Eco-Friendly Window Treatments

S Interior Design is always interested in design concepts that are eco-aware.  So, when we were asked to share this blog post about how to ‘ think green’  when it comes to your interior window coverings, we were happy to oblige.

Go Green with your Window Blinds!

Never has Mankind been more aware of the environment than in 2012. Recycling is now a given rather than a choice, eco-friendly products are more and more common on supermarket shelves and reducing our carbon footprint is no longer the reserve of global airlines.

As energy prices hit an all-time high, the task of reducing the cost of lighting and heating our businesses and homes became a critical issue for everyone. No longer are lights left on over night, appliances like washing machines and dish washers are only turned on in off-peak hours and now there’s even a little discussion before switching the heating on outside of a couple of hours in the morning and a few more late at night.

One significant way of saving energy and money is to invest in the right style of window treatment. While Curtains have long been heralded as great draft excluders, the reality is that material curtains are also unforgiving when it comes to keeping natural light out – instead, it’s time to consider window Blinds.

There has rarely been a greater selection of Blinds available on the market and some are better than others when it comes to making a contribution to the environment. Wooden Blinds, for example, will block heat or cold from leaving or entering a room and are very practical when it comes to increase (or decreasing) the amount of natural light in a room.

By retaining heat inside a room, Blinds reduce the need for home owners to have their heating on. Likewise, by keeping excess heat out during the summer months, Blinds lessen the need for air conditioning within a building. Being able to increase the amount of light in a room, without switching on a light, in a moment’s notice will also has positive effects on your lighting costs.

Thick-fabric Roman Blinds work in a similar fashion, while allowing complete control over privacy and a room’s natural light. Both Wooden and Roman Blinds can be made from eco-friendly and sustainable materials – check with your retailer for more details – and both produce very few nasty by-products during their manufacturing processes.

Other benefits of having Blinds installed include the fact they reduce the amount of direct sunlight exposure on furnishings (UV rays cause some fabrics and materials to fade and even discolour), while also being able to eliminate glare on sunny afternoons! For a more a natural-looking Blinds to align with your eco principles, you might also consider selected a Bamboo-based Blind from the ever popular Woodweave line.

Perhaps the most important factor in choosing eco-friendly Blinds, however, is the simple fact that in doing so, you don’t have to compromise on design or luxury! Conscious that customers are now thinking of the environment more than ever, manufacturers are now making real efforts to produce sustainable, durable and ‘green’ products in a wide variety of colors and styles, which will fit into any budget.

Niamh is writing on behalf of MyBlinds.ie (Link: www.myblinds.ie), a company with over 25 years experience in the Blinds and window Shutters industry.

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‘Care and Feeding’ For Leather Furnishings

Below is a guest post providing some great information about how to care for your leather seating.
S Interior Design likes to mix leather seating with upholstered options when possible.  Mixing the upholstery in a room provides opportunities to add varied textures, colors and patterns resulting in a more customized result.

Caring for your sumptuous seating
There is nothing like a designer leather sofa to add an element of luxurious style into your living room. From traditional chesterfields to contemporary minimalist designs, the sumptuous elegance and comfort of leather sofas makes them desired and sought after items for the home.

Leather is not only valued for its aesthetic appeal, its inherent properties make it extremely suitable for living room furniture. Leather is a hard wearing and durable material that will withstand the stresses and wear and tear of family life, including children and pets, far better than fragile fabrics that fray more easily. It is resistant to both tearing and puncture damage.

Leather is also easy to clean, meaning that accidents such as spilled wine, coffee and other substances can be simply wiped clean without leaving a visible permanent stain that may occur on fabric sofas, both light and dark colored. Marks can be simply wiped clean with a damp cloth. Leather will also hold its color better than fabric.

Leather actually becomes soft and supple with use, so well used sofas will not become misshapen but will retain their strength and shape. Leather sofas support the natural contours of the body making them extremely comfortable to sit or lie upon.

All these reasons mean that your leather sofa will last a long time. However there are some simple measures that you can take to ensure your leather sofa remains in top condition for its lifetime.

Find out what type of leather you have – Leather comes in various forms depending on how it is manufactured. The type of leather used may be written on tags on the sofa, or you could contact the manufacturer. However most types of modern leather sofa will be sealed or top coat protected. This is the simplest leather to clean and it is safe to use water. Pure aniline leather may need to be cleaned professionally while waxed leather such as Nubuck will need re-waxing as part of its regular care and to remove scratches and blemishes.

Prevention is better than cure – Use a leather protector to condition your leather against wear and tear and cracking, and keep it soft and supple. Leather protectors also provide protection against everyday dirt as well as oil, water and alcohol stains.

Use leather wipes for simple cleaning – Leather wipes are readily available from shops and are a great way to mop up spills or just to wipe over the sofa to keep it fresh and clean. Different wipes are available depending on the type of leather.

Tackle stains with foam cleaners – Foam cleaners can be sprayed onto stains and gently rubbed, before being dried with a clean cloth. These cleaners are often suitable for different types of leather. Nubuck and suede should be brushed beforehand for best results.

Try homemade remedies – There are several tried and tested kitchen remedies for keeping your leather in good condition and for removing stains. Simple soap and water can be used for general cleaning, while red wine stains can be tackled with salt. A mixture of two parts linseed oil to one part vinegar is recommended for removing surface dirt and leaving a superb, polished appearance.

Remove stains quickly – Always treat stains as soon as they occur for the best chance at complete removal.