Saturday, October 15, 2011

Window Shades that Block Unwanted Views and Let Nature In

by Reiko Gomez

ReikoDesignDrapesB1    In my experience, the right window shades can make the difference between a peaceful oasis and a place that never feels quite comfortable.

I recently installed a Conrad woven shade for a client whose living room window looks directly out at another building (see above.) This sheer ivory shade allows the light to filter into the room, while completely blocking the view of her living room from nosey neighbors. The heavy drape allows for full privacy, but she says she rarely needs it.

A new client of mine has had trouble sleeping, and once I saw their bedroom it was clear that part of the issue is the view. A huge building juts out directly towards their bedroom window. To make matters worse, the wall they have been sleeping on forces them to stare directly at that huge building all night long. No wonder sleeping has been difficult. (See below.)

bedroom with nosey neighbors Those neighbors are a little too close for comfort.

To remedy the problem, the first thing I did was change the placement of their bed to the opposite wall. Now instead of looking at the building, they see the Hudson River…better!

Next, I am going to add a woven window shade, along with a solid roman shade with blackout liner, to give layers of privacy and protection. The sheer woven shade can diffuse the view while allowing the sunlight in. At night, dropping the roman shade will make the neighbors ~ and the city ~ completely disappear. (Stay tuned for before and after pics.)

reiko bedroom design concept The bedroom design includes a silk roman shade (fabric at center top of picutre) and woven shade (sample in upper left corner).

Another type of shade I often use are those with a top-down function. This simple feature allows you to pull the shade up from the bottom, or drop it from the top. Often a window with an unappealing view still has the possibility of a wonderful blue sky view if you can drop the shade from the top.top down shade A top-down shade allows for blue sky views.

Or you can combine the two, to create a woven window shade with a top-down option. One client of mine is a chiropractor with a lovely office on Central Park West. As part of his office renovation, we changed all the window treatments to top down woven shades. It maintains the clients’ privacy, while allowing them to gaze at the tree tops during their treatment. Here is the before and after of one window.

chiro office window shade before after I used a top-down woven shade for this doctor's office.

I welcome your thoughts and tips on window treatments that have worked for you…

portfolio17182 Photo by Conrad

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http://www.doubleglazingoxford.org.ukDouble Glazing Oxford

Window shades are one of the most common forms of window treatments and for good reason. They can provide the same soft quality as curtains and the concise and controlled appearance of window blinds

http://www.ikeepbookmarks.com/browse.asp?account=475626Cathy Acosta

Nice and very interesting post. Your opinion is more or less the same as main. Thanks!

Anonymous

Hey, they are really looking so classy. And this type of Window shades really increases the impression of our home. The existing pictures are really showing the worthy thing. The regarding information of this post really drives me on the coolest way about it. Thanks for sharing some heart throbbing information about the best of home decor.

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Anonymous

Roman blinds shutters flexible and adapt to match the style of any window, you can also find your choice and desire of the Roman curtain colours, patterns, styles and finishing off.

roman shades

http://www.interiordesignpro.org/interior-design-ideas-photosInterior Designs

I believe in using natural lights as possible. Nice article you have here.

http://www.mrnetcurtains.co.uk/product-categories/category/10/voile/door-panels.htmlvoile panels

All the system of your window shades are really awesome.  How I wish I could try this  in our home.. Very classy!

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I love exploring how our physical space can help us to manifest our dreams. In this blog we'll go deeper with design, creating homes and lives that fulfill our visions. Visit My WebsiteLatest blog entriesFeng Shui the DrivewayMelting Buddha Asian Art Exhibit in NYCEarth Hour Tonight at 8:30pmFeng Shui and JapanInspirational BlogsAll the BestAll This is Grace and CharmApartment TherapyBeach Bungalow 8Beach VintageDécor 8Design SighDesign SpongeDesire to InspireKatie DidLaw of AttractionTEDThe City SageVelvet & Linen Search My BlogFollow MeMe in the news...Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane Kimora: Life in the Fab LaneLos Angeles Times: When Casting the Couch Los Angeles Times: When Casting the CouchReiko on CBS News Reiko on CBS NewsThe New York Times: Feng Shui Remedies Slideshow The New York Times: Feng Shui Remedies SlideshowThe New York Times: In Search of the Just-Right Desk The New York Times: In Search of the Just-Right Desk

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In Which I Read from My Favorite Banned Book

2011 at 5am     Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky

In honor of the Banned Books Week Virtual Read-Out, I violated my weekend rules and put on pants to read you a  selection from my favorite banned book (and one of my all-time favorite books, period) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. That’s how much I love this book, folks, enough to put on pants on a Sunday! It’s my first vlog (and it’s less than 2 minutes long), so take a breather and let me read to you.

