Barrows Custom Window Treatments Blog

Preparing Your Home for Spring and Summer: How Window Treatments Protect Against UV Damage

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 13:43:50 GMT

Hunter Douglas Solar Shades

As spring arrives in Massachusetts and summer approaches, longer days and stronger sunlight bring warmth, brightness, and energy into your home. While natural light enhances any space, increased sun exposure can quietly cause long-term damage to your interiors if left unmanaged.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we help homeowners throughout Eastern Massachusetts enjoy the beauty of natural light while protecting what matters most.

How UV Rays Affect Your Home

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate standard windows and gradually break down materials inside the home. Over time, this exposure can lead to:

Fading hardwood floors
Discolored furniture and upholstery
Weakened fabrics and window coverings
Artwork and décor losing vibrancy

Even high-quality windows cannot fully block UV radiation, making window treatments an essential layer of protection.

Why Spring Is the Best Time to Plan UV Protection

Spring is the ideal time to upgrade your window treatments. As sunlight intensity increases, early preparation helps prevent damage before peak summer conditions arrive.

Installing protective solutions now ensures your home is ready for:

Longer daylight hours
Stronger direct sunlight
Increased indoor heat gain

Taking action in spring allows you to stay ahead of seasonal wear and tear.

Solar Shades: Protection Without Losing Your View

Solar shades are one of the most effective ways to block UV rays while still maintaining your outdoor view. These specialized window treatments are designed to:

Reduce glare
Block harmful UV radiation
Preserve natural light
Maintain visibility to the outdoors

With varying openness levels, solar shades allow you to customize how much light enters your home while still protecting your interiors.

Layered Window Treatments for All-Day Comfort

For maximum flexibility, many homeowners choose layered window treatments. Combining solar shades with drapery or secondary shades allows you to adjust your space throughout the day.

Benefits of layered solutions include:

Enhanced light control
Added privacy when needed
Increased UV protection
A more polished, custom design aesthetic

This approach ensures comfort from morning to evening, no matter how the sun shifts.

Motorized Window Treatments for Smart Protection

Motorized window treatments offer a modern, convenient way to protect your home automatically. With scheduled settings, shades can lower during peak sunlight hours — even when you’re not home.

Advantages of motorization include:

Consistent UV protection throughout the day
Reduced heat buildup
Increased convenience and ease of use
Integration with smart home systems

Automation helps safeguard your interiors without requiring daily adjustments.

Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Cooling Costs

Window treatments do more than protect your furnishings—they also improve your home’s energy efficiency.

By blocking direct sunlight, you can:

Reduce indoor temperatures
Minimize strain on your air conditioning system
Lower energy usage during warmer months

This creates a more comfortable living environment while helping manage energy costs.

Protect Your Home and Your Investment

Your furniture, flooring, and interior finishes represent a significant investment. Without proper protection, UV exposure can shorten their lifespan and diminish their appearance.

Custom window treatments act as a proactive solution, helping to:

Preserve the value of your home
Extend the life of interior materials
Maintain the beauty of your space

Enjoy Natural Light Without the Damage

The goal isn’t to eliminate sunlight—it’s to control it. With professionally designed window treatments, you can enjoy bright, inviting spaces while protecting your home from harmful UV rays.

If you’re preparing your home for spring and summer in Eastern Massachusetts, Barrows Custom Window Treatments can help you find the right solution for style, comfort, and protection.

Insulating Window Shades to Stop Cold Windows

Fri, 06 Mar 2026 14:55:59 GMT

Why Your Windows Feel Cold — And How Insulating Window Treatments Make Your Home More Comfortable

Why Your Windows Feel Cold — And How Insulating Window Treatments Create a More Comfortable Home

During the colder months in Massachusetts, many homeowners notice something frustrating: certain rooms in the house feel chilly even when the heating system is working properly.

If you’ve ever sat near a window and felt a sudden chill, you’re not imagining it. The issue often isn’t your thermostat — it’s your windows.

The good news is that the right insulating window shades can dramatically improve comfort, reduce energy loss, and make your home feel warmer all winter long.

Why Windows Make Rooms Feel Colder

Windows are one of the weakest insulation points in any home. Even modern, high-quality windows allow some heat transfer through the glass.

When outdoor temperatures drop, the interior surface of the glass becomes cold. Heat naturally moves toward colder surfaces, pulling warmth from the surrounding air in the room.

This process can create:

Cold spots near windows
Uneven room temperatures
Draft-like sensations even when windows are sealed
Increased heating demand

The result is a room that feels uncomfortable, no matter how high the thermostat is set.

How Insulating Window Shades Improve Comfort

High-quality window shades do more than provide privacy and light control. They also create an insulating barrier between the room and the cold glass.

By trapping air and slowing heat transfer, properly installed window coverings help stabilize indoor temperatures and reduce heat loss.

Homeowners often notice improvements such as:

Warmer rooms near windows
More consistent temperatures throughout the home
Reduced drafts and cold spots
Improved comfort during colder months

Cellular Shades: Designed for Energy Efficiency

Cellular shades — also known as honeycomb shades — are specifically engineered for insulation.

Their honeycomb-shaped pockets trap air inside the shade, creating insulating layers between the window and the room. This design helps keep warm air inside during winter while also helping block heat during summer.

Benefits of cellular shades include:

Excellent insulation performance
Clean, modern design
Light filtering or room-darkening options
Year-round energy efficiency
Improved comfort near windows

For rooms that consistently feel colder, cellular shades are often one of the most effective window treatment solutions available.

Additional Benefits Beyond Warmth

Insulating window shades offer several advantages beyond simply making a room feel warmer.

They can also help:

Lower heating costs during colder months
Reduce temperature swings near windows
Protect furniture and flooring from temperature fluctuations
Improve privacy and light control
Create a more comfortable overall living environment

Many homeowners are surprised how much difference properly selected window treatments can make.

Why Professional Measurement Matters

Proper fit is critical for insulation performance.

Even small gaps between a shade and the window frame can allow heat to escape. Professional measuring ensures window treatments fit precisely, maximizing both energy efficiency and appearance.

Working with experienced window treatment specialists also ensures the right products are selected for each window in your home.

Make Your Home Warmer and More Comfortable

If certain rooms in your home feel cold or uncomfortable during winter, upgrading your window shades may be one of the simplest and most effective solutions.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments , homeowners can explore custom shade solutions designed to improve comfort, energy efficiency, and style.

The right window treatments can turn cold windows into warm, inviting spaces — helping your home feel comfortable all year long.

Ice Dams Are Melting in Massachusetts - Is Your Home at Risk

Mon, 09 Feb 2026 18:05:39 GMT

Ice Dams Are Melting in Massachusetts — What Are They Leaving Behind in Your Home?

As winter fades across Massachusetts and New England, most homeowners breathe a sigh of relief. The snow piles shrink, the ice disappears, and spring finally feels within reach.

But here’s a question we ask homeowners every spring at Barrows Custom Window Treatments :

What’s happening behind your window trim right now? Because while the ice may be gone, the damage it leaves behind often isn’t.

The Part of Ice Dams Nobody Talks About

Most people understand that ice dams form when snow melts on the roof and refreezes at the eaves. What often gets overlooked is what happens after the thaw.

When ice dams melt, trapped water looks for the easiest path downward. Very often, that path leads straight toward window frames, casings, and interior finishes—areas that don’t always show immediate damage.

By the time homeowners notice something is “off,” the water has already done its work.

Are Your Window Treatments Telling You Something?

In many Massachusetts homes, window treatments are the first warning sign.

We frequently hear things like:

“My Roman shades suddenly have stains I don’t remember.”
“Our woven shades don’t hang the way they used to.”
“The motorized shade started acting up months after winter ended.”

Sound familiar?

Moisture exposure—even in small amounts—can affect fabrics, hardware, and motorized components. Rechargeable and motorized systems are especially vulnerable if moisture reaches the headrail or motor housing. Failures often show up long after the original exposure.

Why Spring Is the Smartest Time to Take a Closer Look

Spring isn’t just about cleaning—it’s about assessment.

As temperatures rise, this is when hidden moisture issues reveal themselves. That makes now the ideal time to ask:

Are my window treatments still performing the way they should?
Were they designed to handle New England’s seasonal moisture and temperature swings?
Would modern materials hold up better in my home?

Today’s custom window treatments offer moisture-conscious materials, improved linings, and more durable mounting systems—features that matter far more than most homeowners realize until damage appears.

A Local Perspective Matters

Homes in Massachusetts and throughout New England experience extreme seasonal changes. What works in a showroom doesn’t always work in a real home dealing with condensation, winter ice, and spring thaw cycles.

That’s why Barrows Custom Window Treatments takes a consultative, local-first approach. We don’t just talk about style—we look at:

Window conditions and exposure risks
Room function and daily use
Material durability for our regional climate
Lift systems and motorization options that make sense long-term

It’s not about replacing something prematurely—it’s about making sure what you have (or choose next) is built to last here.

Let’s Talk Before Small Issues Become Big Ones

If you’ve noticed subtle changes around your windows this spring—or even if you haven’t—this is the moment to take a closer look.

Ice dams may be melting, but the story doesn’t end there.

Schedule a consultation with Barrows Custom Window Treatments and let’s talk through what your windows and treatments may be experiencing after winter.

Sometimes, the smallest signs are worth the biggest conversations.

Illuminate Comfort and Efficiency with Hunter Douglas Aura® Illuminated Shades

Sun, 04 Jan 2026 16:23:28 GMT

Modern Hunter Douglas window treatments designed for comfort and efficiency in Massachusetts homes

When it comes to window treatments, today’s homeowners want more than just style. They want comfort, energy efficiency, and products that fit real life with kids and pets. That is exactly what the newest innovation from Hunter Douglas delivers. The all new Aura® Illuminated Shades bring together beautiful design, smart lighting, and advanced energy performance in one powerful window covering.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we are excited to offer this new solution to homeowners across Massachusetts who want modern window treatments that do more than simply cover a window.

A New Kind of Window Shade

Hunter Douglas Aura® Illuminated Shades combine three essential elements into one seamless system. Each shade features a decorative front fabric, a room darkening liner, and built in LED illumination. This allows you to control not only privacy and light from outside, but also the light inside your home.

The integrated lighting creates a soft, warm glow that enhances the room without the need for overhead lights or table lamps. Whether you want subtle evening lighting or a brighter daytime atmosphere, Aura Shades allow you to adjust the mood instantly.

These shades can be operated with Hunter Douglas PowerView® Automation, giving you control through your smartphone, remote, or even voice commands. You can set schedules, create scenes, and automate your home for daily comfort and convenience.

Designed for Energy Efficiency

Windows are one of the biggest sources of heat loss and heat gain in a home. Hunter Douglas has long been known for designing window treatments that improve insulation, and Aura Illuminated Shades continue that tradition.

The layered design of these shades helps create an insulating barrier between your room and the glass. This reduces heat escaping during the winter and blocks excess heat during the summer. The result is a more comfortable home and less strain on your heating and cooling system.

The built in LED lighting is also highly energy efficient. LED technology uses significantly less power than traditional lighting, allowing you to create beautiful ambient light without increasing your energy bills.

For homeowners in Massachusetts dealing with both cold winters and warm summers, this added energy efficiency makes a real difference all year long.

Safe for Homes with Pets and Children

One of the biggest advantages of modern Hunter Douglas window treatments is safety. Aura Illuminated Shades are available with cordless and motorized operation, eliminating dangling cords that can be dangerous for children and pets.

With PowerView® Automation, you can open and close your shades with a button, phone app, or voice command. There is no need to touch the window covering, making it safer, cleaner, and easier to use in busy households.

For families with curious kids or playful pets, this peace of mind is just as important as style.

Luxury That Fits Everyday Living

Aura Illuminated Shades are not just practical. They are designed to elevate your home’s interior. The soft lighting enhances wall textures, artwork, and furniture while creating a warm, welcoming atmosphere.

Hunter Douglas offers Aura illumination on several popular shade styles, including roller shades, modern Roman shades, and cellular shades. This allows you to match the look of your home while still enjoying the benefits of this advanced lighting and energy system.

Why Barrows Custom Window Treatments Recommends Aura Shades

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we believe the best products are the ones that improve how you live in your home every day. Hunter Douglas Aura® Illuminated Shades offer:

• Improved energy efficiency
• Smart home automation
• Pet and child safe cordless operation
• Customizable lighting and style
• Beautiful modern design

These shades are ideal for homeowners who want comfort, safety, and performance without sacrificing style.

Experience Aura Illuminated Shades in Your Home

If you are looking to upgrade your windows with something truly innovative, Aura Illuminated Shades are worth seeing in person. Our Barrows design specialists will bring samples and help you find the perfect solution for your space.

Contact Barrows Custom Window Treatments today to schedule your free in home consultation and discover how Hunter Douglas Aura Shades can transform your home with light, comfort, and efficiency.

Energy Efficient Hunter Douglas Shades by Barrows

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 14:44:25 GMT

Barrows Custom Window Treatments combines these premium products with expert consultation and installation. Together, they create a solution designed not just to look good, but to perform.

Why Choose Hunter Douglas

Advanced Insulation with Duette® Honeycomb Shade s

Duette® Honeycomb Shades lead the industry in energy performance. Their cellular structure traps air and creates an insulating layer at the window—helping keep warm air in during winter and blocking heat in summer.

Hunter Douglas also offers versatile light-control fabrics, from sheer to blackout, so you can manage glare, privacy, and natural light without sacrificing style.

With PowerView® Automation , shades move automatically based on time of day or sun exposure, turning window treatments into a passive energy-saving system.

Why Massachusetts Homeowners Choose Barrows Custom Window Treatments

Barrows has served Massachusetts homeowners for more than 55 years. As a Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer , they provide access to premium collections and certified installation.

Energy efficiency depends on a precise fit. Barrows handles consultation, measurement, and installation to ensure your shades seal properly—eliminating gaps that leak heat or sunlight. They also design solutions for specialty windows, bay windows, sliding doors, and more.

How Window Treatments Boost Home Efficiency

Massachusetts experiences cold winters and humid summers. Even quality windows allow heat transfer.

Energy-efficient shades help:

In winter: reduce heat loss and drafts
In summer: block UV rays and solar heat before it enters the room
Year-round: stabilize indoor temperatures and reduce HVAC wear

Upgrade Your Home’s Comfort

Hunter Douglas shades installed by Barrows provide insulation, light control, and long-term energy savings. Schedule an in-home consultation or visit their Newton, Massachusetts showroom to explore the right solutions for your home.

Why Choose Barrows Custom Window Treatments in Massachusetts

Fri, 31 Oct 2025 12:06:00 GMT

Choose Barrows for your custom window treatments

When it comes to upgrading your home with stylish, high-quality window treatments, Barrows Custom Window Treatments is one of the most trusted names in Eastern Massachusetts. With over 60 years of experience, this family-owned window treatment company is known for its design expertise, craftsmanship, and personalized service. Their process is simple and stress-free—they design, measure, and install so you can take it easy.

Barrows offers a full-service experience that includes free in-home consultations and a beautiful window treatment showroom in Newton, MA. Their expert team manages everything from product selection to installation, ensuring each treatment fits perfectly and functions beautifully. They carry a wide variety of custom blinds, shades, shutters, and draperies, including motorized and smart-home window treatments for modern convenience.

As an authorized Hunter Douglas dealer with certified installers, Barrows provides trusted quality, energy-efficient products, and professional results. Their automated systems integrate with Alexa and Google Home, allowing effortless light and privacy control at the touch of a button.

Barrows also helps homeowners stay comfortable year-round—especially during New England winters. For colder months, Hunter Douglas cellular shades, like the Duette® and Sonnette® lines, offer exceptional energy efficiency. Their honeycomb design traps air to insulate your home and reduce heating costs. Other great options include Vignette® Roman Shades, which use layered construction for added warmth, and Everwood® Faux Wood Blinds, which act as a mild barrier against drafts. These products combine beauty and performance to keep your home cozy and stylish.

Their helpful blog offers expert advice on topics like choosing the best blinds for large windows or selecting pet-safe shades. This educational approach shows Barrows’ commitment to helping homeowners make informed design decisions.

Whether you live in a classic New England home or a modern space, Barrows Custom Window Treatments enhances comfort, energy efficiency, and style. For homeowners in the Boston area and across Eastern Massachusetts, Barrows delivers the perfect combination of local experience, top-quality products, and expert installation.

Discover the Energy-Saving Power of Duette® Honeycomb Shades

Tue, 30 Sep 2025 15:43:06 GMT

Stylish window treatments that insulate, save energy, and qualify for a federal tax credit

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

When it comes to window treatments, Duette® Honeycomb Shades by Hunter Douglas offer more than just style. Their innovative design makes them one of the most energy-efficient shades available, helping homeowners save on heating and cooling costs while enhancing comfort and beauty.

Energy Efficiency and Insulation

Duette shades feature a cellular honeycomb construction that traps air at the window, creating a layer of insulation. This helps keep your home warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, reducing energy use year-round.

For maximum performance, the Duette Architella® option uses a honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design, delivering even greater insulation and energy savings.

Even better, qualifying Duette shades may be eligible for a federal tax credit of up to $1,200 . Learn more here: Hunter Douglas Energy Tax Credit

Light and Privacy Control

Duette shades are available in a wide variety of fabrics and opacities to suit every room. From light-filtering sheers to full room darkening, you can create the perfect balance of light and privacy.

