Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Entry Hall

View fullsize

A beautiful entry hall will impact how visitors perceive your home.

This important room can introduce drama and beauty to your guests. After visitors walk in your front door, the entry hall (or foyer) is the first feeling they get about your home. Make sure it’s a good first impression by focusing on this small, but oh so important, part of your house! 

Since the entry hall is a small space you can afford to be extravagant and add drama. Consider these ideas:

Consider these ideas:

View fullsize

• Use bold and rich colors or striking black and white.
• Add mirrors to make the room appear larger.
• Explore the idea of shiny, lacquer or faux finish walls.
• Accent with a touch of metallic finishes, including gold, silver, bronze or copper.
• Install a front door that looks distinctive even from the inside.
• Purchase a dramatic light fixture or lamp.

It’s nice to include a table and at least one chair or bench where people can stop to put on their shoes, but too much furniture will collect junk on a daily basis. A coat rack or umbrella rack can add welcome functionality. Also take time to select artwork, rugs and light fixtures. When selecting colors for your foyer, think about coordination with the rooms you can see from your entry hall, probably your living room and maybe your dining room. 

View fullsize

If you’re thinking about a remodeling project, you can redesign your front door for more drama, even adding side and top windows to bring in more light. If you don’t have a separate foyer, be clever in your decorating to make this area appear as a separate space, using your flooring, furniture and artwork selection. 

Want to make a good first impression? Focus on redesigning your entry hall this season!

Set Your Scene

PowerView Motorization - The Evolution Of Fashion In Motion

The new motorized operating system from Hunter Douglas lets you customize your perfect combination of light, privacy and warmth, keeping your home perfectly in sync with time of day and mood. Create personalized Scenes, schedule automatic operation or operate window treatments remotely ‐ all from your mobile device. PowerView Motoriztion take fashion in motion to a brilliant new level.

Stay In Tune With Your Environment

With the PowerView Pebble Remote, choreograph exactly how the light will play throughout the home. It’s the ultimate control in the palm of your hand. Ergonomically designed, the PowerView Pebble is the perfect fusion of form and function. The Pebble is available in 7 colors and the Remote Module is available in black or white. 

Smarter Shades from your Smart Device

Our intuitive PowerView App for Apple and Android mobile devices is designed to complement your lifestyle. Create Scenes to balance different lighting and privacy need throughout the day. Adjust window treatments for temperature, privacy and security from across the room or across the world, using the RemoteConnect feature in the PowerView App.

Live In Perfect Harmony With Your Home

The perfect view or the way light is diffused... a host of custom Scenes can be balanced and blended all around your home. Our PowerView Pebble Scene Controller allows you to choose from a list of your personalized environment settings. From every morning to every night, every Scene is you creation.

The Art of Window Dressing is always supported by great design. A wide selection of sophisticated PowerView motorized products, styles, fabrics and colors ensure that when you opt for convenience you won’t ever sacrifice look. It’s the evolution of fashion in motion. It's innovation that's fashion forward.

Now is the time to move forward with your window covering project with valuable rebate** savings when you purchase select PowerView Shades through September 12 2016! Visit our Promotions page for more information.

PowerView Motorization is available on the following products:

• Alustra Woven Textures
• Applause Honeycomb Shades
• Design Studio Roman Shades
• Designer Roller Shades
• Designer Screen Shades
• Duette Honeycomb Shades
• Luminette Privacy Sheers
• Nantucket Window Shadings
• Pirouette Window Shadings
• Pleated Shades
• Povenance Woven Wood Shades
• Silhouette Window Shadings
• Skyline Gliding Window Panels
• Solera Soft Shades
• Vignette Modern Roman Shades

Here are a few of our Motorized Projects

Call either of our store locations, in Plano or in Southlake to learn more about PowerView Motorization. Our Window Fashion Specialist will be able to help you with any question you may have about Automated Shades ‐ from PowerView with battery operation to Hardwiring. We can help you with finding the right solution for your project. Our Designers can show you the latest trends, current styles and colors. Read Design has been a leader in Hunter Douglas Window Fashions for over 25 years. And with our new Showrooms, can also help you with Custom Window Treatments, Wallpaper, Reupholstery, furniture and a lot more. Stop in today to schedule an appointment.

