Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Leather

Make a decorating statement with leather furnishings.

This bold design move shows you have skin in the game.

Consider a touch of leather in your next decorating project. It will be a moo-ving experience that’s sure to enhance your home environment! And most leather design elements are practical too!

Leather adds great texture, softness and color; however, beware that it can be a heavy look, especially in its most typical design colors – dark brown and black. That’s why it’s best to soften a big leather piece of furniture with other elements such as creamy paint colors, cushy throws and pillows, silky rugs and soft fabric furniture and window fashions.

Another way to lessen the heaviness of leather design elements is to select a lighter color of leather, such as beige, white, gray or sage green. Or you can add a tidbit of brightness with green, red or yellow leather!

Complementary materials and textures can also lighten up a heavy leather look. Think:

• Glass or Lucite tables

• Metal chairs and lamps

• Light filtering, soft-looking window fashions

• Bamboo flooring

• Natural grass wallcoverings

Leather is a versatile choice that adds beauty to most any decorating style from a traditional dining room to a classic living room to an ultra-contemporary great room. Think about leather for these design elements:

• Leather sofas and easy chairs, and even recliners!

• Leather dining chairs

• Leather headboard

• Leather-fronted sideboard in the dining room or dresser in the bedroom

• Leather-covered walls in a powder room or home office

Add leather to your next design project and you'll be ahead of the herd!

Home Improvement

Here at Read Design we are more than just window treatments. We are a full service interior design company and our services include home improvement projects as well as remodeling jobs. We do it all from simple painting to new kitchens. Not many folks know about all the services we provide, so we're sharing a recent project we did. It wasn't a big job, but it is always fun to help make our clients homes feel a little bit better than before. 

Recently a client stopped by our Southlake store and inquired about a shade to cover a skylight in their home. They asked if we would be able to come out and see their room because they told us “it needed work”. We are always ready to take on a challenge so Jeff stopped by their home and realized that they had put in a skylight but had not finished it out. No problem! We could finish it and make it look great! 

He suggested that they use the Sky Lift Duette Architella by Hunter Douglas. We would also add PowerView Motorization for ease of operation and convenience. With PowerView, they can purchase the hub and control the shade using the PowerView App! With this app they can set schedules and scenes so the shades move along with the schedule of the homeowner. The Duette Architella is one of Hunter Douglas most energy efficient products and comes in a number of beautiful colors and textures. It is a Honeycomb shade with a cell within a cell creating 3 pockets of air for maximum temperature control. He showed the client the product and they loved it all the features and benefits of it.

The project needed a little more work. Jeff and his crew added a simple molding around the skylight that blended in to the ceiling and, well, the finished project speaks for itself. It looks so nice and clean like it was meant to be there from the start. The Duette Architella Shade looks great inside of it as well! We are so happy with the final result. 

If you are needing help with window treatments, a simple home improvement project, or a total remodeling project, give us a call. Our designers can show you all of the new style and latest trends for homes today! 

Plano - 972.608.4999

Southlake - 817.416.7164

We serivce all areas around the Dallas and Fort Worth Metroplex

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Complementary Colors

Complementary colors beautifully finish almost any design plan

Use them for harmony and a sense of calm.

The old adage that opposites attract is often true; and especially in selecting the colors for decorating your home. Using opposite colors (also known as complementary colors) adds energy to a room, yet at the same time, makes us feel comfortable and complete.

Complementary colors are the shades that are opposite on a color wheel:

• Red and green

• Orange and blue

• Purple and yellow

Nature is full of complementary colors, such as dramatic red roses on stems with bright green leaves, delicate pansies with their purple and yellow color combination, and bright blue sky and sea positioned near golden sand.

For a more modern take on complementary colors, you can use shades that are not exactly across the color wheel, or you can be a bit creative with the complementary color concept. Think about innovative hues like:

• Sky blue and terra cotta

• Pink grapefruit and acid green

• Burnt orange and sage green

• Soft aqua blue and tomato red

If you feel cautious about adding complementary colors, start small with elements like a painted wall, sofa pillows, throws, flower arrangements or slip covers. Then, as you become more confident, you can ratchet up your color scheme with larger and more permanent items like upholstery fabrics and window fashions.

Balance your interior design plans beautifully by selecting complementary colors.