Popular options include:

Duolite® : Combines light-filtering and blackout fabrics in one shade.
LightLock® : Blocks nearly all incoming light — perfect for bedrooms and media rooms.

Custom Features for Every Home

With hundreds of colors and styles, Duette shades fit seamlessly into any décor. They also adapt to unique window shapes, tilt-turn windows, and French doors with the TrackGlide™ system.

Convenience features include:

Cordless operation for a clean, child-safe design
Top-Down/Bottom-Up control for flexible light management
PowerView® Automation for scheduling and smart-home integration

Why Choose Duette Shades?

Lower energy bills with superior insulation

Stylish fabrics and colors to match any home
Flexible light and privacy options
Smart motorization for modern living
Eligible for federal tax credit up to $1,200

Upgrade to Duette Shades Today

If you’re looking for window treatments that combine style, comfort, and energy efficiency, Duette Honeycomb Shades are the perfect choice.

Request a consultation by calling us at (617) 964-4580 . We proudly serve Newton, MA, and the entire Boston metropolitan area, including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties.

Fitting the Perfect Blinds In Your Windows

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 13:02:56 GMT

Finding blinds that fit your window well, both in terms of precise measurements and style, is essential to creating that high-end custom look for your space. Well-fitted custom blinds provide you with improved privacy, better light control, and additional insulation.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments in Newton, Massachusetts, we carry Hunter Douglas vertical blinds, which are perfect for your tall or wide windows, sliding doors, and more. We can work with you to customize your favorite vertical blinds to fit your home and windows perfectly.

Why Choose Custom Hunter Douglas Vertical Blinds?

Vertical blinds are excellent options for large windows, including windows that are tall and wide, or for sliding glass doors . Since vertical blinds glide along a railing at the top of your window, you can easily maneuver them to cover as much or as little of the window as you want. The vertical slats on the blinds serve several purposes.

They make your window look taller, which makes your whole space look bigger.
They twist, so you can block light or let it in.
They provide a layer of insulation , which improves energy efficiency and saves you money.
They allow you to have privacy or a view as you desire.

Types of Hunter Douglas Vertical Blinds

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we carry all 4 styles of Hunter Douglas Vertical Blinds . These include:

Luminette® Sheer Panels : These hybrid window treatments marry sheer shades and blinds for an innovative vertical blind that allows constant UV ray and glare protection, a view, and privacy. Select from over 80 color combinations.
Skyline® Panel-Track Blinds are wide-paneled window treatments that roll across your window or stack neatly when they open. The panels are 11.5” or 17” and available in over 450 colors.
Somner® Vertical Blinds blend fabric, color, and materials to select beautiful designs and style in over 170 colors.
Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds are a sleek, minimalist style that creates a calm, neutral interior in over 40 colors.

The Importance of Well-Fitted Vertical Blinds

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we take measurements of your windows and fit your vertical blinds to precisely the size of your window. When a window treatment doesn’t fully cover the window, it can have some ramifications, like:

Creating gaps, which could cause an issue with privacy, especially at night.
Light leaks through, so you won’t get total privacy during the day.
Not improving energy efficiency as well as it could.
Looking messy and detracting from the overall appearance.

Installing your Hunter Douglas vertical blinds for you allows us to ensure they hang and operate as intended and create a seamless look.

Contact Us for Hunter Douglas Vertical Blinds Near Newton, MA

Hunter Douglas vertical blinds provide excellent coverage, easy operation, and elegant style. At Barrows Custom Window Treatments near Newton, Massachusetts, we can help you find the style you prefer and customize your vertical blinds for your home’s unique aesthetic.

We want you to have stunning blinds that fit your home and your lifestyle. In addition to vertical blinds, we carry horizontal blinds , shutters, shades , and drapery . We also offer repairs .

How to Choose Cat-Proof Blinds and Shades

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 10:07:55 GMT

If you're a pet owner, you know that cats and window treatments don’t always mix. Cats love laying in the sun, chasing dangling cords, blinds that invite climbing—so it’s easy to see how some window coverings can be a magnet for mischief—or even a safety hazard.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, a Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer in Newton, MA, we help homeowners in the Boston metropolitan area and Cape Cod find stylish, durable, and pet-friendly blinds and shades that stand up to curious paws.

Here’s how to choose the right style of cat-proof window treatments to keep both your home and your pets safe.

Opt for Cordless Designs (No Strings Attached!)

Cats love to bat at dangling cords, but loose strings can pose a strangulation risk or become a chew toy—degrading your window treatment. The solution? Cordless window treatments, like Hunter Douglas Modern Precious Metals® Mini Blinds. These sleek, durable blinds operate with a simple push-pull, a wand tilt mechanism, or with advanced motorization, eliminating hazardous cords while maintaining a clean, modern look.

Why it works for pets:

No tempting cords to play with.
Smooth, easy operation for you.
Safer for homes with cats (and kids!).

Choose Inside-Mount Over Outside-Mount Blinds and Shades

Where you decide to mount your window treatments can make a big difference! If your kid or pet loves to squeeze behind the blinds, an inside-mount installation can help. These blinds fit snugly inside the window frame, leaving no gap for pets to climb up from underneath and behind.

The Bonus: Inside-mount shades also give windows a clean, built-in look, enhancing your home’s aesthetic.

Select Durable, Scratch-Resistant Materials

Cats may scratch or paw at blinds, and children and dogs will also handle them more roughly, so durability matters. Hunter Douglas offers pet-tough materials , including:

Aluminum or faux-wood blinds that are more resistant to scratches and easy to clean.

PowerView® Automation

For the ultimate in convenience and safety, PowerView® Automation lets you control your blinds or shades remotely, reducing the need for anyone to touch them at all. Eliminate cords completely while enjoying the benefits of a convenient remote, smartphone app or voice control. Imagine adjusting your shades without ever getting near them—perfect for hard-to-reach windows.

Let Us Help You Find the Perfect Pet-Safe Window Treatments

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we specialize in Hunter Douglas window coverings that combine style, functionality, and pet safety. Whether you need cordless blinds, inside-mount shades, or motorized options, we’ll help you choose the best solution for your home.

We proudly serve Newton, MA, and the entire Boston metropolitan area, including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties, we are committed to helping homeowners find the perfect solutions for their laundry rooms—and beyond.

Contact us today at (617) 964-4580 or schedule a consultation and explore the best window treatment options for you and your furry friends!

Choose Woven Shades for Your Sliding Glass Doors

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 09:26:29 GMT

When it comes to dressing large windows and patio doors, especially sliding glass doors, homeowners in the greater Boston area are always on the lookout for stylish, functional solutions.

Natural woven shades have become an increasingly popular choice, bringing texture, warmth, and relaxed sophistication to our clients’ homes across the region. If you're searching for unique, high-quality window coverings for your sliders, look no further than woven options made from natural materials.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we specialize in creating custom window treatment solutions for your home. When it comes your sliding glass doors, you'll love what natural woven materials bring to the design.

Why Natural Woven Shades?

Natural woven shades —a type of shade typically crafted from sustainable materials like bamboo, reeds, grasses, and jute—offer an earthy, organic aesthetic that pairs beautifully with many interior styles. Whether your home leans coastal, contemporary, farmhouse, or traditional, these shades add the right touch of texture and depth to your decor.

Not only do these shades look great, but they also perform better than box-store blinds, thanks to their innovative construction with technology from Hunter Douglas. After all, for your windows and sliding glass doors, practicality and visual impact are both necessary elements!

This is why woven wood vertical shades are a perfect solution. They're available in various weaves, colors, and opacities with a range of control options, allowing you to manage the level of light and privacy in your home while maintaining a naturally beautiful look.

A Smart Alternative to Traditional Vertical Blinds

Standard vinyl vertical blinds might be functional, but they often lack charm and personality. In contrast, vertical woven window treatments are perfect for sliding glass doors because they bring nature inside while elevating the look of your room.

Unlike plastic blinds, woven wood shades are available in custom configurations, including vertical drapery-style operation or sliding fabric panels track systems—excellent choices for both windows and sliders. These shades glide effortlessly, allowing you to enjoy your patio or backyard view hassle-free.

Function Meets Style

Natural woven shades offer more than just beauty. Here are some of their key benefits:

Light Control: Choose from light-filtering or room-darkening linings with Duolite®, which adds an additional liner to one roller depending on your privacy and light needs.
Energy Efficiency: Natural fibers help block solar rays, keeping your room cooler in the summer—especially important for patio doors that receive full sun.
Durability: High-quality woven wood shades are built to last, resisting wear and tear.
Customization: With many textures, colors, and operating systems available, these shades are easily customized to match your interior. Plus, since they each have a natural variation from the materials used, each shade will go together though no two will be exactly the same.

Window Coverings for Sliders That Reflect Your Lifestyle

Sliding glass doors often lead to the most-used spaces in your home—whether it's your backyard, enclosed sunroom, or a three-season porch. Natural woven shades compliment your space, providing a timeless style that never feels forced or overly trendy.

Whether you're looking for cordless options, motorization for added convenience, or a specific color to match your wood floors, our experienced team will help you find the perfect fit.

Serving the Boston Metropolitan Area

From urban lofts in downtown Boston to coastal homes on Cape Cod, we bring expert craftsmanship and personal attention to every project. Discover the natural beauty of woven wood and bamboo vertical blinds with Barrows Custom Window Treatments.

We offer complimentary consultations to help you explore the best solutions for your space. Contact us today to schedule your appointment and see how we can bring your vision to life.

Barrows Custom Window Treatments proudly serves the Boston Metro Area and Cape Cod, including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties.

Adding round-shaped interior elements can smooth the hard edges in your interior look.

Tue, 01 Apr 2025 10:15:04 GMT

Adding round-shaped interior elements can smooth the hard edges in your interior look.

The unexpected circular shapes will energize your design style.

Don’t be a square – or even a rectangle! Rooms that have only sharp edges and straight lines can create a feeling of too much order and lead to a sense of discomfort or inflexibility. Add just a few round elements as an accent to soften and relax a room.

You can be creative in your definition of “round” to include more than perfect circles. Include ovals, egg-shapes, ellipses, arches, curls, cylinders, rings and more. The idea is just that you add a few rounded shapes, in addition to the straight lines and square corners that are everywhere in your home.

Even in the feng shui concept of interior design, round shapes are important. Feng shui is about balancing five elements, one of which is metal. The metal element is expressed as a round shape in decor; and round design elements are believed to bring clarity, precision, freshness and equality into a room.

The possibilities for adding round shapes to your home environment are almost unlimited:

Round pillows
Curved patterns in wallpaper or upholstery fabric
Cylindrical, round or oval accessories – such as vases, bowls and urns
Disk-shaped tables – including dining tables, end tables and coffee tables
Round light fixtures or lamps
A circular sofa sectional
Elliptical or round mirrors or artwork
Spiral staircases
And if you’re remodeling, round windows and arch top doorways or windows – or you can change the shape of a room to have a rounded window bay.
Circular or oval rugs

Think outside the box. Round out your interior design with some circular shapes!

What Are The Best Treatments For A Laundry Room Window?

Thu, 27 Feb 2025 12:22:43 GMT

When designing your home, a functional laundry room is an important part of your home, but its window treatments often get overlooked. However, the right window covering can enhance privacy, control natural light, and add a polished look to the space.

If you're searching for the best window treatments for your laundry room window, Barrows Custom Window Treatments offers various options to suit your needs. Whether you're looking for durability, moisture resistance, or simple elegance, here are the top choices for laundry room windows. To learn more, contact us to schedule your consultation at our showroom in Newton, MA!

Durable Hunter Douglas Shutters For The Laundry Room

Hunter Douglas shutters can be an excellent choice for laundry room windows. We recommend choosing shutter materials designed to withstand humid environments.

Moisture Resistance – Unlike traditional wood shutters, Hunter Douglas offers vinyl and composite faux wood options that resist warping, cracking, and peeling in high-humidity areas.
Light Control & Privacy – Adjustable louvers allow you to control the amount of natural light entering the room while maintaining privacy. Certain styles open up and away from windows and sliding doors to allow for access or clear views.
Easy Maintenance – These shutters remain fresh and clean with a simple wipe-down.

Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Vinyl Shutters are one of our favorite options—their vinyl material is supported by aluminum metal bracing and resin blocks, making them perfect for laundry rooms where moisture levels fluctuate.

Stylish Alternative Wood Blinds for Laundry Room Windows

If you are seeking an option that looks like real wood, EverWood® Faux Wood Blinds are a fantastic option. Made from a man-made alternative to wood, they feature the look and feel of wood shutters.

They offer:

Durability – Resistant to moisture and warping, ensuring longevity in a laundry room setting.
Customizable Light Control – Tilt the slats to adjust brightness or raise the blinds completely for an unobstructed view.
Variety of Colors & Finishes – Match your existing decor with a range of wood-tone finishes and paint shades.

Sleek Roller Shades for Laundry Rooms

For a minimalist and modern aesthetic, roller shades provide a clean and practical look. They are a functional choice for laundry rooms, and since they come in a wide range of fabrics, you can select a style that suits your space.

Moisture-Resistant Fabrics – Many roller shades come in light, moisture-resistant materials, making them ideal for humid spaces.
Light Filtering & Blackout Options – Choose from light-filtering fabrics for a soft look or room-darkening options for complete privacy.
Cordless & Motorized Options – Enhance convenience with cordless or motorized controls.

Find the Perfect Laundry Room Window Treatment Near Newton, MA

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we offer a wide selection of high-quality window coverings, including Hunter Douglas shutters, shades, and blinds for any room in your home.

Serving Newton, MA, and the entire Boston metropolitan area, including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties, we are committed to helping homeowners find the perfect solutions for their laundry rooms—and beyond.

Contact us today at (617) 964-4580 or schedule a consultation and explore the best window treatment options for your laundry room!

Rely on the In-House Team at Our Window Treatment Store Near Newton, MA

Tue, 24 Dec 2024 09:57:29 GMT

If you’ve spent time searching for custom window treatments, then you’re seeking more than just a premium product. You deserve expert guidance, personalized service, and precise installation.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we pride ourselves on delivering a one-of-a-kind customer service experience to those who visit or contact us, thanks to our dedicated in-house team.

Unlike other competitors who outsource the design process or at-home installation to contractors, at Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we rely exclusively on our experienced in-house team of window treatment experts to ensure a high-quality customer experience throughout the entire process.

Why an In-House Team Matters

Unparalleled Product Expertise: Our in-house team undergoes extensive training on the full range of window treatments we offer . This allows us to recommend different solutions specific to your space, style, and functional needs. Whether you’re interested in covering a large window or are looking to automate your window treatments , our team can answer any question and provide advice throughout the process.
Consistency in Customer Service: By working exclusively with our in-team, this ensures a smooth handoff and eliminates miscommunication, Our Barrows Consultants and Barrows Installers communicate together and with you to instill you with confidence that your project is in capable hands every step of the way.
Reliability You Can Count On: Contractors often juggle multiple clients and projects, leading to delays or inconsistencies. At Barrows, our team is dedicated solely to you, our customers. Our team arrives on time, sticks to the agreed-upon schedule, and follows up to ensure you are thrilled with the end result.
Familiarity with Products: With years of experience working directly with top brands like Hunter Douglas, our Barrows Consultants and Installers have an intimate understanding of the features and benefits of each product. This allows each team member to troubleshoot issues efficiently and ensure flawless operation.
Attention to Detail: Every window treatment is installed by our Barrows installers. Our team will take the time to ensure your blinds, shades, or draperies are installed perfectly, providing functionality and beauty for years to come.

See The Success of Our In-House Approach

Our customers see the difference our in-house team makes:

“The team at Barrows was amazing from start to finish. They helped me choose the perfect Hunter Douglas shades for my home, and the installation was flawless. It was refreshing to work with the same knowledgeable professionals throughout the entire process.” – Sarah M.
“This showroom is filled with options from the simple to the exquisite. Staff helped me choose 3 large window shades and expertly measured, ordered and installed them. After 4 years, I had a problem with one of the large shades. Once I contacted the company, they had workers at my home in a matter of hours to address it. That's customer service. – Patty B.
"Both the sales and installation teams from Barrow's were great. They came to the house, did the measurements, sent the estimate the same day, along with detailed timing for installation. On that day they arrived exactly on time, installed shades in 5 rooms in about 3 hours, showed us how to use them, and left the place clean and in order. Great job!” –Ronenn R.

See Why We’re Among the Leading Hunter Douglas Dealers Near Newton, MA

If you are looking for window treatment stores in the Greater Boston area or want to work with a top trusted Hunter Douglas gallery dealers near Newton, MA, then Barrows Custom Window Treatments is your premier choice.

Call us at (617)964-4580 to schedule your consultation and experience the difference of working with a dedicated in-house team.

Barrows Custom Window Treatments proudly serves the Boston metropolitan area and Cape Cod, including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties.

Whether you’re in Newton, Boston, or any nearby area, we’re here to provide premium window treatments and expert service. Contact us today to schedule your consultation to explore Hunter Douglas window treatments and more!

Choose Safe & Stylish Cordless Window Treatments

Wed, 16 Oct 2024 11:26:04 GMT

As of June 2024, all window covering products sold in the US have transitioned to cordless or differently accessible options. These new guidelines are part of the newest safety standards set by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Window Covering Manufacturers Association.

