POINT-OF-VIEW: New & Noteworthy

ON-DEMAND

COLOR from TEXTON is the awardwinning roller shade collection that is produced entirely on demand. With over 350 stylish colors and designs in 16 fabrics, it allows for a customprinted roller shade created to match existing drapery in the room.

» Texton.com

BONDING WITH CONSUMERS

Based on the 2021 survey Bond Bridge conducted with 100,000 active users of the Bond Bridge platform, it found the consumers want convenience, voice control, integration, security and smart home capabilities when it comes to the functionality and control of their smart shades.

■ The average number of motorized shades per home is 5.7. This trend is expected to increase over time as motorized shades become more affordable and easier to integrate with smart home systems. ■ The driving factors for homeowners in choosing motorized shades include (in order of priority) aesthetics, connectivity/ integration and build quality. Consumers gave a low priority to the actual motor brand, as well as quiet operation, being a differentiator in their selection.

■ The control over use is what homeowners are focusing on when it comes to a good home automation and control system. The related and amplified uses in order of importance are: scheduling, grouping, setting scenes, setting shade positions and controlling system integration. ■ The popularity of the various types of automation and control systems used by consumers is very diverse and demonstrates why control platforms that are trying to create silos within specific motorization brands will not meet consumer demand.

Top Automation and Control System Use

■ Alexa: 59%

■ Google Assistant: 56% ■ Apple HomeKit: 29% ■ SmartThings: 26% ■ Lutron: 19%

■ Control 4: 12%

Shade motorization user experience relies on strong automation. With the advance of smart home systems and their increased diversity, the importance of offering users an open system is becoming more important.

Users value the aesthetics of the shade and its connectivity options more than the brand of the motor used inside the shade. This makes sense. When was the last time we asked ourselves what is the brand of our dishwasher pump? Never. We want the dishwasher to look good and work.

This is an opportunity for shade manufacturers, as aesthetics is the number one priority for consumers when making a purchase decision. And the less silos that are created between different shading control systems and motor manufacturers, the better, and as a result, motorized shades will become more mainstream easier and faster.

BE PROFESSIONAL

This summer, the Illinois House and Senate passed Bill 4715 and it was signed into law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The historic legislation recognizes interior design as a distinct profession in the building environment and acknowledges the crucial role professional interior designers play in protecting occupant health, safety and well-being.

“Interior designers are highly skilled professionals who must have significant qualifications to pursue a career in the industry,” said Illinois State Rep. Margaret Croke.

The legislation expands the scope of interior design with permitting privileges for interior designers to stamp and seal their own design plans for nonstructural construction, thus defining interior designers as professionals who protect and advance occupant health safety in their work in expanding the scope of interior design. The legislation recognizes the extensive education and knowledge of interior designers.

“Interiors designers bring an extensive body of knowledge, experience and care to their profession and this legislation reaffirms their impressive qualifications,” said American Society of Interior Designers CEO Gary Wheeler.

GET CONNECTED

The online home design platform Houzz has introduced new features for the timeline tool in HouzzPro, the business management and marketing software for design professionals. The tool enables pros to map out a project schedule, track progress and visually communicate the plan to everyone involved. The new dependency feature lets pros indicate when the start of one item relies on the completion of another, so that moving one activity on the schedule will also move the dependent activities. These tools make it easier to organize, track and communicate all elements of a design project. » Houzz.com

Renovation Activity

Home renovation activity and spending are at the highest rates reported since 2018. More than half of homeowners (55%) renovated in 2021, up from 53% in 2020 and 54% in 2019 and 2018. Following 15% growth in median renovation spending in 2020, homeowners reported an additional 20% jump in 2021 media spending, which now stands at $18,000.

Planned Renovation Spending

More than half of homeowners (55%) plan to renovate in 2022 and nearly half (46%) plan to decorate. For the first time since 2018, homeowners planned spending has increased. The median spending has been $10,000 for the past three years and is now $15,000 (a 50% increase).

Recent Homebuyers’ Spending

Recent home buyers, who account for 10% of renovating homeowners, spent nearly double the median ($30,000) in 2021, surpassing the median spending for long-term homeowners ($15,000). Recent home buyers with higher-budget projects (the top 10% of spending) invested $175,000, compared with $90,000 for long-term home buyers. The higher spending may be attributed to the number of projects recent home buyers undertake at a single time—an average of three to four rooms, as well as home systems.

Investment in Interior Design

Median spending increased on all interior room renovations in 2021. The kitchen, which remains the most popular interior room to be upgraded and now is the room with the highest spending, saw an increased investment of 25% ($15,000 in 2021 versus $12,000 in 2020). Interior rooms with the most dramatic spending increase are guest bathrooms (38%), laundry rooms (33%), living rooms (33%) and guest bedrooms (28%).

