" " " "

cordless shades

5 Resolutions You Should Be Making This New Year

5 Resolutions You Should Be Making This New Year wjfigw4q3

With the start of a new year, there’s always big talk around making resolutions. Why? When the New Year comes around, it feels like a chance to start again. It’s a blank slate–one that feels wasted if changes aren’t made. Have you made resolutions that were met with success or failure? We’ve got a secret for you…if you’re like most people when you make resolutions, you’re probably doing it wrong. We’ve got your list of 5 resolutions you SHOULD be making this year. And, if you follow our resolutions, you’ll most likely find more success in the long run…

 

#1 Don’t Be Afraid to Fail.

Yes, we realize it’s the start of a list, and we’re already talking about failure. But, it has to be said! If you’re afraid of failing, you’ll either set goals for yourself and feel terrible when they go awry, or you won’t set any at all. Your absolute, number one, for sure resolution to set this year is…don’t be afraid to fail. And then, acknowledge the failure, pick yourself up, and try again.

resolutions to write down

#2 Write It Down.

One of the reasons most resolutions fail is that people set vague goals. “I want to lose weight.” Sound familiar? It’s a great way to start the New Year, especially after such a gluttonous holiday season, but it’s not very realistic. Make this the year you create attainable daily habits for yourself. The best way to do that? Write it down. Making a plan for what you want to achieve is the best way to accomplish ANYTHING. Small steps. Tasks that can be added in. You’ll be less likely to feel like you’re failing, and less likely to give up. It will be easier to adopt some–if not all–of the objective tasks you write down, and you’ll be in a better place because of it.

resolutions for safety

#3 Make Safety a Priority.

Making resolutions can add a short-lived sense of accomplishment. And, there’s nothing wrong with that. But, if you really want to make a difference in your life–and your family’s lives–choose to make changes to things that matter. Safety in the home is often one thing that gets overlooked and put off. Is your furniture bolted to the wall? Do you have cordless–or cord safe–blinds and shades? Are household chemicals up out of harm’s way? We’ve all read the articles throughout the year about unfortunate accidents that happen–no one ever thinks it can happen to them. Use your energy right now to make changes in your life that will benefit you and your family for years to come.

resolutions for lighting

#4 Evaluate Your Home Lighting.

We talk about this all the time. The light–or lack thereof–in your home is incredibly important. You can have too much, and you can have too little. What’s important is that you recognize it, and you should take steps to change it. Do you know that the small distraction of headlights passing your window in the middle of the night can disrupt your sleep? Are you aware that squinting at your computer screen from the glare throughout the day causes you to feel tired? The light in your home can play a huge role in the energy, mood and overall productivity of your life. It’s time to evaluate what you’re having issues with, and then take steps to resolve them. We can help you accomplish the light control, adjustments and comfort you need in your home.  

resolutions for success

#5 Create an Environment of Success for Your Resolutions.

There’s no way to achieve anything if you aren’t prepared. (See resolution #2.) Take a look around you. Are you surrounded by what you love? Do you feel productive? How does the energy of the space make you feel? Make this the year you create an environment of success. The place you call home, and what’s inside, is a huge influence in your life. Many people put this off because they’re too busy–or the amount of decisions is overwhelming. It’s probably time to call in the professionals. Stop putting it off. We can offer helpful advice, beautiful designs and incredible lifestyle function to transform your home. You can get started by visiting one of our exclusive Hunter Douglas galleries. And then, we’ll come to you for a free, in-home consultation. Contact our team to get started today!

NJ Window Treatments
NJ Window Fashions
Other Posts:
New Jersey Window Treatments

Child Safe Blinds: Solutions for Safety

Child Safe Blinds: Solutions for Safety wjfigw4q3

“Why is it that when one man builds a wall, the next man immediately needs to know what’s on the other side?” ~George R.R. Martin

This has never been more true than if you’re talking about children. They’re naturally curious, to a fault, aren’t they? Do you have children living in, or visiting, your home? They get into everything, especially our hearts. That’s why there’s constant worry about their safety. Childproofing can be a tedious task, and many people don’t consider child safe blinds when getting prepared. But, they can be a terrible safety hazard–dangling cords are both tempting and dangerous for small children. Because October is child safety awareness month, Metropolitan Window Fashions is making it a priority to help our clients understand the features of child safe blinds and shades. There are multiple options for making your home safer with child safe blinds. Let us help you find the best choice for your home.

