It's Spring, Let The Outdoors In! Design Ideas For French Doors

Welcome Spring! Now more than any other time of the year, we open up our homes and let the fresh air in. And nowadays we are adding to and enjoying the outdoor living space more than ever. So there is a real need for functional solutions for covering the patio doors. Whether you have a Sliding Glass Door or French doors, here at Read Design Plano and Read Design Southlake, we have plenty of ideas and solutions to help you. After we have solved your indoor needs we can also move outdoors and help you cover your patio with Corradi Outdoor Screen Shades.

What to think about when covering your French and Sliding Patio Doors

You need to think about whether you do get direct sun through these areas or not and also about the glare, energy loss, and destructive UV rays. But you also might have a beautiful view to keep in mind. Consider Sheer Shadings from Hunter Douglas. These include Silhouettes, Pirouettes, and Luminettes. These shade will offer you the view while maintaining all the solutions for light and energy control .

Sliding Glass doors are gaining popularity in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and today there are many more options than just the old fashioned Vertical Blinds. One of our favorite Vertical solutions is the Luminette Privacy Sheer. The rotating vanes offer you a large range of privacy and light control and the soft fabrics bring beautiful elements of design to your home. A characteristic of all Hunter Douglas Soft Shades is the ability to enjoy your view while shielding your home from glare and harmful UV rays.

Other Shading Ideas

There are many other ideas from Hunter Douglas for these areas. These include the gorgeous Provenance Woven Wood Shades. We recently added Provenance Woven Shades to this home is Coppell where the client did not need much privacy or sun-control because the doors were protected by the balcony above. We used a shade with a rich texture and white color to blend with the doors and it was the perfect solution. It allowed the client to see her kids play in the yard while providing some privacy. The low profile head rail and the hold down brackets make this shade an ideal candidate for your patio door window coverings.

Vignette Modern Roman Shades and Design Studio Roman Shades are also great solutions for covering French Doors.  With many fabrics to choose from and with a range of colors and textures, we are certain to help you find the perfect fabric for your style. When pulled up, the soft folds of these shades make a beautiful valance. In this homein Frisco, TX we used a textured Grassland fabric in the Vignette Modern Roman Shades product line. When in the down position, the fabric folds beautifully and maintains that look when pulled up. We added Drapery panels to frame the doors and make a picture to back yard.

Don’t forget about Plantation Shutters - these classic window coverings never go out of style. Especially when using a larger louver size, you can really get a great view. When closed, or even when the louvers are slightly opened in the up position, Plantation shutters can really protect your furniture and floors from harmful UV rays.

Call Read Design Plano or Southlake

Give us a call at either location. Our Designers would love to show you these ideas, or many others. Stop by either Gallery to see over 70 working samples. You can see, operate and select the perfect lift system for your home including the new PowerView Motorization. Let us help you put a plan together that will solve the issues you have with these doors and any window in your home. We can also help you with Custom Draperies and Curtains and all kinds of Top Treatments. Now is the time to let the outdoors in and enjoy the weather with effective solution for your Patio Doors. Also ask us about our Corradi Outdoor Screen Shades for your outdoor Patio.

Read Design will help you with ideas for Patio Doors in these areas: Dallas, Highland Park, Park Cities, Plano, Prosper, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, Richardson, Wylie, Murphy, Parker, Rockwall, Carrollton, Lewisville, Grapevine, Southlake, Kellar, Trophy Club, Arlington, Flower Mound, Denton, Celina, Little Elm,. Bishop Arts District, North Richland Hills, Robson Ranch and everywhere in between.

Whole Home Automation With PowerView

Whole-Home Integration

Along with controlling your Hunter Douglas PowerView shades through the PowerView App and Pebble Control, PowerView also seamlessly integrates with other sophisticated whole-home automation systems. Synchronize your 'Scenes' to automatically activate in coordination with your other smart home devices to create picture-perfect settings throughout the day, every day.

Whether you are just getting started or are a home automation enthusiast with many connected devices already in play, you can create a personalized whole-home connected experience by integrating PowerView Motorization with compatible smart home systems. The PowerView Hub unifies your PowerView Scenes with that of the most popular systems. This is made possible through a variety of methods, including local connectivity within the home (IP and RS-232 serial) as well as outside of the home through the cloud. Each home automation control system has a unique path to integration. Specific steps must be followed in order to successfully launch and utilize the respective driver or plug-in that allows PowerView to communicate with each system. Links to drivers are outlined below. To ensure optimal set-up and performance of your system, we suggest you consult with a home automation professional.

