to shape and grow the industry. The typical WCAA member has very different concerns and day-to-day issues than a multi-facility fabricator rolling out a national solar shade program. RollEase needed to re-educate it-self about this constituent group and work to help grow this industry we are all involved in, especially while it still struggles during this ex-tended downturn. I am also fortunate that by bringing in people like Greg, Cindy and others I can now take the time to be more involved in industry activities.

Q. You are also involved at the board level of the Window Cover-ing Manufacturers Association and the Window Covering Safety Council . Can you share any insights with what we can expect to see regarding new rules and regulations?

R Series and Skyline clutches made by RollEase

This is obviously a very difficult and often emotional issue. There is no doubt that our products are safer today than not so long ago and that the efforts to develop and fabricate even safer products will continue for many years. I am amazed at the level of talent and selfless commitment that some participants in our industry have.

The issues surrounding child safety are getting incredible thought and investment of resources during very difficult economic times; unfortunately, many of these efforts are unheralded as many of these activities are behind-the-scenes. RollEase is not the only player investing millions in ideas and products that may never generate a return on sales, but it is a moral and business imperative to keep trying. That doesn’t even count the thousands of hours invested in improved standards and testing criteria that are required to support this effort. Like any process that seeks to radically alter the rules of the game, there will be bumps along the road. However, the com-mitment I am privileged to see first-hand is unwavering and always focused on improving the safety of our industry’s products. And regardless of the improvement in standards and actual products, we all need to share our burden in communicating the risks and possible solutions to the end consumers.

Many very basic steps can be taken with existing technology to mini-mize safety hazards, but consumers need to be educated through different means. Window Covering Safety Month is this month and the industry is not only submitting significantly improved standards for comment, but is also spending heavily to educate consumers about these potential hazards and solutions.

Q. What do you see in the future for the window covering industry?

A. Ours is a relatively small industry, which is surprising given the importance of the product to energy and light management, as well as room aesthetics. With over two billion windows that need to be covered in some way, you would think the resources of our industry would be deeper and the supply channels more efficient. But that is not so different from other fragmented, mature industries migrating to a more efficient structure. There will be more pain before our industry restructuring is complete, but the future is bright for those willing to invest in more efficient and sophisticated systems and tools.

The need for energy management will only grow in demand, not shrink, and supplementing artificial light with sophisticated natural light controlling products that also are aesthetically pleasing must oc-cupy a growing share of consumer demand and investment. We do not need another window to be installed in this country to provide significant opportunity for those willing to find their best spot in the supply channel. We are comfortable with our chosen position in the industry and plan to make it easier for our customers to access our company, its people and products and services as they invest in themselves.

“ I needed to bring in some experience and fresh thinking.”

30 | VISION

SPEC

IAL

REP

OR

T Beauty, function and lasting value; wood window treatments meet every customer need.

Woods’ WorthBy Howard Shingle

omeowners want customwindow treatment prod-ucts—there’s little ques-tionaboutthat.Theywant

customdesignsandproductsbecausethey are beautiful, unique and last along time. But let’s face it, customersarewatchinghowtheyspendmoney,too.Theywantitall…atthebestprice.

If there is a currentproductlinethatmeetsall these needs, it’slikely made of wood.Woven shades, woodblinds and shutterscan be the epitome ofcustom, beauty andfunction.Availabilityinarangeofproductop-tions and price pointsonly serves to makethese products moredesirabletoclients.

Where’s the Market?Although desirabil-ity hasn’t always ledto sales in today’seconomy, the marketforwoodwindowtreat-mentsisholding.

DickDecker,president,WoodMart WindowCoverings,saysactivityin existing home salesis sustaining what he

otherwiseseesas slowgrowth in themarket. “When an existing home issold, the new homeowners tend towant to personalize their new homeandwindowcoveringsareoneof theeasiestthingstochange.”Headdsthatmorepeopleareremodelingthaneverbefore. “Out with the old mini-blind,

inwiththenewwoodblindorshutter.What could dress up a house betterthanthis?”heasks.

“Thereisalwaysamarketforthehigh-estqualityproductsthatstandthetestoftime,”saysJulieDeCocker,directorof product and brand management

WoodMart shutters can help convince homeowners in the value of treatments that last a lifetime, and also stay in style.


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fortheHunterDouglasCustomShut-terDivision,“butnowmorethaneverweseeconsumersinterestedinmak-inganinvestmentintheirhomesandlooking foragoodvalueproposition,which our wood and hybrid shutterproductsoffer.”KimSloey,seniorproductmanagerforSpringsWindowFashions,seeadiffer-enceinrealwoodandfauxwoodsales.“Real wood sales have maintainedduetothepremierstatusoftheprod-uct,”shesays.“Thefauxwoodmarkethassoftenedduetoadditionsoflowerpricedoptionsinthemarketplace.”But Bobby Dill, director of productand brand management for HunterDouglas’ horizontal blinds division,saystherearereasonswhybothrealandalternatewoodproductsaredo-ing well.“Consumers have turned tomoreremodelingprojects.Homeown-ers are taking more time in makingpurchase decisions and to shop fortheverybestproductfortheirbudget,”saysDill.“Becauseoftheiraffordabil-

ity and universal ap-peal among all agegroups,thishasactu-allyhelpedtosustainthevolumeinoural-ternativewoodblindsandrealwoodblindssales over the pastyear.”

AdvantagesWhichever product acustomer ultimatelychooses, the advantages of offeringwood treatments are many. ShaneBrunell, senior product manager atComfortex Window Fashions, beginsthelist:“One,woodblindsareagreatlooking product with optimal lightcontrol and privacy, and, two, mostsuppliershaveverycompetitiveoffer-ingssothepricetoconsumersismore‘digestible’ than some other productoptionsoutthere.”Formany,woodhasanemotionalap-peal. “A stylishly high-quality woodshuttermakesastatementrightthere

and will be perceived by consumersanddesignersalikeasamoreupscaleoffering,” says Frank Shi, vice presi-dent,Exus,Inc.“Certainly the timeless look andwarmthofnaturalwoodisthenum-berone feature,”addsBrunell.“Peo-plelovethelookofnaturalwood.It’singrainedinourDNA.Thatcombinedwith the other desirable attributesthat wood blinds offer will help thecategorytoremainstrongfarintothefuture.Whenyouadditallup,woodblinds representagreatvalue to to-day’sbudget-consciousconsumers.”

For Hunter Douglas, coordinating frame styles, colors and configu-rations across its entire shutter collection creates a cohesive look within a home.

32 | VISION

Other savvy customers canlook beyond the emotionalappeal to tangible advan-tages such as the fact thatwood is highly insulatingand provides excellent UVprotection. There are stillothers. “All our wood prod-ucts are fully performancetested and GreenGuardCertified.Anexcellentvalueforanyconsumerandarealmoneymakerforanydealer,”Brunellsays.Hunter Douglas customshutters “have the addedadvantage of being Green-GuardIndoorAirCertified®and GreenGuard Certifiedfor Children & Schools”saysDeCocker.