Add Power, Subtract Concerns

Window coverings become unsafe for children when they have dangling cords. Kids are curious, and they can make a toy out of almost anything–including window coverings! Child safe blinds will remove this worry from your life and keep your child away from harm. Since children are adventurous and find a way to reach high places, it’s not enough to hide the cord, which is why PowerView motorization is an excellent option for child safe blinds and shades. Cordless and chic, they allow complete control. You can even create, save and schedule your favorite settings. PowerView motorization will leave you worry-free while your child plays safely in your home.

motorized child safe blinds and shades

No Cords, No Problems

A lasso for the cat, a climbing rope for an action figure, something to grab when jumping off the couch…you probably don’t realize how unsafe window coverings can be unless you’ve witnessed it. Children should be able to explore in a safe environment, which is why cordless is the way to go. Hunter Douglas cares immensely about safety in the home, which is why they have created multiple options for child safe blinds and shades. The LiteRise operating system is a simple solution. Adjusted up, down and anywhere in between, using the bottom rail, there’s no dangling cords. Your child can easily open and close them–safely. Without cords to get tangled in, or tempt with creative play, you increase safety and peace of mind.

control cords child safe blinds and shades

Control Cords Safely

These options may sound great to you, but you know that they might not work for all of your windows. We understand that every home is different, and sometimes the layout of your windows just won’t allow for cordless blinds. This doesn’t mean that child safe blinds and shades are not an option! As we stated before, the cord is a huge danger to your child, which is why we offer blinds that prevent the cord from being harmful. The UltraGlide system offers a retractable cord, which is short and automatically retracts after adjustment, leaving the cord short and out of your child’s reach. Another option is to stabilize the cord with a cord wand, no dangles or tangles. We also offer the continuous cord loop that can be secured tightly against the window frame, allowing you to activate your window coverings without danger to the smallest members of your household. If it’s safety you want, we can help!  

Safety in Your Home: Child Safe Blinds

Your home is a place of comfort and safety, and when it comes to your children, you want the safest environment. Metropolitan Window Fashions wants to help you create a safe place for your child to explore and grow. Child safe blinds and shades will give you peace of mind. Visit one of our exclusive Hunter Douglas galleries for more information. Or, one of our team members at Metropolitan Window Fashions can come to you for a free in-home consultation. We’ll take a look and help you figure out the best options for your home. Contact us today to find a system that works best for your home and the safety of your children.

 

Get Set for a New Year: 5 Back to School Tips

Get Set for a New Year: 5 Back to School Tips wjfigw4q3

Have you been inundated with back to school ads and commercials? It’s practically impossible to escape the endless pitches for sales and savings. Even though there’s a whole month of summer vacation left, back to school season is definitely in full swing. You know, though, advertisers are on to something. It does take time to prepare for the first day, and starting early has its benefits. Besides not having to comb empty shelves and racks days before your kids head back, getting ready for the new school year now makes the transition much easier for everyone. So, we have five back to school tips that’ll have you and your family all set for when the first day finally does roll around.

#1 Get Back On Schedule

back to school tipsIt’s so nice to go with the flow in the summer. What kid doesn’t love being able to snack in front of the TV, stay up late, and sleep in if they’re tired? But those days are quickly coming to an end. As we all know, school means schedules. Your children will need time to get back to a regular routine. We know it can be a challenge for the whole family to switch over to three meals a day, a strict bedtime, and waking up earlier in the morning. That’s why it’s #1 on our list of back to school tips. In order to start the school year off with success, you need to ease your little ones into a schedule that will work with their school lives. If you start now, you can put them to bed and get them up a little earlier each week until you reach your ideal bedtime and morning wakeup time. You can also start phasing out snacking. Trust us, if you do these things gradually, it’ll be much easier on everyone.

