Tips For Picking Window Treatments

Can you believe it’s been almost 2 years since Albert and I bought our first home together?! I swear it feels like we just closed yesterday!!

About a year ago, Albert and I created a list of projects we wanted to tackle around the house. Everything from installing a new sprinkler system in the backyard to adding window coverings to all of our windows and sliding glass doors. #ADULTING at it’s finest. Window coverings was one of the first items on the to-do list, but honestly it felt super overwhelming. Do we invest in plantation shutters or do we go with a cheaper option? What’s the difference between composite and vinyl shutters? Can we integrate window treatments with smart technology?

After getting SEVERAL quotes and asking plenty of questions, Albert and I decided to move forward with California Window Fashions (located in Roseville and serving the greater Sacramento area). We both LOVED their team. They were incredibly knowledgeable about the different nuanced of picking window treatments, and made us feel relaxed about the process.

Today, I’m spilling my experience thus far and tips for picking the window treatments that transform your house into a home.

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DO YOUR HOMEWORK

It’s no secret that there are plenty of options out there when it comes to window coverings. But what set California Window Fashions apart was their team and proven record with over 20 years of experience. We also love that they exclusively sell Hunter Douglas products. Hunter Douglas is the world’s leader in innovative window treatments. All of their window treatments are designed and custom- assembled in the US. Because we plan to be in our house for awhile, quality was extremely important to us.

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VISIT THE SHOWROOM

Our first step was to visit California Window Fashion’s showroom located in Roseville. It was here that we met Kim for the first time! Kim was incredibly personable and spent over an hour answering our questions and showing us all different types of window treatment options.

We knew we wanted plantation shutters on some of the larger windows in our house, but were unsure what the options were for our bedrooms and kitchen.

Plantation Shutters

Kim showed us all of the different types of plantation shutters they offer. We initially thought we wanted wood, until she showed us the Palm Beach Polysatin Shutters. Not only is the price tag a bit more friendly, but they also are guaranteed to never yellow, warp, fade, chip or peel regardless of high heat or moist conditions. Knowing that Sacramento summers can get pretty darn hot, this was key for us!

Woven Wood Shades

After many hours of pinning away all sorts of Pinterest-inspired kitchens, it was clear that there was one common theme. I knew I wanted woven wood shades above the large window in our kitchen. The boho feel of them was the perfect accent that I had hoped for. I was so excited when Kim pulled out a HUGE book of all different types of Provenance Woven Wood Shades. These types of shades add a homey feel, with the warm, rich textures of bamboo, natural woods, reeds and grasses. I also love that there’s an option to make them motorized. Being only 5 feet tall, I actually can’t reach above the kitchen sink to pull anything up or down. So being able to use my smartphone or remote to control them was a huge plus.

Designer Roller Shades

When it came to the master bedroom, Albert requested one thing… BLACKOUT! We have a large sliding glass door in our bedroom, and honestly had no idea what our options were for covering it. Kim showed us their Designer Roller Shades and we were sold. The shades are super modern looking with hundreds of different materials to choose from. They had SEVERAL that had the blackout option to keep our bedroom dark through the night. I love that they can also be set up with smart technology, so we can set when we would like the shades to start opening in the morning (AKA time wake up).

KNOW YOUR BUDGET

There are plenty of options when it comes to window coverings. My best advice – know your budget, and stick to it! Go in understanding which rooms are the most important, and which could potentially wait. I quickly learned that there were tons of different materials and fabrics that helped us stay on budget. If something didn’t fit our price point, they showed us a comparable option that did.

IN-HOME CONSULT

The next part of the process is scheduling your in-home consult. This is honestly the best part because you finally get to see your vision come to life! It was here that we met Courtney. Courtney is the Window Treatment Specialist and helped us finalize our color selections, framing and any last details we had not discussed yet.

FINALIZE YOUR IDEAS

Courtney helped us pick the color of our plantation shutters and let me tell you… I never knew there could be so many versions of white! Something that stuck with me… don’t pick a color that has a yellow tint to it!! Go for cooler tones to help brighten your home. We picked the closet color to our cabinets, and also went with the larger 4 inch shutters to let as much light in as possible. Because we went with the vinyl material, we were able to add shutters to our two guest bedrooms and still stay within our budget!

Smart Technology

SO excited for this! Smart Shades allow for the delivery of motorized blinds, shades and shutters. You can actually use the remote control or PowerView app on your phone to control your window coverings from your couch or across country. Courtney mentioned that if you’re traveling, you can open your windows during the day and then close them at night so it looks like someone is home… all from your phone! This system also has the ability to integrate with your favorite in-home systems including Alexa, Google Home and more.

All in all, we are THRILLED to be working with the California Window Fashion team and can’t wait to show you the final product. Stay tuned for all of the before and afters as we take you through this journey with us.

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*** A huge thank you to California Window Fashions for collaborating on this project. All words and opinions are my own. ***