The Summer PowerView Motorization Event!

From Saturday Jun 30, 2018 to September 10, 2018, Read Design Plano and Read Design Southlake will host a number of Motorization Events including 2 Thursday "Wine and Design" focusing on PowerView Motorization by Hunter Douglas. There will also be Exclusive Promotions, coupon giveaways, and a drawing at each Store for the New PowerView Hub. Stop by and you will also receive the new Art of Window Dressing Book.

So lets get in to it.........PowerView Motorization. Part 1

Smart Home, Smart Living

With PowerView Motorization from Hunter Douglas, the worlds most beautiful window treatments are now the most intelligent.

This innovative wireless system lets you move any powered Hunter Douglas window treatment according to the schedules you set. Perfect lighting, energy efficiency, everyday convenience- its all delivered automatically with PowerView.

Technology. At your Service.

PRECISE OPERATION
Whether you want to move the shades up or down, or tilt or traverse them, PowerView Motorization gives you precise and convenient control of your beautiful Hunter Douglas window treatments.

AUTOMATED LIVING
With the PowerView App, you can quickly create customized Scenes that control all the shades in your home, operating together or in any combination your desire. Then, just schedule those Scenes to automatically move your shades to your preferred positions.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY
Use PowerView Motorization to move your shades according to the sun 's daily patterns. Having your shades in the right positions can reduce solar heat, gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter, and could help you lower your energy bills.

SECURE
Adjust your shades for added security while you're away via the RemoteConnect texture on your smartphone or tablet.

CHILD FRIENDLY
Simple cord-free operation is aesthetically pleasing and safer for homes with children and pets.

STYLISH
With the widest array of innovative styles, colors, and fabrics in the industry, Hunter Douglas window treatments embody beautiful form and function.

BATTERY POWERED
Most PowerView window treatments are battery powered, so they're easy to install, operate, and maintain. The battery pack is hidden behind the Read rail, so there is nothing to mar the beauty of your window treatments.

This is the Beginning of PowerView. In a few days you will meet the PowerView Family.
But now if you are buying a new home or if you are making improvements to your current home, stop by either Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake and let our qualified designers show you all of the Window Shadings that can be powered. They can show you fabrics that will work with your life style and give you ideas on how to set your scenes. They can show you the latest trends and current styles. We are a Family business and are excited about all that is new with Hunter Douglas PowerView Motorization.

We service all of these areas. Plano, Dallas, Colleyville, Flower Mound, Allen, Celina, Prosper, Southlake, Grapevine, Keller, Richardson, Carrollton, Frisco, Little Elm, Lewisville, McKinney, Preston Hollow, Trophy Club, Fort Worth, Farmers Branch , Park Cities, Rockwell, Roanoke, Arlington and everywhere inbetween.

Windows With Bad Views

Here in the Dallas, Texas area new homes are popping up everywhere. It is truly amazing. However, sometimes it seems as though the home building are piling these large homes one of top of the other. It almost feels like you can reach your arm out and touch your neighbor! We recently helped a client in Plano who had exactly this problem. Her home is stunning, but the distance between her home and her neighbors was less than eight feet. The view from her three large dining room windows were a brick wall along with the neighbors air conditioner unit and meters. This was definitely an issue as no one wants to look at that mess while eating a lovely family dinner. What a sore sight!

Our solution for this bad view is simple. We did not want to cover this windows with blinds or shutters as this was the only light entering this room. We still wanted to keep it light and bright. So instead of putting something heavy, we decided to go with a sheer drapery. It is a dining room, after all, so the drapery is a perfect way to dress up the room and solve the visual issue with the view. The sheer fabric we chose has a delicate pattern for added interest and style. The fabric is from a beautiful line in the Kravet Collection. We used a zip rod from Design Elements so they can pull the draperies open if they want to. This window treatment lets light diffuse into the room while hiding the ugly view and dressing up the room. Style and function! What a beautiful combination. If draperies aren't your thing, there are other window treatment options to explore. 

If draperies aren't your thing, there are other window treatment options to explore. 

In a room with more light, you might consider plantation shutters in the 4.5 inch louver. You can tilt the louvers slight to let plenty of light in while still hiding the unwanted view. Keep in mind, shutters will always take away more light because it is a heavy and solid window treatment, so make sure you have plenty of windows and an airy, large room.