#2 Sleep Well

back to school tipsYour kids need to be well rested in order to do their best in school. Having a regular bedtime is a great start to helping them get a good night’s sleep, but it doesn’t end there. Your children’s bedrooms need to be places that promote quality sleep. So, next on our list of back to school tips is to evaluate the sleeping conditions in your home and make any changes now. Bedrooms should be dark and free of even the smallest amount of light. Glowing and flashing devices are some of the biggest culprits for engaging the brain and interrupting sleep, so cover them or keep them out of bedrooms altogether. Noise can disrupt sleep too. If you live in a busy neighborhood or have a light sleeper, a sound machine can help your kids stay asleep and prevent multiple night wakings. Lastly, consider comfort. Could everyone use a new set of sheets and pajamas? What about a high quality pillow? Is the temperature just right?

#3 Get Organized

back to school tipsWhen school starts, you instantly have a lot more to do and a lot more stress. The last thing you need is to be frantically searching for missing backpacks, misplaced shoes, and lost lunchboxes as you try to get your family out the door in the morning. That’s why number three on our tips for back to school list is to get organized. Setting up an organizational system now will save you a ton of time and cut back on your stress when the school bell rings. The best system will be one that your children can manage on their own. Shelves, cubbies, bins, and hangers are all possibilities for helping your kids to see that everything has a place and for teaching them to put everything in its place.

#4 Post a Family Calendar

back to school tipsAfter the lazy days of summer, the flurry of activity that surrounds school can be overwhelming. You suddenly find yourself running kids to and from practices, trying to fit in homework, and scrambling to get some food in everyone before they head to bed. If you’re lucky, you can all sit together at the table, but there’s probably more than one occasion where dinner happens in the car or in the bleachers. Then, as if that’s not enough, there’s appointments, school activities, and birthday parties. You need a way to keep it all straight. A family calendar is perfect for that. Posting a calendar in a central location and updating it regularly with everyone’s commitments is essential for your sanity when the school year begins. Once everything is noted, you can decide if it’s manageable or if you need to cut back.

#5 Build a Smart Home

back to school tipsWith all the running around that happens once school starts, wouldn’t it be nice to know your home is comfortable and secure no matter where you are? The smartest tip on our back to school tips list is to build a smart home. This way, you can have touch-of-a-button control of your home from anywhere in the world. Installing motorized shades and blinds will change your life as you experience convenience like you never have before. Forgot to close your living room shades in the hectic morning rush? Tap a button on your favorite device and down they go. No more worrying about the sun heating up the room or your dog going nuts with all the foot traffic outside. Better yet, you can set and save scenes–like “bedtime” and “evening privacy”– and schedule your window coverings to adjust themselves based around your family’s schedule. Then, you won’t have to give your shades another thought. They’ll always be in position to create the ideal atmosphere. Integrate them with appliances, lighting, heating, security systems, and more with Logitech’s Harmony, The Nest, or many other home automation systems, and it’ll be the best start to a school year yet!

As you shop, schedule, and plan for the new school year, remember to throw in some fun. Summer vacation isn’t over just yet. There’s still time to visit an Ample Hills Creamery location for an outrageous ice cream cone and to spend this month’s Saturdays at the Summer Streets celebration. When you do get started on our back to school tips, if you need help, we’re here for you. With blinds and shades that offer incredible function and amazing solutions, we can help you find just what you need to get your home and life in order. Start the school year off right by contacting our team at Metropolitan Window Fashions for a free, shop-at-home consultation.

Functional & Fun Playroom Design Ideas

Functional & Fun Playroom Design Ideas wjfigw4q3

Play. It’s serious business! For children, playing is essential for healthy growth and development, and it helps them learn how to engage in–and interact with–the big, wide world they live in. Having a playroom is a great way to foster the creative, experimental play that grows imaginations, brains, bodies, and friends. Not only that, but designating a play space keeps toys and projects from migrating throughout the rest of the house or getting lost, and it can actually help your kids sleep better, too! They learn that the playroom is for exploring and exerting energy while their bedrooms are for calming down and sleeping. Deciding to have a playroom is the easy part, but designing it can be tricky. That’s why we’ve put together some playroom design ideas and considerations to keep in mind, as you fashion an amazing space for your kids to enjoy.

