Saturday, July 25, 2009

1997 Voyager For Sale























Friday, May 29, 2009

Woven Wood Shades, Why People Love Them


Roman shades have been around for a long time and so have the woven wood fabrics. When the two are combined you get an outstanding window treatment that adds texture and character to any room. Woven wood shades can be casual, elegant, exotic, old world, Mediterranean, or tropical. They let in the light while defusing the view.

Most manufacturers offer privacy liners as well as blackout liner options.

One of the characteristics I like about this product is that there are often more than one fabric that will work perfectly for any given room. I tell my customers its a bit like bringing a plant home. Since the product is natural, in appearance, it also tends to be color neutral in most rooms. The biggest problem my customers have is deciding on the best fabric because there are so many incredible choices.

The picture above is from the Hunter Douglas Provenance line. Hunter Douglas has done an excellent job of putting together their woven wood line. We also carry Skandia and Horizon Shades. Before you write this product off as a tiki hut accessory, take a second look. This is one of the fastest growing segments of the window covering market and its easy to see why.

What IsFaux Iron, Virtual Iron Effects, Or Tableaux?


Faux Iron, Virtual Iron Effects or Tableaux are different names for a unique product made from wood fiber that simulates the look of wrought iron. The product is designed to create a decorative accent without the high price tag or weight of traditional wrought iron. Although the product is not structural and should not be used for creating support or safety railings, it does have some really interesting applications.

Faux Iron can be made to nearly any shape so it is perfect for a custom fit in odd shaped windows and niches. It can be put on the ceiling or walls. It can be used as a grill to cover speakers or a medallion above a chandelier.

The product is light weight and can be easily removed for cleaning by the homeowner with the special tool supplied at installation. Many standard colors are available including rust, iron, patina bronze, antique gold, and silver. For more info see our website at http://www.victorianorman.com/Virtual_Iron_Effects.html.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Retractable Screen Doors


So, you just replaced your sliding glass door with beautiful french doors and now you have a screen problem. What kind of screen can you use on a french door? How do you save your view? The answer is a retractable screen door, sometimes called a disappearing screen door because they roll away and disappear from view. A retractable screen door allows you to have a screen when you need it but it easily rolls away when you don't need it.

We have sold a number of different retractable screens and in the process learned some hard lessons. A good retractable screen is not going to be the cheapest screen and not all retractable screens work well. What I have found is that our customers want a screen that is reliable, can take some abuse, and does not require a lot of maintenance. Bells and whistles usually mean more problems so we went with a reliable workhorse, no frills screen made by Mirage (manufactured by Alcoventures). The parent company does aluminum fabrication and powder coating so the product they came up with is pretty bullet proof in design and construction. I have 6 of them in my house and its been 3 years of pets and grand kids with no problems to any of the screens. I wish I could say the same for our carpet.

At Victoria Norman we could sell any retractable screen we wanted, we did the research, and chose the Mirage retractable screen door. Its a great product!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Keeping Cool With Plantation Shutters



The summer is upon us and things will be warming up soon. Why not consider ordering your plantation shutters before you have to turn down the thermostate? Shutters are an excellent insulator from the summer heat and quality basswood shutter from Victoria Norman will provide a lifetime of cool summers and warm winters in your home.

The classic beauty and low maintenance of plantation shutters are a smart addition to any home. Give us a call today for a free estimate or check out our website at www.victorianorman.com for other fantastic home improvement products at discount prices.