Sparkling lights reflecting off festive holiday windows….children’s laughter pealing through the air…smoke from crackling yuletide logs swirling up through chimneys…shop windows displaying a window wonderland of green and red delights… these are just a few of our favorite things!

At Blind Appeal, during this holiday season, we want to thank our customers, family, and friends for a wonderful 2016.  Thank you for the privilege of letting us help you select window coverings for your home with that precise and custom look to add ambiance that you deserve with a level of precision that you will love.

We invite you to browse through our portfolio of pictures from our installations, as well as look through our line of products to see the abundance of selection for your window coverings.  A particular favorite line this year was the newly-added Mezzanine Layered Shades:  An inspired hybrid of fabric shades and horizontal blinds, Mezzanine Layered Shades offer the ultimate flexibility in light control -- two closely linked layers of fabric combine with tightly woven bands of color.

Other popular selections this year have been our custom plantation shutters… the custom color and hide-a-tilt options are particular favorites; our traditional wood blinds – the 2 ½” width option is great for a more open view; and the honeycomb/cellular shades –simple, yet stylish, durable, lightweight, and custom made to fit any door, window, arch, or skylight.

Although there is snow and freezing temperatures outside in the Treasure Valley, it is getting close to the time to start thinking about Exterior Solar Shades for your home: they absorb heat, reduce glare, block the sun, reduce energy bills, and increase privacy while keeping the view. Our custom solar shades come in many styles, including motorized and manual, zip screens and self-storing solar shades (check out our solar screen video under our portfolio).

Whether you just need one window blind, or window coverings for your entire home or office, one of our three sales associates would love to provide you with a free estimate -- or get that exterior solar shade estimate ahead of the summer season!  Give our office coordinator a call in the office at 888-1056 or email us today at info@blindappeal.com and we would love to schedule.

So, here’s to toasty winter nights, building snowmen, festive holiday meals with family and friends, and the wonders and joys of Christmas! We wish you and your family the warmest and merriest holiday season possible!

In October of each year, Blind Appeal recognizes National Window Covering Safety Month.

Once again, on behalf of the Blind Appeal Team, we want to remind you of the following:

The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are urging parents and caregivers to check all window coverings for potential cord hazards that can pose a strangulation hazard to infants and young children, and to replace with today’s safer products.   The WCSC and CPSC recommend that only cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords be used in homes with young children.

Blind Appeal, in partnership with Graber is participating in the October Window Cord Safety Effort by offering FREE cordless lift on Graber Crystalpleat, Pleated, Roman, and Natural shades and Traditions Wood, Composite, and Lake Forest Faux Wood Blinds from October 1 – November 30, 2016.

The WCSC urges parents and caregivers to follow these basic cord-safety precautions:

• Move all furniture, cribs, beds and climbable surfaces away from windows
• Keep all window cords well out of the reach of children
• Install only cordless window coverings in homes with young children
• Make sure tasseled pull cords are as short as possible. Continuous loop pull cords on draperies and vertical blinds should be pulled tight and anchored to the floor or wall
• Be sure cord stops are properly installed and adjusted to limit inner-cord movement.

If you want to speak with any of our consultants or team members at Blind Appeal in regard to window covering safety, please contact us at 208-888-1056.  The WCSC also can be reached by going to www.windowcoverings.org or calling 1-800-506-4636.

Check out our promotions for the months of October and November.  You will see that several of our product lines are having specials in recognition of Window Covering Safety Month.

Care & Cleaning of Window Coverings

One of my first questions when my husband and I purchased our wood blinds through Blind Appeal was, “How do we clean them?”  Although it takes a small amount of upkeep, it is worth it to clean your blinds on a regular basis.  This prevents build-up of dust and actually takes less time in the long run.

The following is a short, easy-to-follow guide on recommended cleaning methods and care of your window coverings.

Recommended cleaning methods for the following types of window treatments:

• Cellular Shades
• Natural Shades
• Pleated Shades
• Wood and Faux Wood Blinds
• Roman Shades
• Shutters:

1. Dust:  Dust lightly and regularly with a feather duster.
2. Vacuum: For deeper cleaning, vacuum lightly with the upholstery attachment of your vacuum cleaner.
3. Removal of dirt and spot cleaning (excludes wood blinds, wood shutters and natural shades): Spot clean with a soft cloth or sponge, a mild detergent and warm water.  Blot gently and allow to dry completely.  Be very careful with fabric shades so as not to crush or wrinkle the fabric.