Organized & Tidy

Brooklyn Brownstone

It almost goes without saying that, no matter how big the space, storage is a must in a playroom. Using kid-friendly storage in your playroom design will encourage your children to keep the space organized and tidy. Low, open shelves make it easy for kids to grab what they want and put it back too. Labeling bins with pictures and words reminds your children where things go while building literacy skills, and keeping small art and craft supplies in see-through containers helps your little ones find what they need without having open everything up. Although it’s good to have some things readily available, it’s also nice to have closed storage for bulkier toys. Closets and furniture with doors and drawers work well, and a curtained-off corner is a neat way to add color and patterns to the space while also providing concealed storage. Check out our custom draperies for fresh ideas!

Personalized & Future-Proof

Kids

Your children’s playroom should feel all their own. Displaying their artwork in the space will make it personal and special. Putting up a wire allows you to hang your children’s creations with clips or clothespins and change them out easily when they want to show off new pieces. You can also frame their pictures and paintings or put favorite knick knacks and beloved stuffies on shelves. Creating a chalk wall or hanging a marker board is another way to inspire creativity, promote learning, and individualize the room. Plus, all of these playroom design ideas can grow with your children; they’re future-proof. As your kids get older, they can change up what’s displayed and use the space for hanging out, playing games, and watching movies. Comfortable seating, a cozy reading spot, and a desk area are other features you can include in your young ones’ playroom that will function just as well when they’re older.

Comfortable & Safe

playroom design NYC

Your kids should feel comfortable in their playroom, and you should feel comfortable with them playing in there. Window coverings are a big part of ensuring comfort and safety in any playroom design. They help maintain a consistent temperature, reduce glare on TV and device screens, and protect everything from damaging UV rays. Not only that, but they provide privacy control, so your kids can play without the whole neighborhood watching. Whatever window coverings you choose, make sure they’re child-safe. From cordless alternatives to motorization, Hunter Douglas has a range of lifting systems that make safety a priority. And, you can bet that, as children explore and experiment in their playroom, they aren’t thinking about getting hurt. So, make sure to anchor furniture and TVs to prevent tip-over accidents. With these measures in place, you won’t have that constant worry in the back of your mind, and everyone will have more fun!

Playroom Design Help

Do you have some design challenges in your playroom space? Would you love to get some expert advice on the best ways to organize and style your specific room? Do you just need some inspiration? Well, our team is here to help! We’d love to come out for a visit and work with you to create the fabulous playroom design you and your kids deserve. Contact us today at Metropolitan Window Fashions for a free, in-home consultation, and get ready to play!

Modern Roller Shades: Revolutionary Design Meets Exquisite Style

Modern Roller Shades: Revolutionary Design Meets Exquisite Style wjfigw4q3

There’s a reason that roller shades have been around for hundreds of years–they get the job done. But let’s be honest–your grandmother’s roller shades won’t cut it anymore. Your windows are the backdrop of your home–and your life. It’s time you met the newest generation of roller shades. Every detail has been reimagined to present you with the perfect shade. Modern Roller Shades are simply that–the classic idea of window shades, but that’s where it stops. The latest innovations of Modern Roller Shades offer you upgraded features that not only get the job done, they do it better than you could ever imagine, with the contemporary styling that adds beautiful design to your home.

Style Statement: The Beauty is in the Details.

modern roller shades trending fabricsThe backdrop of your home–you need your shades to be on point. Sleek styling. Low profile design. Contemporary finishings. The gorgeous look of Modern Roller Shades has all of that–and more. Let’s start with the designer fabrics–they are sophisticated and chic, bringing you a contemporary color palette with exquisite textures. In addition to these exclusive fabrics and textures, the details of Modern Roller Shades have been redesigned to give you the perfect finishings to style your home. The top treatment–now available in a square cassette–adds to the sleek style of modern roller shades. Love the look of the roller top? It’ll only add to the style of your home. The bracket covers and metal brackets–yes, we’ve thought of everything–are customized to coordinate with your home’s interior design. The covers are available in nine finishings. The modern look of metal brackets are styled with hardware in mind, in burnished chestnut or pearl chrome, also featuring the contemporary detail of a circular shape, to add to the designer appeal. It’s the details that count.

