Redefining “Neutral” in 2014 Interior Design

Redefining “Neutral” in 2014 Interior Design

Here at Eclipse Shutters, we know that after a long day at work, the first thing you want to do is kick back and relax. Everyone unwinds in their own personal way, but the color of your home’s walls can have a significant impact on how you get to this state of mind. This is no trade secret; many studies have been conducted on the psychological impact of the color spectrum. Bright, bold shades like yellow and green are motivating, uplifting and energizing, while more neutral earth tones are praised for their tranquility-inspiring powers.

A New Approach to Neutral

Armed with this knowledge and a desire to give their customers complete control over how to craft a unique living space, Benjamin Moore has recently launched a new neutral color palette for its 2014 paint inventory. These swatches illustrate an emerging trend, one that focuses more on the experience you get when you walk through the door. Your home is your sanctuary, and these neutral tones were created to make this part of your life stand out and be noticed in a subtle yet captivating manner. The shift away from bold and daring to beautifully humble is here. These colors instantly set the mood and complement existing room decor like our shutters and other window coverings. The neutral palette is organized into four broad color sections. The first is the “Greens and Earthy Neutrals,” and they range from the brightest Van Alen Green to the darker Sparrow. This color scheme is ideal for people wanting to craft a warm and inviting atmosphere. As such, they are recommended in rooms that are meant to be a source of comfort rather than stimulation (e.g. bedrooms, restrooms). The “Plums and Lavender” section is comprised of five tones (Lavender Mist, Super Nova, Nightingale, Black Satin and Iced Mauve). Formal living spaces and master bedrooms are where these colors shine. Purple is a naturally feminine tone and is a great way to add a touch of flair to a much-needed space. Black Satin is the darkest shade on the new neutral palette (some may consider it outside the spectrum) and should be placed in larger rooms when the goal is to direct attention or to form a dramatic focal point. The “Blue Family” is light, cool and airy, but also features some darker colors as well (Van Deusen, Flint and Normandy). The last group is the “Pinks and Neutrals,” which includes Light Peach and Coral Essence.  Every shade in Benjamin Moore’s 2014 collection is intended to mesh well with home furnishings. Neutrals go perfect with artwork, pottery, textiles, carpet and especially your interior shutters from Eclipse Shutters.

Expand Your Outdoor Living Space with Louvered Shutters

Expand Your Outdoor Living Space with Louvered Shutters

When joined with an exterior habitat screen, you will have no troubles whatsoever keeping pests at bay either. There are obviously many factors that must be taken into account when creating any outdoor living area, but custom blinds make your job a whole lot easier. The main feature that distinguishes these models from their interior brethren is the profile of the louvers. To ensure rain and excess sunlight don’t come into contact with you and your furniture, our exterior shutters are equipped with narrower slats that provide the user with more control. They can be opened fully when the weather is nice or closed entirely when needed. Our exterior shutters come in sliding, bi-fold and fixed panel types, each of which has distinct advantages. No matter what type you choose, all of them are outfitted with a locking louver blades; simply select the angle/position at which you want the shutters to be and lock them in place. This feature is particularly beneficial when the space is not being used. Since you will likely be stowing your outdoor valuables (kitchens, furniture, grills, etc.), having something in place to deter wildlife and burglars is very important. As such, exterior shutters give you more than just a beautiful piece of craftsmanship to adore – they also give you the peace of mind knowing your outdoor living space is safe and secure. Once installed, you will never have to worry about replacing your new exterior shutters. We guarantee that they will look just as wonderful 25 years from now. So contact us today about finding the perfect finishing touch for your pergola, sunroom, portico or veranda.

Shutters Make the Perfect Alternative to French Doors

Shutters Make the Perfect Alternative to French Doors

What could make your lanai or a breezeway more elegant? Shutters are a sophisticated yet functional choice. Do you have a balcony or patio off the master bedroom? Shutters can add to the romantic, classic feeling of the room while still providing privacy. Installing quality custom-made shutters in a doorway creates a very appealing aesthetic that works well with any design theme, helps to reduce energy costs and maintains your privacy. The tilt bar that controls the louvers can be adjusted to allow light through while not allowing anyone to see into your home. The shutters can also protect your furnishings and carpeting from sun damage as well as reduce your energy costs. To custom-make shutters for a doorway, it is best to have one of our professionals from Eclipse Shutters measure the opening to ensure a perfect fit. Once the measurements are provided to the manufacturer, the fabrication process begins.  Our shutters are built using quality materials and the latest technologies available. State-of-the-art equipment will be used to cut and form the shutters to be assembled and then brought to your home for the final step: the installation. By having our professionals handle the measurements and the installation, you will be able to be protected by our 25-year warranty. Besides all the practical benefits that shutters can provide, there is no denying that they are an attractive and eye-catching choice. Shutters are becoming more popular in higher-end homes as an alternative to french doors because of the finished look they provide. They are available in several different colors that can fit with the color schemes of your home. They can viewed as an enhancement to your overall decorating plan while remaining practical. shutters are a wonderful doorway solution that can bring years of pleasure as well as increase the value of your home. Contact us today about designing and installing custom indoor shutters on your windows.

How Do Fabricators Custom Make Shutters?

How Do Fabricators Custom Make Shutters?