Compatibility

Logitech®

Logitech Harmony Home is a leading popular whole home control platform. By combining entertainment, lighting, window treatments, locks, and more, you can easily create unique experiences like "Welcome Home" or "Good Night." Through the Harmony Home universal remote control or Harmony App, users can control home automation devices individually or in groups with dedicated home control buttons.

Click here to learn how to incorporate PowerView scene activation into the Harmony Home experience.

Control4®

Control4, a leading provider of professionally installed automation solutions, allows you to control virtually any device in a home or business, automatically. It's designed to deliver an elegant and more affordable way to control and automate lighting, music, video, window treatments, security and more in a single room or throughout the entire home.

Control4 integrators can use the link below to download the PowerView driver for the proprietary Composer software.

Download Driver

Savant®

Savant Systems manufactures a complete suite of professionally installed integrated solutions that has defined the modern age of home and commercial automation. Savant's Apple®-based platform cohesively addresses control, audio/video, telephony, digital display, energy management and the media integration needs of today's most advanced environments.

Savant integrators can find the PowerView driver for the Savant experience in the Blueprint software database.

URC®

Universal Remote Control (URC) is a pioneer in control technology, providing professionally installed state-of-the-art remote controls as well as complete control and automation systems to residential and commercial clients. Hunter Douglas PowerView is compatible with URC's Total Control System.

Professional integrators can use the link below to download the PowerView activation driver for the URC Accelerator software.

Download Driver

RTI

Remote Technologies Incorporated (RTI) is a leading control systems manufacturer offering innovative, user-friendly devices for professionally installed systems. The company's wide array of handheld and in-wall universal controllers, central processors, audio systems, and accessories are marketed exclusively through professional integrators.

RTI integrators can use the link below to download the PowerView driver for the Integration Designer software.

Download Driver

Client Work: Hunter Douglas Designer Roller Shades - Frisco, TX

I love using these Hunter Douglas Designer Roller Shades. This home in Frisco, Texas has a large back yard and we wanted a treatments that would really open up the view.  This Shade did the trick. We used The Urban Loft Organic Cotton fabric. This shade fabric added a little texture and gives a sort filtering light. We also used the PowerView lift system so that the look is very clean with no hanging cords. And we added the PowerView Hub so they can control the shades from their smart phone.  The customer added the app to her iPhone and she now has the ability to control the shades from where ever she is. Eventually we will be adding soft window treatments like draperies to finish the look. This is one of my favorites! We also used the Hunter Douglas Designer Roller Shades in her Master Bedroom. This is a very versatile fabric and is perfect for any room. These also have PowerView and can be controlled by the App on her iPhone.

Providing Services to all of these areas: Dallas, North Dallas, Plano, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Coppell, Southlake, Denton, Keller, Roanoke, Benbrook,  Westlake, Fort Worth, Lewisville, Grapevine, Trophy Club, The Colony, Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Savannah, Aubrey, McKinney, Allen, St. Paul, Wylie, Sachse, Rockwall, Rowlett, Lucas, Parker, Melissa, Anna, Fairview, Heath, Garland, Richardson, Irving, Las Colinas, University Park, Highland Park, Kessler Park, Euless, North Richland Hills, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Corinth, Arlington, Little Elm, Hurst, Saginaw, Haltom City, Bedford, Watauga, Haslet and many more!

Welcome To The World Of Exotic Natural Woven Woods

What inspires you?  Innovation, Light, Texture, Color, or all of the above?

Beauty

Natural warmth and beauty. Crafted from natural woods, reeds, bamboo and grassed, Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Wood Shades are attractive when lowered or when raised as they form even, overlapping folds. Decorative edge banding and style options for valances let you create tasteful, custom window fashions with ease.

Texture and Color

Grasses, Wood, Bamboo. Hunter Douglas has many different styles to choose from. Natural products have inherent qualities that add to the beauty of the shade. Hunter Douglas construction and specialized weaving techniques keep these shades beautiful and durable for years to come. Depending on your style, we can find a woven fabric that will work for your unique situation along with the perfect color that will showcase your room and compliment you design.

Light

Turn the sheerest sheer fabric into a Room Darkening Shade with Hunter Douglas' Independent Operable Liner. This liner provides optimal light control and privacy when and how you need it. 

Innovative Operating Systems

The hallmark of every Hunter Douglas Provenance Shade is the ingenuity that enhances both the performance and the look of your shades. Head rails are the unseen heroes of your woven wood shades. Select the head rail style that provides the lifting system and options that work best for your lifestyle. You can choose the LiteRise (cordless), UltraGlide (retractable cord), EasyRise (cordloop) or the new PowerView Motorization Lift System.