Innovative Features: The Redesign of a Classic.

modern roller shades dual shadesWhile the old-fashioned idea of roller shades was a simplistic on/off of light, modern roller shades go way beyond that to give you innovative lifestyle features. That “on/off” design still holds true–roller shades are an ideal choice when you want light switch function. Even more so, Modern Roller Shades ensure the blackout shades your bedroom has always needed–with the smallest light gap in the industry! We’ve also got incredible options for you that allow you levels of light control. Choose dual roller shades for a unique experience that lets you choose the opacity. When your modern roller shades and screen shades have dual control, you’ll be able to customize your light control. One shade can offer the view-through fabric to diffuse the light for daytime atmosphere, while the other is put in place when blackout shades are needed. It’s no longer just an on/off option–it’s levels of light control for your home.

Incredible Function: Controlled Operation.

modern roller shades motorized shadesHunter Douglas has thought of everything. Beyond the design elements and features available, the redesign of the simplistic operation just got better. They call it “whisper-quiet”, and we couldn’t be more thrilled. When all you want is a hush when adjusting your shades into position, you’ve got it with modern roller shades. The lightweight feel of manual operation includes a custom clutch–designed to feel comfortable to operate no matter the size of your shades. And what’s more–roller shades are available with PowerView motorization. Want your shades to adjust on a schedule? Want to set and save your favorite scenes for different circumstances throughout the day? Motorized shades offer you life-changing control. Operated with touch-of-a-button activation on a sleek, stylish remote or your favorite device, your Modern Roller Shades have earned their name. Modern innovation at it’s finest.

Modern Roller Shades: It’s Revolutionary.

Are you ready to infuse your home with heightened styling, innovative features and incredible function? Modern Roller Shades have been redesigned to offer it all. The customizable features allow you to have the lifestyle function you’ve been looking for with the truly unique style offerings that will help make your house a home. Our design consultants can visit you for a free, shop-at-home experience so you can see the beautiful fabrics and finishes you can select. Contact us, at Metropolitan Window Fashions, to get started today!

Hunter Douglas shades on sale!

Roman Shades: It’s Energy Smart Style You’ll Adore

Roman Shades: It’s Energy Smart Style You’ll Adore wjfigw4q3

Are you longing for the beauty of graceful, soft window treatments? Does your practical side know that your lifestyle needs the convenience of window shades? Consider it fate, but we would love to introduce you to one of our most sought-after choices in window design and solutions. Meet Solera Soft Roman Shades: Perfect styling, energy savings and the capability to offer your home the utmost in smart design. In addition to special offers we have available for a limited time, with our Energy Smart Style sale, these shades are one of our most affordable choices. Why? Your customization of these roman shades is streamlined. That means you can customize your shades with the most popular design elements we have to offer. You’ll start off saving, and continue saving for years to come–saving energy, your valuables and your sanity.

 

Energy Savings

roman shades energy efficiencyThis is a big one. Your window covering solutions need to offer your home savings off of your monthly energy bills–especially living in this area. We see all seasons, and all types of weather. You need energy efficiency you can count on–not just to keep the warm air from escaping your home in the winter, but also to protect you from the intense heat of summer.  No matter the weather or the season, Solera Soft roman shades use layers of fabric to insulate your home and block out direct sunlight. Want another way to save? It’s called daylighting. This powerful feature invites natural light into your home without sacrificing the atmosphere, temperature, privacy or UV protection you need. Daylighting is easy with top-down shades, lowered for just the right amount of light to enter and disperse throughout your home.

 

Smart Design

roman shades top down bottom up shadesThe versatility of Solera Soft roman shades shows with features like top-down bottom-up–it’s the customizable function you’ve always dreamed about. This smart design allows you to enjoy all of the amazing benefits that window shades bring, while still enjoying as much light as you want. Even smarter than that, you can do it with push-of-a-button control. PowerView motorized window shades make your life a breeze. Control the opening, closing and adjustment of your roman shades, from your choice of the sleek and stylish Pebble remote, or on your favorite device with the PowerView App. Set and save favorite scenes, schedule adjustments and simply live life effortlessly. Your motorized shades can be adjusted from across the room, or across the world. It’s the ultimate control, in the palm of your hand.

