Saturday, April 28, 2012

Use Outdoor Fabrics ~ Inside



Using Outdoor Fabric In-Doors!!

                                                     " Mindy's Blogging "


Today, certain manufacturer's are producing products which can withstand extremely difficult conditions. Manufacturer's are producing carpets and fabrics which are specifically designed for exterior environments.


They are designed to thrive in moist conditions. They are fabricated with antibacterial properties and can be used in direct sunlight for extreme amounts of time without fading.

Custom Motorized Blackout Window Coverings
Motorized Blackout Window Coverings:
Fabricated in Outdoor Fabric


These fabrics are "Solution dyed" fabrics. These types of textiles are my very favorites. You can actually use bleach directly on these yarns without effecting the color. 


Please be sure and read your labels carefully. And, it is always advisable to do a test on a small area. The labels should very clearly state exactly which properties the textile is woven to handle.

Reading your label is very critical. I always recommend working with professional sales people. Discuss the applications which are important for your use. A knowledgeable sale person will be able to show you product which will be able to handle your needs. 
Motorized Blackout Window Covering:
Fabricated in Outdoor Fabric

The solution dyed outdoor fabrics are extremely hard to identify, both visually and/or tactically.  There are a number of different weaves, chenille'svelvet's, woven jacquard's, and a multitude of fabulous textures. As far as I'm concerned, this is the place to start when looking for fabric.
  
We've just completed a home in Colorado, in which 90% of all the fabric used on the entire project ~ were all "Outdoor" fabrics. All of the window coverings, fabrics for the upholstery, and  most of the bedding were all "outdoor fabrics." 

This was a great idea and we were able to accomplish it.
This added a tremendous value for each application we were able to use. In selecting a solution dyed fabric, we were able to protect the cost of the interior selection.

I highly recommend checking your labels very carefully.  If the manufacturer put a label on the product, stating it is suitable for outdoor use, consider using those fabrics inside.

                                     Pet Friendly 
                                 Children Friendly                                                                     Husband Friendly

If you have specific questions, you may contact me:
I hope this has given you some great food for thought.
                                    Just a good idea!! 

Monday, March 26, 2012

Solar Shades


Amazon Sells Solar Shades

The warm months of summer are approaching faster than we want, especially in Texas. Last summer had to have been the hottest and driest summer that we've had in Austin, Texas since the early 1900's. Our lake was at record breaking low levels and the electric bills were off the charts.

Due to the heat, we received lots of calls from people that were trying to come up with economical solutions to cut their air conditioning bills. So many people were trying to cut the heat from coming through their windows. I'm not a real believer in the solar film which is applied to windows, but I was told that it did offer a little bit of relief.

Usually, my recommendation is for Solar Shades. I like an inside mounted shade, which really doesn't impinge on the view.  Shades should be installed as flush to the window as possible, to create the best reduction of heat or cold.

The shades are designed to filter the UV rays of the sun which really destroy so much of the contents in our homes. The sun can cause dry rot of fabric on window coverings, it bleaches fabrics on upholstered furniture, ruins area rugs, and can drive your electric bill way out of control.

The feature that I like the most about solar shades is that they actually don't block the view from the window.  People usually don't think about that feature.  Their usually so concerned with blocking the sun light and reducing the heat  that they will go to any length to deal with that, as their number one priority.

I remember installing motorized shades in our Houston home to block an incredible glare which came off of our swimming pool. The reflection of the sun from the pool would heat up our family room, even with draperies closed. When we put in the shades it was an immediate relief.

I actually liked the privacy feature, in the daytime, more than I had even considered. If the pool man was servicing the pool, or the yard men were working in the yard, I was able to run around in pj's or whatever and see out perfectly. Yet, no one could see in!! Definitely a very nice feature.

There are so many manufacturers which offer various types of solar shades. If you're thinking about purchasing shades, be sure and look at the specifications carefully. They are sold with different percentages of openness which effects the heat coefficient.

The open woven material permits various amounts of heat and sun to filter through the shades. Personally, I prefer a little wider opening, but if heat is the primary problem, I would serious consider going with the tighter weave.


Amazon does sell Solar Shades  but you need to measure and install yourself. It's very important to measure carefully. Measure each window in three places to determine the narrowest measurement on the width.  You need to use the smallest measurement when ordering the width. The length is just the opposite.

When measuring the length, it is best to use the longest measurement. It's best to have the shade a little longer, than too short. Shades will have a gap along the sides, but usually the window casing is thick enough to prevent too much light from coming through.

Well that's my thoughts on solar shades. I use them quite often on both high end residential projects, as well as on project which are on a very limited budget. If you have any questions you can submit to my email address:
mindy@meiselsdesign.com

Hope this was helpful!!

Mindy













Saturday, March 10, 2012

How do Solar Shades Effect the View



        BASIC REASON'S TO USE SOLAR SHADES


                                  Solar Shades

Window are designed to provide natural lighting and to provide views from inside your home. So why does the issue of covering the windows become such an issue during the design process? Client's are always wanting to dress their windows, sometimes for for decorative purposes but primarily to deal with problematic issues which arise within their space. 

So let's take a look at some of the basic issues which seem to present itself based around "windows!!"

I am from the school of thought that windows should be left uncovered unless there is an issue with privacy, the need for blocking out all of the light for blackout purposes in bedrooms, and/or design situations which enhance the interior personality of your space.





"I highly suggest using solar shades whenever there is a lot of direct sunlight coming through the windows. The UV rays make it difficult to keep the contents in your space. It is damaging the the fibers in carpets, fabrics and all of the wood components inside of your home.'







This picture demonstrates the use of solar shades. The shades are designed to help control damaging rays of the sun, which pass through our windows. If you live in a climate where sun light is intense ~ this is a great solution.

The shades don't obstruct the view. This is a super image which demonstrates both "with and without" the shade. On each window you can clearly see where the shade is and where it is not. The top part of each window shows the shade in a slightly open position.

Solar shades are used to prevent damaging sun light from ruining rugs, furniture and other items which go into furnishing a home.
I usually recommend the darker colors. In this photo it is easy to see the before and after effects of a solar shade. The glare is controlled when the shades are in the down position. The view is not obstructed.  It's much nicer to be able to see out of a window.

Privacy is another issue which windows often present.  The privacy issue wasn't a problem on this project, but the home owner had wanted to use blackout window treatments throughout.  We used the solar shades on all of the windows with a western exposure. It is a terrific solution to cut down the glare from the snow and water.

The rule, regarding privacy, is that you see to the light side. Let me explain. In the day time, the light side is outside. Therefore, seeing out is not obstructed, and seeing in, is fairly impossible. If someone was working outside in the yard,  that person would not be able to see the person inside.

If a person outside was to lean directly up to the window, they could see silhouettes inside. The nice feature is that the person inside can clearly see everything outside. If the person wasn't decent they certainly could take the necessary precautions.

Protecting the contents of your home is relatively easy by using solar shades. If you have any questions you may forward to my email address:

mindy@meiselsdesign.com