But cordless blinds and shades have grown increasingly popular over the years on their own due to their added safety and convenience. Traditional blinds with cords can be hazardous for children and pets, posing a risk of entanglement. Cordless window treatments eliminate this risk, providing peace of mind for families. Additionally, their simple, clean design adds a modern aesthetic to any room, making them an attractive option for homeowners who value both form and function.

Whether you are a parent, a pet owner, or someone who loves a sleek, modern design, cordless blinds offer an ideal solution. At Barrows Custom Window Treatments in Newton, Massachusetts, we specialize in providing high-quality, custom-made window coverings that are safe and stylish.

Serving the Boston metropolitan area , including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties, MA, we are proud to help homeowners enhance their spaces with innovative cordless designs.

How Do Cordless Blinds Work

You may wonder how cordless blinds work without strings. The mechanism is designed for easy operation. Instead of pulling on a cord, cordless blinds use a spring-loaded or motorized system or feature inaccessible cords to raise and lower the shades. For manual options, you pull up or down on the bottom rail to adjust the position of the blinds. Motorized versions allow you to control them remotely or even integrate them into smart home systems for the ultimate convenience.

How to Lower Blinds Without a String

Many people wonder how to lower blinds without a string. For cordless push-up/pull-down models, all you need to do is gently pull down on the bottom rail of the blinds. The inner mechanism will guide the blinds smoothly into place, giving you complete control over light and privacy without the tangle of cords. When you're ready to raise the blinds, push the bottom rail back up.

For those interested in motorized options , lowering your blinds is pressing a button on a remote control. This makes cordless blinds not only safe but also extremely user-friendly.

Enhance Your Home with Cordless Designs

Barrows Custom Window Treatments offers a variety of cordless options, including Roman shades , roller shades , and cellular shades . Our Barrows Consultants will help you choose a style to complement your décor while providing the necessary safety features. Whether you're outfitting a child's bedroom, a living room, or an entire home, we ensure that your window treatments meet your design preferences and the requirements you need for optimal light control.

Serving the Greater Boston Area

Barrows Custom Window Treatments proudly serves the Boston metropolitan area, including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties. We offer in-home consultations to help you find the right solution for your unique space, and our professional installation from our Barrows Installers ensures your new blinds, shades, or shutters are fitted to perfection every time.

Make the Switch to Cordless Window Treatments Near Newton, MA

If you are ready to upgrade to safer, more convenient cordless window treatments powered by automation, contact our team at Barrows Custom Window Treatments today. Our Barrows Consultants are here to guide you through selecting, customizing, and installing your new blinds, shades, and shutters—ensuring that your home is safe and stylish.

Should I Inside or Outside Mount Roman Shades?

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 13:56:42 GMT

Whether you are updating a traditional home or creating a modern, minimalist space, choosing between an inside mount or outside mount for your Roman shades is an important decision. At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we understand the nuances of these choices. Our Barrows Consultants and Barrows Installers are here to help you make the best decision for your home and your window shape in Newton, Massachusetts and the greater Boston metropolitan area.

Inside Mount Roman Shades: A Sleek, Clean Look

Inside mount Roman shades are installed within the window frame, providing a sleek, tailored appearance. This option is ideal for those who prefer a clean, uncluttered look, as the shades sit flush with the window, highlighting the architectural features of the frame.

Pros:
Minimalist Aesthetic: Inside mount Roman shades create a streamlined look that is perfect for modern or contemporary interiors.
Space-Saving: Because the shades are mounted inside the frame, they don't take up additional space on the wall.
Light Control: With an inside mount, the shades fit closely to the window, reducing light leakage around the edges.

Cons:
Window Depth Requirement: Not all windows are suitable for inside mounts, as they require a specific depth within the frame for proper installation.

Outside Mount Roman Shades: Bold and Functional

Outside mount Roman shades are installed on the wall or molding outside the window frame. This option offers a bold, dramatic look and is especially beneficial for windows with shallow frames or unique shapes.

Pros:
Increased Light Control: Outside mount Roman shades cover the entire window and frame, reducing light gaps and providing better light control.
Illusion of Larger Windows: By extending the shades beyond the window frame, you create the illusion of larger windows, which can be especially effective in smaller rooms.
Versatile Installation: Outside mounts can be installed on virtually any window, regardless of depth or shape, making them a flexible option for various window types.

Cons:
More Wall Space Required: Because the shades extend beyond the window frame, they require more wall space, which may only suit some room's layout.

Choosing the Right Mount for Your Modern Roman Blinds

When deciding between an inside or outside mount for your modern Roman blinds, consider the overall design of your room, the dimensions of your windows, and the level of light control you desire.

For homes in Newton and throughout the Boston metropolitan area, Barrows Custom Window Treatments offers consultations to help you make the right choice.

Contact Us for Modern Roman Blinds

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, our Barrows Consultants offer a wide range of options tailored to your home's unique needs. Our Barrows Installers will make sure your window treatments are added to your home to best suit your space.

Serving the Boston metropolitan area, including Middlesex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Plymouth, Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, and Worcester Counties, we provide top-notch service and professional installation to ensure your Roman shades, blinds, and shutters are perfectly fitted and styled to enhance your home.

Contact us today to request a consultation and discover the best mounting option for your window treatments and find a shade, blind, or shutter you’ll love.

Styling Modern Shades for Spring Retreats

Thu, 14 Mar 2024 07:51:25 GMT

Now that winter is on its way out and the days are getting longer, homeowners across Massachusetts are readying their homes for the most active times of the year: spring and summer. Preparing your spring retreat with seasonal cleaning and home improvement upgrades is a great way to start the year off right—so why not begin with updating your window treatments with options that let the light illuminate your space for the season?

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we offer a variety of light-loving custom window treatments with unique options that deliver enhanced performance and take your home out of those winter doldrums. If you’re looking to reinvigorate your home for 2024, these window coverings are a way to upgrade your interior design with the ultimate accessory—great light control and views with the help of Hunter Douglas.

Refresh Your Sunroom or Patio with Silhouette® Shades

Hunter Douglas Silhouette® Sheer Shades are like a breath of fresh air for your windows. Silhouette® Sheer Shades are a unique combination of two sheer panels with functional S-shaped vanes suspended in between them like blinds, softening unwanted glare and filtering natural light and harmful UV rays. This spring, use them to create an airy lightness in your rooms. Opt for over 150 unique color and fabric choices, like a soothing neutral tone or soft pastel shade to complement spring’s palette. Earthy tones can also harmonize with the budding nature outdoors. You can even combine Silhouette® shades with drapes in a heavier fabric to add dimension and versatile light control options to your windows.

Light Control: Silhouette® Sheer Shades provide precise light control. The soft vanes can be adjusted to let in the perfect amount of sunlight, protecting your furniture from UV rays while illuminating your space.
Privacy: Despite their sheer nature, these shades offer privacy with the option to close the vanes for full or partial view-through without exposing your interior.

Modern Shades on a Convenient Roller

If you’re looking for modern shades with convenient control and excellent view-through, the clean lines and practicality of Designer Solar Shades from Hunter Douglas make them a perfect complement to your home, especially in sunrooms, patios, and kitchens. These window treatments protect your interiors and belongings from UV damage like fading or discoloring—plus, they look great in your windows and open up your home for the season. These shades help you embrace a minimalist look that focuses on simplicity and elegance. Keep things sleek and contemporary with a monochrome or neutral palette or introduce a pop of color that can easily be switched out with new shades for another season.

UV Protection: Designer Solar Shades offer excellent protection against harmful UV rays, which can fade furniture, flooring, and art.
Temperature Control: These shades reduce solar heat gain, keeping your space comfortably cool and reducing air conditioning costs.
Better Views: Over 5 different opacity options help to maintain your view of the outside while shielding your eyes from direct sunlight.

Enjoy The Refined Look of Natural Weaves

Modern, architectural, and always stylish, Roman shades add elegance to your space with their fabric folds. When you combine the utility of Roman shades with natural and refined weaves from the Alustra Collection®, you can enjoy this modern look with the craftsmanship and texture of natural fibers when you upgrade to Hunter Douglas Alustra® Woven Textures® Roman Shades . With over 70 sheer, semi-sheer and semi-opaque fabric options, they transition well from the bright daylight to cozy evenings. Match these modern shades with bohemian decor elements like wicker, patterned throws, and potted plants for a relaxed, chic vibe. You can embrace the warmer weather with shades that have earthy or neutral tones which pair well with top treatments and wood accents.

Rich Textures: The unique weaves of the Alustra Collection® of fabrics offer a unique tactile experience that adds depth to any room.
Light Filtration: Effortlessly diffuse light to create a warm, inviting ambiance while maintaining privacy.

Contact Us For Modern Shades This Spring

As you prepare your home for the year ahead, our team at Barrows Custom Window Treatments is here with window treatments that give your home functional benefits and add a sense of renewal, lightness, and natural beauty to your space. Take time to assess your interior design, consider the direction of natural light, and let your personal style shine through as we help you select from our collection of stylish, modern shades, blinds, shutters, and more from Hunter Douglas.

Contact us online or give us a call at (617) 964-4580 to learn more and schedule your consultation at our Newton, MA showroom! We are proud to work with clients across Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood, MA, and we look forward to working with you.

What Are the Best Blinds for Large Windows?

Tue, 30 Jan 2024 12:02:42 GMT

Every homeowner dreams of expansive wall-to-wall windows that let in bountiful rays of sun and give way to breathtaking views. But what many people see as an ideal feature can also be a troublesome area in a home. Finding the best vertical blinds for large windows can be tricky, but our Hunter Douglas certified team at Barrows Custom Window Treatments makes it easy!

Big Considerations in Blinds for Large Windows

If you’re shopping at a big box store, large windows pose a few potential difficulties when sourcing blinds, shades, sheers, and drapes in the proper dimensions. Compared to standard windows, which are usually taller than they are wide, broad windows are often wider than tall. Traditional window treatments do not fit these alternative measurements, so homeowners must search for specific blinds for large windows.

Additionally, expansive windows may also cause potential heating and cooling issues. Vulnerable points around the home, such as windows and doors, are especially prone to drafts and energy loss. Increasing the size of these areas also increases the potential for inconsistent energy usage, wasting energy and hiking up your heating and cooling costs. Installing energy-efficient window coverings can help shield these areas against energy loss and keep your home comfortable year-round.

When you work with our Barrows Consultants, we can help you find the perfect custom-sized shades and blinds for your large windows that keep function and efficiency in mind—as well as style.

Modern Blinds for Windows

Traditionally, builders and designers used one specific window treatment for every home with large windows. You know the one—long, flimsy strips of white plastic attached to a metal tracking above the window. Aesthetically infuriating, barely functional, and prone to breakage, this tired window treatment is finally making its way out of the mainstream design world and allowing sleeker, more modern styles to take place. Say goodbye to outdated plastic and hello to chic sheers and luxe panels when you check out the options we have in store!

Check Out These Shades and Blinds for Large Windows

Hunter Douglas is the leading name for modern, designer window treatments. Specializing in high-end finishes, bespoke designs, and unbeatable quality, Hunter Douglas is the most trusted name in the window treatment industry! As a Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer, Barrows Custom Window Treatments is excited to help you discover your ideal Hunter Douglas blinds for large windows.

Skyline® Panel-Track Blinds

Do you love clean lines and modern aesthetics? Skyline® Panel-Track Blinds offer modern vertical panels that add an effortless and relaxed elegance to any space. Whether you live in a high-rise in the city center or a charming house in the suburbs, these chic window treatments will look fantastic in any space—plus, they can be used as room dividers in large, open-concept spaces to create a cozy sense of privacy for any occasion.

Luminette® Sheer Panels

Crafted for those wanting consistent design elements throughout their home, Luminette® Sheers Panels are a vertical solution with integrated vanes to control light and privacy . Luminette® Sheer Panels are made from luxuriously soft translucent fabrics to cast your home in a serene, sunlit glow. Plus, with UV protection, these shades will protect your interiors and belongings from any fading, discoloring, or other ill effects from the sun—an added bonus in spaces where light is at a premium.

Cadence® Vertical Blinds

If you admire the soft beauty of drapery but love the functionality of blinds, then Cadence® Vertical Blinds are ideal for you! Soft fabric or vinyl vanes hang loosely to mimic the folds of luxurious drapes. A special headrail allows for a wide range of movement and adjustable light control. Ask your Barrows Consultant about Cadence® Vertical Blinds for your large windows or sliding glass doors!

Contact Us to Find the Perfect Modern Blinds for Your Large Windows

Contact our team at Barrows Custom Window Treatments to learn more about how we can customize the perfect shades or blinds for your large windows. Our team has helped Boston Metro Area and Cape Cod residents discover their favorite window coverings for over 55 years. Visit our Newton, MA showroo m to experience the Barrows difference!

We work with clients in Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood, MA, and we look forward to helping you find the perfect fit for your home. Give us a call at (617) 964-4580 to learn more.

Choose Innovative Banded Window Shades from Hunter Douglas

Mon, 06 Nov 2023 12:12:32 GMT

Fall and winter brings the extension of evening hours, a cooling trend coming out of the humidity and heat of a New England summer. And while we all want to welcome the coming festive holiday season, we also want to maximize the amount of that warm, natural sunlight coming into our homes, especially as it gets darker outside earlier in the day.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we know how the smart use of innovative window treatments like banded window shades or sheer shades can let in lots of natural light, but in an intentional manner.

This fall and winter season, upgrade your home with innovative shades that mimic the look of blinds but offer unique functionality with the addition of sheer fabric panels. Enjoy the daytime sun and clear views or evening privacy with options from the nation’s leading window treatment brand, Hunter Douglas.

Shades with Innovative Light Control

Designer Banded Shades

Looking for view-through visibility, light control, and privacy all in one window treatment? Hunter Douglas Designer Banded Shades , sometimes also called zebra shades, are a type of banded window shade that offers all three of these benefits, while bringing a chic modern look and strong linear design to your windows.

Featuring an innovative design with alternating sheer and solid fabric bands, their solid textiles block light while the sheer slats filter the sun’s UV rays for a range of interior lighting options that can be seamlessly transitioned between light and privacy thanks to this treatment’s roller shade base that makes operation effortless.

The operating style also makes banded shades ideal for large windows, as they can handle both the size and the extra sunlight that exceptionally tall or broad windows let in to your home.

Banded window shades can also be used on bay or corner windows, as well as patio doors, for protection and light control anywhere the sun streams into your home.

Hunter Douglas Designer Banded Shades can be upgraded to a motorized operating system with PowerView® Automation . This automated system makes controlling light at home both more precise and more convenient with the Pebble® remote, the PowerView® app, or when paired with your smart home devices for convenient control anywhere.

Hunter Douglas Sheer Shades

Like with banded window shades, sheer shades from Hunter Douglas offer innovative light control through the use of both translucent and opaque materials. In their case, soft sheer material is the base with adjustable opaque fabric vanes attached to sheer panels. The sheer materials diffuse sunlight while the opaque fabrics deflect or absorb it, and the result is interior illumination that’s welcoming and highly controlled.

In this way, our sheer shadings are like banded window shades in that they excel at harmonizing beautiful views, balancing privacy and light control to create comfortable and welcoming home environments.

The Hunter Douglas Buy More, Save More Event is happening now, until December 5 ^th , 2023! Call us today to find out more about how you can save on Pirouette® Sheer Shades & Silhouette® Sheer Shades with PowerView® Automation when you upgrade with Barrows Custom Window Treatments.

Operating Systems

In addition to sheer shades and banded window shades that offer innovative light control, Hunter Douglas also has several advanced operating systems that can manage the amount of light and privacy in your home.

Create internal illumination tailored to your individual household needs. The advantage of these state-of-the-art operating systems is that they are compatible with several different styles of window treatments.

Duolite®: An inventive design for window shades that combines two roller shades onto a single roller unit. The front shade filters light, the back shade blocks it, and together they create a treatment with exceptional room-darkening abilities. Duolite® is available on select styles of cellular honeycomb shades , woven shades, Roman shades, and roller shades .

Top-Down/Bottom-Up: Increase the number of ways your shades can allow (or block) light with an operating system that can operate from the Top-Down or Bottom-Up. This system allows shades to be opened from the bottom up in the traditional way or the shade can also be lowered down from the top for multi-directional movement. More options for movement equate to a more well-rounded ability to control light. The Top-Down/Bottom-Up system is available on select styles of woven wood shades , cellular honeycomb shades, and Roman shades by Hunter Douglas.

Contact Us for Innovative Banded Window Shades near Newton, MA

When you work with our Barrows Consultants, our Hunter Douglas certified team can help you find the perfect innovative light control solutions for your home.

Request a consultation or visit the showroom near Newton, Massachusetts to learn more about the full selection of blinds, shades, shutters, and automation options from America’s leading brand ing window treatments.

Barrows Custom Window Treatments serves the greater Boston area and Cape Cod, helping residents in Cambridge, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Westwood, and Newton find the best custom window treatments for their home. We look forward to working with you!

Save Energy this Year with Custom Window Treatments

Fri, 13 Oct 2023 11:01:05 GMT

Fall in the greater Boston area can only mean one thing: winter is coming. Your home is your sanctuary away from the cool and wet weather, but your heating system must work overtime to keep things warm and toasty.