Custom and VersatilityWoodmightseemtobeastatic,un-alterable material, but that is farfrom true. In reality, it could be asversatileas fabric in creating someof the most customizable windowtreatmentsaround.“Onekeyfeaturepeoplecantakead-vantageofwithwoodistheunlimitedcustomizationfeasibilitiesintermsofthecolor,finish,framingandcompo-nentselectionoftheshutter,”saysShiofExus.WoodMart’sDeckersecondsthatas-sessment.“Woodcanbemachinedinanysizeandshapeandhasnolimi-tations.Thereareasmanylouversiz-esandprofilesavailableastherearewoodspeciestomakethemoutof.”DeCockeradds,“Withnewadvance-ments in engineering and design,thereisalmostnolimittothenumberofconfigurationswecanprovide.”These options translate into designflexibility.JillRaganScully,WFCP,Im-pressive Windows & Interiors, notesthat her clients especially like woodtreatments such as two-inch blinds

orawoodcornicethatmatchthetrimaroundtheirwindows.

“Consumersappreciatetheuniqueat-tributesofourwoodblindsincludingthewidearrayofcolorsfromneutralsto light stains todarkhues thateas-ily coordinatewith furniture,kitchencabinets,accessoriesandallhomedé-cor,”saysBobbyDill,directorofprod-uctandbrandmanagementforHunt-erDouglas’horizontalblindsdivision.

Selling TipsThe next step then is selling thisbeautiful, stylish custom product tohomeowners. Currently, that mightseem a daunting challenge. Custom-ers“wantacustomproductmadewithtop-of-the-line components at a fairprice,” says Scully. “I think that cus-tomersaretryingtostaywithcustomproductsbecausetheylastlonger,butthey are cutting corners on possibleupgrades to theproducts themselvestosavemoney.”HunterDouglas’DeCockerseesfavor-ablemarket changes.“Weare seeingan important trend where consum-ersaremakinganinvestmentintheircurrent homes by replacing existingwindow treatments toaddvalueand

update their homes. Consumers arealso being more conscientious aboutsupportingU.S.jobs.”

Customers“aremuchmoreinquisitiveabout safety features,warrantiesandproductadvantages,”Dilladvises.Thebestbet,saysSprings’Sloey,couldbetolookforamoreestablishedcus-tomer looking for a premium woodproduct. But it’s important not to ig-norecustomerswhocouldoptforal-ternate products.“Its not a one-size-fits-all situation,” says Comfortex’Brunell.“Individualdealersknowwhotheircustomerbaseisandtheyshouldtailortheirmarketingeffortstothosetypesofconsumers.”Intheend, it justmightbevaluethatgets customers to buy, says Decker.“Selling a high-priced product in thismarkettoaninformedconsumerwithalotofoptionsisachallenge,”headmits.“Theconsumermustbeconvincedthispurchase will not only last a lifetimebutalsostayinstyle.Woodblindsandshuttershaveproventhetestoftime,soin this economy wood window cover-ingsprovidethesolidlastingvaluetheconsumerwillinvestin.”V

Options provide design versatility. Here, Springs two-inch wood blinds are presented in dark walnut coloring with black cloth tape. The Legacy valance tops it off.


www.exusshutters.com

14455 Ramona Ave, Unit D • Chino, CA 91710 • (877) 228-EXUS (3987) • Fax (909) 248-2298

Your Source For Quality Wood Shutters.

Inc.

• Exus shutters are made from 100% natural Basswood harvested and processed in North America.• We are a quality focused company with reliable distribu-

tion throughout the country, making us an exceptional alternative to your current supplier.

• Exus offers a standard selection of 12 painted, 18 hand rubbed stain finishes and as a true custom product manufacturer we will also match any custom color .

• Large variety of inside and outside frames, café style, multi- fold and double hung panels, hidden tilter and hidden hinges are some of the many options available to you.

• Arches, eyebrows, French door cut-outs plus many other specialty shapes can be ordered without any need for templates.

• Make your customer presentation look professional with the Exus color and frame sample box, available at a low cost.

• Also introducing “�e Pacific Woven Wood Collection”, a large selection of patterns, sold by the roll from our California warehouse, made from bamboo and grasses. Order your sample books today!

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CalhookSupplier of hangers, hooks and displays for fabric samples and complete retail store equipment and supplies. 5205 S. 231st Street, Kent, WA 98023,800/422-4665, e-mail: [email protected], www.calhook.com

CastecHigh-end window treatment manufac-turer specializing in fabric treatments, solar shadings, custom roll shades, and natural woven shades for both the resi-dential and commercial markets.

7531 Coldwater Canyon Avenue, North Hollywood, CA 91605, 818/503-8300, fax: 818/503-8360, toll-free: 800/828-2500, e-mail: [email protected], www.castec.com

Comfortex Window FashionsThe Comfortex complete line of cellu-lar, Roman, roller and pleated shades, wood alloy blinds, plantation shutters, sheer window shadings, sunscreens and verticals are distributed in every state in the United States and in over 70 coun-tries on five continents worldwide. 21 Elm Street, Maplewood, NY 12189, toll-free: 800/ 843-4151, e-mail: [email protected], www.comfortex.com

dofix No-Sew Inc.Marketer of the dofix system, a work-room system for making soft window treatments without sewing. Products are manufactured in Germany. 1947 Ironway Drive, Sanford, MI 48657, 989/687-7999, e-mail: [email protected], www.dofix.com

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Draperies.comDraperies.com is the manufacturer of drapery hardware for the commercial, residential and healthcare industries. We carry all kinds of aluminum drap-ery tracks, hardware and workroom findings. Visit us at www.draperies.com, call 888/266-1238 or e-mail [email protected]

Eclipse ShuttersGREENGUARD® Certified, Eclipse Shut-ters combine a fashionable, clean look with superior durability making them the perfect choice for residential or commercial applications. Designed for quick installation and easy care, Eclipse Shutters have a durable finish that never needs painting or sanding. With superior energy efficiency, child safe design and a 25-year warranty, Eclipse Shutters are the clear choice.

877/874-8877, www.eclipseshutters.comKwik-Affix ProductsKisS ™ child safe soft shade system with corded tunnel tapes attached to pre-spaced loops in Thread Thru Lin-ing (patented) according to ANSI 2010 safety requirements. Operational tunnel tapes can be outside or inside between fabric and lining for a better look, works best with our slimline track or similar channel track systems. Cordless KisS system with inside lift bands guided by our Thread Thru Lin-ing. The child safe solution for heavier shades. Works best with our tubular chain lift or other similar systems. 5942 Richard Street, Jacksonville, FL 32216, e-mail: [email protected], 800/685-5945

Insolroll Window Shading Systems Insolroll Interior Solar Screen and Black-out Shades; Oasis® Patio and Exte-rior Window Shades; Digital Printing for Roller Shades Insolroll fabricates specialty roller shade systems for commercial and residential markets. Our prices are competitive. We return contract quantity quotations within 24 hours, lead time on most orders is six working days and when you call us the phone is answered by a knowledgeable, helpful representative. Our complete product line includes Oa-sis® Patio Shades and in-house digital printing on roller shades. Contact us at 800/447-5534 or [email protected]

Exus Inc.Exus Inc and its parent company have delivered quality window treatment products for more than 15 years to wholesalers and retailers worldwide. With over 100 years of combined prod-uct knowledge, the Exus staff will pro-vide you with exceptional service, as-sistance and troubleshooting whenever needed. [email protected]

Ona Drapery HardwareWholesale manufacturer of decorative iron drapery hardware. Products and services include name brand drapery hardware and decorative fabrics. We ship to all 50 states. 5320 E. Arapahoe Ave., Boulder, CO 80303, toll-free 800/231-4025, e-mail: karl@ onadrapery.com, www.onadrapery.com

Orion Ornamental Iron Orion Ornamental Iron presents 3 new products: Somfy Motor, Bohemia Crys-tal, Tuscany Traversing. Bohemia Crystal —22 beautiful finials at a low price point., Tuscany Traversing—11 designs on embossed metal rods. Tuscany rods can be motorized with Somfy.