Special Caution:  DO NOT use strong detergents or spot removers; Dry cleaning window treatments is NOT recommended.

Additional Special Instructions:

Cellular Shades: when dusting, vacuuming, or spot cleaning is not enough, ultrasonic or injection/extraction cleaning with a professional blind cleaner is an option. Blind Appeal, however cannot guarantee the outcome of any cleaning services provided by an independent company.

Vertical Blinds: Vinyl varieties may be removed and immersed in water for cleaning. Fabric varieties should not be immersed in or water or dry cleaned.

And, here is an extra “tip” from Travis Jackson, one of the Blind Appeal owners:  “I always tell people that the first step in cleaning their blinds is preventative. Change the HVAC air filters every three months minimum.  This cuts down on the dusting and makes the HVAC last longer and work better too.”

Graber Unveils their Newest Product: Mezzanine Layered Shades: 

Blind Appeal is excited about our newest line of products: Graber Mezzanine Layered Shades.

An inspired hybrid of fabric shades and horizontal blinds, Mezzanine Layered Shades offer the ultimate flexibility in light control.  In two closely linked layers of fabric stripes of sheer fabric combine with tightly woven bands of color.  As you adjust the height of the shade, you can also fine-tune the light; let the sheet fabric protect your furniture, flooring, and artwork from damaging UV rays, overlap solid-color vanes to filter or block the light, or find the perfect position in between.

The Mezzanine Layered Shades offer Continuous Loop Lift, Motorized Lift, Fabric-Wrapped Cassettes, and a Limited Lifetime Warranty, including a 5 year warranty on motorization components.

Give Blind Appeal a call today for an estimate and an opportunity to preview this wonderful new product!  

Once again, Blind Appeal is offering their annual “Spring into Summer” Exterior Solar Shade Special:  April 1 – May 31 receive an extra 10% off our motorized and manual exterior solar shades. Our everyday prices on the Exterior Motorized Solar Shades also include electrical and remote.

Absorb the heat, reduce the glare, block the sun, reduce energy bills, and increase privacy with Exterior Solar Shades. And, keep those gorgeous outside views!  The exterior solar shades provide a comfortable interior as well by blocking solar rays, which protect furnishings, reduce glare and also save money on heating and cooling costs Do you want to create that perfect ambiance for family gatherings, barbecues, and enjoying the long summer days? Then give Blind Appeal a call today to schedule a free no obligation estimate.

Motorized exterior screens can also be used in places such as windows, doors, and even larger openings to create a pleasant and pest-free outdoor area to enjoy.

There are many kinds of exterior solar shades, some of which include Zip Screens (a great exterior screen for outdoor room enclosures, helping to prevent color fade of your furniture, blocks up to 90% of the heat and glare, and provides insect protection), and Self-storing Solar Screens (filter out 90% of the sun’s harmful UV rays, retracting into a self-storing cassette style hood).

Call us today so that you can have those exterior solar shades selected and installed in time for the summer months. 208-888-1056

We are excited about our brand new website and know that our customers will be too.  In this “blog” we wanted to share what we think makes Blind Appeal special, and why it is special to our Blind Appeal Family.

National Window Cord Safety Month: The Window Covering Safety Council (WCSC) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) are urging parents and caregivers to check their window coverings for exposed or dangling cords that can pose a strangulation hazard to infants and young children, and to replace with today’s safer products. The WCSC and CPSC recommend that only cordless window coverings or those with inaccessible cords be used in homes with young children.

Custom shades with Disney characters or sports teams to wow anyone! Get your little one Disney shades with their favorite character, or sports shades to display your team pride!

Discover the natural beauty of woven wood blinds. Aesthetically they invite the “natural” world into your home or office with their natural textures and colors. These shades are constructed from organic, renewable resources including bamboo, jute, and grasses. These products are now featured in Roman Shades, Natural Panels, and Woven Natural Drapes. The bamboo, reeds, grass and wood materials originate from countries all over the world.

“Spring into Summer”  Exterior Solar Shade Special:  May 1- June 30 receive an extra 10% off our motorized and manual exterior solar shades. Our everyday prices on the Exterior Motorized Solar Shades also include electrical and remote.