This year, ease the strain on your HVAC by installing new energy-efficient window treatments from Hunter Douglas. At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we’ve been serving homes in the Boston Metro area and Cape Cod for over 55 years, and when it’s time to hunker down for the winter weather, we know that the best way to stay cozy is when you have a well-insulated home with the help of honeycomb cellular shades that stop energy loss at the source all year long.

Stop Energy Loss at the Source

While investing in well-insulated walls plays an important role in keeping your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter, insulation should only be one piece of your weather-proofing plan. As much as 30% of your home’s heating and cooling costs can escape through your windows and doors.

Even double- or triple-paned windows are not enough to prevent your nice, warm air from seeping outside and the cool fall and winter weather from coming in. Add custom window treatments, like honeycomb blinds and light filtering shades, to your windowscape to save on heating costs this fall and winter.

Upgrading to Closed Cell Blinds

When you imagine a bee’s nest, what do you picture? If you were to cut one open, you would find that nearly all bee species build their nests by molding wax into repeating hexagons. Nature often inspires human creation, and a bee’s affinity for hexagons is no exception. Hexagons offer the most surface area out of any simple shape, making them ideal for construction, sound absorption, light filtration, energy efficiency, and more.

Honeycomb blinds or cellular shades—whatever you call them, these window treatments are one of the most energy-efficient window treatments on the market. These unique shades are explicitly designed to stop energy loss at the source and provide an extra layer of protection at the most vulnerable points in your home: your windows.

Hunter Douglas honeycomb shades are made of rows of hollow hexagons stacked on one another. Because of their high surface area, these cellular shades masterfully trap air from passing through and prevent your meticulously cooled air from escaping through the window. Cellular shades are an ideal way to keep your home cool in the summer and warm in the winter while keeping your energy costs low.

Contact Us to Save On Energy with Window Treatments

Get your home ready for the coldest months of the year with brand-new Hunter Douglas window treatments from Barrows Custom Window Treatments. Our knowledgeable team of Barrows Consultants is prepared to help you save this fall! Check out our promotions to learn about how you can save up to $1,200 when you upgrade to energy efficient window treatments this year.

Stop by our showroom located at 365 Boylston St. Newton, MA, 02459 , give us a call at (617) 964-4580 , or contact us online to schedule an appointment to learn more.

Barrows Custom Window Treatments is locally owned and operated. We proudly serve Newton, MA and the surrounding areas, including Cambridge, Wellesley, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood, Massachusetts.

Automate Your Home with Hunter Douglas

Mon, 18 Sep 2023 08:36:00 GMT

Smart home automation has been one of the most interesting interior design trends in recent years. This new technology creates opportunities for homes to become more accessible and user-friendly for a wider variety of homeowners. Whether you choose to integrate a smart assistant, a wireless thermostat, or voice-controlled lights into your home, one easy way to upgrade your home with the latest technology is by trying motorized blinds and shades with Hunter Douglas PowerView® Automation from Barrows Custom Window Treatments.

Motorized Blinds 101

Motorization works on shades, blinds, and shutters of many shapes and sizes. There isn’t one singular type of way to use these enhanced window treatments, which means you have the freedom to find a style and control method that fits your needs and your aesthetic .

Hunter Douglas offers three main operating systems with PowerView® Automation.

The Pebble® Remote

If you like having a physical handheld remote to operate your new motorized shades, then the Pebble® remote is perfect. This small device is about the size of your palm and can wirelessly control up to six of your blinds, shades, sheers, or curtains. It comes in several colors and can be mounted on the wall for convenience.

The PowerView® App

Opt for the PowerView® app if you’d prefer to control your automated window treatments right from your phone or tablet. The PowerView® app offers multiple innovative features, like:

A simple dashboard where you can see which shades are open and closed around the houses.
A customizable control panel that offers you the ability to raise and lower your shades, blinds, curtains, or sheers.
The ability to schedule your window treatments to open and close at pre-programmed times throughout the day, such as sunrise and sunset
The ability to adjust your window treatments even when you’re not at home

The PowerView® Gateway

By far the most modern operating system we offer, the PowerView® Gateway connects all of your motorized window treatments and acts as a range extender, allowing you to manage your entire home from one convenient location. Plus, the Gateway allows you to integrate your operating system with your favorite smart home assistant, which means you can control your window treatments with your voice or anywhere in the world with Remote Connect™!

Enjoy the Minimalist Aesthetic Blinds with Motorization Provide

Motorized window treatments are as beautiful as they are functional. Adding PowerView® Automation to your shades means you no longer need the unsightly cords attached to your blinds or shades. No one likes the look of dangling strings. Make your windows look neater by removing those out-of-place control wands and strings in favor of an automated operating system!

In addition to being unsightly, the long and dangling strings found on traditional blinds are also a significant safety hazard for families with small children and pets. You and your family’s safety is paramount, so invest in a safer home by switching to motorized window treatments.

Motorized Blinds at Barrows Custom Window Treatments

To learn more about motorized window treatments amplified by automation, stop by our showroom located at 365 Boylston St. Newton, MA, 02459 , give us a call at (617) 964-4580 , or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

Barrows Custom Window Treatments is locally owned and operated. We proudly serve Beverly and the surrounding area, including Newton, Cambridge, Wellesley, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood, Massachusetts.

Custom Window Treatments near Beverly, MA

Mon, 12 Dec 2022 13:52:19 GMT

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we take the "custom" part of our name very seriously. We offer a collection of window treatments in dozens of different styles, including blinds, shutters, shades, and drapes. Each window covering can be fully customized with the materials, colors, patterns, opacities, and sizes you need. Our professional team will even measure your windows to ensure a perfect fit. Once your fully customized window covering has been completed, our installation team will help you get the blinds, shades, shutters, or drapes set up in your home. You can also count on us for service during the lifetime of your window treatment. We love helping each of our customers find the products of their dreams.

Why We Love Beverly, Massachusetts

The Barrows Custom Window Treatments team was pleased to expand our service area into Beverly . This allowed us to experience everything this historic and beautiful Massachusetts town has to offer. The city is home to a wealth of arts and culture establishments, including the 301 Gallery, Clay Dreaming Pottery Studio, The Cabot theater, Larcom Performing Arts Theatre, North Shore Music Theatre, and so much more. For those who prefer spending time outside, you can visit the Lynch Park Rose Garden, Independence Park, or Dane Street Beach. There is always something interesting happening downtown, and we are thrilled to provide the window coverings that the homes and businesses in Beverly need.

Reviews From Customers Near Beverly, MA

It is always our goal to ensure every customer receives top-tier products and services. That is why we have so many positive reviews.

Familia M.

★★★★★ They were very helpful and on top of everything. They have a huge selection of materials and styles. The blinds were finish couple weeks earlier than we expected. They were on time for the installation, work fast and very professional. It was an easy and painless process.

Linda M.

★★★★★ In a word, they are extraordinary. Their products are high quality and their sales staff are remarkably personable and helpful (I am clueless when it comes to selecting window treatments and they immediately got to the core of what I needed and chose the right products.) And when a shade came in that did not look the way I expected, they graciously offered to re-do it for me. Can't recommend them highly enough.

Judith G.

★★★★★ Barrows installed seven Hunter Douglas shades in our bedroom. We were extremely pleased with the design, ordering, and installation. In particular, we had unusual shaped windows and found a vendor that could manufacture shades for those windows. Barrows was willing to work with the vendor and secure and install the shades. Everything occurred flawlesslly. We would highly recommend them.

Susan L.

★★★★★ Total pleasure to work with! Besides great products the service is fantastic. Excellent follow up and communication. Matt was wonderful and helpful as were the installation crew and the staff… shout out to Virginia! But all were lovely to work with. Thank you Barrows for a very pleasant experience not to mention the beautiful shades in our home.

Contact Us For Window Treatments Near Beverly, MA

Barrows Custom Window Treatments is proud to be Beverly, Massachusetts' go-to window treatment company. Our showroom allows you to see, feel, and operate full-size samples of every one of our Hunter Douglas window treatments. Whether you are looking for blinds, shutters, drapes, or shades, we have a selection that will match your needs and sense of style.

As a full-service company, we do more than help you select your window treatments; we professionally measure your windows, ensure the window coverings you've chosen are a good fit for style and function, and our installation team makes sure each blind, shutter, shade, and drapery is fully functioning.

You can check out our recent projects to see our amazing window treatments in action. Stop by our showroom, which is located at 365 Boylston St. Newton, MA, 02459 , and is open from 9 am to 4 pm, Monday to Friday, and 10 am to 4 pm on Saturdays. You can also call us at (617) 964-4580 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.

Customizations for your Roman Shades

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 07:41:04 GMT

Roman shades are a beautiful window treatment that bridge the gap between ancient history and modern design. At Barrows Custom Window Treatments , Roman blinds are popular for both their look and because, when you consider the different customization options available to make your treatments one-of-a-kind, they can also be some of the most functionally optimal for your household.

Customizations for modern Roman shades include upgrades to the efficiency and style of operating systems, a greater range in fabric choices including designer lines, and the addition of light-filtering liners that improve the shade’s room-darkening abilities. Hunter Douglas makes several styles of Roman shades including:

Vignette® Modern Roman Shades

Each style has unique features and options for customization due to their varied designs, so choosing which shades you want may depend on which features and which customizations prove to be the most desirable for your household, from black out shades to light defusing panels and more.

Top Customizations for Roman Shades

1. Motorization

The top customization for Roman shades is something you can’t even see immediately-motorization. Automatic shades are precise in their movements and extremely easy to use, so they are great on all types of windows around the house, including hard to reach windows. PowerView® Automation from Hunter Douglas is available on Vignette® Modern Roman Shades , and the motorized system has several options for user-friendly interfaces including a handheld remote, wall unit, online app, and integration into smart-home systems. Upgrading from a manual Roman shade to a motorized window treatment with automated options for control is an upgrade to functionality that makes life easier on a daily basis.

2. Fabric Choice

Roman shades are a fabric-forward treatment, and so one the most visible upgrades available for new shades is in the fabric choice. The renowned author and textile designer has curated a collection for Hunter Douglas that showcases what Atwood is best known for: her striking use of pattern and color. Atwood’s two books, Living with Color and Living with Pattern, discuss using color and pattern in interior décor and her fabrics bring those lessons home. Roman shades customized with Atwood designer fabrics are exclusive from Hunter Douglas.

3. Backings and Liners

Roman shades can be customized with light-filtering or light-blocking liners that change the functional versatility of shades as well as the way the color and print of the fabric reads. Unlined Roman shades in rich primary hues or detailed prints become even more vibrant in sunlight, or by adding a liner, those same shades can then become suited for blocking light. Vignette® Modern Roman Shades can also be upgraded to Vignette® Duolite® Roman Shades that incorporate two treatments, one light-filtering and one room-darkening, into a single window shade, so that the overall treatment can control light on several different levels. Duolite® Roman shades are great especially in rooms that serve multiple purposes throughout the day, like the bedroom, because they can be flexible and responsive to different residential needs and lighting situations.

Let the window treatment experts at Barrows Custom Window Treatments help you find the best style of Roman shade for your home and customize it to suit your personal tastes and lifestyle needs. With designer fabrics, state-of-the-art automation, and light-controlling treatments, the Hunter Douglas collection of Roman shades are window treatments that can work in so many ways in your home.

Barrows Custom Window Treatments serves the greater Boston area, Cambridge, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, and Westwood, MA. R equest a consultation or stop by our location near Newton, Massachusetts, today.

Modern Sheer Shades

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 09:36:43 GMT

Light, open, airy—modern sheer shades refresh indoor spaces with their graceful opacities, translucent fabrics, and striking one-of-a-kind looks. Sheer shades diffuse direct light to create soft illumination and the combination of diaphanous textiles and opaque fabrics produces window fashions with depth, texture, and visual intrigue all showcased in natural light.

The contemporary styles of modern Hunter Douglas sheer shades are engineered with state-of-the-art features, so the window treatments look good and maintain optimal performance for easy, convenient use. Hunter Douglas makes 3 lines of modern sheer shades:

Pirouette® Window Shadings: Turning with the grace of a dancer, Pirouette® Window Shadings tilt from completely open with nearly unimpeded views to completely shut with blackout levels of darkening for a full range of light-control and privacy.
Silhouette® Window Shadings: The signature s-shaped vanes of Silhouette® Window Shadings give this style of modern sheer shade both its unmatched light control and the treatment’s soft, flowing aesthetic
Luminette® Privacy Sheers: A good marriage of design has a balance of features that enhances each other, and with Luminette® Privacy Sheers it’s the mix of the rich feel of fabric drapery and precise maneuverability of vertical blinds that creates a sublimely versatile window treatment.

When you bring modern sheer shades from Hunter Douglas into your home, you bring in their many attributes as well. Modern sheer shades can not only match but also enhance your décor; they can increase your comfort at home by improving privacy and light control; and they come with the latest design features and upgrades, so you get shades that are stylish, easy to use, and a real benefit to your home and its occupants on a daily basis.

Contemporary Style

Many modern interior design styles tend toward clean lines and minimalistic embellishments, which is in line with the forms of sheer shades. And the translucent materials that allow in natural light to enhance décor styles, natural elements, and light motifs. Even the neutral color palette of many modern sheer shades lends itself to contemporary styles. Modern, earthy tones are easily incorporated in more traditional styles as well.

View-Through Light Control and Privacy

The modern sheer shades allows for homeowners to simultaneous enjoy the comfort of privacy and light control (provided by the opaque vanes in sheer shades) along with the beauty of view-through visibility and natural illumination (thanks to the sheer materials in the window treatment). Together, this pairing of features helps to transform your space with maneuverability—allow these sheer shades to create utterly private and completely dark spaces or open them up for partial to full light penetration with a view.

High-Tech Features

All 3 styles of Hunter Douglas sheer shades including Pirouette® Window Shadings, Silhouette® Window Shadings, and Luminette® Privacy Sheers can be upgraded to motorized shades with PowerView® Automation for state-of-the-art performance. PowerView® Automation is the ultimate operating system for those looking for precision, convenience, and control. And with a variety of user-friendly interfaces to choose from, PowerView® Automation can be customized to best suit your personal tastes or lifestyle needs. Choose from a handheld remote control or easy to use wall unit or access modern sheer shades through the PowerView® App that lets you maneuver shades individual or schedule programmable scenes for entire rooms or floors. PowerView® Automation can also be linked to smart-home systems so that your modern sheer shades can be controlled by simple voice command.

Come in to the showroom at Barrows Custom Window Treatments near Newton, Massachusetts, to see, feel, and experience Hunter Douglas sheer shades or contact them to arrange for a free quote and discuss the benefits of new modern sheer shades in your home. Barrows Custom Window Treatments serves the Boston metro area and Eastern Massachusetts including the communities of Cambridge, Wellesley, Weston, and Newton, MA.

Adding Custom Roller Shades by Hunter Douglas

Fri, 25 Feb 2022 17:01:27 GMT

It’s always a great feeling to really “wow” people when you invite them into your home. At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, our family has spent 55 years serving Eastern Massachusetts, and we know that making your home look better is a lot easier when you find the right window treatments for each room. If you’re still not sure which window treatments would be best for improving the spaces you want to upgrade, you should ask our talented team.

Best Living Room and Bedroom Roller Shades

One category of window treatment system we carry is custom roller shades from Hunter Douglas. When you explore the different styles and options of roller shades we have available, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with the possibilities you discover, like out Designer Roller Shades. Simple, classic and elegant, Hunter Douglas roller shades offer a clean, contemporary look at the window and roll up to showcase fully unobstructed views.

One of the best newly available features of Designer Roller Shades is the Duolite® system. While you can get an attached liner for your roller shades for room-darkening, you can also add an independent liner. The Duolite® liner lowers behind your main set of shades to give you a second way to diffuse light. And since it operates from the same head rail as your normal shades, your window treatments will look neat and uncluttered.

Check out your options for texture and style in the Alustra® Woven Textures® collection. This exclusive assortment of global and sustainably sourced fabrics shows off skilled weaves and upscale materials, resulting in a genuine feeling of luxury perfect when paired with Designer Roller Shades. Offering crisp style and a precise fit onto your windows, these custom shades work wonderfully with a splash of texture. And thanks to the sleek head rail, you’ll enjoy a modern look and easy shade adjustment.

Best Kitchen and Bathroom Roller Shades

Enjoying your bathroom to its fullest potential means integrating your perfect sense of style along with getting the privacy you need. And when you explore custom roller shades from Hunter Douglas, you’ll find that you can get all of this along with stunning natural light.

The Designer Banded Shades offer a distinctive look thanks to their banded shape, which also serves a very important function. These shades feature both light-filtering fabric and opaque fabric bands on two panels. This lets you quickly switch light modes by moving the bands slightly. When letting filtered light inside through the sheer fabric, you can rest assured knowing you’ll still get privacy during the day. This sheer and solid combination of fabric bands allows the shade to transition seamlessly from open to closed, providing a modern solution for view-through, light control and privacy.

