We say we love it, but could never sell it; we tip toe around it, because we really don’t understand its power. We fuel the neutral self fulfilling prophecy by showing 50 shades of cream. What is it? It’s daring color in blinds and shades. For a lot of reasons design pros selling hard window coverings haven’t embraced color blocking, P.O C.(Pop of Color) or bold, intense hues like other segments of the home furnishings industry. So I am soo excited to finally see the vibrant hued pleated shades in this month’s House Beautiful. Hopefully, this arbitrator of American taste might move us off the dime. Also spotted – the pleated shades had XL pleats. OMG- color, a Pleated shade AND XL pleats! Is this a harbinger of what might be coming in window coverings?

The Shade Store Via House Beautiful

With Tangerine Tango the Color of the Year-why not try it at the window?

So if we start embracing color; could we , ( O heart be still) start to see bold dynamic pattern at the window? God, I hope so; I could use a little drama….

All shade images from The Shade Store

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I am a BIG fan of digital printing and have followed its evolution across several product categories in the last several years. One category that is underserved is window coverings. Here are some great examples of design opportunites in that category:

Three years ago Creatively Different launched its highly-creative, e-commerce concept for custom Roller Blinds. Their range of fabulous images that can be printed on window coverings is approaching 6,000 pictures, patterns and special-effect options for truly unique printed blinds to create the ‘wow’ factor.  They also offer  inter-related products – panel tracks, wallpaper, murals and art canvasses as well as help with a variety of special effects, including wallpaper/tiling effects, and image stylization and coloration. Personally I like the idea of putting art on the window, so I might pass on the murals, and wall effects.

The company has recently launched a range of versatile Panel Track blinds. Seen here is a room divider, printed with ‘Chrysocolla’, one of Richard Weston’s amazing ‘Earth’ images- orginial blown up scans of the interior of rocks and minerals.

They’ve added to their art collection with the recent recruitment of several artists offering some super limited-edition artwork,  great cityscapes of London, Paris and New York; wonderful contemporary art; and some sizzingly seductive and vibrant artwork.

One of my favorites is Cafe de Paris….This dresses up any window with or without a view.

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Karim Rashid has partnered with Velux for a new yet- to- be named collection of blackout skylight shades. These are not your everyday drab shades. The collection includes four unique patterns, each in two different colors. Customers can choose from vibrant pink and acid yellow or more subtle designs of black and white. Inspiration from digital technology on the one hand and floral motifs on the other, adds a modern yet poetic look to the collection. The new patterns bring an abstracted ‘digital nature’ into the home. Four of the designs have decorative metallic details creating a vivid texture. The blinds are not only art on the window but the shades in the new line are energy efficient, generating a 33% decrease in heat loss when closed.

“I want people to see a blind not as a genuine standard product but as a small piece of decorated art that adds beauty and even determines the style of the interior decoration.”

Wow that’s music to my ears! The window covering industry needs to hire him as a spokes person.

Running with the “digital” theme the collection seems to have taken, Velux is crowdsourcing the names of each of the patterns. The competition runs online this month and asks anyone to propose a name for the patterns which can be viewed and voted on by others. At the contest’s close, the most highly voted entries will become the official names of each of the blinds.

Teaming up with one of the design world’s most prolific designers demonstrates a new design approach in the VELUX Group.

“Choosing to work with Karim Rashid came from the recognition that if you want to be innovative, you have to experiment and demonstrate courage in the design process. So working together with internationally acknowledged designers like the ‘King of Colors’ represents a new experience at the VELUX Group. Usually our products serve the purpose of being discrete, but the new designs by Karim Rashid attract attention and add another feature besides quality and value for money to our products.”

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More window covering innovation this week…

Bright Blind by Mongoose

Made of electroluminescent (EL) sheets, Makoto Hirahara’s Bright Blind simulates a window where none exists. In all other respects, the artificial blind functions in exactly the same way as a regular blind – i.e. turning the plastic stick controls the brightness, etc. Great for dark rooms and basements.

As of this writing, this piece is made by hand, so it’s available – but will take some time (and money) to create.

Anyone who follows design knows, there are tons of great products out there. Much as we’d like to, we can’t possibly buy or sell them all.  In the spirit of Gen C, where design is democratic and everyone can be a designer, Bright Blinds comes to us via In The Pipeline. In the Pipeline allows you to be a virtual member of their buying team; tell them which designs you love and help them choose which products to sell. You comment on any of the designs and vote for your favorites.  Submit your email and if the prototype gets manufactured they will notify you so you can be one of the first to call it your own.

Upon further investigation; it looks like it’s been around for awhile as it was submitted to the site a year ago. Let me know what you think.  Manufacturers, here’s another shout out about innovative blinds. Anyone listening?

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It is no secret I am a window fashion fanatic. So when I saw the Kontuur blind I was in love. The Kontuur Blind, created by Helena Karelson and winning the recent Design in Britain competition is to say the least- Genius. I recently had a chance to catch up with Helena and she  offered some insight into her winning design.

Design Confidential: Tell me a little about yourself?

Helena Karelson:I was born in Estonia and now live and work in London. I recently graduated from Kingston University with a Product and Furniture Design degree

DC: What inspires you as a designer?

HK: I am fascinated with light and the relationship between form and shadow.  In fact this series was born from that fascination. When the slats are in the horizontal position light filters through the irregular gaps, projecting a rich tapestry of sunbeams into the interior space. In the vertical position the light from behind the window frames the blinds perfectly in a subtle, warm glow.

DC: Have you played with this category before?

HK: I did another series titled Warm Glow. These are  window blinds that bring warmth into our everyday life. When the light comes through the blinds, the yellow side of the blinds, reflects onto the white side, resulting a warm glow. The First edition of Kontuur blind premiered at this year’s D&AD New Blood exhibition, where it won the prestigious Best New Blood award.  Kontuur window blinds also won the New Design Britain Award.

 DC:  I understand that the Kontuur blinds’ inspiration was your fascination with light and shadow, why did you choose blinds as the medium.

HK: I realized that there have not been many innovations in that medium for a long time and the classical blinds have become a boring window covering solution. I saw the potential to design something interesting and beautiful. I was right, Kontuur window blinds have had and continue to have a lot of interest in them. I have got so much good feedback from everybody, including designers, architects, manufacturers, stylists and buyers from all over the world.

DC: No Kidding!

DC: Have any blind manufacturer shown interest?

HK:It is a prototype. Many blind manufacturers in UK and Europe have shown interest.

DC: Where is the interest from U.S. manufacturers? – hey guys!

Each slat is carefully designed to leave no waste post-manufacture, which, combined with the use of environmentally sound materials ensures that it can be enjoyed without the worry of its environmental impact weighing on your mind.

Wouldn’t you like to see this in our blind offerings?

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