2022 RENOVATION TRENDS

Source: Houzz Survey 2022

OUTSIDE MOVES IN

Based on the success of the Sanctuary Blackout collection and inspired by the organic textures of nature, Rollease Acmeda’s new Texstyle Sanctuary collection features 11 color-matched blackout/lightfiltering fabrics available in the versatile 118" width. The collection’s three-dimensional pattern provides a textural finish and is designed for roller, roman and panel blinds.

» Texstyle.com

PLAYING NICE

Olibra, the parent company of Bond Bridge RF-to-Wi-Fi home control solutions, announced compatibility with the Italian brand Nice and its collection of interior window shade motors. The Bond Bridge Pro simplifies and unifies control of Nice’s window shades, awnings and ceiling fans by replicating their RF remote control’s commands. This includes scheduling/ programming, plus voicecontrol through Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant and SmartThings. The Bond Bridge Pro controls up to 50 devices in a 3,500-square-foot home. For larger homes and installations, multiple Bond Bridge Pros may be used. In North America, Nice does not offer a native app solution like Bond Bridge. In the past, installers have had to piece together third-party accessories. Bond Bridge Pro is the only way to wirelessly control Nicepowered window shades. It also can serve as a single unifying operating system when Nice and other shade motors— including Somfy, Rollease Acmeda, Bofu, A-OK and Dooya—are used in an installation. This streamlines the effort and reduces the cost of accessories. Bond Bridge Pro’s functionality serves to meet consumers’ demand in smart shade control.

» BondHome.io

HUES & VIEWS

For its popular Solar Shades line, Stoneside Blinds & Shades has released new colorways that provide a streamlined look while creating privacy and protection from harmful UV rays. The Solar Shades may be customized.

» Stoneside.com

Rowley Company, a leading manufacturer of home décor products that provide solutions for its professional partners, recently launched the Rowley CUT N GO Cellular Shade Collection. This collection offers custom cellular fabrics at cut-down prices with free shipping (within 48 hours) included. It is available in Best of Kids Cordless and Top Down Bottom Up options in three of the top trend right décor colors.

» RowleyCompany.com

The Phifertex Cushion Collection was developed by Phifer to offer a vinyl-coated polyester woven fabric with smaller denier polyester yarns to create a soft and pliable hand. This new Phifertex fabric is more pliable and soft, but also performance focused, which makes it ideal for cushion upholstery. The collection features eight color options, including warm browns, cool grays and light neutrals.

» Phifer.com Regal Fabrics heads outside with its new collection of performance fabrics, drawing inspiration from landscape and tropical island living. The collection includes eight new patterns. The fabrics are made with 100% solution-dyed polyester yarns and have 1,000 hours of UV light-resistant properties. Solution dying is eco-friendly, with no water and less energy used in production than conventional yarns. The performance fabrics are finished with the same C6 chemistry as all Performance by Regal Fabrics and have the same stain-resistance and cleanability properties. “The outdoor category is strong and customers have been asking for products like this for several years,” said Andy Kahan, Regal’s market manager.

» RegalFabrics.com

Graber has expanded its sheer and layered shade collections with new fabrics that appeal to every décor style. The collections provide soft filtered light options when open and varying levels of privacy when closed. The sheer shades offer sophisticated and subtle digital prints in a varying color palette. The layered shades are available in an assortment of rich, deep colors and captivating prints, patterns and textures. The new collection draws inspiration from two on-trend design styles: breezy coastal interiors and darker more intimate bedrooms and dens.

Eliminate the need for wires or an electrician with Insolroll Embedded Battery Motors. These motors are quiet, rechargeable, have a long battery life and don’t require an external battery wand. It offers two Somfy embedded battery motors to provide solutions for a variety of roller shade applications.

» Insolroll.com

The design industry is giving a great deal of attention to incorporating wellness into interiors. Crypton Home Fabric, Celliant and Kravet have established an exclusive collaboration on a luxury fabric line that may contribute to wellness in the home. The Wellness Textures collections using the Celliant technology, which works by reflecting a user’s natural body heat back to them as infrared energy that may improve cellular oxygenation and local circulation, are exclusive to Kravet. The wellness benefits of these fabrics range from faster recovery times to improved sleep and increased energy. Celliant technology is made by using a combination of natural minerals clinically tested and proven to increase oxygenation for improved energy, stronger performance and proven recovery. (The patented Celliant technology was developed by the company Hologenix.)

Three years in the making, this is the first and only woven residential fabric to combine Crypton performance (liquidrepellent, stain-resistant, odor-resistant, high-endurance fabric) with Celliant’s radiant infrared technology. Kravet, Crypton’s longtime brand partner, created the styles, colors and textures for the Wellness Textures line that would appeal to the luxury residential design market.