Best Dining Room Roller Shades

Designer Screen Shades are available in varying levels of opacity—giving you control over how much light comes through. Having a great view is an essential aspect of any dining room, but you may find this a bit tricky during times of the day when the sun can send lots of glare in your eyes. Designer Screen Shades are a perfect solution to this, offering a fantastic view while filtering harsh light and UV rays. You can even add these shades to an outdoor dining area as well since the fabrics are designed for all-weather durability. And they’re environmentally friendly! Made from reclaimed, washed-ashore plastic, our Green screen Sea-Tex™ fabrics are exclusive to Hunter Douglas.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer custom roller shades from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit us today to find the right roller shades for your home!

Adding Motorized Shades to Homes

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 15:53:58 GMT

The possibilities for your windows are only as limited as your imagination when you customize your ideal shades with Hunter Douglas. When you explore the extensive selection of materials and styling options, you’ll find exciting ways to make your shades into a more functional and elegant design statement. But that’s hardly the extent of how you can make your shades fit your unique life. Many collections of Hunter Douglas shades are available with PowerView® Automation so you can improve your home with beautiful and safe motorized shades.

Motorized Living Room Shades

Adding soft window treatments like custom shades is the perfect way to cap off an elegant looking living room. And you can complete your shade design by choosing PowerView® Automation. Your stylish custom shades will look even more perfect when you put them into motion using your phone or your voice.

One great option to choose for motorized living room shades is the Designer Roller Shades collection featuring fabrics from top designers. This sleek style fits tightly into your windows and offers a simple, modern design. The satisfying look of raising your crisp shades is only made better when they move electronically. Imagine simply stepping into your living room and speaking a voice command to watch the sky come into view and natural light be dramatically revealed in front of you. You can make this part of your daily morning routine when you add motorized shades to your home windows.

Motorized Bathroom Shades

The custom shades you pick for your bathroom should help you get the privacy you need to enjoy your time of relaxation in your bath or to get your day started right as you freshen up. Vignette® Modern Roman Shades are a great choice for modern bathrooms thanks to the smooth textures and elegant fabric folds. This luxurious look and soft feel help balance out hard tile and you can add a splash of color by choosing the right tone to match or compliment your bathroom shades.

Adding motorization only makes your bathroom better. With Vignette® Modern Roman Shades, you can adjust your shades from the top down or from the bottom up, giving you ample options for privacy while still getting natural light into the space. Getting just the right level of light and privacy is even easier when you have motorized shades you can adjust with your voice.

Motorized Bedroom Shades

Choosing soft shades to your bedroom windows could be the missing piece to your bedroom decor, especially with custom motorized shades. Duette® Honeycomb Shades are ideal for helping you feel comfortable in your room while creating a peaceful feel with sound-dampening. You can choose PowerView® Automation with these shades to effortlessly close your shades every night. And when you wake up, you can open your windows with a simple voice command — or just use the scheduling feature to have your shades wake you up with bright sunshine.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer a great selection of custom motorized shades from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit us today to find the right motorized shades for your home!

Smooth Control with Motorized Blinds

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 17:37:58 GMT

The latest upgrade for home window treatments is innovative motorized operating systems. The modern systems utilize advancements in motorization and engineering to optimize home window treatments to be more functionally precise without taking away from or compromising the visual aesthetics. Motorized blinds are one popular style of motorized window treatment whose features and benefits are enhanced by the smooth movement and easy control of motorized operating systems.

Benefits of Motorized Blinds

Wondering how motorized blinds might enhance your home? Read on to learn about the benefits of motorized blinds and how they can make a household more energy efficient with less effort and enhanced safety features.

Precise Movement for Heightened Efficiency: Get maximum performance from your blinds by motorizing them. Motorized blinds move precisely and promptly, increasing the benefits that homeowners experience, like light control and energy efficiency.
Easy, Convenient Use: Motorized blinds are easy to use because they can be controlled with a fingertip. With the press of a button (or in some cases via voice command), motorized blinds can be opened or shut, and even hard-to-reach or difficult to maneuver treatments are made easy and convenient to use.
Child-Safe Treatments: Motorizing the operation of blinds can help create more child-friendly window treatments because the motorization negates the use of hanging cords traditionally used in manual operating systems. Motorized blinds that are cord-free are also free of the strangulation hazard that those loose cords pose to young children and small pets. So by upgrading to motorized blinds, homeowners create safer indoor environments for all household members.

PowerView® Automation

PowerView® is a state-of-the-art automated operating system for motorized window treatments. The innovative design ensures easy and precise movement for motorized blinds, and its ability to blend into your household routine is seamless. PowerView® has a user-friendly interface that includes a handheld remote, wall-mounted control panel, online app, or integration into a home assistant or smart home system. PowerView® can be controlled with an easy touch of a button or voice command, or PowerView® shades can be automated on a schedule synchronized to household routines or solar movements throughout the day.

PowerView® Compatible Blinds

The PowerView® system is compatible with a wide range of Hunter Douglas window coverings, including soft shades and hard window treatments like blinds and shutters. When seeking motorized blinds, four types by Hunter Douglas can be upgraded with PowerView® Automation:

Other styles of vertical blinds, including Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds and Vertical Solutions® Vertical Blinds, are available with the Vertical Motorized System by Hunter Douglas with remote or wall-mounted interfaces.

Learn more about upgrading to new motorized blinds by contacting Barrows Custom Window Treatments. Their talented design team plus a vast inventory of Hunter Douglas blinds makes Barrows Custom Window Treatments near Newton, Massachusetts, the go-to shop for all motorized blinds. Barrows Custom Window Treatments serves the greater Boston area, including Cambridge, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Westwood, and Newton, MA. Request a consultation today.

Revive Interiors with Kitchen Window Coverings

Fri, 19 Nov 2021 17:50:07 GMT

It is a great time of year to update interior décor since soon colder temperatures will keep us inside more. Kitchen window coverings refresh décor and can make a huge impact on the style and feel of a room because of their prominent visual placement and their effect on natural light. There are several styles of kitchen window coverings and operating systems from Hunter Douglas that are ideal for the unique challenges that a kitchen environment places on décor and furnishings, including shutters, custom drapery, and certain styles of operating systems.

Shutters: Fresh breeze, natural illumination, and privacy: three features that together make shutters ideal kitchen window coverings. Hunter Douglas plantation shutters not only all have this trio of features, but they also have the best of natural and enhanced materials for durable, long-lasting treatments that require minimal maintenance.

Heritance® Hardwood Shutters: Heritance® Hardwood Shutters are made from genuine basswood or poplar available in a range of natural wood finishes and colored stains for high-end, real wood shutters resilient enough to stand up to life in a kitchen.
Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters: The innovative Polysatin material in Palm Beach Shutters has been engineered to be both UV and moisture resistant, perfect for the rigors of kitchen life.
NewStyle® Hybrid Shutters: Perfect for busy kitchens, the hybrid NewStyle® plantation shutter combines a wood composite material co-extruded with a polypropylene coating for ultra-durable kitchen window coverings that will last even with heavy daily use.

Custom Drapery & Curtains: Though heavy, floor-to-ceiling drapes may not be appropriate for a kitchen, there are many other styles of tailored drapery, curtains , and side panels that work wonderfully as kitchen window coverings. Lighter fabrics, including semi-opaque textiles and translucent sheers, keep kitchen curtains feeling light with custom lengths that can be individually cut to fit your windows precisely.

Café Curtains: Often made of lightweight, semi-sheer fabrics, café curtains are the sleekest version of drapery covering only the lower portion of a window. They provide basic privacy and light control but don’t infringe on the kitchen space, often at a premium. Café curtains are also easy to take down and clean, which is important in kitchen window coverings because of the oils and spices used in cooking and the heavy overall use of the room on a day-to-day basis.
Side Panels: If privacy isn’t a primary concern in your kitchen, consider the opening effect that side panels create. Windows with side panels maintain their view enhanced by stylish fabric treatments that frame the space helping to draw the eye and adding finishing touches so that even though uncovered, the window still feels dressed and polished.

Top-Down/Bottom-Up Soft Treatments: The Top-Down/Bottom-Up system from Hunter Douglas is a game-changer in terms of light control and versatility. By allowing soft window shades to open from the top or bottom of the window, the system effectively doubles a shade’s usability. In kitchens, an ultra-versatile treatment is worthwhile since conditions in the room need to change throughout the day to meet various needs and uses. Top-Down/ Bottom-Up systems are available on several styles of kitchen window coverings from Hunter Douglas, including:

Alustra® Woven Textures®
Applause® Honeycomb Shades
Duette® Honeycomb Shades
Provenance® Woven Wood Shades
Vignette® Modern Roman Shades

Ready to update your kitchen window coverings? Talk to the Barrows Custom Window Treatments team about shutters, curtains, and state-of-the-art operating systems perfect for modern kitchens. Request a consultation today or visit the Newton location in eastern Massachusetts. Barrows Custom Window Treatments serves the greater Boston area, including Cambridge, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Westwood, and Newton, MA.

Upgrade with Customizations for your Roman Shades

Thu, 14 Oct 2021 14:33:35 GMT

Roman shades are a stand-out window treatment option, but to elevate the ones in your home, consider the different options available for customizations to make your treatments not only one of a kind but also functionally optimal for your household.

Customizations for modern Roman shades include upgrades to the efficiency and style of operating systems, a greater range in fabric choices, including designer lines, and the addition of light-filtering liners that improve the shade’s room-darkening abilities. Hunter Douglas makes several styles of Roman shades, including:

Vignette® Modern Roman Shades

Each style has unique features and options for customization due to its varied designs. Choosing which shades you want depends on which features and which customizations prove to be the most desirable for your household.

Top Customizations for Roman Shades

Motorization: The best customization for Roman shades is something you can’t even see: motorization. Motorized shades are precise in their movements and extremely easy to use, so they are great on all types of windows around the house, including hard-to-reach windows. PowerView® Automation is available on Vignette® Modern Roman Shades . The motorized system has several options for user-friendly interfaces, including a handheld remote, wall unit, online app, and integration into smart-home systems. Upgrading from a manual Roman shade to a motorized one with automated options for control is an upgrade to functionality that makes life easier daily.
Fabric Choice: Roman shades are fabric-forward treatments, and so one of the most visible upgrades available for new shades is in the fabric choice. The Design Studio® collection of high-end fabrics from Hunter Douglas includes hundreds of different colors, textiles, and prints to choose from and several lines of designer fabric such as the Rebecca Atwood fabric collection. The renowned author and textile designer have curated a print collection for Hunter Douglas that showcases what Atwood is best known for, her striking use of pattern and color. Learn more about using color and design in interior décor from Atwood’s two books (Living with Color and Living with Pattern), then bring those lessons home with Roman shades customized with Atwood designer fabrics from Hunter Douglas.
Backings and Liners: Roman shades can be customized with light-filtering or light-blocking liners that change the functional versatility of shades and the way the color and print of the fabric reads. Unlined Roman shades in rich primary hues or detailed prints become increasingly vibrant in sunlight, or by adding a liner, those same shades can become more adept at blocking light. Vignette® Modern Roman Shades can also be upgraded to Vignette® Duolite® Roman Shades that incorporate two treatments, one light-filtering, and one room-darkening into a single-window shade. The overall treatment can control light on several different levels. Duolite® Roman shades are great, especially in rooms that serve multiple purposes throughout the day, like the bedroom, because they can be flexible and responsive to different residential needs and lighting situations.

Let the window treatment experts at Barrows Custom Window Treatments help you find the best Roman shade style for your home and customize it to suit your tastes and lifestyle needs. With designer fabrics, state-of-the-art automation, and light-controlling treatments, the Hunter Douglas collection of Roman shades are window treatments that can work in so many ways in your home. Barrows Custom Window Treatments serves the greater Boston area, Cambridge, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, and Westwood, MA. Request a consultation or stop by their location near Newton, Massachusetts, today.

Motorized Window Shades with PowerView® near Newton, MA

Tue, 14 Sep 2021 16:12:35 GMT

Motorization is a fabulous upgrade for home shades and window treatments in commercial or business spaces not only because it makes window treatments easier and more convenient to use, but also because it enhances the unique features of the window treatments themselves for optimal performance and money-saving benefits. PowerView® Automation is a state-of-the-art motorized operating system from Hunter Douglas that is compatible with many styles of window treatments. Two such styles ideally suited to be motorized window shades include cellular honeycomb shades and roller shades as the automated features greatly enhance the return on investment for homeowners and business owners with these styles of shades.

PowerView® Automation with Cellular Honeycomb Shades

One of the most popular features of cellular honeycomb shades is also the primary reason they were designed, energy efficiency. The interior honeycomb structure of cellular shades traps air to create an insulating layer over windows and glass doors helping prevent energy loss. In warm weather that means more air conditioning is kept inside for cooler indoor temperatures; in colder times the insulation keeps the warm in and the cold out for more comfortable interiors. Both ways it saves money by decreasing the amount of pricey energy needed to maintain a comfortable indoor environment. PowerView® Automation helps to maximize the energy efficiency of cellular shades by guaranteeing the shades are adjusted every day, throughout the day with precision and scheduled accuracy for optimal output; meaning that as motorized window shades, cellular shades are cost-saving benefits are increased. PowerView® Automation is available on the following Hunter Douglas cellular honeycomb shades and hybrid honeycomb shades:

Duette® Honeycomb Shades
Applause® Honeycomb Shades
Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades
Solera® Soft Shades

PowerView® Automation with Roller Shades

Roller shades are popular window treatments for residential and commercial buildings because of their sleek profile, adaptability to large windows, and the utter privacy they can afford to interior spaces without sacrificing the use of natural illumination. Thanks to innovative fabrics from Hunter Douglas available on their roller and screen shades , this style of window treatment covers the range of light-control needs. From being able to open completely for maximum exposure to being able to filter light for a warm and welcoming home ambiance or block glare for a productive and safe work environment, all the way to being able to completely block light for blackout darkness and total privacy; roller shades can do it all. PowerView® Automation, with its user-friendly interfaces, helps owners easily assess and utilize the light-control and privacy features of roller shades. Additionally, PowerView® Automation ensures no shade is left open at night or when it should be closed thanks to programmable scheduling options and accessibility worldwide through the PowerView® App. Thus, ensuring privacy and security is heightened with no extra worry or work for the home or business owner. Hunter Douglas has several styles of roller shades that make great motorized window shades with the upgrade to PowerView® Automation including:

Designer Roller Shades
Alustra® Woven Textures® Roller Shades
Designer Banded Shades
Designer Screen Shades
Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades

Learn more about the benefits of motorized window shades and the uses for PowerView® Automation at home or at the office by contacting the design team at Barrows Custom Window Treatments today to request a consultation . Barrows Custom Window Treatments is located near Newton, Massachusetts, and serves communities in eastern Massachusetts including Boston, Cambridge, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Westwood, and Newton, MA.

Custom Kitchen Window Treatments near Newton, Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood, MA

Thu, 12 Aug 2021 10:48:01 GMT

Finding the right custom window treatments for any room in your home means optimally blending fashion and function. This is especially true in your kitchen, where many people aim to create a warm and inviting atmosphere for guests and their families. However, kitchens also are places where messes are likely and where lots of heat and moisture are generated, which means your decor will need to be practical and durable as well. When you turn to Hunter Douglas, you’ll discover amazing options for custom kitchen window treatments that are just right for your home.

EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds

These sleek custom kitchen blinds use synthetic materials to bring an uncluttered look and long-term durability to your windows. EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds are strong yet lightweight faux wood blinds, which offer flexible light control and modern style for your home. The thin slats elevate your home style with crisp lines while the reflective surface of the vinyl material creates beautiful light. The smooth surface also helps make these blinds perfect for your kitchen since it’s easy to wipe off spills or dust. Additionally, the rigid structure is resistant to warping or bending if you need to scrub anything off. The material itself is also designed to handle heat and moisture without fading, warping, or cracking. Customize your ideal look for your kitchen window treatments by choosing from a variety of realistic wood stains or solid paint colors. You can also choose different slat sizes as well.

Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters

The classic shutter design is perfect for creating a warm, welcoming feeling in your kitchen. Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters bring all of the best elements of this beautiful window treatment style to your home in a look that feels right at home in modern kitchens. The Polysatin™ material gives the louvers impressive strength and rigidity, making it easy to thoroughly clean up messes without damaging your shutters. The smooth surface of these vinyl shutters prevents food particles or dirt from getting trapped as well. Since these custom vinyl shutters are rated for outdoor installation, you can have confidence they won’t yellow, warp, or crack due to heat exposure or humid conditions. You can customize these kitchen window treatments with your choice of four white stain tones and two louver sizes.

Designer Screen Shades

Enjoy a sleek and modern shade with beautiful textures when you choose this sophisticated collection of custom roller shades from Hunter Douglas. Made out of a variety of low-opacity fabrics, Designer Screen Shades are an ideal solution for beautiful style and light in your kitchen. You can enjoy glare-free natural light while also getting daytime privacy and a view of the outdoors. The durable fabric options are designed for your porch, making them easily durable enough to handle your kitchen.

Here at Barrow’s Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer a great selection of custom kitchen window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the right custom kitchen window treatments for your home!

Best Living Room Shades for Homes Near Newton, MA

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:26:00 GMT

No living room is complete without the right window treatments. And when you explore the variety of custom shades from Hunter Douglas, you’ll have a fun time customizing your fabrics, operating systems, and colors for your new living room decor. You’ll also find a few pleasant surprises when you explore the options available for your living room shades.