Window Treatments From Dallas to Fort Worth

We help customers from Grapevine, Lewisville, Plano, Carrollton, Prosper, Celina, Denton, Robson Ranch, Keller, Trophy Club, Dallas, Irving, Highland Park, Park Cities, Allen, Frisco, McKinney, Colleyville, Fort Worth, Rockwall, Murphy, Wylie and everywhere inbetween. 

Intelligent Shades That Simplify Your Life

PowerView Motorization is a revolutionary new wireless system that automatically moves your shades throughout the day, so you don't have to.

Imagine a world where your window treatments can adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night. That’s the beauty of PowerView™ Motorization — recipient of the 2016 Red Dot Design Award, the most coveted and prestigious designation in the world of design.

Just program PowerView to move your window treatments to the exact position you want and then control and schedule them using the intuitive PowerView App on your smartphone or tablet. You can also operate your PowerView settings using the stunning new PowerView Pebble™ Control.

Available in an incredible range of sophisticated styles, PowerView Motorization creates a whole new world of beauty and convenience.

Features and Benefits

The PowerView system can be operated via the PowerView App or via two different types of Pebble controls—a Pebble Remote Control or a Pebble Scene Controller.

The PowerView Pebble Remote Control offers a modern alternative to a traditional remote control, allowing you to pre-set and easily operate up to six different groupings of window treatments—either individually or together—with just a press of a button.

The PowerView Pebble Scene Controller features an advanced display screen that lets you conveniently preview and select room scenes—different combinations of shades and shade positions—that you previously programmed using the PowerView App.

Ergonomically designed and beautiful to look at, the PowerView Pebble is available in seven stylish colors to enhance any décor.

You can also wall mount a PowerView Remote or Scene Controller using the PowerView Surface, available in three on-trend colors.

Get the PowerView™ App

The PowerView App unlocks the full potential of PowerView Motorization. Using the App on your smartphone or tablet, you can create and schedule customized room Scenes that allow your shades to operate on their own throughout the day.

Click a link below to download the App today:

Set Your Perfect Scene

Start by creating Scenes—different combinations of each shade in the room, adjusted to the exact position you want at different times of the day based on your light, privacy and overall room ambiance preferences.

Personalize Your Experience

Choose from a variety of fun App color schemes and activity icons to personalize each Scene and Room. You can also create your own Scene names to make them easy to identify.

Shades that Operate on YOUR Schedule

Use the scheduling feature to set your Scenes to operate independently. You can program any Scene to activate on specific days and times. You can even schedule multiple-room Scenes to activate simultaneously.

Coordinate with Sunrise and Sunset Timing

Link one or more of your Scenes to the ever-changing local sunrise or sunset times—precisely calculated by PowerView based on its knowledge of your specific location.

 

Connect from Outside the Home

The RemoteConnect™ feature, along with an internet connection, allows you to operate your shades from anywhere in the world, using your smartphone or tablet.

Designed with Safety in Mind

Along with the added convenience of cordless operation, PowerView Motorization creates a safer environment for homes with young children and pets.

Battery Power Makes It Easy

Most PowerView motorized window treatments are battery-powered, so they’re incredibly easy to install, operate and maintain. The battery pack is hidden behind the headrail so there’s nothing to mar the beauty of your window treatments.

Whole-Home Integration

Along with controlling your Hunter Douglas PowerView shades through the PowerView App and Pebble Control, PowerView also seamlessly integrates with other sophisticated whole-home automation systems. Synchronize your 'Scenes' to automatically activate in coordination with your other smart home devices to create picture-perfect settings throughout the day, every day.

READ MORE

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Outdoor Living

View fullsize

Plan for outdoor living this summer.

It's time to shop for outdoor furniture for your patio, terrace, balcony or garden. Outdoor living is all about comfort and relaxation. It can happen wherever you have outdoor space – in the courtyard or backyard, balcony or terrace. 

Build your outdoor retreat from the ground up, considering flooring, plants, furniture, umbrellas and awnings. There are so many choices in colors, finishes and materials – and most outdoor living elements are now made out of materials that resist degrading in the heat and humidity.