» Kravet.com » Celliant.com » Crypton.com

In conjunction with the rollout of its new Automate Pulse 2 motorization window treatment platform, Rollease Acmeda is also releasing a completely redesigned Automate Pulse 2 app. The revised app will have a complete design face-lift, as well as a cleaner interface with the functions and features provided within the app. This will include the ability to customize various scenes for automated shade control, including adjusting the opening and closing times of the window treatments to reflect the hours of daylight throughout the seasons to maximize and minimize the amount of natural light filtered into the home. The centuries-old English company Lee Jofa continues to offer exquisite textiles and iconic floral patterns with the release of its fourth collection of Oscar de la Renta fabrics and wallcoverings. The collection’s prints and patterns are reminiscent of the beautiful way that he dressed women and are the perfect way to exquisitely and classically dress the home.

» Kravet.com

RESERVE YOUR BOOTH

The world’s greatest window covering show is back again in Charlotte, NC, starting April 19 (education seminars only) and continuing April 20-21, 2023 (show floor and seminars). As the industry continues to grow, attending this yearly event is crucial for the development of your business. There is no other event dedicated to window covering trade professionals like IWCE. Now is the time to accelerate to the finish line with incomparable face-toface opportunities. Build your book of business, defeat your competition, grow your leads and sell more product!

» Reserve space at iwce-vision.com/exhibit.

Are you aware of a product that’s premiering soon? Do you have a favorite product you’d like to tell others about? Let us know! Email New & Noteworthy submissions to editor@WF-VISION.com.

AHEAD OF THE GAME:

MARKET LEADER COULISSE FULLY COMPLIANT WITH NEW SAFETY STANDARDS

New Safety Standards Coming Into Force

The Window Coverings Association of America is providing the window treatment industry with changes to the U.S. Cord Standards that are likely to go into effect very soon. The new safety standards, which will be enforced by the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, states that operating cords on custom window coverings must meet the identical requirements for operating cords on stock window coverings, as set forth in 2018. For Coulisse, a global window covering brand, compliance to these standards in a nonissue. It is continuing to develop shading solutions that comply with all child safety standards now and in the future.

Being Proactive

Coulisse is a market leader in Canada and already complies to its strict safety regulations. “Safety has and always will be of paramount importance to us. We design window treatment solutions from the ground up with both performance and safety in mind,” said Coulisse Managing Director Jop Vos. “We ensure our products comply to the industry standards across the world and we are completely ready for the new standards coming into force in the Americas very soon.”

Safety Key to Design

All Coulisse Absolute systems are designed to be child-safe, including its control: twin pull, cordless and MotionBlinds smart technology that are all suitable for the application of roller, double roller and cellular shades. These systems are not only child- and pet-safe to prevent any unnecessary accidents, but they also are designed to offer so much more. “Based on years of experience and global trends, Coulisse’s team of passionate engineers develop modular shading solutions which are smart, safe, stylish and user-friendly to ensure a perfect fit for any interior for the commercial, residential and hospitality market,” said Vos. “Elaborated to the finest details, Coulisse’s range of hardware is available in different designs, materials and various colors to create a seamless interior.”

MotionBlinds also works with other smart home assistants such as Google and Alexa.

Future-Proof With MotionBlinds

Coulisse’s advanced systems feature MotionBlinds smart technology that is compliant with all new safety standards. “Our smart motors for blinds and shades are doing what they were designed to do making life easier, safer and more convenient. This makes our technology a must for any smart home ecosystem,” said Vos. “Designed with simplicity and connectivity, our smart motors may be connected to any smart home device that is already talking to the home’s thermostats, security cameras, weather stations and sensors to ensure the home is fully protected, as well as constantly creating an optimal indoor climate. The ongoing movement of the window treatments not only prevents break-ins by making a home look like it is inhabited, but it also controls heat and light in order to create a happy, healthy and energyefficient space to live.”

Advanced Systems, Smart Technology, Performance Fabrics

Coulisse offers a total solution of inspiring collections, advanced systems and MotionBlinds smart technology. With a talented in-house design studio and a cutting-edge R&D department, the experts at Coulisse offer a seamless operation from concept to production. “Our systems are designed to work perfectly with our collections customized for the Americas. These iconic collections of roller, double roller and ¾-inch honeycomb fabrics have been ingeniously designed with beauty, performance and sustainability in mind,” said Vos. “From must-have classics to luxurious statement pieces, our highperformance fabrics offer ways to improve thermal, visual and acoustic comfort. They are also available with flame-retardant options.”

Visit Experience Center

This year, Coulisse opened its new 50,000-square-foot office, showroom and warehouse facility in Miami, FL. Housing its latest collections, hardware and technology, this center is the go-to place for fabricators. “With a strong and dedicated team of passionate experts who are at the core of the window covering business, we are always going the extra mile to give our partners the inspiration, products, knowledge and support they need,” said Vos. “We look forward to welcoming our clients to our experience center, where they can take a deep dive into our future-proof smart shading solutions.” 3100 NW 116th Street, Miami

» Coulisse.com

Schedule a visit to the Miami Experience Center by scanning the QR code.