Solstice ShuttersSolstice solid wood shutters transform any room in your home into a state-ment of elegance. Our beautiful planta-tion shutters are hand-crafted from the finest quality materials for years of en-joyment. The timeless Solstice collection offers a variety of traditional and con-temporary designer options to express your personal style. For the natural warmth of premium wood shutters, Sol-stice is preferred. Contact your regional Solstice Shutters fabricator:

Century Blinds 800/281-3013 www.centuryblinds.comFashion Tech Window Coverings 800/444-8822 www.fashiontech.comTimber Blind & Shutter 800/871-2051 www.timberblinds.comVista Products 800/888-6680 www.vistaproducts.com

S LS T ICE

SB2 ConceptsA wholesale fabric distributor to the trade providing stock inventory for various roller shade fabrics. Black-outs, light-filtering, decorative and de-sign fabrics. We are innovative, detail-focused and thorough with superior customer service. Brand names: Shaw of Australia, Lienesch, Sturge and Pan-oramic Creations.

1930 S. Rochester Avenue, Unit 117, Ontario, CA 91761, 909/937-0022, www.sb2concepts.com, e-mail: [email protected]

SomfyTaHomA™ is an affordable and easy-to-use system that allows users to save money through increased energy effi-ciency, to feel more comfortable in the home, and to experience the simplicity and enjoyment of total home automa-tion. Please visit www.somfytahoma.com for more details!

RollEase RollEase has become the essential source of innovative and high-quality products and services for window cov-ering fabricators. RollEase offers the industry's broadest line of propirietary operating systems and components, as well as other complementary products, allowing its customers to manufacture and offer the highest quality window coverings in the industry. 200 Harvard Avenue, Stamford, Conn., 06902-6320, toll-free: 800/552-5100, e-mail: [email protected]

Summit Hill, Inc.We are manufacturers of fine quality in-terior and exterior shutters, raised panels and Shoji screens. Summit Hill is known internationally for top quality custom wood shutters. Superior craftsmanship goes into everything we make. For more than 50 years our American made shut-ters have been our pride and joy.

167 Gleahaven Road, Wayzata MN 5539, toll free: 888/262-3555, local: 952/224-7075, fax: 952/224-7077, e-mail: [email protected], www.summithillinc.com

WoodMart Window CoveringsWe offer traditional and plantation shutters with louvers from 1¼ inch to 5½ inch plus a full line of exterior shutters. All of our shutters are 100% American made in Southern California. Visit us at www.woodmart.com, or call 818/785-1528.

ZMC Window Covering SuppliesInternational manufacturer and whole-sale distributor offering a variety of product lines that include specially de-signed components for Somfy Motors, Roller Shades, Roman Shades, Panel Track and a wide variety of fabrics. As we mark a major milestone-25th Anni-versary, we offer our gratitude to each and everyone who has made our suc-cess possible. ZMC is proud to provide the best quality product and service at a competitive price to our customers’ satisfaction, through our commitment to continuous improvement.

Phone: 800/541-2557 (US toll-free) or 877/670-8909 (Canada toll-free), fax: 800/905-856-3388 (toll-free) e-mail: [email protected], www.zmc.ca

36 | VISION

An introduction to Search Engine Optimization

Rising to the Top

verybusinesswantsitswebsitetohaveplentyoftrafficandactivity.Keywordsaretheanswersaysomeexperts,otherinsistonreciprocallinks;andstillothersthatmetatagsarethebest

option.Howareyousupposedtochoose?

Thefactis,alloftheseareeffectivemethodsforgettingyoursitenoticedandrankedbysearchenginesandget-tinghighrankingsshouldbepartofyourbusinessgrowthstrategy.Searchengineshavehighlysophisticatedalgo-rithmstorankandindexyourwebsiteandtheychangethesealgorithmsoften,sometimeshourly.Becauseofthevariability,Irecommendprovidingsearchengineswitheverything—givingallpossibleinformationsuppliesthemwiththetoolstolearnandunderstandwhatyoursiteisallabout—thisiswhat’sknownasSearchEngineOptimi-zation(SEO).Justasyourbestfriendknowseverythingaboutyou,thesearchengineswilltoo.Tohelpyougetstated,hereare10easytips:

Monitor Your Site It’simportanttocheckyourreferrerlog(providerbyyourwebsitehostingservice)regularlytotrackwhereyourvis-itorsarecomingfromandwhatkeywordsareusedtofindyoursite.ThiswillhelpyoufinetuneyourSEOefforts.

Keywords, Keywords and More Keywords Beconsciousofplacingappropriatekeywordsthrougheveryareaofyoursite:yourtitles,content,URLs,imagenames,etc.Askyourselfhowsomeonewouldsearchformyproductorservice.Butbewareofputtingoutrageousamountsofkeywords—searchenginesknowthetricksanditactuallyharmsyourrankings.

Link Back to Yourself Createinternallinkswithinyoursite–it’saneasywaytoincreasetraffictoindividualpages.Makeitstandardpracticetolinktoyourarticlearchiveswhenyoucreatenewcontent.

Don’t Ignore Image Descriptions Searchenginescan’treadpicturesorimages;theyonlyreadtext.UsetheImageALTtagtodescribeyourpic-tures/imageswithkeywords.Over90%ofsmallbusinessesskipthispractice.Starttaggingyourpictureandimagestodaytogainrankingquickly.

By Tamara Coalwell

Update Your Content Changeyourcontentfrequentlyandconsistently–thisiscrucialforincreasingyourwebsite’straffic.Searchenginesmustdeliverawebsitethat’scurrentandfreshtokeeppeopleinterestedinusingtheirservice.

Create a Sitemap Asitemapisapagethatlistsandlinksallyourmajorpages.It’sanotherchancetogetadditionallinksandkey-wordslisted.

Use Friendly URLsNameallyourpageswithclearwords.Forexample:WindowTreatmentsToday.com/3728/hd29.htm isaURLthatdoesn’tprovideinformationforthesearchengines.Instead,developanamingconventionthatcontainswordsthatareeasilysearchableandunderstoodsuchasWin-dowTreatmentsToday.com/shutters/wood.htm.

Avoid Flash Yes,Flashlooksprettyandit’scoolbutitdoesabsolutelynothingforyourSEO.Searchenginescannotreadthemovingimagesnorcantheylinktoasinglepage.IfyoumustuseFlash,useitsparinglybyembeddingitintostan-dardHTMLcontent.

Link to Other SitesDeveloprelationshipswithotherwell-respectedwebsitesandlinktoeachother.

Be PatientSEOisn’taboutinstantgratification,resultscanoftentakemonthstosee.

Puttingthesetenstepsintoactionwillsignificantlyin-creaseyourwebsite’strafficandgetyouontherightpath.ThereisalotmoretoSEOwe’lldiscussatanothertime.Enjoyyourjourneyandhavefun.V

Tamara Coalwell, co-creator and co-owner of iEditWeb, Inc., has 14 years of experience in helping challenged busi-ness professionals with their internet marketing needs. The suite of iEditWeb tools also provides the power and flexibility to allow for easier self-management of a website, significantly reducing or even eliminating webmaster fees.