Designer Roller Shades

Many modern homes, such as homes that adhere to mid-century modern design philosophy, feature minimal lines and rooms with little distinction from each other. For these types of homes with a cleaner layout, you may struggle to find custom shades that don’t interrupt the careful flow of your home.

One great option for a clean and simple style is the Designer Roller Shades collection. Made with a delightfully simple design, your living room shades will provide confident shade whenever you need it without making your windows feel cluttered. Even the head rail is designed for subtlety, helping to keep your home feeling serene.

If you really want to keep your shades as minimal as possible, you need to look into PowerView® Automation. With no need for adjustment cords, your shades will look sleek and fresh.

Provenance® Woven Wood Shades

Woven wood shades can enhance the style of any home thanks to a variety of custom options for your preferred weave style, color, and opacity. Offered in a sleek and simple shape, the Provenance® Woven Woods Shades style is another great choice for modern homes where you’ll want to maintain an uncluttered look. Thanks to the organic materials and beautifully woven fabric, you’ll be able to balance out your style with dynamic textures.

The warm wood style of these shades will also be an ideal match for traditional homes with a classic look.

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

No matter what kind of windows you have in your living room, Duette® Honeycomb Shades will be a great fit. If you need to find a stylish shade for your sliding glass door, then you can add the available Vertiglide™ system. And if you have skylights letting natural light into your living room, you can get light control and insulation for them using the SkyLift™ Skylight system.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer an excellent selection of custom living room shades from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Contact us today!

Best Bedroom Window Treatments for Homes near Newton, MA

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 14:08:30 GMT

Comfort, privacy, and luxurious style are all important elements for window treatments in any room. But when you need to find the right bedroom window treatments, these elements will be especially important. And if you live in an area where artificial light often leaks into your bedroom, then you’ll want to consider getting quality room-darkening bedroom window treatments. When you choose Hunter Douglas for your bedroom window decor you’ll have no problem getting the perfect combination of personal style and light control in your bedroom.

Custom Drapery

People who find an immediate need to replace their current bedroom window treatments with something new will likely first think of custom drapery, and for a good reason. When you find the right custom drapery for your bedroom, you’ll feel ready to hit the pillow and fall fast asleep as soon as you walk through the door.

Hunter Douglas offers the Drapery collection, which is ideal for bedrooms for many reasons. For one, each set comes with premium fabrics that will elevate your sense of luxury and comfort in your bedroom. You can also customize everything about your drapery, even down to the fold style. And with a choice of creative patterns available, you can add a distinctive touch to your own personal escape in your home.

You can even complete your bedding with this collection drapery by getting custom-made matching pillows.

Bedroom Shades

It’s not hard to find the right solution for style and luxury in your bedroom when you explore your options for custom shades from Hunter Douglas.

One style that’s just as practical as it is stylish is Duette® Honeycomb Shades. These shades will do an excellent job of keeping your bedroom comfortable at night. Plus, you’ll sleep more soundly when you aren’t being interrupted as much by your heating system turning on and when you know you’re saving money on energy. You can also add the available LightLock™ feature for highly effective blackout shades. Another bonus that comes with the cellular design is that these shades are also essentially sound padding for your bedroom, adding to the calm feel.

Custom Roman Shades also work excellently as bedroom window treatments. Whether you pair them with side panels and drapery or install them on their own for a cleaner look, Roman Shades will provide an upscale and comforting feeling in your bedroom that you’ll love.

A great way to improve any style of custom bedroom window treatments you get is to add PowerView® Automation. Want to operate your bedroom shades using only your voice? Or perhaps you’d prefer to wake up to your drapery opening up to your view on Saturday mornings instead of waking up to your alarm clock. All of this and much more is possible with motorized bedroom window treatments.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer a great selection of custom bedroom window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA, and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Contact us today to get started!

Best Vertical Window Treatments for Homes near Newton, MA

Tue, 23 Mar 2021 13:50:36 GMT

Looking for a classy window treatment solution for your larger windows, such as sliding glass doors or floor to ceiling windows? You can get excellent light control and memorable style by exploring custom vertical window treatments from Hunter Douglas. Between unique takes on custom blinds and totally original designs, there is something new for everyone to discover by exploring custom vertical window treatments.

Vertical Window Treatments for Your Living Room

Finding a home with large living room windows is always exciting. And to get the best light and maximize your style on your large living room windows, you’ll want to check out custom vertical window treatments.

You’ll be sure to get plenty of compliments when you have guests over when you choose Skyline® Gliding Window Panels . Equal parts chic and cozy, these distinctive vertical blinds create a dynamic layered look while showing off luxurious textures. Plus, it’s incredibly easy to open up your panel track blinds since the gliding track is designed for smooth motion, adding to the feeling of serenity in your living room.

Vertical Window Treatments for Your Bedroom

When you style your bedroom, you should aim to create a space that feels like a safe escape from the rest of the world. And when you mix and match custom options available in the Drapery collection, you’ll have tons of fun making custom curtains that evoke your sense of style.

Vertical drapery is an ideal choice for making bedrooms feel more relaxing. The folds of fabric immerse you in a feeling of softness while simultaneously making the space feel more peaceful with effective sound-dampening.

Not only is choosing Hunter Douglas custom drapery a great way to get the perfect style for your home, but it also gives you access to PowerView® Automation. So instead of pulling your curtains open in the morning to let light in, you can schedule your vertical drapery to let in light as you start your day.

Vertical Window Treatments for Your Dining Room

Having a modern dining room situated next to floor to ceiling windows creates a fun and upscale look. But if you don’t want people peering in while you enjoy your home-cooked meals but still want to enjoy your view, you can install Luminette® Privacy Sheers.

Designed with light-filtering panels, you can enjoy your views without the glare while getting privacy during the day. Plus, these custom vertical window treatments will instantly make your dining room look elegant and sophisticated.

Designed for smooth operation and light adjustment, opening up your shadings for the full view and unobstructed light will be effortless. And thanks to the internal series of vertical vanes, you can customize light and privacy at all hours of the day.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer a great selection of custom vertical window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit us today to find the right vertical window treatments for your home!

Best Room-Darkening Window Treatments for Homes Near Newton, MA

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:48:16 GMT

If you want to take control of the light inside your home, then you’ll definitely want to install new room-darkening window treatments. Not only will you be able to set the right mood and keep your home comfortable with room-darkening window treatments, but you’ll also find that your room-darkening window treatments are the missing piece to your bedroom. To get the best selection of effective and stylish room-darkening window treatments, be sure to check out all of the exciting options from Hunter Douglas.

Custom Drapery

When you install custom drapery, you’ll have a luxurious and stylish option for room-darkening.

You can choose from multiple opacities to get just the right kind of natural light in your home. This includes choosing a blackout curtain that can darken rooms where you want better light control. And since you can layer a lower-opacity layer of drapery underneath, you can easily switch to different light modes. Choosing custom drapery is especially ideal for bedrooms since you’ll get softer sounds, relaxing style, and options for room-darkening.

Custom Roller Shades

Thanks to the wide array of styles, you can choose from Hunter Douglas, you can get effective room-darkening window treatments in a variety of aesthetics. For a distinctively modern look, you’ll love the Designer Roller Shades style. These custom room-darkening window treatments are available in exclusive premium fabrics, so you can enjoy beautiful textures while keeping your windows looking clean and crisp.

Another advantage of these custom shades is that they’re designed to fit your windows as closely as possible, so you’ll have minuscule light gaps compared to other window treatments. When you customize your roller shades, you’ll get the option of choosing the right opacity for you and you can also add a blackout liner for room-darkening.

Duolite®

Thanks to clever solutions from Hunter Douglas, you can get the best options for flexible light control and room-darkening window treatments on the market. Always be ready for shifting light and needs for privacy when you add Duolite® to your custom shades. This unique system lowers an independent blackout liner behind your shades from the same headrail, so you can maintain a clean look for your shades and switch between different levels of light.

This system pairs especially well with Silhouette® Window Shadings. This smart window treatment style already gives your windows improved light control with a combination of horizontal vanes and light-diffusing sheer panels. Add Duolite® to the mix, and you will have four unique settings of natural light. This system is also available on other styles of custom shades from Hunter Douglas.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer the best room-darkening window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the perfect room-darkening window treatments for your home!

Add Skylight Window Treatments Near Wellesley and Cambridge, MA

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 15:28:11 GMT

Why not control all the light in your home? If you have hard-to-reach windows in your home, including skylights, you get to enjoy an extra splash of natural light in your home. But it also means it can be difficult to get shade when you want it at times. Thanks to clever solutions from Hunter Douglas, you can make your home filled with just the right amount of light at any time. When you explore custom skylight window treatments, you’ll discover new possibilities for your home.

Why Add Skylight Window Treatments?

Hold on, why would I want to cover my skylights? Well, when you add skylight window treatments, you aren’t just covering them up. You can enjoy multiple levels of natural light in your home when you add window treatments to your skylight windows. If you have wood floors or cabinets, you don’t want them to fade due to UV exposure. Plus, there are times when you’d rather not let sunlight into your home.

Additionally, you can lose a lot of heat during the winter through your skylights, especially since heat rises to the ceiling. When you add custom skylight window treatments, you can keep your home cozy and energy-efficient, all while enjoying comfort and ideal light throughout your home.

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

The original honeycomb shade from Hunter Douglas offers a wide range of benefits for your home beyond just energy-efficiency. They’re just about the most versatile window treatment solution on the market, and you can add these custom window treatments to any window you can think of, including skylights.

Duette® Honeycomb Shades are available with the SkyLift™ Skylight operating system, which holds your sleek shades tight against your windows while enabling you to add window decor to windows you wouldn’t normally be able to reach. These shades are the perfect skylight window treatments thanks to their simple shape and pleasant texture.

So instead of having the heat rise in your home and escape through your skylights, you can insulate your skylights and keep your home feeling cozy all year long. You’ll be glad you chose these custom skylight window treatments when you wake up to a warmer home and open up your energy bills to see lower numbers.

PowerView® Automation

The best way to control your skylight window treatments is to use the incredibly convenient PowerView® Automation operating system. When you automate your skylight window treatments, you can effortlessly take control over all of the natural light in your home. Plus, it makes it much easier to make the most of your energy-efficient shades. You can schedule your energy-efficient shades to close at dusk, so you enjoy natural light during the day while maximizing on energy-savings when you need it most.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer custom skylight window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the right skylight window treatments for your home!

Best Light Control Solutions for Homes near Boston, MA

Fri, 28 Aug 2020 10:03:30 GMT

Many people simply think of their window treatments in terms of adding privacy to their home or a piece of decor. While both of these are true when it comes to custom window treatments, they are also essentially light fixtures for your home. No, your shades or shutters aren’t light bulbs, but you can control the level of natural light in your home by carefully choosing the right window treatments. And thanks to the clever light control solutions from Hunter Douglas, you can find the perfect window treatments to precisely control light in any room.

Custom Shades

While custom shades are big on style, they aren’t exactly known for being very flexible when it comes to controlling light. But when you browse the exciting options available from Hunter Douglas, you’ll quickly discover new possibilities for light control solutions, such as Designer Banded Shades. These custom roller shades provide both the smooth and crisp aesthetic of a stylish roller shade and flexible light control all at once thanks to the innovative two-panel design.

Custom sheers and shadings are another fantastic way to enhance the light control in your home. Styles like SIlhouette® Window Shadings feature different layers for both shade adjustment and light-filtering, so you can direct light like blinds and diffuse light like sheer drapery all at once. These clever light control solutions also give you great views while allowing you to enjoy privacy during the day.

Duolite®

Choosing the optional Duolite® feature for your custom shades is a great way to improve light control for your home. As opposed to conventional blackout liners, this system works independently from your shades, so you can raise your blackout liner to let the sunshine through your sheer shades to create gentle light while always having a room-darkening option.

This system is ideal for any room in your home where you want to enjoy natural light but also need to blackout your windows from time to time. For instance, you could style your living room with custom Designer Roller Shades and let a subtle glow of light inside when your shades are lowered. At the same time, your shades can also provide the perfect setting for a movie by simply lowering the blackout liner.

LightLock™

Innovated for the Duette® Honeycomb Shades collection, this advanced light control solution is the perfect choice for getting better sleep at night. It’s also a great pair with custom cellular shades since the hexagonal shape helps soften noises in your bedroom. The LightLock™ system traps and blocks light with a smart side-channel system, which absorbs light to keep your room nearly completely dark even during the middle of the day. It’s the ultimate solution for keeping your room dark at all hours.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer the best light control solutions from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the right custom window treatments for your home!

How Motorized Window Treatments Transforms Homes in Newton, MA

Wed, 12 Aug 2020 07:24:07 GMT

Out of the many ways to customize your window treatments with Hunter Douglas, adding motorization stands out as a way to really transform your entire home. While it may seem like having motorized window treatments is a bit of a novelty, your motorized blinds, shades, and shutters can make a big difference in the way you experience your life at home.

PowerView® Automation

You can get advanced motorized window treatments by adding PowerView® Automation to a wide range of Hunter Douglas products. This motorized operating system adds small yet responsive electronic motors to your custom window treatments and lets you control them without getting up using a variety of different devices. You can even use your everyday devices to control your window treatments with the PowerView® App. So, why choose to automate your home with motorized window treatments?

Relax in Your Home Like Never Before

Think of all the times you wish you didn’t have to manually adjust your window treatments. Whether it’s to set the right mood for a night in, blocking sunlight to keep your living room comfortable, or getting rid of glare while relaxing to your favorite TV show, there are plenty of times when adjusting your windows feels like a drag.

But when you can simply tap your phone to close or open your shades, you can simply keep relaxing while your windows adjust for you. Thanks to the clever features found in the PowerView® App, you don’t even have to use any device to adjust your motorized window treatments, unless you count your voice as a device that is. By pairing the app with smart home systems, like Google Home or Amazon Alexa, you can just say the word and your motorized window treatments will respond to your command.

That’s not even the full extent of how easy it is to adjust your windows with PowerView® Automation. When you use the app, you can schedule your saved scene settings for specific times or even based on the position of the sun at your location. This way, it’s literally effortless to adjust your window treatments.

Make Your Home a Safer Place

One of the disadvantages of having blinds or shades with conventional operating systems is they often involve cords. For small pets and kids, this creates a potential safety issue. But when you can simply control your shades or blinds with your phone or your voice, you can wave goodbye to those dangling cords, making your home better overall. Not to mention, you will love how your custom motorized window treatments look without any cords, wands, or tilt-bars. In addition to not having cords to clutter up your windows, the small batteries found in your motorized window treatments help keep your window treatments looking sleek as well.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer a great selection of custom motorized window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit us today to find the right motorized window treatments for your home!

Best Custom Blinds for Each Room in Homes in Boston, MA

Thu, 04 Jun 2020 14:48:57 GMT

Decorating your windows takes careful consideration of your existing decor, the purpose of the room, and your needs for light control and privacy. One type of window treatment many homeowners prefer for their homes is horizontal blinds. This simple and sleek window treatment style is very versatile and can work in pretty much any room. And when you choose custom blinds from Hunter Douglas, you will be able to choose from a wide variety of exciting custom options.

Living Room Blinds

Decorating your living room is all about creating a space where people feel warm and relaxed in your home. It also doesn’t hurt to design your living room to make a good impression. Making use of genuine hardwood is a perfect way to create a sophisticated look and a cozy atmosphere for your living room. With Parkland® Wood Blinds, your living room will look elegant and welcoming, ideal for creating plenty of memories with friends and family. The sleek and expertly crafted wood slats help you easily control light while getting great views of the outdoors. Natural sunlight also looks gorgeous while reflecting off of the beautifully stained wood.

You can also enjoy a natural wood look with the EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds. These faux wood blinds are available with the TruGrain® collection of wood grain looks. You can also choose solid paint colors for a modern, chic style.

Kitchen Blinds

When it comes to custom blinds for your kitchen, you’ll want to focus on both style and durability. The kitchen is a place where lots of heat and moisture will be generated every day, so your blinds need to be tough. In addition to adding a fashion-forward look to your kitchen, the EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds are made to handle lots of heat and moisture without any issues. So not only will your kitchen blinds look amazing, but they will stay looking like new for years. Modern Precious Metals® Aluminum Blinds are also a great choice for kitchens thanks to the strong metal slats. You can add stunning light to your kitchen as well thanks to your choice of metal textures.

These attributes also make these custom metal and faux wood blinds great for bathrooms as well.

Bedroom Blinds

The best window decorations for bedrooms are ones that create a sense of relaxation and that help you keep your bedrooms dark. Custom wood blinds like Parkland® Wood Blinds will create a space that immerses you in coziness, helping you feel calm at night. You can choose from a variety of wood stain tones to pick the color that works best for your room. You also can choose the available De-Light™ feature for each collection of Hunter Douglas custom blinds, which gets rid of cord holes on the slats for a sleeker look and more thorough room-darkening.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer a wonderful selection of customs blinds from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Contact our showroom today to learn more about how to get started with your home transformation.

Custom Kitchen Window Treatments for Homes in Newton, MA

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 19:38:50 GMT

EverWood® Alternative Wood Blinds

Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters

Designer Screen Shades

Here at Barrow’s Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer a great selection of custom kitchen window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Contact us today to find the right custom kitchen window treatments for your home!