Stay Warm With Energy Efficient Window Coverings

Stay Warm with Energy Effiecient Window Coverings

It is winter and the cold months are here to stay for a while. During these chilly months being bundled up next to a warm fire while you read a book or watch TV is the best feeling ever. But the worst feeling is trying to keep your energy bill down when on an average we spend 59% more on energy bills. But don't worry - Read Design has a solution for you with energy efficient window treatments from Hunter Douglas.

Cellular Shades and Roman Shades

Cellular Shades and Roman Shades are the top energy-saving window coverings. They both are very trendy and have plenty of factors that help you save money on your energy bills.

Cellular Shades, also referred to as Duette Honeycomb Shades by Hunter Douglas, are the most energy efficient window coverings. They are designed to have dead-air spaces which increase their insulation by trapping the warm air inside which helps to keep you warm all winter long. With the introduction of Hunter Douglas Architella Duettes, this got even better. The Architella Duette is a honeycomb within a honeycomb which gives 3 air pockets and keeps even more of the warmth inside. Duette Honeycomb Shades are very versatile window coverings with a variety of fabric and colors to choose from. They offer various degrees of light filtering options including sheer, light filtering and room darkening. This also helps with privacy and insulation. Duette Honeycomb can also be made in specialty shapes including arches and skylights. There are a number of lift options including Ultraglide, LiteRise, or can be motorized with Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization making them easy to open and close as well as child safe.

Roman Shades are similar to cellular shades and are one of the most popular window coverings today. They are both functional and beautiful And they offer great energy efficiency. Hunter Douglas has the Vignette Modern Roman Shade and the Solera Soft Shades to choose from. The both come in a variety of colors and textures that add beauty to your home Roman Shades can also trap in the warmth which can save you money on your electric bill. Also, like the Duette Honeycomb Shades, Roman Shades come in various degrees of light filtering options for privacy and light control. They also have a number of lift options to choose from.

Here is one of our recent installation in Prosper, Texas. We used Tierred Vignette Modern Roman Shades by Hunter Douglas. The fabric we choose was Drake. The color of the fabric blended all the colors in this new home together. They have a total of 10 windows in the Family Room so we chose to use PowerView Motorization which will make it easy to open all of the shades at once and with this system the customer can set the shades to raise to their favorite spot. We all were very pleased with the look the Vignette Modern Roman Shades created.

Right Now Hunter Douglas is offering Rebates on these Energy Efficient Window Shades- Duette Honey Comb Shades, Vignette Modern Roman Shades and Sonnette Shades. For every Vignette shade you purchase, you will get $50 back (with a minimum of 2 shades). For every Duette and Sonnette Shades, you will get $25 back (with a minimum purchase of 4 shades).

Custom Drapery

At Read Design Plano and Read Design Southlake, our Designers can also help you with Custom Window Treatments including Draperies, Valances, Cornice Boards and much more. And now we are receiving New Fabrics from all of the manufactures which makes now an exciting time to start thinking about updating your home. Many drapery treatments are designed for insulation which also helps with the energy efficiency of your home during the window but also during those hot summer months in the North Texas area.

Where to find Energy Efficient Shades in the Dallas / Fort Worth Area

Read Design has bed a leader in Hunter Douglas and Custom Window Treatments in the Dallas / Fort Worth area and have 2 convenient locations- one in Plano and one in Southlake. At Read Design you can see our many displays and our designer can help you find a solution just for your windows. And we can help you solve all of your interior design needs. Stop in or give us a call.

Plano. 972-608-4999
Southlake. 817-416-7164

We service all of these areas and more
Irving, Dallas, Grapevine, Plano, Highland Park, Preston Hollow, Carrollton, Allen, McKinney, Richardson, Rockwell, Garland, Prosper, Celina, Southlake, Keller, Trophy Club, Colleyville, Arlington, Westlake, Northlake, Robson Ranch, Flower Mound, Little Elm, Lewisville, The Colony, North Richland Hills, Mabank, and all areas in between.

We will be having a Window Dressing Event starting in February and will have a number of events running throughout the Spring. Watch for our Blogs and info on Facebook.

RD Home

We have exciting news at Read Design, the expansion of Read Design Home (RD Home Collection). New Products are coming in everyday and we are busy in our remodeling mode. Our shop is taking on a new and fun look. Stop in and see us soon!