Another option would be to look into Pirouette or Silhouette Window Shadings from Hunter Douglas. These two unique products offer the versatility and control most people love. In fact these are my absolute favorite window treatments to use in homes and ten times out of ten, my clients are thrilled. Silhouette shades with the Signature S vane will transform light. Fabric vanes float between two sheers that create a beautiful and functional look. This innovative design will defuse light and soften the view outdoors. They allow for daytime privacy and offer 88% UV blockage in the tilted position. Pirouette shades with its striking design will dramatically filter light in a way you've never seen before. Unless, of course, you're familiar with the product! These shades will give you a softened view to the outdoors along with giving you the look of a traditional fabric shade. Both of these beautiful window coverings come in a variety of fabrics giving you many textures and colors to choose from. It is easy to find the right fabric for your space.

You might even consider the Duette Architella Honeycomb Shade with the Top Down/Bottom Up design feature. This allows you to lower your shade from the top for maximum privacy as well as blocking unsightly views while offering light control. Duette® Honeycomb Shades are the original cellular shades, specifically engineered to provide beauty and energy efficiency at the window in both cold and warm climates. Their honeycomb construction traps air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower your energy consumption and energy bills. Duette shades are available in an expansive range of pleat sizes, fabrics, colors, opacities and textures. Innovative operating system design options such as Top-Down/Bottom-Up and Duette Duolite® make these shades a top choice for any window, skylight or even specialty window shapes like arches, sidelights and circles.

The newest option to haze the ugly view would be to use Vignette Modern Roman Shades with the Duolite option. You can use a sheer fabric to distract, but not cut out light. For two opacities in a single shade, consider the revolutionary Duolite® option. Vignette Duolite combines a light-filtering or sheer front shade with a built-in room-darkening back panel both housed on a single roller to easily achieve the perfect level of light and privacy. My favorite fabric in this collection is called Layla and I can't wait to show you!

All of these beautiful shades come in a variety of lift systems including the PowerView Motorization from Hunter Douglas. Control your shades with the touch of a button or use the PowerView App! The PowerView App unlocks the full potential of PowerView Motorization. Using the App, you can control your shades with a swipe of a finger. Or, create customized Scenes that move the shades to positions you set, and automate those Scenes to operate on their own throughout the day.

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

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.

PowerView Savings Event Ends September 11!

OK. Less than a week left of the 2017 Hunter Douglas Motorization Rebate Event.

This past week we completed a beautiful Vignette Modern Roman Shade installation in Plano. All of the upstairs bedrooms face east and have a wonderful view of a golf course. Our client wanted soft window treatments and it was important that the shades operated both top down and bottom up. We selected a textured fabric called Sahara in the Oasis color for two of the bedrooms. For the middle bedroom, including the bath, we used Indian Silk in the Vin Blanc color. All of the Shades are motorized with Hunter Douglas PowerView and can be operated by the Pebble Remote or smartphone. 

We have attached pictures of the shades and videos of the motorization in process. We all were very pleased with the outcome and our client is looking forward to her motorization rebate from Hunter Douglas.

PowerView - As you wish. Choose your level of control.

Start with the Basics.

Use the PowerView Pebble Remote - or the wall-mounted Surface Remote - to quickly adjust any single, powered window treatment or groups of shades with just a push of a button.

Upgrade to a full smart-house solution.

Say Goodbye to lost remotes. Instead, conveniently control your window treatments from your tablet or smartphone. With the PowerView App, you can send shades to specific positions with just the swipe of a finger. Even better? Get the most from your smart shades by creating customized Scenes. Then use the scheduling feature so your shades move automatically to your preferred positions. PowerView does all the work for you - on the days and timeline that perfectly fit your lifestyle.

Connect with other smart-home systems.

The PowerView system is designed for compatibility with most home automation system technologies on the market today, as well as Apple iOS, Android tablets and mobile devices to expand the function of your wireless home. Please be sure to visit the PowerView Compatibility page at hunterdouglas.com for the latest information on compatible systems and devices.

Smart Connections beyond the Window.

Today's connected home is more advanced and easier to control than ever before with PowerView Motorization, your home's window treatments are part of this convenient technology, delivering the connected lifestyle you demand - right from the smart devices you use every day.

PowerView works seamlessly with the leading Connected Home providers including Nest, Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa. Call us to learn more about these amazing features!

WARRANTY

Unlike most electronic products which are typically covered for one year, Hunter Douglas motorized components are covered for five years from the date of purchase.