Woven Wood Shades are great for any Room in Your Home.

We recently helped a customer in Prosper, Texas who wanted a new look in a new home they had just purchased. We suggested a beautiful Provenance Woven Shade because the subtle design element didn't take away from the other focal points in the room. When raised, the soft folds made a beautiful valance that framed the window and pulled the outdoors in. When lowered, not only did they provide privacy, but also added warmth and charm to the room.

Jeff at Read Design Southlake helped a customer that needed to cover her French Doors. Provenance Woven Woods were the perfect solution. They chose a neutral white fabric with a texture that coordinated wonderfully. Privacy and direct sunlight were not an issue due to the covered patio, so we didn't use a liner. This way the natural fibers create a unique design with a beauty that will last a lifetime.

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Taupe

Think taupe for a more sophisticated shade of neutral. Taupe is an unusual color that's hard to describe.

The color taupe is a soft, sensuous shade, but what exactly is it? It’s almost easier to say what it’s not.

It’s not cream. It’s not beige. It’s not white, and it’s not gray. It’s a neutral with tints somewhere between brown and gray, and it’s usually a little bit darker than other neutrals. Some people compare it to the color of a delicious mushroom bisque. And like different batches of mushroom soup, taupe can come in darker and lighter hues.

Taupe is a chic, sophisticated neutral that goes with almost any style of interior design.
Most all shades of taupe go well with:

• Greens, such as khaki and olive
• Black
• Other neutrals, such as white and cream
• Chocolate brown
• Gold

Some taupes have a pink or lavender undertone, and these shades go well with dark pinks and violets, such as burgundy and raspberry. Other versions of taupe have a cooler tone; and these go well with dark blues, aquas and teals. It’s smart to compare your taupe design elements with proposed purchases before you buy to make sure the colors complement each other.

Think taupe for wall paint or an accent wall, window coverings, upholstery fabric, flooring, bed linens and more.

Consider the neutral taupe for a terrific addition to your interior look.

Providing Services to all of these areas: Dallas, North Dallas, Plano, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Coppell, Southlake, Denton, Keller, Roanoke, Benbrook,  Westlake, Fort Worth, Lewisville, Grapevine, Trophy Club, The Colony, Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Savannah, Aubrey, McKinney, Allen, St. Paul, Wylie, Sachse, Rockwall, Rowlett, Lucas, Parker, Melissa, Anna, Fairview, Heath, Garland, Richardson, Irving, Las Colinas, University Park, Highland Park, Kessler Park, Euless, North Richland Hills, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Corinth, Arlington, Little Elm, Hurst, Saginaw, Haltom City, Bedford, Watauga, Haslet and many more!

Intelligent Home Design

Style Gets Smarter.

Imagine a world where window treatments anticipate your needs and adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night. That’s the beauty of PowerView™ Motorization. With the introduction of this smart operating system, Hunter Douglas is leading the revolution in intelligent home design with smart window treatments that can adapt to every moment of your day, and make each more beautiful. 

PowerView is a new wireless system that lets you control the window treatments throughout your home from you smart phone, tablet, Pebble Remote or Scene Controller. Better yet, use the PowerView App to schedule personalized Scenes to operate automatically in response to your unique light, privacy and comfort needs as they change throughout the day. Just program PowerView to move your window treatments to the exact position you want and then control and schedule them using the intuitive PowerView App. Coordinate your personalized scenes with the ever-changing local sunrise or sunset times - precisely calculated by PowerView based on its knowledge of your specific location. Connect remotely from outside of your home with the RemoteConnect™ feature. Along with an internet connection, this feature allows you to operate your shades from anywhere in the world, using your smartphone or tablet.

Whole-Home Integration

Along with controlling your Hunter Douglas PowerView shades through the PowerView App and Pebble Control, PowerView also seamlessly integrates with other sophisticated whole-home automation systems. Synchronize your 'Scenes' to automatically activate in coordination with your other smart home devices to create picture-perfect settings throughout the day, every day.

When you combine the advanced technology of PowerView with our unrivaled selection of sophisticated styles, fabrics and color, you'll find the most beautiful window treatments are now also the most intelligent. Your window treatments will become such an essential part of the way you live, you'll wonder how you ever lived without them.

Stop by Read Design in Plano or in Southlake to Simplify Your Life and Set Your Scene.

Plano - 972.608.4999

Southlake - 817.416.7164

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Geometric Shapes

Geometric shapes can add movement and energy to your rooms. Think outside the box for a refreshing change of decor.