Benefits of Custom Honeycomb Shades for Homes in Newton, MA

Tue, 28 Apr 2020 13:30:39 GMT

Choosing the right custom shades for your home can transform how you experience each room - from the way you enjoy natural light to the atmosphere of your home. In addition, your custom shades can change how your home literally feels in terms of warmth. While many people don’t realize it, a large portion of home energy loss happens through windows. By choosing custom energy-efficient shades, you can keep your home comfortable during all seasons of the year without using your internal climate controls too much. One unique collection of energy-efficient shades from Hunter Douglas is the Duette® Honeycomb Shades .

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

Showing off a distinctive shape thanks to the series of hexagonal cells, these energy-efficient shades offer tons of exciting benefits for your home. Duette® Honeycomb Shades bring chic style and a modern look to your windows. The hexagonal cells also add subtle texture to your shades, adding to the unique look. Adjusting your level of light and privacy in your home is effortless with these shade thanks to the cells that fold and unfold as you raise and lower your shades.

But beyond the beautiful style and convenient operation Duette® Honeycomb Shades provide for your home, the cells create insulation for your windows to keep your home at a comfortable temperature. By creating little air pockets by your windows, the cells block heat transfer, keeping warm air inside during the winter while keeping warm air outside during the summer. This means you’ll have to reach for the AC or heating far less often, saving you money over time.

You can actually double up on these energy-saving benefits when you choose the available Duette Architella® feature, which creates a second layer inside the cells to provide more insulation for your windows.

Of course, you’ll ideally want to enjoy natural light and your views to the outdoors while you enjoy the energy-saving benefits of your custom cellular shades. You can choose the available Duolite® feature for your shades to get two opacities on the same window. This works with a central handle, which you can move up to reveal a sheer shade and move down to create total shade and privacy.

Duette® Honeycomb Shades are available in a wide variety of window shapes, including arches, angles, and trapezoids. You can even install these shades on your skylight for thorough insulation for all of your windows. You can also choose the available Vertiglide™ operating system for side to side openings like sliding glass doors. Watch your energy-efficient shades move at the press of a button or at the sound of your voice when you choose the available PowerView® Automation operating system.

You can customize these stylish honeycomb shades by selecting from a large selection of fabrics, colors, and opacities.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer custom honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and offer our services to Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Contact us today to find the right honeycomb shades for your home!

Custom Roller and Solar Shades for Homes Near Cambridge, MA

Mon, 24 Feb 2020 15:07:27 GMT

When you want to create a new look for each room in your home, choosing the right window treatments is crucial. While it may be easy to think of the blinds, shades, or shutters you choose as a bit of an afterthought, your choice will end up having a big effect on the final look of your home. Choosing custom shades is an ideal way to create a design scheme that speaks your style and fits your ideal vision for your home. And when you choose custom roller and solar shades from Hunter Douglas, you’ll have nearly endless ways to make your windows look perfect for your home.

Designer Roller Shades

This premium collection of home shades from Hunter Douglas offers a modern aesthetic for your windows while also giving you tons of ways to get creative by mixing and matching different custom options. Designer Roller Shades have a simple and sleek shape, creating a minimal and calming look for your home windows. Adjusting your windows is effortless and quick thanks to the advanced head rail design, which uses Custom Clutch technology to help you precisely move your shades. Combined with the precise construction of these custom roller shades, this gives you minimal light gaps for great light control. It also helps add to the upscale feel of your shades. There are hundreds of available fabrics you can choose from to customize your shades, along with various colors and patterns.

Designer Screen Shades

This variation of the Designer Roller Shades collection offers brilliant light and UV protection for every room in your home. Designer Screen Shades are made with low-opacity fabric, which results in only soft natural light entering your home while your shades are lowered rather than glare. At the same time, you will still get a great view of the outdoors with these shades along with privacy during the daytime. Not only are these shades ideal for installing in any room in your home for soft light, but you can install them outside on your porch or deck thanks to the weather-resistant fabrics. In addition to a wide variety of fabric options available for these custom solar shades, you can choose from different colors and opacities to achieve your ideal look for your windows.

Designer Banded Shades

Offering a distinctive look for your windows, these custom banded shades are perfect for flexible light control and dynamic style. Designer Banded Shades feature two panels of fabric, each of which alternates between sheer and opaque fabric bands. This design lets you quickly switch from soft light to total shade with a simple motion. You can choose between a horizontal banded shape and a geometric curved shape as well. Additionally, you can choose from a variety of patterns and colors to customize your banded shades.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we are proud to offer a variety of custom roller and solar shades from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and offer our services to Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the right roller shades for your home!

Custom Living Room Window Treatments for Homes Near Boston, MA

Tue, 31 Dec 2019 13:22:26 GMT

When thinking of starting a home interior design project, the first room that likely comes to mind is your living room. When it comes to interior design for homes, the living room stands out as a centerpiece where everyone can spend time and enjoy relaxation. Because of this, it’s worth putting the extra thought and care into which window treatments you choose for your living room. When you turn to Hunter Douglas for your custom window treatments, you will have seemingly endless possibilities for custom living room window treatments to choose from.

Designer Roller Shades

Offering modern luxury and a crisp aesthetic for your living room, Designer Roller Shades are an excellent window treatment choice for any home. The simple shape results in a minimalistic appearance, resulting in a clean and peaceful feel to your windows. Additionally, these carefully made fabric shades show off quality that is highly visible to anyone who visits your home. These custom living room shades are also made based on precise measurements taken from your home, which gives you shades that really feel like they were made just for you. In addition to this sophisticated look, the minimal light gaps provide highly effective light control as well. You can create a personalized look just for your home by choosing from hundreds of premium fabrics, stylish colors, and exciting patterns.

Heritance® Hardwood Shutters

One of the best ways to make a lasting impression with your windows is to include elegant hardwood. Heritance® Hardwood Shutters create a warm and luxurious look in your living room with natural textures and patterns along with the rich organic tones of real wood. These stylish custom shutters are made from basswood and poplar and are put together with the dovetail construction technique. This combination results in eye-catching style and long-term rigidity for your custom living room window treatments. This collection of custom shutters lets you choose from multiple louver sizes to customize your level of light control and depth. With large louver sizes available, you can provide your home with shade from direct sunlight while still getting a good view of the outdoors. There is a wide variety of stain tones you can choose from along with solid paint colors. You also have an exciting collection of custom vintage details you can choose.

Luminette® Privacy Sheers

Turn even the plainest living room into an elegant escape when you choose Luminette® Privacy Sheers. These custom window shadings include an internal set of hanging vertical vanes for light direction and shade adjustment. They also include an outer layer of sheer fabric, which filters out direct sun glare to fill your home with dramatic soft light. You can customize these sophisticated shades with your choice of fabric and color.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments , we are proud to offer tons of great options for custom living room window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and offer our services to Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the right custom living room window treatments for your home!

Custom Energy-efficient Shades for Homes Near Newton, MA

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 15:54:17 GMT

With autumn weather solidly here and winter weather quickly arriving around the corner, you’re likely looking for ways to keep your home comfortable without breaking the bank. While most homes in Newton, MA have heating systems that can keep homes comfortable, the unfortunate reality is that it often means using more energy and paying higher bills each month. This is because home windows don’t have insulation on their own, allowing for significant heat transfer and energy loss. To keep your home comfortable this winter, and throughout all seasons, choose energy-efficient shades from Hunter Douglas.

Duette® Honeycomb Cellular Shades

These delightfully simple yet subtly textured shades provide a sleek modern look for any room in your home thanks to the clean shape and cellular design. But the real advantage of these shades is how they can save you on your monthly energy bills. The hexagonal cells that create the structure of Duette® Honeycomb Cellular Shades block heat transfer by your windows, keeping heat inside when you want a cozy home during the winter and also keeping heat outside when you want to stay cool during the summer. By relying on your internal climate controls less, you can enjoy lower monthly bills while also doing more to reduce your carbon footprint.

You can gain even more of these energy-saving benefits with the available Duette Architella® feature, creates a second layer of cells inside the shades. While insulation and energy savings are the main benefits of these stylish shades, you also gain a more peaceful home thanks to the sound-dampening effects of the cellular shape. Additionally, the available LightLock™ feature helps you keep your bedroom free of light when you’re trying to sleep with an innovative side-channel design.

You can customize your sleek, energy-efficient shades by choosing from a wide range of fabrics, colors, and opacities.

Sonnette™ Cellular Roller Shades

Blend the convenience of a roller shade with energy-saving cellular shades with the Sonnette™ Cellular Roller Shades from Hunter Douglas. Watch as the curved insulating cells unfold as you roll your shades down, creating a sophisticated appearance in your home while dispersing light through your home. You can choose various fabrics, opacities, and colors for a custom look that fits your style.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we are proud to offer custom energy-efficient shades from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and offer our services to Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the perfect cellular shades for your home!

Barrows Custom Window Treatments

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:57 GMT

Hunter Douglas Motorization for Blinds

How many times has this happened to you? You’ve just come home from a long day at work and you decide to watch some TV to relax and unwind. Then, the setting sun gradually and prolongedly shines its bright ray of light into your living room, either blinding you or creating a stubborn glare across your television screen, both of which interrupt your shows. Everyone experiences this nuisance daily, and I know just how annoying it is to get up and close the blinds. There has to be an easier way!

Hunter Douglas has devised the perfect solution with motorized blinds. The icing on the cake is that PowerView® Motorization won the 2016 Red Dot Design Award. And what’s better is there’s an app for that:

Inside the App – With PowerView® Motorization by Hunter Douglas, you can control the height of your blinds via the PowerView® app, available for download on iOS and Android devices. Through the app, you can adjust your blinds on your time, or you can configure your blinds to raise and lower themselves with the rising and setting of the sun using the Automations feature. With the Scenes function, you can set your preferred height of the blinds and they will automatically adjust throughout the day.

If you’re more old fashioned, there’s also a contemporary remote control option, cleverly named the Pebble due to its ergonomic shape. You can customize the height of up to six blinds installations to fit your preferences.

All of this is made possible with the PowerView® Hub, which connects to your WiFi network. It coordinates all your preferences for the motorized blinds as well as storing your settings.
Behind the Screens – Many of the PowerView® motorized blinds are battery-powered, with the battery hidden in the headrail. For this reason, the blinds are easy to maintain and operate, and maintenance is a breeze. Because the battery component is safely tucked away, everyone can admire the beauty and enjoy ease-of-use of your new blinds.

If you’re looking for a modern alternative to corded blinds, PowerView® Motorization by Hunter Douglas may be the right solution for you. We at Barrows Custom Window Treatments have had the fortune of being certified as motorization experts by Hunter Douglas.

Feel free to contact us by telephone: 617-964-4580, or by email: info@barrowscwt.com for all your window treatment needs, concerns, or questions.

Low-Cost Room Warming Tricks for the Coming Winter Season

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:56 GMT

Low-Cost Room Warming Tricks for the Coming Winter Season

I don’t know about you, but I was excited for the fall season this year, until the temperatures dropped to almost freezing. I dread going home, as we have yet to turn the heat up, which is one of the most costly of our utility bills in the winter. Household energy consumption, specifically heat, always goes up during the late-fall and winter seasons. Don’t let these hefty bills break the bank. Here are some tips to save on heat consumption this winter:

Windows and Curtains – What is the most sustainable, free source of energy you can think of? The sun, of course! That said, you should open your curtains before you leave for work in the morning to let the maximum amount of light on throughout the day, which is a free way to add some heat to your home. When it turns dark, close them for added insulation. You should also check your windows for gaps or leaks which let the heat out, effectively lowering the temperature inside your house. This will also minimize condensation on your windows.
Living Room Feng Shui – You might not have thought of this, but if your couch blocks the radiator, you’re essentially paying extra money to heat that piece of furniture instead of the whole room. Do a little feng shui, the Chinese practice of actively rearranging a room within your home. It will give the room a fresh look and feel, and you’ll be getting what you pay for in terms of paying more every month for heat.
Review and Examine your Home’s Insulation – Before winter hits, you should examine the highest ceilings in your house for insulation. As heat physically rises, 25% of it escapes through the roof, so installing about 10 inches of insulation will drastically cut this down. Similarly, it may also behoove you to examine and install, if necessary, insulation in the exterior walls of your home, as heat can escape from there, too.
Turn it down in there! – Just hear me out; The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a minimum temperature of 70°F in the living room. So turn your thermostat down to 70°F or just below 70°F if that’s more comfortable for you. In England, turning the thermostat down to about 65°F showed an average savings of 10% in heating bills in 2014.

These are just some suggestions for how to save money on utilities this winter. Obviously, if you can’t realistically or comfortably rearrange your living room to expose the radiator hiding behind the couch, then don’t attempt to do so. We recommend researching other methods to save on heat. Stay warm this winter, and every winter, friends!

Considering interior shutters for your home?

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:53 GMT

Considering interior shutters for your home?

The team at Barrows has been providing custom traditional and plantation style shutters for over 50 years. With our vast experience in this specialized field, we can provide you with expert recommendations on selecting the right shutter for your home.

Today’s shutter styles make this treatment a stunning addition to any room in your home. Whether your style is traditional or contemporary, there are options available that will work seamlessly with your personalized styling.

We will familiarize you with shutter terminology and options to assist you in selecting the proper louver size, panel depth, style, color, and hardware finish selection. We provide custom woodwork when needed to allow for shutters to be direct inside mounted in your window frames, and will educate you on why this is so important and the difference it will make both functionally and aesthetically. Why not visit Barrows Custom Window Treatments showroom in Newton, MA in order to find shutters that are of the design, material and price that you desire.

There are many materials available in which shutters can be manufactured. The materials range from vinyl (ideal for shower areas) to specialized species of woods. Again, we will assist you in this selection.

Our clients find it very helpful to be able to view, touch, and use full size samples of shutters. We invite you to schedule an appointment to meet with our certified consultants in our showroom where we display the many styles and options of shutters. We also offer in-home consultations to follow. At this time, we go over more technical information regarding the installation process and to be certain the style selected is appropriate. We will provide you with a written estimate based upon your window sizing and let you know the approximate production time.

Once your shutters have arrived and are ready for installation you can rest assured that they will be installed by a member of Barrows certified installation crew. We pride ourselves on the level of service our installers provide and the care they give to your home and product. For all your window treatment needs, contact Barrows Custom Window Treatments by phone at 617-964-4580, by email at info@barrowscwt.com, or by filling out the form on our contact page.

Setting a Mood with Window Treatments

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:52 GMT

Setting a Mood with Window Treatments

Often times you hear of setting a particular mood in a room with the use of mood lighting, or dimmer switches. If you don’t have this available, though, you can make use of your Window treatments for a similar effect. Whether you’re looking to work, relax, or entertain, setting a mood helps create the ideal environment. So how can you use window treatments to set a mood? Let’s take a look:

Window treatments cool a room – Once the summer months hit, your house could soon become hot and uncomfortable, especially if you do nothing to cool the room, with respect to window treatments. You can close curtains that face south and/or west during the day to limit the amount of heat that collects and stays in the room. Make use of white shades to maximize this effect, as white will reflect light, and thus heat.
Control your privacy – If you have neighbors close by or if you live on a busy street, you might value your privacy a little more. During the day, you can probably leave your curtains or other window treatments open halfway. At night, on the other hand, you’ll want to close your curtains fully, as the lights inside will allow anyone a view into your home. Blinds are also an effective window treatment option, as you can filter the light, as well as what, if anything, outsiders can see.
Liven up a room – If a particular room in your home is looking rather drab, you may choose to liven it up, so-to-speak, with decorative window treatments as a start. There are many options to choose from, including floral patterns, solid colors, or another decorative pattern. You can also dramatically change the mood of a room just by swapping out window treatments. As styles change, you can save money just by changing the window treatments instead of revamping the style of the whole room. This is also a viable option for when the seasons change.

Window treatments are a great option to enhance the mood in a room. As you are looking to update your treatment of windows, you may decide that it is time to change your windows. If this is something that you are thinking of doing, you may wish to contact a local replacment windows company who will be able to show you a wide range of designs to give your home a new and updated look. At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we offer our clients a range of styles and options to choose from. We invite you to visit our showroom, where you can view our various window treatments, and talk to our experienced staff about which products will best meet your needs. For all your questions, concerns, and inquiries, call Barrows Custom Window Treatments at (617) 964-4580, or email us at info@barrowscwt.com.

Lighting Tips for Staging Homes to Sell

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:50 GMT

Lighting Tips for Staging Homes to Sell

In this article, Barrows Custom Window Treatments—conveniently located in Newton, Massachusetts (MA)—are going to provide you some tips on how to use window treatments to your advantage when staging a home to sell it. We proudly offer the full selection of Hunter Douglas blinds, shades, and shutters.

Natural Sunlight – it makes a room feel larger, more inviting and definitely more alive. These are key elements that will likely help your home sell faster and for more money! A room that is well lit means there is no hiding place for dirt and mess. Things like dirt in your carpet can be remedied with something like homemade carpet stain removers. Getting your home looking immaculate will impress more prospective buyers.

Choosing the wrong window treatments can make a room look smaller than it really is, which is why finding the perfect window treatment is so important. Improper installation is another mistake many homeowners make. Select the right fabric, style, hardware and placement to truly enhance a room’s fullest potential!