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neofthekeyrunwaystrendsoverthepasttwoseasonhasbeencolor-blocking.Soaspartofourcolor-andtrend-themedissue,weaskedWFCPmemberstotakeinspirationfromcolor-blockingandcreatearoom,withwindowtreatmentsofcourse,thatincorporatethistrend.Here’sasamplingofwhattheycameupwith.V

Candace Phelps, WFCP Specialist, CPDC Decor Custom Win-dow Treatments, Rockville, Md. Inspired by a sheer, flowing Marc Jacobs dress, Phelps created a feminine dressing room. In this transitional room, the draperies are cuff top panels hanging from medallions. The red sheer fabric represents the

body of the dress, while the coral accents on bottom break and cuff cording simulate the hem and collar details from the dress. Billowing, asymmetrical balloon shades help carry through the color blocking concept. For drama, the draperies are swept back with a large rosette like the huge flower in the model's hair.


Debbie Bowis, WFCP Specialist, Intuitive Interiors, Sarasota, Fla. A BCBG dress for Fall/Winter 2011/2012 formed the basis of Bowis’ design. She envisioned sheer gliding panels where the colors would shift and change as they stacked back on each other when opened. Following the color blocking theme she applied a dark brown ostrich skin wallpaper and layered into the room light floors, a white leather sectional and an orange chair. With the ex-ception of the texture of the ostrich skin, no pattern was used in the room; all the drama and elegance is based on solid planes of color, unless, of cource, you consider the stunning view of Paris from this penthouse window. Ooh la la...

40 | VISION

Anne Lubner, WFCP Specialist, Anne Lubner Designs, Wimauma, Fla. A softly draped asymmetrical top and flowing gown by Issa, reminiscent of a Greco-Roman toga, captured Lubner’s interest. The bold combination of raspberry pink and rich purple and the classic draping combine femininty and confidence.

Luber’s interpretation uses asymmetrical swags over luxuri-ous puddled panels on a pair of Palladian windows. The overall mood of this vibrant but uncluttered boudoir is that of a wanton escape from the cares of daily life. A fainting couch offers the promise of enjoying a solitary read or more social pursuits while Beaded tassels and a gilded mirror provide a bit of bling.

Connie Valente, WFCP Master, Creative Blinds & Décor, Alpharetta, Ga. A DKNY look—colorful, bold and clean—put Valente in mind of an urban loft or contemporary condo. A stunning city skyline is, in itself, a tremendous accessory, but such a view needs to be framed. Color-blocked panels soften the room and bring a bit of needed warmth and softness to the interior.

Bold hues in combination with the black trim and vibrant colors of the décor complete the overall design of the room. A few unique accessories, artwork and a plush rug offer the balance for a unique room as an urban dwelling.


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Ruth Zahler, WFCP Specialist, Ruth Zahler’s Custom Cre-ations, St. Michael, Minn. For this transitional room Zahler uses vivid colors to update certain traditional elements, such as the dam-ask wallpaper. A box-pleated cornice is detailed with white micro-cording along the lead-ing edge of each pleat and at the top and bottom. The box pleating comes together in the center of the cornice with silk dupioni-covered button. The panels, made from the same silk, give the room a pop of color but are left deliberately simple to focus attention on the cornice.

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Valerie Kile, WFCP Associate, The Thread Said, Wesley Chapel, Fla. Kile took a slightly different approach this, choosing to find a room set image that featured a great set of windows. She went with this photo, by Erik Johnson and, after playing with several different design con-cepts, decided on a look that maintains the clean, open feel of the room, incorporated touches of color without overwhelming the senses, and highlighted the beautiful wood mouldings.

Jill Ragan Scully, WFCP Master, Impressive Windows & In-teriors, Hastings, Minn.: Working off a Louis Vuitton dress of black satin accented with lipstick red and warm gold, Ragan Scully chose to flip the color balance for her room. Black is used for the flooring, the leather chair and ottoman, the lamp, the beaded trim and the peek-through leather cornice.

The warm gold of the drapery panels picks up the bottom hem of the dress, while a flash of royal blue in the form of a leading edge adds drama. The rich red of the sofa and the fabric lamp shade complete the scheme. V

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Visitors: Promosalons USATel. [email protected]

VISION_M&O_J12_206,37X274,62_GB.indd 1 30/09/11 09:40

44 | VISION

MontageHeimtextil 2012 Color & Style TrendsMontage, the overall theme for Heimtextil’s 2012 color and design trends, takes existing elements, mixes them up

and creates something that has never existed before. This process and its results symbolize the individuality and

needs of the consumer. V

COLOR RIOTDynamic, thrumming color is fresh, bold and vivid, playing and interactive in imaginative ways with light.

High-gloss materials, colored lamina-tions, superimposed films, fluid and flexible fabrics underscore the bril-liance of monochrome colors. Look also for optical fiber fabrics, iridescent weaves and finishes and the innovative use of recycled materials.

This is a highly graphic trend, with an emphasis on all-over geometrics, broad stripes, photographic prints and hologram effects. The color palette is based on super-saturated versions of everyone’s primary school crayons, given sophistication through advanced finishes.

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CRAFT INDUSTRYThe combination of tradition and handi-crafts on the one hand and industrial and mechanical methods on the other dominate the look of this trend. A warm and lively color palette is oriented to-wards natural landscapes with sky, mountains, lakes and forests, which contrast with industrial tones of metal-lic coal, copper and old gold.

‘Fabrics are patched, quilted and frayed with irregular textures and lots of structured elements. Vintage-inspired looks, aged and destroyed effects and hand-loomed looks are important themes.

Fine patterns are created using creative techniques. The dominant elements in-

clude composite or offset checks, ex-traordinary patchwork designs, broken patterns, stripes and checks with par-tial pile effects, hand-sewn looks, intar-sia and elaborately processed patches.

46 | VISION

DARK LUXThe shadows of the night create a dark, mystical and elegant palette dominated by deep black, particularly in high gloss finishes and lustrous materials. Moody and rich, shadowed blues and purples are brightened by metallic champagne and gold.

Rubberized, liquid looks and glossy surfaces interact with furs and long-haired, smooth hides.Clarity and severity give the sumptuous textiles their modern appearance.

Iridescent, shimmering and transparent qualities with ani-mated surface modulation generate an air of mystery. Deep gloss, metallic shimmers, sequins and elaborate materials are to be found in almost all segments.


SPLIT CLARITYThis trend concentrates on simple, functional and essential elements with a focus on sustainability, quality, high technology and new materials. The result is clear-cut, modern aesthetics. Clarity is reflected by a series of colors inspired by nature with minimalistic and restrained compositions executed in one or two colors. Material versatility is crucial. Metallic and reflecting surfaces, semi-plain patterns and transparent materials are most often used, with depth created by the interaction of light and shadow in different materials and surfaces. V

48 | VISION

TracePratt & Lambert 2012 Color & Style TrendsIt is said that to know the future, we must look to the past. Our world holds traces of styles, interests and emotions

that have shaped the modern atmosphere, providing clues to future trends. Art imitates life, and trends reflect the

pulse of society and how we live today—surrounded by technology and embracing spirituality, building firm founda-

tions on remembered moments, expressing ourselves with primitive passion and ethereal delight. The trend team

at Pratt & Lambert used this backward-looking, forward-thinking approach to develop five palettes for 2012 under

the theme of Trace. V

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ECHOToday, more and more people are heading toward the future to the beat of the past. Comfort comes from the echoes of the past. And as we look back, we see the colors and patterns of the great American childhood. So this trend includes circus brights and summer vacation skies, log cabin brown and the green of a putt-putt golf course. It makes you want to come out and play!

