See Superior Results with Custom Window Hardware vs. Off the Shelf Many people don't realize the complexities of window hardware and how difficult it can be to install. The ease with which one can purchase curtain rods at department stores pales compared to the time and patience it takes to match decor and create the right look and feel for any room. Let's take a look at your custom window hardware options.  Window Drapery Hardware Basics You essentially have five components to drapery hardware.

• Rod
• Rings
• Brackets
• Finials
• Wands

You could chose a straight or French rod, which curves back into the wall. If you use the french rod, you won't need finials, the decorative end pieces that complete the look and feel of your decor. If you want to avoid grommet or rod-pocket drapery design, you should hang your draperies from rings. And regardless of the type of rod, you'll need brackets. When you open and close draperies with a wand, you avoid tugging on the fabric. Over time pulling on the fabric risks damaging your draperies. And this is just the beginning.   Difficult Window Types and Shapes   Windows come in all sizes and shapes, and they don't always lend themselves to easy window dressing design! These exceptional cases often require custom window treatment hardware. Here's a list of some of the more difficult challenges you could face and a professional tip to help you out.

• Wall of windows (leaving no wall space for rod brackets)
  • Tip:  Try a motorized ceiling track
• Bay Windows
  • Tip: Try a curved or angled rod joined at the corners with hinges. This involves custom-cut hardware.
• Tall, imposing windows
  • Tip: Most height issues are from windows on 2 story walls. Hiring a professional installer is highly recommended for this .
• Slanted Windows
  • Tip: Choose medallion window shades.
• Shuttered Windows
  • Tip: Try a pair of swing-arm rods.
• Recessed Windows
  • Tip: Mount draperies just inside the nook, creating a pleasing sanctuary or haven.
• Curved Windows
  • Tip: Try a custom curved rod.
• Arched Windows
  • Tip: Shutters or honeycomb shades are an excellent option, but so is leaving it bare, with a light cafe curtain across the lower panes of the glass.
• Arched French doors
  • Tip: Try curved rods

Although curved rods solve many difficult window treatment situations, they need to be measured and made to order from a custom hardware company. These companies don't typically sell to the public, so you need to contact a Window Treatment company or Interior Designer.   Are you facing a challenging window design?                      Call Window Works Studio for custom window hardware solutions!   Hanging Your Draperies Before you begin installing your draperies, you'll want to gather the right tools and resources to make it as easy as possible. Here are some items you should have handy.

• Drill
• Metal tape measure
• Level
• Pencil
• Step Ladder
• Wall Anchors

Read the installation instructions that came with your drapes or drapery rods, and check to see if you need additional resources before you get started. 4 Steps to Hanging Your Draperies Hanging draperies can be intimidating for uninitiated. So, let's take this step by step. Step 1: Choose the Height How high do you want your draperies? If you hang your rod directly above the window frame, you may end up with short, squat-looking windows. Step 2: Install the Rod Measure the space along the wall you intend to install the rod and mark off the bracket locations with a pencil. Use your level to check that your markings are even. Then use a drill to install the brackets and hang the rod on the brackets. Caution! If you're installing your drapery rods into drywall, be sure you're mounting the brackets into the wall frame (studs). If you can't find studs, use wall anchors. If you skip this step, you run the risk of loose brackets. Depending on the weight of your draperies, they could tear out of the wall. Step 3: Hang Your Drapery    You can hang some draperies directly onto the rod, but not all. So, let's outline different drapery types with step-by-step installation directions. How to Install Rod Pocket Drapery Rod pocket draperies are designed with a sleeve at the top of the drapery. Insert the drapery pole through the sleeve of each drapery panel before you place the rod on the brackets. How to Install Pleated Drapery The most common way to hang pleated draperies with pins and rings. Insert the drapery pins into the back of each pleat and insert into the curtain eyelets. Then hang the drapery on the rod. How to Install Grommet Drapery With grommet drapes, the rings are built into the fabric panels and reinforced with metal grommets. To maximize coverage, insert the rod into the first grommet with the excess fabric pointing inward toward the wall. Continue inserting the rod through the remaining grommets in an S-like weave. Window Works Studio's Tip for a Finished Look Once you've hung your drapes, train them! This involves steaming them to remove the wrinkles and make the drapes moldable. After steaming, shape the fabric with hands to help it form waves in and out according to the waves the pleats create. However, a word of caution: choose your heat settings carefully, so you don't damage the material. Outfitting your windows with custom window hardware and draperies may be a time-consuming, daunting task, but you'll love the results!    