 

Sophisticated Style

roman shades light-filteringIt’s the elegance of classic roman shades, waterfalling in perfect folds of fabric, that make these shades such a beautiful addition to your windowscape. Available in both woven and non-woven fabrics, the customization brings you to some of the most popular design features–streamlined for convenient selection and incredible affordability. The selection of gorgeous fabrics is offered in a range of opacities, from light-filtering to room-darkening. Create just the right environment, based on your home and lifestyle needs. You’ll have your choice of operating features, including cordless, which not only looks amazing, but offers you the peace of mind you need for a child-safe home. Peace of mind–what’s more stylish than that?

Energy Smart Style–are you ready for it? Solera Soft roman shades offer you the valuable combination of the beauty of soft window treatments with the ease and convenience of window shades. Adding beauty, energy efficiency and smart features to your home, these are roman shades you’ll definitely adore. At Metropolitan Window Fashions, we know how busy you are. That’s why we come to you–at a time that’s convenient for your life–with a free, in-home consultation. We’ll bring ideas, inspiration and samples for you to browse. Contact our team today to set up this unique, shop-at-home experience. You’ll be glad you did!

Hunter Douglas on sale!

Three Ways to Save with Duette Window Shades

Three Ways to Save with Duette Window Shades wjfigw4q3

Work smarter, not harder. Isn’t that what we all want? And we want it for our homes, too. Has your home reached its “smart’ potential? And how about the savings? Throughout the year, the seasonal changes we see in this part of the country can cause bills to raise and frustration to mount. Here, at Metropolitan Window Fashions, we know just the thing to save your sanity and your money. This month, we are featuring one of our most popular window shades for the energy smart style your home needs. And we have not one, but three ways to save on Duette window shades. Bring amazing features and function to your home and lifestyle for year-round savings–with FREE upgrades for a limited time.

 

Energy Efficiency You’ll Appreciate

duette window shades cell-within-cellDuette window shades feature cellular technology that gives you the insulation you need at the window. From single or double cell structure of the original Duettes, to the cell-within-cell design of Duette Architella, your home will feature the highest standards of energy efficiency. Duette window shades keep the warm air from escaping during the coldest times of year, and they keep the hot air out of your home in the summer. Right now, you can save $100 on 4 duette shades.

 

Beautiful Style To Transform Your Home

duette window shades kitchenThe organized pleats, the sophisticated colors, the custom opacities–it’s style you’ll love. Create the perfect look in your home with Duette window shades. Choose from a range of opacities to bring the atmosphere of your choice to individual rooms in your home, from light filtering to room darkening. The classic styling of colors offer you the chance to coordinate the decor of your home for a polished look. With a selection of pleats sizes, you can customize your shades exactly the way you want–including shades for patio doors, offered with VertiGlide.

 

Custom Features You Won’t Be Able to Live Without

duette window shades officeDuette window shades can help your home reach its full potential with features that you won’t be able to live without. PowerView motorized shades–the latest innovation from Hunter Douglas–will add to the energy efficiency of your home with life efficiency, as well! Schedule adjustments to meet your home needs right on your favorite device. Save your favorite settings to instantly access the ultimate atmosphere. It’s the control you’ve always wanted, at a touch of a button. This month, two of our most popular features are FREE with the purchase of Duette window shades. LiteRise, our cordless operating system, is a free upgrade. Experience ease and convenience with child-safe window coverings. Top-down bottom-up is also being offered as a free upgrade. This amazing feature allows you to invite light into your home for powerful daylighting while much of the direct sunlight is blocked. Enjoy the natural light while saving money on energy bills.

 

Has your home reached its full energy smart potential? Give your home the energy efficiency it needs while your lifestyle is upgraded to fabulous with Duette Window Shades! At Metropolitan Window Fashions, our design consultants can help guide you to the window shades that will help your home become the best version of itself, saving you time and money. Contact our team today for a free, in-home consultation.