ENOUGHFinally, our dependence on technology has met its match in our desire for simplicity. This paradox is brought to light in a trend that sees the clean, uncomplicated colors and lines of old-school technology entering today’s state-of-the-art homes. Strong neutrals that are timeless. Bold accents thatawaken the walls and the memory. It’s our way of hitting “backspace” on fast track tech.


ESSENCESecularism and neutrality are leaving a void, and we are filling it with a renewed focus on spirituality and the search for bal-ance and truth. This trend is reflected in ethereal hues from the skies and sea, grounded with dark, rich colors from the earth. The light and shadow of this palette almost shimmer, and the effect is at once aged and ageless.

EXPRESSIVEThe passion for self-expression has never died down for long, and the current trend is generations deep. You’ll see it in the fashions and patterns from the 1930s, restyled for today. Pop-art colors from the ’70s reimagined. The rich, vibrant hues and bright florals are as bold as the feminist and as adamant as an independent thinker Velvet Night from any era.

INSTINCTIVEThis exciting trend is environmentalism at its most unpro-cessed. Colors are pungent with primal energy. Rich hues from the forest canopy to the fertile soil coexist in creative harmony, and form a protective camouflage. For a moment, ecology meets mystery, past meets future, animal meets min-eral ... then it all melts back into the primordial mist.

50 | VISION

ColorMix 2012Sherwin-Williams explores earthy primary palettes“Colors that are adjacent on the color wheel are a dominant trend,” said Jackie Jordan, director of color market-

ing for Sherwin-Williams. “We discover a fresh array of combinations within color families.” So forget the expected

tone-on-tone pairings. Jordan and her team drew inspiration from color washing and ombré dyeing techniques,

experimenting with color values and hues within color families to create four vibrant palettes. They also embraced

the sustainable landscape—which has become an enduring influence on all aspects of design.V

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Trendspotting at MoOD Brussels

Pushing the Boundries

rendspottingisanartform.Towanderthefloorofashowandseethedizzyingjumbleofcolors,lightsandpatternscrystallizeintodefinedblue-printsisexcitingforme.

IrecentlyattendedtheMoODDesignShowinBrussels(formerlyDecosit).Asalways,Ispentthefirst30minutesdoingaquickwander,pickingupthefeeloftheshow.Thefloorwasbuzzingandtheoverallattitudewasclearlyupbeatandpositive.Encouraged,Itookmynotepadinhandandbeganmymethodicalwalkupanddowneachaisle,feverishlyjottingdownnotesandscribblingdraw-ings.Uponreachingtheend,IconsultmypadandheadbackfortheboothswhereIfeelI’vemissedsomethingorneedtorecheckacrypticnote.Andthenthefunpartbegins:thetranslation.

Tri-dimensionalInaword,MoODwastri-dimensional.Nothingwasmerelyasitappearedonthesurface.Everythingpushedboundaries,reflectingourdesiretoachieveevermore.Inaworldwhereproductsareincreasinglyfightingtobenoticed,plainandsimplearegone.Naturalbarktexturesboastedametallicsheen.Softcanvastwinkledwiththe

introductionofLycrayarns.Suppleleatherwasfeminizedwithaprinted,barelythereantiquedpaisley.Azebrapatterncover-ingthesurfaceoffeltfabricwasfarfromordinary,butrathercreatedfromshimmeringflecksofsilver.Thesurfaceofsilkwasenhancedbytheapplicationofpaperthinwoodcutouts.Theoveralleffectwasneithergaudynorflashy,butratherstrikinginitsunderstateddelivery.MorethanonceIhadtocomefacetoface

By Corina Santoro

withafabricbeforeIrealizeditwas,infact,somethingmorethanfirstglancerevealed.Tri-dimensional,whendonewell,isstunninglybeautifulandsoothingtotheeye.

Textures Gone WhimsicalTherearethreecategoriesthatIfoundparticularlyrel-evanttotheworldofinteriordesignandwindowcover-ings,thefirstofthesebeingtextures.Textureshavelongbeenpopular.Theyrepresentasolid“goto”whenaclientcringesattheboldnessofapattern,yetneedssomethingmorethanasimplesolid.Iwasexcitedtoseetheeffectoftri-dimensionalontextures.Harkingfromnature,therewasyourcommonarrayoftheusualelementsrepre-sented:bark,stone,woodgrain,cork,juteandtornpaper.Butunliketherawstateof“natural”fromafewyearsago,todayweseethatnaturehasgonewhimsical,asifevery-thinghasbeensprinkledwithfairydust.Naturaltextureshavecometolife,highlightedwithelementsofsilver,goldandcopper.Afarcryfromtheglitzofearlierdays,thisshimmeringapplicationisdonewithasofthand;ameld-ingofmetallicandnaturethatyieldsanoddlysoothingeffect.Copperfinishenhanceswood’snaturalgrain.Abasetextureoftornpaperisgivenplayfulintriguewithasprin-klingofsilver.Oureyesdanceinsmallpoolsofliquidgoldscatteredacrossacorkboardground.Thesetexturesstandstrongontheirownandcallouttobetouched.

Antiquities and Travel Inaseaofprints,thephoto-realisticstyleIcallAntiqui-tiesandTravelstandsinstarkcontrasttothedigitalagewelivein.Theseprintsplayoffournostalgiaforpasttimes,ourdelightinpleasantmemoriesandourneedtobegroundedinhistory.Onefabricfeaturedphotoimagesofoldpostcardsandcountrylandmarks(e.g.theEiffelTower)offsetbycitynameswritteninaflourishinghand.Anotherdepictedvintagephotographyoffamilyoutings,wordsandantiquemaps.Postagestamps,classiccarsandBig

THIS PAGE: A prototype by Elaine Ng Yan Ling, this fabric reacts to changes in both temperature and humidity, with the laser-cut wood veneers shrinking or exanding and thus puckering or stretching the weave.

OPPOSITE PAGE: A linen fabric with a metallic crocodile embossing made with polyuerthane film, from the Spanish firm Pyton, SL.


Benwereonanother.Thesettingsweredifferent,butthethemeconstant:threedesignelements,allofthemancientandglobalinnature,jumbledinclassiccollagestyleacrossthefabric.Inaworldthatgoesracingbyusatbreakneckspeed,AntiquitiesandTravelremindsustopauseandremember.Itcallsushome.

The Printed Patchwork QuiltPerhapsalsoreflectingourneedtobegroundedinlesshectictimes,anothernotabletrendonthesceneisthePrintedPatchworkQuilt.Thisstylecombinesthreedis-similardesignelementswithacohesivecolorpaletteandprintsthem,patchworkquiltstyle,ontothefaceoffabric.Forexample,oneratherfetchingfabriccombinedsquaresofsmall,brightpinkflowerswithsquaresoftaupecoloredtoileandplaid.Anotherfeaturedroosters,spoonsandrecipeswhileanotherwasadornedwithbutterflies,stripesanddots.Thesewerealldeliveredquilter’ssquarestyle,withoneelementcarryingtheaccentcolorwhiletheothertworemainmuted.Thismoderntakeonquaintbringsnewmeaningandfreshlifetothepatchworkquilt.

The Colors: Vintage Patina with a Splash of FlashI’dberemissinfailingtomentionthecolorpalette.Vin-tagepatinawithasplashofflashhasbeencomingonstronginrecentmonthsandwasinfullforceatMoOD.Heavilytaupeandgrayaccentedwithrosesandlavenderandbrightenedwithsplashesofcoralandaquablue,thispalettekeepswiththetrendofcenteringourfeettothegroundwhileatthesametimepushingourboundariestoachievejustalittlebitmore.