At Read Design Plano, we are a full service Interior Design studio. It all starts with your window coverings. We have a Hunter Douglas Gallery and can show you Blinds and Shades - including Silhouettes, Pirouettes, and many other styles of Shades. And do not forget Plantation Shutters. An attractive window and the right light can change everything - from your room to your mood. Hunter Douglas has mastered the art of window dressing by engineering innovative functions into stylish, versatile looks for every window in your home. Hunter Douglas is the leader in light control, energy efficiency, operation systems and motorization, which makes your home smarter, your days easier, and every room more beautiful. When you stop in make sure you ask for a free copy of our Art of Window Dressing book.

Now that the windows are taken care you can move on to softening your windows with drapery panels, cornice or valances. With so many fabrics to choose from we are sure that we can find the perfect solution for your home.

​We recently helped a customer in Dallas who needed window treatments and more. First we started with Roller shades from Hunter Douglas. The shades are there for sun control and privacy and when they are up, they completely disappear into the headrail. We also added the PowerView motorization options which give give our customer ease of operation. Next we added drapery panels in a navy pattern that coordinates with the new color scheme of her home. They soften the windows and draw out the view to the back yard.

For the master bedroom our customer wanted to keep her king size bed. It works nicely in this large room with tall ceilings. First from RD Home Collection we used a 9’ x 13’ Rug in a contemporary design that brings together the soft grey, silver, and blue colors. We added a blue velvet throw at the end of the bed, blue linen euro shams and 3 custom pillows. All of the fabrics are from Kravet. To finish the look we hung 2 large art pieces behind the nightstands. What you don’t see are the 4 1/2” louver Shutters from Hunter Douglas and 4 drapery panels. The room looks very inviting and comfortable. 

In her sitting room we selected another piece from RD Home. This is a versatile piece that can be used in a Living Room, Dining Room, or just about anywhere. We also used a large rug to set the tone for the color pattern. We will soon be continuing furnishing this room with chairs and a cocktail table.

Below are some of the new pieces you will find at Read Design Plano and RD Home. We will continue get new pieces weekly. Or if you would like to have one of our Interior Designers help you with floor planning and design, just let us know. We can put together a Interior Design Plan just for you. Because we have a ton of furniture in our showroom, we are able to get you a new piece for your upcoming holiday party! We deliver! Give us a call at your earliest convenience to set up your consultation today!

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.

Custom Drapery

Designing draperies or any window treatment starts with a plan. A designer will ask you a series of questions:

1. What is the character of the room - traditional, contemporary or transitional?
2. What colors are you interest in using?
3. What directions do the windows face?

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For this living room in a North Dallas home we started pulling fabrics together with a color scheme of navy and cream and threw in a bright orange accent color. We combined traditional and contemporary fabrics for a popular transitional design. We abolutely love texture, so we added a "faux" vinyl which we plan on using on an upholstered cocktail table.

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We used a Silhouette Shade from Hunter Douglas in the Neuveau Candied Coconut fabric on the windows that are on the front of the home. For the drapery panels, we used a navy and cream geometric linen fabric and used a chrome drapery rod with an acrylic finial. The panels framed and softened the window and added a punch of color.

Stop by our shop in Plano to see how our draperies are made, the linings we use and samples of our rods and finials. We will show you why we use the lining we do and educate you on the look of a quality product.

Remember we serve all of the following cities: Plano, Frisco, Allen, McKinney, Parker, Prosper, Celina, Gunter, Sachse, Wylie, St. Paul, Little Elm, The Colony, Lewisville, Aubrey, Melissa, Van Alstyne, Anna, Lucas, Fairview, Rockwall, Rowlett, Garland, Richardson, Heath, Carrollton, University Park, Highland Park, Dallas, North Dallas, Farmers Branch, Coppell, Irving, Grand Prairie, Arlington, Euless, Grapevine, Southlake, Westlake, Trophy Club, Flower Mound, Keller, Roanoke, Argyle, Highland Village, Corinth, Denton, Fort Worth, Kennedale, Benbrook, Cedar Hill, Duncanville, Desoto, Lancaster, Red Oak, Balch Springs, Mesquite, Forney, Crandall, Kaufman, Mabank, Gun Barrel City, Kemp, Seven Points, Cedar Creek Lake, Enchanted Oaks, Payne Springs and many more! We have even traveled as far north as Oklahoma and as far South as Waco!