Another error homeowners make is allowing the fabric to block some or most of the window. Some window treatments are used for light control, some for privacy but most are displayed to make a visual statement. Often times, they accentuate a paint color or cozy up a room. Whatever purpose your window treatments serve, they should never block any light from streaming into a room because doing so makes that room look and feel smaller.

Typically, larger homes with larger rooms sell for more money, therefore, adjust your window treatments to showcase the full window to give a larger appearance. Installing window treatment hardware close to the ceiling and extend the rod 6” – 12” inches beyond your window frame on each side. This technique not only allows light to pour in when the curtains are open, it will make a greater visual impact by helping your windows and room appear much larger.

Window treatments can definitely influence a buyer’s impression of your home. Allowing sun to shine in can help achieve a quicker sale for a higher price!

To schedule a consultation with one of Barrows’ Certified design consultants, call us at 617-964-4580.

Adding Motorized Shutters to Homes Near Newton, MA

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:49 GMT

Adding Motorized Shutters to Homes Near Newton, MA

Many people underestimate just how dramatically their window treatments can change their home. Everything from the lighting to the color scheme in each room can be drastically altered based on the window treatments you choose. With shutters, your windows take on a classic feel while also providing convenient shade and privacy in each room. And with the inclusion of motorized window shutters, your window treatments can transform how you live in your home as well. By choosing the Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters from Hunter Douglas with PowerView® Motorization, your home can do most of the work for you. Come to Barrows Custom Window Treatments today for help with adding motorized shutters to homes.

Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters

This unique collection of home shutters is special for many reasons. To start out, these shutters add a distinct spin on the traditional shutter look, trading a rustic appearance for a sleek and modern surface. This is the result of using the Polysatin™ material, a material made up of synthetic fibers, which results in an incredibly durable structure. Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters are guaranteed to never age from sunshine or humid conditions thanks to the use of this brilliant material.

PowerView® Motorization

Another way that these shutters stand out is the fact that they are available with the PowerView® Motorization operating system, which brings your shutters to life with remote operation. Using this operating system, you can have motorized shutters that you can adjust from not just anywhere in your home, but from anywhere in the world. And that’s just the beginning of this operating system’s incredible potential.

Using the PowerView® app, you can unlock complete control of your motorized shutters from your smartphone or tablet. And by using Google Assistant, Amazon Alexa, or other smart home systems, you can watch as your shutters move how you tell them to. You can also make customized adjustments with any grouping of window treatments you want that you can quickly access later on. You can even make your home fully automated by scheduling your settings for certain times of the day or even the positioning of the sun.

The fact that this system is ridiculously convenient is clear to see, but there are other things to consider that make this option so amazing for your home.

The ability to schedule your settings means you can always ensure that your home stays comfortable. Since the Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters provide solid UV protection, you can schedule your shutters to always provide shade when you need it. If you prefer to adjust your shutters without scheduling, you can always use the remote connect feature to adjust your shutters if the weather suddenly turns from rainy to sunny while you’re away.

Plus, adding amazing style to every window in your home, no matter how highly placed, is now a possibility since you can always adjust your shutters even if you can’t reach them.

At Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we are proud to offer motorized shutters from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and offer our services to Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit us today to discover something amazing for your home!

Benefits of Sheers and Shadings for Homes Near Cambridge, MA

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:48 GMT

Benefits of Sheers and Shadings for Homes Near Cambridge, MA

Finding a solution for your windows that offers comprehensive light control, comfort, style, and privacy is often a tough task for many homeowners. However, achieving this tricky balance for any window in your home is totally possible when you choose Hunter Douglas custom sheers and shadings. In fact, there are multiple great options you can choose from for beautiful natural light in your home and elegance throughout the day.

Silhouette® Window Shadings

One problem many people face when trying to fill their home with natural light is the fact that doing so often means letting harsh sunlight inside. You don’t want to make your home dark and dreary when the sun is shining, but you also don’t want your floors to fade or your home to reach sweltering temperatures. You can often layer blinds or shutters with a sheer drape, but this can look a bit cluttered and it won’t work for every window. On the other hand, the Silhouette® Window Shadings provide incredibly thorough and flexible light control with a single window covering.

This brilliant shade features two panels of sheer fabric, which diffuse sunlight entering your home to get rid of glare and most of the sun’s UV rays. The result is a home filled with soft natural light throughout the day. You also get to maintain your view with these shades while also getting privacy during the daytime. For privacy at all hours and for more substantial shade, you can easily adjust the soft, horizontal vanes that are found in between the sheer fabric panels.

Pirouette® Window Shadings

You can also choose the Pirouette® Window Shadings for horizontal sheers and shadings that provide soft light, versatility, and UV protection for your home. This variation of sheers and shadings uses just one panel of sheer fabric behind a series of horizontal fabric vanes. The fabric vanes on the Pirouette® Window Shadings use a unique design to help you control your shade level by folding and expanding to open and close. The sleek design of these shades also results in a clean looking background, making the vanes appear to float in front of your windows.

Luminette® Privacy Sheers

You can also get the convenient versatility of sheers and shadings for your wide windows and sliding glass doors with the Luminette® Privacy Sheers. These custom sheers and shadings are oriented vertically like vertical blinds and can open easily from side to side thanks to a smooth headrail design. The shades feature vertical hanging fabric vanes inside of sheer fabric cells, creating a versatile window treatment for shade and light control. These shades, in particular, create an elegant appearance in any room with their reflective vanes and glowing panels.

Each collection of Hunter Douglas custom sheers and shadings can be customized by choosing from a wide selection of fabrics, colors, and opacity levels.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we are proud to offer custom sheers and shadings from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find your perfect window treatment solution for light control and privacy in your home!

Options for Motorized Window Treatments for Homes Near Newton, MA

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:47 GMT

Options for Motorized Window Treatments for Homes Near Newton, MA

The next time you start your home interior design project, don’t miss out on the opportunity to transform your home with your windows. Choosing custom motorized window treatments from Hunter Douglas means that you have your pick of eye-catching styles, customizable options, and innovative solutions. If you’re looking to change up more than just how your home looks, you can choose from a wide range of advanced motorized operating systems that can dramatically enhance the way you live life at home.

SoftTouch™ Motorization

The SoftTouch™ Motorization operating system is simple, clean, and minimal, yet the difference it can make in your home is very substantial. From an appearance standpoint, this system replaces any cords on your window coverings with a sleek wand, creating a more streamlined look for your home. The wand design also works to enhance the level of safety in your home. Hanging cords sometimes become hazards for children and pets, but the wand design keeps your windows safe for every member of your household. Plus, this motorized system makes adjusting your window coverings effortless, with only a push or a pull needed to get your ideal level of shade or privacy at any given moment.

Vertical Motorization

Your largest windows and your sliding glass doors often provide the best views in your entire home. Yet, the large expanse also results in the most effort when it comes to adjusting your home window treatments. You can replace the manual operating system with an electronic system that fully adjusts your vertical window treatments in seconds. The vertical motorization operating system lets you control your large window coverings with a remote control or a wall-mount for enhanced safety and convenience in each room.

PowerView® Motorization Operating System

Experience the ultimate level of convenience for your home with the PowerView® Motorization operating system. This incredibly easy to use operating system comes with a vast array of options that make life in your home easier than ever. You also get to maintain the uncluttered and stylish look of your shades, blinds, or shutters with this advanced motorized operating system. The battery-powered motors don’t alter the appearance of your window coverings in any way, keeping your home looking amazing.

Get complete control over your home window treatments from the palm of your hand. The PowerView® app is available for your smartphone or tablet and allows you to precisely control every window in your home from anywhere in the world. Other features like scene settings, voice commands, and scheduling allow for even more advanced automation.

With the PowerView® Motorization operating system, all of your home windows can be styled to your liking with complete light control thanks to the remote connection. You’ll also enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a safe home for everyone.

At Barrow’s Custom Window Treatments, we are proud to offer a wide range of options for motorized window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and serve Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find your ideal motorized window treatments.

Best Custom Window Treatments for Home Bedrooms

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:46 GMT

Best Custom Window Treatments for Home Bedrooms

Choosing the right window treatments for your home will be an important decision for every single room. However, it will be worth it to give extra attention to the window treatments you choose for your bedroom, since your bedroom will demand better privacy and light control. Not to mention, you want to choose window treatments that you’ll enjoy looking at when you wake up each morning. When you choose Hunter Douglas custom window treatments, there are plenty of great options available for every room in your home, including your bedroom.

Designer Banded Shades

These unique custom shades are built without compromise for every customer, fitting into your windows with precision to create a sophisticated and clean look. The banded design of these shades creates extra versatility and convenience that makes them perfect for your bedroom. The two panels each feature alternating bands of opaque and sheer fabric and you can adjust these panels to line up for soft natural light or to stagger to give you total shade. When adjusted to let light inside, you still get privacy during the daytime, allowing you to invite stimulating natural light in your bedroom while you wake up and get ready for the day.

You can customize the Designer Banded Shades with your choice of elegant fabrics and stylish colors. You can also choose an alternative curved shaped pattern for a softer look in your bedroom.

Silhouette® Window Shadings

You can achieve a perfect balance in your bedroom with this flexible window treatment style. Silhouette® Window Shadings are made with two panels of sheer fabric that create incredibly elegant and soft light inside your bedroom by filtering out glare while blocking most of the sun’s UV rays. You also get daytime privacy and a view outside with this sheer layer of fabric, making them perfect for peaceful relaxation.

These shades also feature curved horizontal vanes inside the sheer fabric layers, allowing you to control light and to get total privacy at all hours. The combination of these elements results in a luxurious look and beautiful light that fills each corner of your room. You can also install the Duolite® independent liner system to provide effective room-darkening for your bedroom for a more peaceful sleep.

Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters

Having a quality set of shutters for your bedroom can add a sleek and sophisticated style to every waking morning and relaxing evening. The rotating louvers and different louver size options allow you to tilt your shutters for privacy when you need it while still getting natural light inside your room. The bright tones offered on the Palm Beach™ Polysatin™ Shutters are perfect for reflecting light throughout your bedroom. And with available PowerView® Motorization, you can program your shutters to open up at sunrise for brighter mornings when you wake up.

Blackout Curtains & Drapes

Custom curtains and draperies are also a great option for bedrooms. We have tons of different fabric options, so you can choose opaque, blackout curtains if you want to keep more light out of your bedroom, sheer draperies if you enjoy a little natural light, or both if you want the best of both worlds! Blackout curtains can also provide an extra layer of insulation to your windows to keep your home’s internal temperature consistent and save you money on your energy bills. We can create a variety of different styles, so pairing that with our vast fabric library, you can get drapes that perfectly complement your bedroom style.

Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we are proud to offer great custom window treatments for home bedrooms. We are located in Newton, MA and offer our services to Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit our showroom today to find the perfect custom window treatments for your bedroom!

Ways to Use Motorized Window Treatments in Homes

Tue, 15 Oct 2019 20:41:31 GMT

Ways to Use Motorized Window Treatments in Homes

Go big or go home, as the saying goes. But why not go big in your home? Your interior design project should include transformative choices for your home window treatments, and choosing Hunter Douglas home window treatments is the perfect way to achieve this. From dramatic light choices to luxurious fabrics, you get only the best quality when you choose Hunter Douglas custom window treatments. But your home transformation isn’t limited to how your interior looks; you can also bring your windows into motion by choosing motorized window treatments. As with any product from Hunter Douglas, your motorized window treatments come with plenty of exciting options you can choose from.

PowerView® Motorization

When you choose PowerView® Motorization for your home, both the look of your windows and the way you experience life inside dramatically changes. The internal batteries and electronic components are all well-hidden and neatly integrated into the window treatments, keeping your windows looking sleek and refined. Plus, getting rid of the need for manual adjustment means having no cords or wands on your window treatments creating a streamlined and crisp appearance. You also get to enjoy a home free of hazards with your windows since there are no cords. There are several ways you can choose to use your motorized window treatments, adding incredible convenience to your home.

Pebble® Remote Control

Your motorized blinds, shades, or shutters come with the Pebble® Remote Control, a simple and great-looking solution that allows you to remotely control your motorized window treatments. Available in a wide variety of colors, this option is a remote control you’ll be proud to show off. You can control up to six groups of window treatments from anywhere in your home using this option.

Pebble® Scene Controller

When you have your window treatments adjusted just right, you can save those settings and quickly access them later on using the Pebble® Scene Controller. Find the right setting between each window treatment in your home based on the time of day, mood, or activity, then just save those adjustments for activation when the time comes. Both this system and the Pebble® Remote Control come in a wall-mount option as well.

PowerView® app

To get the most potential out of your motorized window treatments, download the PowerView® app for your smartphone or tablet. Not only does this allow you to simply use the devices you always use to control your windows, but it allows you to control an unlimited combination of window treatments. The app also allows you to link your window treatments with a smart home automation system like Alexa, so you can control your window treatments with your voice. You can even use the scheduling feature to plan your scene settings in advance. Here at Barrows Custom Window Treatments, we are proud to offer motorized window treatments from Hunter Douglas. We are located in Newton, MA and offer our services to Service Area: Eastern Massachusetts, including Cambridge, Newton, Wellesley, Weston, Brookline, Boston, and Westwood. Visit us today to find the perfect motorized window treatments for your home!

Barrows Custom Window Treatments Blog

Preparing Your Home for Spring and Summer: How Window Treatments Protect Against UV Damage

Hunter Douglas Solar Shades

How UV Rays Affect Your Home

Why Spring Is the Best Time to Plan UV Protection

Solar Shades: Protection Without Losing Your View

Layered Window Treatments for All-Day Comfort

Motorized Window Treatments for Smart Protection

Improve Energy Efficiency and Reduce Cooling Costs

Protect Your Home and Your Investment

Enjoy Natural Light Without the Damage

Insulating Window Shades to Stop Cold Windows

Why Your Windows Feel Cold — And How Insulating Window Treatments Make Your Home More Comfortable

Why Your Windows Feel Cold — And How Insulating Window Treatments Create a More Comfortable Home

Why Windows Make Rooms Feel Colder

How Insulating Window Shades Improve Comfort

Cellular Shades: Designed for Energy Efficiency

Additional Benefits Beyond Warmth

Why Professional Measurement Matters

Make Your Home Warmer and More Comfortable

Ice Dams Are Melting in Massachusetts - Is Your Home at Risk

Ice Dams Are Melting in Massachusetts — What Are They Leaving Behind in Your Home?

The Part of Ice Dams Nobody Talks About

Are Your Window Treatments Telling You Something?

Why Spring Is the Smartest Time to Take a Closer Look

A Local Perspective Matters

Let’s Talk Before Small Issues Become Big Ones

Illuminate Comfort and Efficiency with Hunter Douglas Aura® Illuminated Shades

Modern Hunter Douglas window treatments designed for comfort and efficiency in Massachusetts homes

A New Kind of Window Shade

Designed for Energy Efficiency

Safe for Homes with Pets and Children

Luxury That Fits Everyday Living

Why Barrows Custom Window Treatments Recommends Aura Shades

Experience Aura Illuminated Shades in Your Home

Energy Efficient Hunter Douglas Shades by Barrows

Why Choose Hunter Douglas

Advanced Insulation with Duette® Honeycomb Shade s

Why Massachusetts Homeowners Choose Barrows Custom Window Treatments

Barrows has served Massachusetts homeowners for more than 55 years. As a Hunter Douglas Gallery Dealer , they provide access to premium collections and certified installation.

How Window Treatments Boost Home Efficiency

Upgrade Your Home’s Comfort

Why Choose Barrows Custom Window Treatments in Massachusetts

Choose Barrows for your custom window treatments

Discover the Energy-Saving Power of Duette® Honeycomb Shades

Stylish window treatments that insulate, save energy, and qualify for a federal tax credit

﻿

Duette® Honeycomb Shades

Energy Efficiency and Insulation

Light and Privacy Control

Custom Features for Every Home

Why Choose Duette Shades?

Upgrade to Duette Shades Today

Fitting the Perfect Blinds In Your Windows

Why Choose Custom Hunter Douglas Vertical Blinds?

Types of Hunter Douglas Vertical Blinds

The Importance of Well-Fitted Vertical Blinds

Contact Us for Hunter Douglas Vertical Blinds Near Newton, MA

How to Choose Cat-Proof Blinds and Shades

Opt for Cordless Designs (No Strings Attached!)

Choose Inside-Mount Over Outside-Mount Blinds and Shades

Select Durable, Scratch-Resistant Materials

PowerView® Automation

Let Us Help You Find the Perfect Pet-Safe Window Treatments

Choose Woven Shades for Your Sliding Glass Doors

Why Natural Woven Shades?

A Smart Alternative to Traditional Vertical Blinds

Function Meets Style

Window Coverings for Sliders That Reflect Your Lifestyle

Serving the Boston Metropolitan Area

Adding round-shaped interior elements can smooth the hard edges in your interior look.

Adding round-shaped interior elements can smooth the hard edges in your interior look.

What Are The Best Treatments For A Laundry Room Window?

Durable Hunter Douglas Shutters For The Laundry Room

Stylish Alternative Wood Blinds for Laundry Room Windows

Sleek Roller Shades for Laundry Rooms

Find the Perfect Laundry Room Window Treatment Near Newton, MA

Rely on the In-House Team at Our Window Treatment Store Near Newton, MA

Why an In-House Team Matters

See The Success of Our In-House Approach