Asdesigners,weknowthattheprocessoftransformingaspaceisnotunlikebirthinganewlife.Asweholdourbreathandopenoureyestothedelightofthenewspacewe’vecreated,wecanrelaxknowingthatwiththeentryofthetri-dimensionalelement,thattransformationprocessjustgotalittlebiteasier.V

Corina Santoro is a nationally recognized product designer. She follows emerging trends of color and pattern in the global marketplace and integrates them into the world of custom window fashions. She encourages people to think beyond the traditional parameters of window treatments and teaches them how to explore the use of technology to unleash their inner design passion.

Castec Sales Company7531 Coldwater Canyon Ave., North Hollywood, CA 91605Tel: 800 828 2500 Fax: 818 503 8360 Email: [email protected]

www.castec.com

EST. 1973

© 2011 Fabritec, LLC. All rights reserved.

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54 | VISION

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Custom takes center stage at Maison&ObjetA Desire for Difference

henIlookovermynotesfromtheSep-tembereditionofMaison&Objet,varia-tionson“custom”seemtobeineverylineofmyscribbles.Theeaseandopportunity

forcreatingcompletelyone-of-a-kindfurnishings,fabricsandaccessorieshasneverbeenasevident,oraswelldone.Ofcourse,thedesigntradehasalwayshadaccesstocraftsmenandartisanstodeliverone-offdesigns,butnowtheconnectionbetweencraftandcomputerhasmadespecifyingbespokedesignsnearlyassimpleandstraightforwardasorderingoutofacatalog.Whatactu-allycomplicatestheprocessistheendlessvarietysuchopportunitypresents…howtochoosewhenanentireworldofdesignpossibilitiesliesopenbeforeyou?

SingularitéTheconceptof“uniqueness”,dubbedSingularité,wastheoveralltrendthemeforthissessionofM&O,anditwastrulyapparentontheshowfloor.Thelevellingeffectsof

By Susan Schultz

In a world more full of the solitary than solidarity, union is power and people are reinventing the world as couples. This is the interpretation Vincent Grégoire put on Singularité for his concept, Couplicité. The installation was filled with creative cou-plings, items attached, enlaced and intermingled. Objects had more than one look, more than one purpose or were presented as deliberate hybrids, with each component still readily identifiable.

economicuncertaintyandongoingglobalizationhaveinspiredabacklashagainsttheordinary,themasspro-duced,thebanal.(ThisinspiteofthefactthatIsaw50ormorepeoplelinedup,waitingtogetintoanAbercombie&Fitch…on the Champs Élysées!)Thediscerningcon-sumerdemandsfreedomofchoiceinthemattersoftasteandlifestyle.

Opportunity UnlimitedWithinthetrendthemetherewerethreedistinctap-proachesbutthroughoutthehallsthereweremyriadopportunitestocustomize—andnotallaccomplishedthroughtheuseofdigitaltechnologies.Someofthemostintruigingworkswerecraftsmeninthefamilarsenseoftheword,andotherswhomergedtraditionalanddigitalprocesses.It’sbeenfascinatingtotrackthelongdevelop-mentofthistrendoverthepastdecadeorso.Fromthe“craftrevolution”andmakersfairs,totheexplosionofEtsy,thedevelopmentof3-Dprintingandtheexponen-


tialprogressmadeindigitalprinting,theideaofa“digitaldivide”indesignnowseemsquaint.Whilethedistinc-tionsbetweenartandcraft,digitalandhandmadearehopelesslyblurred,whatisclearisthatdesignershavemorechoice,moreoptionsandmoreopportunitythaneverbefore.V

François Bernard developed Hors Piste (off-road) because he recognized the impact of sports technology in fashion, material development and lifestyle. Even though we’re increasingly sedentary and overweight (yes, even the French) the allure of sports continues to grow in popularity. Bernard referenced classic sporting inspirations, such as sailing, (above) in more youthful ways, and borrowed from X-Game and other extreme sports as well. My favorite pieces were the sofa made by EastPack of backpacks (designed by Qunize & Milan) and the knitted ball poufs and cushions by Anne-Marie Petit.

56 | VISION

The most compelling of the three official trend presenta-tions, to judge by the crowds, was Obsessions Privées (private obsessions) developed by Elizabeth Leriche. She convinced collectors from around the world to donate some objects of their obsessions and contribute brief essays as to why they collect what they collect. From the truly banal, such as the colorful plastic cleaning brushes, to the quotidian, including vintage toasters, plastic manga toys and children’s denim, to the genuinely rare, the installation demonstrated that any-thing can be transformed into objects of desire and pleasure. And that the collector’s passionate gaze provides emotion and context that can lift the ordinary to the extraordinary.


I fell in love with the exquisitely worked details, beautiful colors and sheer inventiveness on display at L’Aterlier du Renard, a custom embroidery studio run by the charming Magali Renard. She reworks vintage pieces, does custom design on leath-er, canvas and more, incorporating beading, lace and appliqué.

Charlene Mullen is another designer who takes embroidery in more contemporary directions, such as this enlarged detail from a 19th century German needlepoint sampler, reworked in black tap-estry wool on linen.

58 | VISION

The group Deb Barrett and I took to M&O had the wonderful experience of having acclaimed designer Christopher Guy personally walk us through his stand explaining his design process as he introduced each piece in the new Mademoiselle collection. Some of my favorites from the new collection were the din-ing chairs. Guy created several suites of six chairs, each with different heights to the seat backs, to give a sense of movement around the table.

At Valentina Giodano you can lose yourself for hours in the intricate details of her furniture and lighting. She layers vintage textiles and wallpaper, hand-cut metal details, decorative studs and more to create her custom pieces. Open the drawers of this chest and it’s like a jewelry box inside, satin-lined and finished just as carefully as the exterior.


28 Feb. – 3 March 2012 Messe Stuttgart

Sun protection elements that generate electricity? Doors and gates that open intui-

tively in an emergency? At R+T 2012, over 700 exhibitors from all around the world

will be presenting their high-tech innovations live. Visitors from industry, trades,

design and architecture can look forward to fi ve days of pure innovation and seeing

a range of unrivalled products and services.

Global meeting for the sector:

www.rt-expo.com

Use your smartphone

00_R-T_Anz_WindowFashionVision.indd 1 30.09.11 18:19

60 | VISION

The signature look at Nitin Goyal is that of intricate smocking, pleating and stitching effects, all in rich palettes of spice and jewel tones in silks and velvets.

Another fall-in-love stand was a co-op of small com-panies from South Africa. Each worked wonders with wool and/or mohair, such as this incredibly lush handmade mohair throw, tipped with wood and shell by Abafazi.

On the last day, footsore and in design overload, the cheerful watercolor pretti-ness on display at blue-bellgray was a refreshing reminder of the treasures to be found in every aisle.


Keep your children safe with the new CK Lift System.

R• atedas“NoRisk”strangulationbytheConsumerProductSafetyCommissionandapprovedbyParentsforWindowBlindSafety.Capableoftopdownandbottomup.•Easytoinstallandhasnoexposedcords.•AvailableexclusivelytomembersoftheWorkroom•AssociationofAmericaLLCandWindowFashionsCertifiedProfessionals.Formoreinformation,visitwww.workroomassociation.comorwww.wf-vision.com.