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        A Quick Guide to Motorized Window Treatments and Their Benefits We live in a time of unparalleled engineering and technology. Many of the tools we use in our daily lives are conveniences we wouldn't have dreamed of a decade or two ago. Or, if they existed, we considered them novelties. Not so long, motorized window treatments may have seemed like this. Now, they're a popular seller. You may be wondering, though: Are motorized window treatments worth it? Keep reading to find out just how useful this type of window covering can be!    What Are Motorized Window Treatments? Motorized blinds for windows are probably just what you're imagining. They're window coverings with a motorized design. They can tilt open or closed, lift up or down, or slide back and forth with only the touch of a button. Many motorized blinds and shades are operated with a remote control, but some work through simple touch. For example, motorized blinds by Hunter Douglas feature a Soft Touch model that are moveable with a gentle push or pull of the wand. Many motorized blinds are battery operated, but some are hardwired for an electrical connection. There are even a number of options for solar-powered motorized blinds. Motorized Roman shades are another option. We custom design and fabricate Roman shades at our shop here in Jamestown, offering you the fabrics, prints, patterns, and colors you want for your home. Plus, we can then motorize and install the shades for you. If you prefer the look of drapery, but still want a motorized product, we can use custom drapery rods that open and close with the touch of a button. These custom rods can plug directly into your electrical outlet or work with a rechargeable battery.    Top 3 Benefits of Motorized Blinds and Shades While they may seem like a luxury, motorized blinds offer a number of benefits for any homeowner:   

• They're child and pet safe. 

Window blind cords are notorious safety hazards for younger and furrier family members. Motorized blinds eliminate this concern.

• They make it easy to operate blinds in difficult-to-reach locations.

If your windows are up high , it can be impossible to operate them without the aid of a ladder or other precarious options. Motorized blinds for windows allow you to adjust the window coverings to your liking, any time, from the comfort of your chair. Motorized blinds for skylights are also and option. Many people leave skylights uncovered because it would be difficult or impossible to reach them. But motorized blinds make the convenience of blinds possible even in this area of your home.

• They allow you to customize the lighting in your home- without the hassle. 

If you want to darken a room for Tv viewing, a sleeping baby, or any other reason, you can immediately close motorized blinds with the touch of a button... then open them again as soon as you're ready. Or, you can connect the motorized system to your router and control your window treatments with your smart phone, as well as, pre-set times of day for the shades to open and close on their own. If lights-out periods are a common need in your home, you may want to check out motorized blackout blinds. Hunter Douglas' Lightlock blinds are a great option. And don't forget one of the largest areas of natural light in your home: your patio doors. Motorized blinds for sliding glass doors will open and shut from side to side.   Are Motorized Blinds Worth It For Your Home?  With the genuine benefits motorized blinds can bring to your home and lifestyle, choosing them may seem like a no-brainer. But with the variety of options available, the next question is centered on which style-or styles-to choose. A Window Works Studio, we can make that choice easy for you. We're window experts who are familiar with all of the available options, including motorized blinds installation. As a Hunter Douglas-authorized dealer, we can walk you through the different models they have and help you select the best one for you. Or, if you prefer a more customized look, we can create motorized Roman Shades or drapery for you in our shop. Give us a call today to get started!   Ready to bring safety and convenience to your window coverings? Motorized blinds and shades are the answer! Choose from a wide range of motorized blinds-and we can custom design your motorized Roman Shades and Drapery! Call us at 336-854-6085 to learn more.       

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