What a joy it is, to receive a new client from a referral! I had such a wonderful time creating the perfect ambiance for a couple in a bright, sunny condominium last year, and they spread the word. I received a call from my new clients who were just across the hall from my previous couple, and we started to get to work on their luxurious living space right away.
In the neighbor’s living room the previous year, I had installed motorized Hunter Douglas honeycomb shades. The shades utilized the PowerRise® automated lift system, and with the added energy efficiency and ease of use, it was an ideal fit for the homeowners’ style. Using the Platinum™Technology, they were able to adjust their shadings with the push of a button on their remote or the wireless app on their mobile devices! When my new couple contacted me, they said that they were so impressed with the motorization of their neighbor’s window treatments, they wanted to purchase the same product.
If there was one major difference between the two living spaces, it was the view! Walk into the new couple’s condo and you are instantly hit with sunshine streaming in through their large windows and sliding glass door. My new clients had a south facing condo complete with wide, wave-crashing ocean views. If I were living in that space, I would want to look out of those windows all the time! If we had used the same honeycomb shades that I had installed in their neighbor’s space, it would have obstructed their views of the beach and sea, so I suggested solar screening instead.
Solar screening is just like it sounds, panels of semi-opaque screens that provide similar energy efficiency and blocking of the sun’s rays as other shades, but without obscuring the view. With this condo’s sleek new ivory leather sofas, and cocktail and side tables rich with contemporary lines, I suggested the Skyline Gliding Window Panels. The panels would effortlessly protect both the home and the homeowners from harsh UV rays, while still remaining elegant and contemporary.
When choosing the right treatments for their sliding glass doors I noted that the solar screens, when traversed to an open position, would stack off the window and add a vertical design element of texture and style. When the couple pictured how much “wow factor” the Skyline Panels would give the room, they opted to go with the design.
What good are vast ocean views without the ability to see them? The opacity of the screens that we chose keeps the views visible and the Skyline Panels split in the middle allows the balcony doors to be accessed without having to draw the shades open all the way. The semi (5%) sheer Empire fabric panels in the color Oatmeal blended just enough into the backdrop to allow the ocean views to flourish, while still adding an element of privacy to the space.
Keeping with the solar screening-style design, we also decided to refresh the office and master bedroom window dressings by installing Designer Screen Roller Shades. For privacy in the master bedroom, we went with the 0% opaque screens in a gorgeous, gently-textured Shadow fabric called to match the bedspread and decor. In the office we opted to bring back the Empire fabric at 5% opacity, the same as the Skyline Panels in the living room, to let the sun wash over the workspace. The coupling of sunshine and privacy created the perfect environment for work and play in within the home.
It just goes to show how two seemingly similar spaces can be designed to reflect their homeowners, the unique views outside of their homes, and their personal styles. Both neighbors and new clients absolutely love what they chose to complete their living rooms, and I couldn’t be happier with the results!