62 | VISION

International Show Focuses on Innovation

R+T 2012: A Look at the Near Future

orashowthathappensonceeverythreeyearsInStuttgart,Germany,R+Twieldstremen-dousinfluencehereintheUnitedStates.Why?Becausethisiswheremanywindowtreatment

manufacturersanddistributorsshopandwhattheyseeandbuyiseventuallyreflectedintheirsamplebooks.

Show Facts TheR+TExpoisabigshow,withnearly800exhibitorsand,in2009,nearly60,000visitors.Thelargestsectoroftheshowisdevotedtorollingshutters,aexteriorwindowtreatmentverypopularinEuropeandothercountries,butwithlimitedapplicationinNorthAmerica,particu-larlytheUnitedStates.However,agood30%oftheshowfocusesonblindandshademanufacturing.Thisincludessuppliersofmanufacturingequipment,hardwaresys-tems,inventorysystemsandnewmaterialsandtextiles—bothdecorativeandtechnical.

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R+T Export-expo.com

CLOSER LOOK

Every three years international suppliers to window treatment manufacturers and distributors have new lines on display at R+T. There is plenty of equipment and hardware, but the new fabrics and materials are among the biggest draws. The most popular of these introductions will find their way in U.S. sample books later this year.

What’s NextR+T,scheduledforFeb.28–March3,2012,willgiveastuteattendeesaglimpseofthenearfuture.Atpastshows,reachingback20yearsorso,thefirstmotorizationsystemsforinteriorshadeswereintroduced;thefirstwaveofsolartextilesthatreplacedbrittle,mirrorizedwindowfilm;con-tinuouscordoperationsystemsandmanyotherinnova-tionsthatarenowconsideredstandardintheindustry,werefirstondisplayatR+T.

TheR+TInnovationPrizehasasuccessfultrackrecordofrewardingworkable,applicablenewdevelopmentsinmanufacturingprocessesandmaterials,somuchsothattheengineeringdepartmentsofmanyoftheexhibitorsgearupfortheshowlikeanathletedoesfortheOlympics.

WithsomuchchangefacingtheU.S.blindandshademarket,giventheCPSCmandateforcordelimination,it

willbeinterestingtoseeifthepri-marilyEuropeanexhibitorsaddresstheissue.TheU.S.hasalwaysbeenthatbigmarketmostEuropeancompanieslongtoenter,butwillthecontinuingsofteconomy,bothhereandinEurope,andtheuncertaintyovercordsafetystandardsmakeexhibitorshesitant?Orinspirenewmethodsandproducts?Hardtosay,whichiswhywe’llbeheadingtoStuttgarttofindout.V

JOANNA BRAXTON

I am WFCP

What WFCP has done for me: WFCP – the design & business advantage

WINDOW FASHIONS CERTIFIED PROFESSIONALS ARE THE INDUSTRY’S LEADING STYLEMAKERS.

“When it comes to design and fabrication of window treatments, my philosophy is elegance and excellence over mediocrity and instantaneity. In a society revolving around fast food and immediate satisfaction, it’s hard to sell, but my clients have learned that quality only comes through effort and with patience and are willing to wait. Expeditiousness is great but only if it can be accomplished without compromising the integrity of the treatment. My goal is to produce works of art at the window through Old-World craftsmanship for my clients to enjoy for years to come.”

Joanna Braxton, Braxton Drapery Design, WFCP Specialist

• Free monthly webinar

• Free Pass to VISION ‘12, Chicago, April 24-26

• Special pricing for all online and show seminars

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like-minded professionals striving

to improve our environments

• Positioned me to grow my

businessJoin WFCP Today!www.wf-vision.com/education651.330.0574

64 | VISION

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SUMIKO MORI, INTERIOR NETWORKS CO., LTD.

SECOND PLACE, COMBINATION TREATMENTS

DESIGN CONCEPTThis dining room features a spiral staircase that leads to an open loft area and the win-dow goes from near the floor to the top of the extra-high ceiling. Sumiko Mori drew inspira-tion from the staircase, as it spans the same height, to create this unique, jewel-toned cor-nice.

To allow natural light to filter through the high window, she installed a Silhouette shade as her functional base. Then, playing off the spi-ral, she designed brightly colored fabric discs, out of velvet and satin, accented with jewels and beading.

A sheer swag and cascade of crushed voile is detailed with a gold bead trim that echo the gold rings and beading on the cornice design.

DETAILSCREDITS: Designer: Sumiko Mori, Interior Design Network, Nagoya, Japan. Workroom, installation, and photography: Interior Net-works, Co. Ltd.

SOURCES: Shade: Hunter Douglas Silhouette in Misty Almond. Swag and cascade fabric: Casamance. Spiral disc fabrics: Fisba, Vare-sen, Vilem and Lorraine from Designers Guid. Fringe and trimmings: Osborne & Little and Nina Campbell. Cornice fabric: Casamance. Gold rings: hardware store.


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SUSAN DAY, EXCITING WINDOWS! BY SUSAN DAY

SECOND PLACE,CURTAINS & DRAPERIES

WORKROOM STATEMENTInspired by European castles and a love of antiques, Susan Day designed this opu-lent, enveloping library. Functional, lined and interlined silk drapery dressed a bay window, based on the client’s love of the Biltmore Estate.

Two subtly different gold fabrics were used—one for the swags and one for the draperies. Three layers of trimmings, two of bullion fringe and one decorative tape, accent the edges. Due to the width, the swags could not be cut on the bias , so the weight of the trims helped with the proper drape, as did the swag lining and interlin-ing.

Overall proportions had to be carefully considered in this design, as the drap-eries needed to be full enough to fill the sapce, but still allow for garden views. The swags also needed to install flush to the overhead soffit which came down to the window frames. Day used decorative cording to make an attactive transition.

DETAILSCREDITS: Designer: Susan Day, Exciting Windows! by Susan Day, Spring-field, Ill. Workroom: Quality Drapery Corporation, Westfield, Ind. Installer Rob Danielson, Danielson Installations, Springfield, Ill. Photographer: Lisa Weitzel, Lisa Weitzel Photography, Springfield, Ill.

SOURCES: Swag fabric: Wesco Badlands in Camel. Panel fabric: JF Samurai Silk in Suntan. Fringe, decorative tape and tassels: ADO. Cording: Brimar. Lining and interlining: Angel’s

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MARY SUSAN BICICCHI, INTERIORS BY MARY SUSAN

SECOND PLACE, SPECIALTY WINDOWS

DESIGN CONCEPTThis living room re-design could be titled, “the room with an artful view.” Mary Susan Bicicchi helped the homeowners re-invent the space, previously decorated in a Southwestern mo-tif, with new cabinetry, paint, furnishings, and draperies that bring focus to the client’s extensive modern art collection. The art provided the inspiration for a fresh color palette of lime green and orange, grounded with neutrals in brown and black.

A big challenge in the room was maximizing the amazing view of the lake and a golf course while accenting the two-story windows with draperies. In keeping with the minimal ap-proach, Bicicchi designed board-mounted stationary panels made from a sheer fabric that highlighted the uplifting color scheme. At the top of each panel, bands of fabric were woven together to create an interesting and understated texture. The panels artfully frame the windows and tie them into the overall space without interfering with the view. Instead of a drapery rod or valance, Bicicchi specified a row of hand-painted art glass panels. Design-ing the drapery treatments without valances helped keep a modern edge, and made for a graceful transition from a wall on one side of the room that had a large arched window to a wall of windows without an arch.