When most of us purchase home elements, we tend to focus on square and rectangular shapes and surfaces. Yet consider some of the most ancient decorating styles used by the Greeks, Romans and other cultures; they include lots more than just squares and rectangles! Try thinking out of the box for more interest and excitement in your decorating style.

Triangles, hexagons, trapezoids, parallelograms. Who even remembers what some of these shapes are? Maybe now’s the time for a refresher course in high school geometry to spice up your home décor. And don’t forget to add diamonds, chevrons, zig zags and stars to the equation.

Add geometric shapes and patterns to your décor with these home elements:

• Table tops and table bases
• Tile and wood flooring
• Rugs and carpeting
• Wallcoverings and draperies
• Upholstery fabric
• Bed and table linens
• Throw pillows
• Dishware
• Mirrors
• Inlays on wood furniture
• Light fixtures
• Painted wall stencils
• And even the architectural elements of your home, such as door panels, window panes and brickwork patterns.

Beware of too much geometry; a little goes a long way at perking up a room. Too much can become chaotic. Geometric patterns can look modern, retro or thoroughly traditional, depending on their style, color and design. And they can range from the superwix subtle to ultra bold in look.

Add geometric shapes to your interior design plan. It’s an angle that works!

Providing Services to all of these areas: Dallas, North Dallas, Plano, Carrollton, Farmers Branch, Addison, Coppell, Southlake, Denton, Keller, Roanoke, Benbrook,  Westlake, Fort Worth, Lewisville, Grapevine, Trophy Club, The Colony, Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Savannah, Aubrey, McKinney, Allen, St. Paul, Wylie, Sachse, Rockwall, Rowlett, Lucas, Parker, Melissa, Anna, Fairview, Heath, Garland, Richardson, Irving, Las Colinas, University Park, Highland Park, Kessler Park, Euless, North Richland Hills, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Corinth, Arlington, Little Elm, Hurst, Saginaw, Haltom City, Bedford, Watauga, Haslet and many more!

Color, Pattern, Texture & Weave

With Hunter Douglas, beauty is more than skin deep, but first impressions always matter. That is why innovative textile sourcing is a crucial part of our design process and it's why we've established relationships with some of the worlds best mills. We work with textile houses to develop and design exclusive materials that are as special as our technological innovations. That means fabrics that subtly reflect and control light in intriguing ways. Richer, more fashionable colors, luxurious weaves and unusual textures, even special characteristics like Hunter Douglas' MicroShield Antimicrobial fabric protection. In all, Hunter Douglas has created a collection of more than 300 timeless fabrics, woven with the finest blends of cottons, linens, silks and synthetics to add beauty, style and enhanced livability to every room in your home.

View fullsize

You can see all the colors and textures in many Hunter Douglas products including Design Studio Roman Shades and Vignette Modern Roman Shades. Customized through pattern and texture, these shades are expertly crafted to order and offer elegant window coverings in more than 300 exquisite fabrics. From sophisticated designs, textures and stripes to solids in blends of cotton, linen, silk and synthetics.

Vignette Modern Roman Shades

VIgnette Modern Roman Shades are clean and sophisticated, beautiful and functional. Because they come from the world's leading maufacturer of window fashions, you know your Modern Roman Shades are built with attention to every last detail - and that's just the start of the many reasons to choose Vignette Modern Roman Shades.

What makes a Modern Roman Shade? They are VERSATILE - choose from three styles that roll, stack or traverse. There's a style for every window in the house. They are SAFE - with no exposed cords on the front or back of the shade, these window fashions enhance child and pet safety in your home. They are DURABLE - finely crafted woven fabrics are easy to clean. Choose from many fabric collections and over 100 different fabric options all requiring low maintenance. They are BEAUTIFUL - you choose a style, 4" full folds or 6" flat folds. Either way, we've made sure they retain a consistent appearance with every use. They are INNOVATIVE - discover an extensive selection of proprietary operation systems available only with Hunter Douglas. They are QUICK - it is easy to order and the delivery is fast. They are HANDCRAFTED QUALITY - every shade is backed by the Hunter Douglas Limited Litetime Guarantee.

Design Studio and Vignette Modern Roman Shade Installations

Here are a few of our many shade installations in Dallas, Southlake and surrounding areas.

Let Read Design help you with your next Roman Shade project!

Now is the time to stop by Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake and see all of the new Hunter Douglas products. We have brand new Vignette Modern Roman Shade fabrics! We have over 60 working samples of Hunter Douglas products including the Exclusive Alustra Collection. We can show you all of the features and benefits of the products and lift systems including the new PowerView Motorization. We are also getting new fabrics every day for your next drapery or curtain project. Or just give us a call!

Plano : 972.608.4999

Southlake : 817.416.7164