Online Support

For a host of resources, including the PowerView step-by-step Guide, FAQ's and more, visit. Hunterdouglas.com

Talk with Experts

Dial 1-844-PWRVIEW with questions. Phone support is available weekdays. 9:00 am to 8:00 pm. (ET)

The Summer PowerView Motorization Event - Part II

Now it is Time to Meet the PowerView Family only from Hunter Douglas

Pebble and Surface Remote

The stylish and colorful handheld Pebble Remote or the Wall-mounted Surface Remote puts direct adjustment at your fingertips. Operate individual or groups of shades with the push of a button. 

PowerView App

Customize your collection of Rooms and Scenes with the App, then use the scheduling feature to operate them whether your are home or away. It is designed for compatibility with Apple, iOS, and Android tablets and mobile devices. 

Pebble and Surface Scene Controller

When your tablet or smartphone isn't handy, the Scene Controller works seamlessly with the PowerView Hub and App to trigger the Scenes you have created, adding even more convenient control. 

PowerView Hub

Our elegantly designed Hub connects wirelessly to your home WiFi network. It is the central point of control for all your home's PowerView window treatments, storing your settings and activating your Scenes.

PowerView Repeater

The Repeater is a small signal enhancer that discreetly plugs into almost any outlet to extend signal range and carry commands throughout your home. It also provides customized lighting day and night via its illumination features. 

Those are the members of the PowerView Family only from Hunter Douglas. So as you wish, choose your level of control. 

Start With The Basics

Use the PowerView Pebble Remote or the small-mounted Surface Remote- to quickly adjust any single, powered window treatment or groups of shades with just a push of a button. 

Upgrade To A Full Smart-Home Solution 

Say goodbye to lost remotes. Instead, conveniently control your window treatments from you tablet or smartphone. With the PowerView App, you can send shades to specific positions with just the swipe of a finger.

Even better? Get the most from your smart shades by creating customized Scenes. Then, use the scheduling feature so your shades move automatically to your preferred positions. PowerView does all the work for you--on the days and timing that perfectly fit your lifestyle. 

Connect With Other Smart-Home Systems. 

The PowerView system is designed for compatibility with most home automation system technologies on the market today, as well as Apple, iOS, and Android tablets and mobile devices to expand the function of your wireless home.

Please be sure to visit the PowerView Compatibility page at hunterdouglas.com for the latest information on compatible systems and devices. 

Soon we will be talking about a Day with PowerView and also Motorized Drapery Treatments. But for now stop in and see all of the displays at Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake.If you are building a New Home or are in the process of redoing the home you live in,give us a call.Our designers can help you find the look that is exactly your style.They are familiar with all of the products, fabrics and colors.If you are interested in going a step further with Drapery Treatments, they can assist you there also.We have fabrics from all of the major companies and more.We would love to help you.Also ask for a copy of the new Art of Window Dressing Book. 

PowerView Motorization in Prosper and Colleyville.We also service Dallas, Plano, Southlake, Grapevine, McKinney, Allen, Keller, Fort Worth, Celina, Lantana, Robson Ranch, Carrollton, Highland Park, Richardson, Trophy Club, North Richland Hills, Lewisville, Flower Mound, and all areas inbetween.

Design Studio Roman Shades.... you have got to see the new fabrics!!!

Get creative with new custom soft Roman shades from The Hunter Douglas Design Studio Collecion. Choose from four distinctive styles, each designed and crafted with Hunter Douglas quality and innovation. Explore the New and Exclusive collection of artfully curated fabrics - sophisticated textures, patterns, stripes, rich solids and sheers. We have added many fabrics with updated colors and designs. Reflect your personal style by adding coordinating valances, tapes and trims, making your windows truly unique. Hunter Douglas Design Studio Roman Shades Redefined.

At Hunter Douglas, the difference is in the details. Design Studio fabrics are woven in widths that allow shades to be made up to 96" wide without being interrupted by seams. Every shade offers high quality construction. Our innovative cording system reduces access to the rear cords for enhanced child safety. Clear rings coordinate with all lining and sheers, stiff battens provide structure, bartender tunnels are sewn to keep battens from slipping out and all hems are double-turned for a custom finished look with bottom hems weighted for a smooth appearance.

 The Roman Shade Styles

Batten Front Roman Shades are characterized by battens or tunnels sewn at regular intervals on the front facing side of the shade. The clean, dimensional lines of this style work well in all environments. When a stripe or pattern fabric is selected, batten front is a great choice because the battens on the front won't interfere with the pattern.