Click the link above for instructions on how to create your own video for the Virtual Read-Out, and please take a minute to share a passage or quote from your favorite banned book in the comments.

RGZD8DQJJ8TX

Related posts:

Banned Books Week 2008: fREADom!Quote a Day, day 2The Sunday SalonIn Praise of Banned Books, day 6: The Bluest EyeIn Praise of Banned Books, day 8: Fahrenheit 451         Filed Under Reading Life13 Comments  -->

Comments13 Responses to “”

Becky at "One Literature Nut" onSeptember 26th, 2011 10:09 am

I can’t believe that I still haven’t read this one! Yes. This English teacher feels really embarrassed to admit that. Thanks for the nudge. I’ll have to check it out soon!
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bob onSeptember 26th, 2011 12:18 pm

Look at that camera-work!

Nicola A Hare onSeptember 26th, 2011 3:48 pm

Can you tell me more about banned books? I’m intrigued but in the words of Manuel – I know nothing!

Jananav onSeptember 26th, 2011 6:54 pm

Love this (banned) book! Thanks, Rebecca.

PS: You didn’t really need to put your pants on.

Lizbeth onSeptember 26th, 2011 9:36 pm

It is really that interesting and I enjoy a lot in here but i got some info about this. Yeah! I can’t believe too that I still haven’t read this one. This English teacher feels really embarrassed to admit that. I’ll have to check it out soon! Thanks for sharing!
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Rebecca Joines Schinsky onSeptember 26th, 2011 10:37 pm

I know!! But I didn’t realize that until *after* we shot the video, and by then, the pants were on.

Man of la Book onSeptember 27th, 2011 9:52 am

Great vlog – the introduction had me laughing :)

http://www.ManOfLaBook.com

Jo onSeptember 27th, 2011 4:25 pm

I’ve read this book years ago, and guess it’s time to re-read it again (in a more grown-up state of mind)
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Danielle Allen onSeptember 27th, 2011 6:03 pm

Where did you get your shirt??? I love it!

Rebecca Joines Schinsky onSeptember 27th, 2011 10:45 pm

It’s from Out of Print Clothing. I also have one for Fahrenheit 451, but I thought that would be overkill…

Christine @ BookishlyB onSeptember 29th, 2011 9:15 pm

My students are reading that right now for 10th grade English. So great to read AND teach!
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Kim (Sophisticated Dorkiness) onSeptember 29th, 2011 10:52 pm

Thanks for doing a video and inspiring me to do my own! You could have done this without pants on :)
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Rebecca Joines Schinsky onSeptember 30th, 2011 9:37 am

I know! I didn’t realize it until afterward, though. It was worth the putting on pants.

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Friday, October 14, 2011

Bookrageous Takes On Banned Books

2011 at 5am     Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky

freadom, banned books week

In celebration of Banned Books Week, Josh and I got together with special guest Jeff from The Reading Ape to discuss our favorite banned books, the ones we’ve never read, why banning sucks, and the challenge of determining when a person is ready to read a certain book. It was a surprisingly fun conversation for such a serious topic, but that’s what Bookrageous is about. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to listen, subscribe, and let us know what you’d like to hear about in the future.

And don’t forget to pre-order your copy of Zone One by Colson Whitehead from Word Brooklyn for the first Bookrageous Book Club. Put BOOKRAGEOUS in the comments of your order for a 10% discount and stay tuned for the November discussion date.

Podcast Powered By PodbeanShow notes with all books and references discussed after the jump. 

