Shedding Light On The Future Of Window Treatments Photo courtesy of Comfortex
As home decor gets a boost from innovative design and technology advancements, new life is being breathed into the long-stagnant category of window treatments. by Mallory Bulman The combination of a printed shade with vibrant curtains as an accent brings visual interest to this neutral living room in this look from comfortex.
Photo courtesy of Comfortex
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Photo courtesy of East Greenbush Window Coverings
No matter the size or scope of your windows, shades and curtains can add functionality and visual interest.
Roller shades and valances work together to give this room a luxe and regal look.
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indow treatments are an essential part of domestic life, whether they’re blocking the early morning sun from your bedroom window, providing you with much‐needed privacy or reducing energy loss from your home. There’s quite a long history attached to them: Curtains and window treatments originated as a temperature‐control technique, with the earliest curtains made from animal hides and hung in doorways on hooks. As textile innovations have progressed, the category of window treatments has expanded to include blinds, shades, shutters and other designs to control light and temperature in your house. While window treatments are essentially about form, function and style, there are many dynamic and innova‐ tive takes on traditional window treatments evolving in the exciting new design landscape. Among the myriad trends seen throughout the home decor indus‐ try, technology is a big one and its impact on design has been stagger‐ ing. When it comes to window treatments, this growth includes a 21st‐ century approach to the age‐old mechanisms traditionally employed. As home automation grows in popularity, it is naturally evolving to include home design products. Automation for home furnishings is all about ease of use, and with motorized curtains and shades, remote‐controlled window treatments and cutting‐edge techniques such as digital printing, the world of home window products is rapidly advancing. In a market that has long been static, with the same designs for curtains and blinds for decades, high‐tech innovations are quickly making waves. “Home security, energy efficiency and child safety are all improved by allowing you to control your window treatments from a remote mobile device or your smart home assistant,” says Lynn Corrigan, owner of East Greenbush Window Coverings in Latham. Remote‐ or app‐controlled window treatments are growing in popularity due to an increasing emphasis from consumers on efficiency and convenience. When using a remote or app to adjust window treatments, regulating the amount of light in a room becomes as simple as switching a light on or off. Forward‐looking innovations to window treatments have addition‐ al advantages such as reducing wear and tear, and cordless solutions are safer for pets and children. “We expect the benefits of cordless shades to continue to appeal to customers that are seeking a sleek appearance and child safety,” says John Fitzgerald, executive vice president of Comfortex Corporation, a leading manufacturer and fabricator of cus‐ tom window treatments founded in Maplewood, just outside Albany, in 1986. Comfortex offers several motorized options that incorporate rechargeable battery technology; the PowerTouch™ Rechargeable, which employs a wand with a button that lifts and lowers the shade; and