View fullsize

• For your flooring, think terra cotta, flagstone, pavers, an interesting cement finish, wood planks or lawn. Outdoor rugs are even available to soften a hard flooring choice.
• In your furniture scheme, plan for a dining area with tables and chairs, and a more casual lounging area for just hanging around. Explore the variety of materials available, including teak, faux wood products, powder coated aluminum, glass, stone, real or faux wicker and specially formulated outdoor fabrics that are mildew- and fade-resistant.
• For your dining pleasure, use washable cotton table linens or even paper napkins, and unbreakable plates and glasses. It’s time to put away the starched table linens and the fine china and take it easy.
• In the foliage category, consider blooming flowers that add not only color, but smell good too! A lush trellis can add intimacy and privacy.
• For sun covering, you can use umbrellas, have a shading structure built, or install an awning that comes out from the house – or you can get your shade from strategically planted trees!
• Accent pieces that add to your outdoor ambience include throw pillows, outdoor lanterns, water features, candles and flower arrangements.

Don’t forget the barbeque!

Who doesn’t like cooking and dining in the open air? In fact, according to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine, 72% of their Facebook fans say that a backyard barbecue is their favorite kind of summer party. But keep it easy because people also like the easy, relaxing feel of outdoor dining. 

Spring for some outdoor living choices now, so you can sit back and relax when the sunny weather is here!

Read Design Southlake and Read Design Plano service all of the following areas and more: Celina, Parker, Southlake, Roanoke, Fort Worth, Dallas, Wylie, Prosper, Gunter, Plano, Carrollton, Addison, Dallas, Frisco, McKinney, Allen, Fairview, Robson Ranch, Denton, Westlake, Richardson, Garland, Sunnyvale, Cedar Creek Lake Area, The Colony, Lewisville, Corinth, North Dallas, Irving and so many more! Give us a call today for your in home consultation!

Designer Roller Shades - A Great Solution

View fullsize

Once again it seems our favorite window treatments for 2016 are Designer Roller Shades and Designer Screen Shades from Hunter Douglas. I do think the reason for this is the fact that they are so versatile. Designer Roller Shades are a perfect solution for many homes - contemporary to traditional and anywhere in between. With so many fabrics, colors and textures to choose from, they will not only enhance your windows, but will help insulate your home keeping it warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. 

View fullsize

Roller Shades at the Lake

Recently one of our loyal clients stopped by the showroom and asked us to help her cover the windows on her new lake house at Cedar Creek Lake just South East of Dallas. They have a beautiful home on deep water and their view is outstanding. Her home has a traditional feel outside, however the interior is more contemporary. Designer Roller Shades by Hunter Douglas were the perfect solution because it correlated with both interior and exterior styles. Because the home is open concept, we used the same shades for all the windows. We selected the fabric Pure Earth in the Arbor color because it picked up all the neutral colors in the home. We also opted for the PowerView Motorization Lift System with the Hub to allow her to control the shades from her iPhone - whether she is there or not. With the Hub you can set the scene and program exactly where you want the shades to stop. As you can see they look beautiful. 

“Read Design, you did it again! As I pull into the neighborhood I open up the App and hit the button and by the time I walk in my house the shades are up and I am officially on vacation! The view is absolutely beautiful”

— Barbara

Designer Screen Shades By Hunter Douglas

If the Designer Roller Shades aren't what you are looking for, you might consider the updated line of Hunter Douglas Designer Screen Shades. There are so many new fabrics and colors to see! The Designer Screen Shades provide excellent UV protection all while allowing you to enjoy the view to the outdoors. The Alustra Collection of Screen and Roller shades by Hunter Douglas is another place to find beautiful options. With the fabrics and hardware, this will give a more contemporary look.

View fullsize

Drapery Panels Added to Designer Screen Shades

We recently helped a client in North Dallas update her Ranch Style Home. She wanted the look to be more transitional and with her furniture, that was easy to do. We picked up the old carpet and put in a light wood floor and painted the walls a neutral tan. Now for her windows we used Designer Screen Shades by Hunter Douglas called Umbria with a 3% opacity. With this shade, we were able to give them the amount of privacy they desired while still allowing them to view the outdoors. We used the Custom Clutch lift system because we knew we could hide it behind the drapery panels. For the curtains, we used a neutral silk Dupioni from the Kravet Couture line of fabrics in a fawn color and installed them floor to ceiling to give the room some height. We are very pleased with the finished room.