Bookrageous Episode 26; Banned BooksIntro Music; 1976 — RJD2

What We’re Reading

Rebecca

[1:16] The Starboard Sea, Amber Dermont, March 2012

[4:02] The Revisionists, Thomas Mullen

[4:42] Sex at Dawn, Ryan & Jetha

Jeff

[6:47] I Married You for Happiness, Lily Tuck

[8:52] The Funny Man, John Warner

[10:35] How to Write a Sentence: And How to Read One, Stanley Fish

[12:47] Orality and Literacy, Walter Ong (ebook)

[13:50] Jeff’s Wonkometer Scale: Malcolm Gladwell – 2, Freakonomics – 5, Martin Heidegger – 10

Josh

[14:27] Habibi, Craig Thompson

[14:52] Ghost Lights, Lydia Millet, October 2011

[17:20] Cabin, Lou Ureneck (started as a blog for NY Times)

[18:02] All the Way Home, Building a Home with My Husband

Intermission; Freedom — Jimi Hendrix

Banned Books

[21:25] Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare

[23:17] Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury

[24:47] The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain

[31:08] Naked Lunch, William S. Burroughs

[32:58] Speak, Laurie Halse Anderson

[33:36] Slaughterhouse-Five, Kurt Vonnegut; Twenty Boy Summer, Sarah Ockler

[35:33] Flowers in the Attic, V.C. Andrews

[40:00] Most Frequently Challenged Books list from the ALA, Banned Books Week website, stats on challenges at the ALA’s website

[44:20] The Color Purple, Alice Walker

[50:01] Maus, Art Spiegelman

[50:30] Lady Chatterley’s Lover, DH Lawrence

[52:02] that Amazon/pedophilia e-book thing

[55:45] Amazon & the LGBT deranking issue

[57:22] gay relationships in YA novels under attack

Outro; 1976 — RJD2

Find Us!

Bookrageous on Tumblr, Podbean, Twitter, Facebook, Zazzle (for the Bookrageous 2011-2012 calendar), and leave us voicemail at 347-855-7323

Find Us Online:,Jeff, Josh, Rebecca; Jenn

Fuzzy Typewriter Book Club

Get Bookrageous schwag at CafePress

Note: Our show book links direct you to WORD, an independent bookstore in Brooklyn. If you click through and buy the book, we will get a small affiliate payment. We won’t be making any money off any book sales – any payments go into hosting fees for the Bookrageous podcast, or Bookrageous projects like our calendar. We promise.

 

Related posts:

Banned Books Week 2008: fREADom!In Which I Read from My Favorite Banned BookIn Praise of Banned Books, day 8: Fahrenheit 451In Praise of Banned Books, day 6: The Bluest EyeIn Praise of Banned Books, day 5: The Things They Carried         Filed Under Bookrageous2 Comments  -->

Comments2 Responses to “”

Sonya onSeptember 29th, 2011 10:30 am

Orality and Literacy was THE takeaway book I read in grad school. It reshaped my perception about how written language changed humanity. That sounds very hyperbolic, I know. But I still think about that book and will re-read passages every once in a while.

Kristen onSeptember 29th, 2011 6:02 pm

I am new here, Hi! Looking around. i love books. and i like your banned books blog! thank you very much!
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Watch Ray Bradbury Discuss His Inspiration for FAHRENHEIT 451

2011 at 5am     Posted by Rebecca Joines Schinsky

I meant to share this during Banned Books Week in honor of my love for Mr. Bradbury. Enjoy!

Related posts:

In Which I Read from My Favorite Banned BookIn Praise of Banned Books, day 8: Fahrenheit 451Quote a Day, day 2Check it out: Alexander McCall Smith writing an online novel!"Becoming" [Guest Post by Tanya Egan Gibson]         Filed Under In the Media4 Comments  -->

Comments4 Responses to “”

Hattie Norman(topazshell) onOctober 4th, 2011 6:22 am

Glad I didnt’ miss the video. Listening now.
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Hattie Norman(topazshell) onOctober 4th, 2011 6:22 am

I meant didn’t. lol.
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Hattie Norman(topazshell) onOctober 4th, 2011 6:25 am

Yep, thank God that he did.
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dovev onOctober 9th, 2011 7:45 am

thanks for the great video… sorry Rebecca :-)
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