Our shutters are an elegant and stunning addition to any decor. They are designed to not only be aesthetically pleasing, but also to perform well. You may have wondered what goes into creating our  shutters. But before we go any further, let’s clarify the difference between custom and custom-made shutters. “Custom” is a broad term and refers to shutters that are pre-made and then cut down to fit the specifications of the window installation. This process can sometimes result in shutters that do not fit properly. “Custom-made” means that the shutters were built to your specifications to insure that they fit correctly and perform well. The real question is, how are custom-made shutters fabricated? The first step in the fabrication process is to properly measure the window openings to ensure a great fit. You can follow the instructions provided by your s shutter fabricator or you can have a professional obtain the measurements. Generally, it is better to have a professional take care of this job to ensure that the measurements are correct. One incorrect measurement can result in a costly mistake. Next, the shutters are created using your measurements and the materials that you chose. A shutter is made of five components: the louvers, tilt-bar, top and bottom rails, divider rail and frame. Each of these is customized to fit your window. You can also choose different widths for the louvers. Using the very best quality materials, the shutters are built with state-of the-art precision equipment. Once the fabrication process is complete, the shutters are ready to be installed. Have a professional install your shutters or do it yourself by following our guide. Properly installed shutters will give you years of pleasure with smooth operation. Custom-made shutters are a wonderful addition to any home or business. They help to control cooling costs, protect furnishing and carpeting and provide security. You can easily adjust your shutters to control the amount of natural light that is allowed into a room. shutters give a room a finished look that works well with any theme or style. Learning how custom-made shutters are made allows you to see the attentions to detail that is needed to make a quality product. Take time to select your source for your shutters and remember to look for custom-made shutters using quality materials from a reputable shutter company. You will find that custom-made shutters are a wonderful addition to and investment in your home.

Shutters for Any Design Aesthetic

Shutters for Any Design Aesthetic

It is springtime and you want to make some changes around the house, so you decided to do a design makeover. You bought a few gallons of paint and brought in some new furniture. So far, everything seems to be going well, but something feels off. You can’t quite put your finger on it, but the room does not feel quite complete… Have you paid any attention lately to your windows? A lot of people under-appreciate the power that window treatments can have on a space. Those old plastic mini-blinds are neither functional nor aesthetically pleasing, so make it your goal to replace them as soon as possible. 

Shutters for Interior Design Success

There are wonderful options out there that won’t break the bank. With that in mind, shutters are widely regarded as the end-all, be-all of window treatments. Roman shades, Venetian blinds and fancy drapes are all deserving of praise, but nothing compares to the versatility of these faux wood shutters. Featuring a wide-louvered design and custom-manufactured to fit any window size and shape, they are the perfect selection for any design style.  Though they were originally made to suit the housing needs of those living on s in the south (hence the name), they have since evolved into a major product in the window treatment market. With a seemingly endless array of styles and patterns, you do not have to live in a one-story ranch to experience what interior shutters have to offer.  From a design perspective, they without a doubt make an aesthetic statement. As such, an increasing number of people have turned to incorporating faux shutters with other window treatments (e.g., lower half shutter, upper half roman shades). They look just as great in turn of the century Victorians as they do on modern builds sporting industrial/contemporary themes. No matter what your housing style, be it eclectic or rustic, rural or urban, consider our shutters an ideal design addition. The functional advantages they have over other window treatments cannot be overstated either. Since the shutter covers the window directly, it keeps more air out, meaning your home will stay cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. They are also virtually maintenance-free; no need to clean, dust or untangle rope cords. In a word, they are a homeowner’s dream come true and they can be had for much less than you might think. Give us a call today to discuss your options!

A Guide to Decorating with Pantone’s Spring 2014 Colors

A Guide to Decorating with Pantone’s Spring 2014 Colors

It’s that time of year again – spring cleaning. For homeowners, this means finally getting around to those remodeling projects that got placed on the back burner all winter.  Want to know the best way to follow through with those good intentions? Take small steps and work on one room at a time. Having a mindset of tackling an entire house can lead to plenty of frustration, which is not good. What better way to jump on the design bandwagon than by simply changing the color on the walls? Paint does a lot more than people give it credit for. A fresh coat can make a small space larger, a dark space lighter and many other magical things! Knowing what color to choose is not easy though. Thankfully, the folks at Pantone have decided to make your life a whole lot easier. The shades picked by the fashion experts for their spring clothing collections work perfectly for houses both on walls and ceilings or as accents on molding, shelving or our custom indoor shutters.  Warm weather is just around the corner, so now is the time to choose colors that are airy, inviting and relaxing. Here is a brief overview of their spring-worthy shades:

  • Cayenne – This dark red is bold and full of spring flair. Make it work to your benefit by matching it with neutral tone walls and flooring. The color is ideal for bedroom accessories (wall sconces, ornaments, drapes over shutters, etc.) and bedding.
  • Celosia Orange – A bright color that is bound to put anyone in a good mood, Celosia works well in small spaces and entryways. Mudrooms are an ideal spot, but it can also look great in the right bedroom.
  • Dazzling Blue – Blues are trending in 2014, especially rich cobalt. This shade is a bit on the purple side and can work wonders for powder rooms. Half baths are a prime location; remember to pair it with decorative wallpaper to achieve its full effect.
  • Freesia – Paint your four-seasons patio this bright yellow and be prepared to always wake up in a happy mood. This friendly tone is relaxing, but at the same time, perfect for uplifting a dull mood.

Other popular Pantone picks for spring include Hemlock, Paloma, Placid Blue and Radiant Orchid, Pantone’s 2014 Color of the Year. So paint those walls, install some of our interior shutters and watch your room transform before your eyes!