Batten Back Roman Shades have inverted tunnels that create a soft, tailored look when lowered and defined folds when raised. This simple style requires the least amount of dressing when raising or lowering the shade... looking great in any position.

Flat Roman Shades have no horizontal seams or stitching across the face of the shade making them the best choice for showing off large-scaled patterns and striped fabrics. 

Hobbled is a classic style defined by soft fabric folds which cascade from top to bottom. Design Studio Hobbled Shades have a unique, triple-layered fabric construction with a double lining, providing unsurpassed energy efficiency.

Refine Your Style

Do you require privacy? Room darkening? Or would you like the light to gently filter into your room?The uniquely edited collection of Design Studio fabrics work for all your windows, whatever the need. You have a choice of lift system-Cord-lock, continuous Cord, Ultraglide lift system and PowerView only from Hunter Douglas.

We recently helped a customer in Plano. Her family room sliding Doors look out onto her pool patio and beyond to a wooded area. She wanted to be able to raise her shades to give her full view of the beautiful spot so we decided the best solution for this project was Design Studio Roman Shades by Hunter Douglas. For ease of operation we selected the PowerView Motorization. She used the Hub and set the shades so that they raise to a certain spot every morning and lower every evening. For an additional touch be added a custom cornice to cover all shades using a textured fabric. This was a solution both the customer and I love.

Let Read Design Southlake or Read Design Plano help you with you next custom window fashion project. Our Designers will be happy to come out to your home and give you ideas. If you are wanting just shades, shutters, blinds or are wanting to add Drapery Panels or Valances and Cornice boards, we will help you find the perfect solution.

We service these areas - Plano, Southlale, Dallas, Fort Worth and all areas in between!

Discover The New Shape Of Light

Introducing Sonnette

The joy of Great Design. At Hunter Douglas, we believe your window fashions should bring you the greatest possible enjoyment, adding beauty and style to your home. That is why we're passionately driven to design our products with a refined sense of style and industry-leading innovation. So when you choose the Hunter Douglas brand, you can be sure that high quality, beautiful window fashions decorate your home for many years to come. Everything is designed to be seen, touched, experienced and loved.  

An update on classic honeycomb shades, Sonnette Cellular Roller Shades gently diffuse light through an innovative curved shape; providing ambiance and character while dispersing light to all angles of the room. 

Experience the new shape of light. 

Purposefully engineered, our curved cellular construction provides and energy efficient layer to your home. Insulation in the winter and cooling in the summer. After decades of industry experience, we've taken the best features in window fashions to create a versatile easy to use, contemporary window treatment - perfect for any room in the modern home.  

Benefits

1. Innovative light diffusing shape
2. Energy efficient cellular construction
3. Modern cordless operation
4. Hunter Douglas trusted performance and quality

Light Control

Select between two opacities.

1. Semi-opaque diffuses light for a soft glow and moderate privacy from the outside in.
2. Room darkening blocks the majority of incoming light and provides additional in home privacy. 

Operating Systems

1. LiteRise - raise to lower your shades by lifting up or pulling down on the bottom rail.
2. Soft Touch Motorizations - gently pull down on the wand to activate your shade to lower it and a slight push up on the wand will send your shade into the full raised position. This motorized system has a favorite position functionality and it battery powered.  *Not compatible with PowerView or App.
3. Poweriew Motorizations - create personalized shade settings called Scenes, then set those scenes to schedules for the ultimate convenience of automated operation. Operate your shades from home or while you're away via the RemoteConnect feature. Battery powered and plug in options are available. Easily intergrate PowerView with connected devices and third party automation systems (Amazon Echo, IFTTT, Nest and more) for the whole home experience.

See and experience Sonnette Shades during our early launch only at Read Design Plano and Read Design Southlake.  You can feel, operate shade samples and look at fabrics for this new and innovative shade. Our designers will show you all of the options. It is clear that we are very excited about this new product! Stop in today and let us know what you think!

See Sonnette Shades at Read Design Plano and Read Design Southlake. 

We travel to all of the following areas and more: Fort Worth, Rowlett, Dallas, Prosper, Celina, Frisco, Colleyville, Coppell, Robson Ranch, Plano, Southlake, Irving, Grapevine, Flower Mound, Denton, Highland Park, Lakewood, Allen, McKinney and everywhere in between!