DETAILSCREDITS: Designer: Mary Susan Bicicchi, Interiors by Mary Susan, LaGrange, Ill. Work-room: Kathy Ellingson, Davis Designs, Downers Grove, Ill. Installer: Rick LaDouceur, Cus-tom Drapery installation, Lisle, Ill. Photographer: Nick Novelli, Elgin, Ill

SOURCES: Drapery fabric: Fabricut silk dupioni in Autumn.


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MARY SUE HAFEYFRINGE BENEFITS CUSTOM INTERIORS

SECOND PLACE,TOP TREATMENTS

DESIGN STATEMENTFor a corner window treatment in a family room/den, the client requested a stylish yet understated treatment that was soft without being too feminine.

Rich colors and clean lines keep the look clean and sophisticated, while a minimal scarf swag and trim add softness. The oversized tassel attached to a bronze medallion strikes the perfect balance.

From a practical standpoint, these treat-ments work in terms of tying the two corner windows together. The stationary waterfall drape is an ideal solution—in-stead of splitting the corner and creating confusion, the corner panel fills in the space and creates a finished look.

DETAILSCREDITS: Designer: Mary Sue Hafey, Fringe Benefits Custom Interiors, Monu-ment, Colo. Workroom: Konnie Kuehn, Colorado Springs, Colo. Installers: Mike and Terri Wiege, Colorado Springs, Colo.Pho-tographer: Nick Casale, 20/20 Visual Studios, Palmer Lake, Colo.

SOURCES: Fabrics: Interior Fabrics. Lining: Kast Fabrics. Hardware: Menagerie

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BARBARA TABEK, DECORATING DEN INTERIORS

SECOND PLACE, WHOLE ROOM INTEGRATION

DESIGN STATEMENTDesign inspiration can come from anywhere—in this guest bed-room makeover, the client wanted the design of the room to mimic the elegance of her violet, crystal studded evening bag. This small, oddly shaped room needed to fit a queen-sized bed, act as a stor-age room for out-of-season clothing, serve as a dressing room with a full-sized mirror so she would no longer have to balance on the edge of the bathtub to see a full outfit, and provide a quiet area for reading.

Working from the evening bag, Tabek selected a violet satin coverlet for the bed then layered on an elegant combination of velvet, silk, faux silk, and chenille fabrics in gold, beige and violet tones for the pillows, bed skirt and deep-tufted upholstered headboard.

The need for storage and a reading space were addressed by adding a window seat in the existing window nook, complete with plush cushions and additional pillows. The seat’s top is hinged to allow access to the space inside for storage. Sheer, banded fabric panels drape from the window fascia to create a visual separation from the room while a elegant soft shade filters the light.

The positioning of all the furniture in the room was dictated by the queen size bed, which could fit in only one spot, against a wall on two sides with the window seat close to the third side. The placement of the bed left a small triangular space between the bed and the window seat which was filled with a triangular end table which snuggles nicely into the space.

For the dressing room requirement a oversized mirror was leaned against the room’s angled wall and a chair from the client’s mother was reupholstered in a plum colored damask fabric Positionedat the end of the bed, it’s the perfect place to sit and put on strappy heels. Finally, the inspirational evening bag was used as a decorative accessory, nestled in a black velvet-lined shadow box frame that’s hinged to allow access when it is needed for a night on the town. V

DETAILSCREDITS: Barbara Tabak, Decorating Den Interiors, Harrisburg, Penn. Workrooms: An-derson Fabrics, Blackduck, Minn., Eastern Accents, Chicago, Ill., Susan Rose, Harris-burg, Penn. Installer: Decorating Den Inte-riors. Photography: Paul Emberger, Harris-burg, Penn.

SOURCES: Headboard, pillow shams, bed-skirt and window seat fabrics: Eastern Ac-cents. Side panels, shade, throw, throw pil-lows and chair fabrics: Kasmire Fabrics. Tassel trim: Carol Fabrics.

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Product

WOODMARTWOODMART

Exterior Shutters by Wood-Mart. Made from Incense Cedar. Available in a quick ship standard design with three louver options and/or raised panels. We also manufacture custom exteri-or shutters with a variety of louver sizes, board and bat-ten or Bahama Style. Visit us at Woodmart.com or call 818/785-1528.

WoodMart is a fully inte-grated manufacturer—from rough milling through fin-ishing and packaging. Lou-ver sizes range from 1" to 5". Visit us at Woodmart.com or call 818/785-1528.

CALHOOK

CALHOOK has all the right hangers, fixtures and racks for fabric samples. Wall sys-tems and Max-Space™ floor displays make the best use of your available space and help manage samples ef-ficiently. CALHOOK also supplies a full line of point-of-purchase supplies and equipment for retailers.

Call for a free catalog: 800/422-4665 or visit us online at calhook.com.

HT WINDOW FASHIONS

HT Cellular Shades New—Cordless Plus

HT window fashions® introduces Cord-less Plus, a new cordless shade. Building on the success of the HT durable cordless system, Cordless Plus offers more options for light control, privacy, ease of operation and more visibility than regular cordless. It rises like a motorized shade, by simply tugging the tassel. You can stop it at the desired location by tugging the tassel again. It adds another dimensionto a safe and beautiful shade.

“EVERYTHING CELLULAR”

“See it work” at www.htwfonline.com/cordlessPlusVideo.htmlCall 800/879-9512 for more information.

ONA DRAPERY HARDWARE

Ona Drapery Hardware Com-pany is your source for custom made drapery hardware. From contemporary to traditional, we offer an extensive selection of styles and finishes. We manufac-ture every rod set to order using only premium heavy gauge steel, wrought iron, crystal and more. Custom curving is available for all rod profiles. Be sure to look at our new ONAVERSE™ Iron Traverse Rod and colorful new ONALUX™ Finials.We pride our-selves on quality workmanship, timely delivery and customer

satisfaction. Select Ona Drapery Hardware and order with con-fidence. For a free catalog please call 800/231-4025 or visit our website at www.onadrapery.com.

HT window fashions® introduces Cordless Plus, a new cordless shade. Building on the success of HT durable cordless system, Cordless Plus offersmore options for light control, privacy, ease of operation and more visibility than regular cordless. It rises like motorized shade, by simply tugging the tassel. You can stop it at the desired location by tugging the tassel again. It adds another dimension to a safe and beautiful shade.

“EVERYTHING CELLULAR”“See it work” at www.htwfonline.com/cordlessPlusVideo.htmlCall 1800-879-9512 for more information.

HT WINDOW FASHIONS

HT Cellular Shades“new” - Cordless Plus

SM

SM

SM

SM

72 | VISION

What’s TRANSFORMATIONS: Our next issue will focus on transforma-tions—of materials, of rooms, of markets, of businesses and of careers. We’ll take a look at some of the issues that are facing our industry and the design com-munity as a whole. Shown here: A hand-felted curtain panel by Be-atrice Waanders. Her company, called The Soft World, works only with natural, undyed fibers, and this panel combines wool, horse-hair, angora, mohair and silk.

Excel @ CellQuality, Value, Selection

window fashions TM

HT window fashions®

IntroducesNew Additions - Classic Cellular Shade Fabrics

Call 1800-8799512 for more information

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Perfect textures to matchwith draperies and wallpaint.

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Allows ample light to enterthe room while blocking excessive glare and blurringthe view from outside

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Vision_JanFeb11Cover.indd 3 2/18/11 4:51 AM

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WFV Sep/Oct 2011

Documents

Transcript of WFV Sep/Oct 2011