Screen Shades in Broken Bow, Oklahoma

Last weekend we traveled up to the beautiful area of Broken Bow, Oklahoma to install some Designer Screen Shades from Hunter Douglas. In this cabin in the woods, privacy is not the issue. In fact, this client said they wouldn't have covered the windows at all if the sun didn't shine through and make the room very hot. Screen shades were the only solution! We kept the stunning view of the forest while protecting the interiors from harmful UV rays and keeping the room nice and cool in the summer. Now they can sit and watch the wildlife roam around. 

Read Design Plano and Read Design Southlake

Stop by either of our Hunter Douglas Galleries in Plano or in Southlake. Our Window Fashion Experts can help you find a Designer Roller Shade or Designer Screen Shade (or any other Hunter Douglas product) that is just right for your next project. We can help you with colors, textures, opacities and lift systems all while keeping your budget in mind. Our 4 certified installers will be ready to measure and install when you are. 

Finding Roller Shades in Dallas, University Park, Texas

Read Design has been a Dallas, TX leader in Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, custom drapery treatments, wallpaper, upholstery and more services for over 27 years. We offer one on one personal design services and we work with your particular style and personality in mind. Stop by either location to see over 60 working samples of Hunter Douglas products, drapery curtain samples, furniture and more. Or give us a call and have one of our Mobile Showrooms come out to you for an in home consultation. We are looking forward to helping you with your next project.

Areas We Service

We service Colleyville, Dallas, Keller, Frisco, Trophy Club, Allen, Robson Ranch, McKinney, Fort Worth, Southlake, Plano, Del Webb, Cedar Creek Lake Area, Grapevine, Rockwall, Celina, Prosper, Lewisville, Northlake, North Richland Hills, Carrollton, Highland Park, University Park, Kessler Park,  McKinney, Wylie, St. Paul, Murphy, Park Cities, Richardson, The Colony, Little Elm, Aubrey, Savannah, Parker, Fairview, Lucas, Melissa, Sachse, Roulette, Heath, Sunnyvale, Addison, Farmers Branch, Irving, Las Colinas, Flower Mound, Denton, Corinth, Argyle, Bedford, Arlington, Euless, Grand Prairie, Gunter and everywhere in between!!

Reupholstery & Paint

Sometimes we have a piece of furniture that we love, but it just doesn't fit in our design anymore.  This is where paint and reupholstery changes everything! Our designers use this technique a lot because we love vintage pieces and antiques!  

Take a look at these side chairs. The striped fabric was dated and worn and the finish was in serious need of some help! The bold colors didn't fit this clients decor anymore so we found a new fabric that was light and fresh, but still fit her traditional style. We then sanded and specialty painted over the finish with a silver shimmer to give it a unique pop. What a transformation!

BEFORE

AFTER

Check out the dining chairs below. The finish was still in great condition so we didn't touch it, but we did remove the old fabric and updated them with a fresh design. We kept them simple for the most part, just adding that beautiful blue color, but on the end chairs we added a pop of pattern within the same color spectrum.

Call us today for more information about custom painting and upholstery. 972.608.4999

Fresh Ideas For Your Home - Round Shapes

Adding round-shaped interior elements can smooth the hard edges in your interior look.

The unexpected circular shapes will energize your design style.

Don't be a square - or even a rectangle! Rooms that have only sharp edges and straight lines can create a feeling of too much order and lead to a sense of discomfort or inflexibility. Add just a few round elements as an accent to soften and relax a room. You can be creative in your definition of "round" to include more than perfect circles. Include ovals, egg-shapes, ellipses, arches, curls, cylinders, rings and more. The idea is just that you add a few rounded shapes, in addition to the straight lines and square corners that are everywhere in your home.

Even in the feng shui concept of interior design, round shapes are important. Feng shui is about balancing five elements, one of which is metal. The metal element is expressed as a round shape in decor; and round design elements are believed to bring clarity, precision, freshness and equality into a room. The possibilities for adding round shapes to your home environment are almost unlimited:

• -Circular or oval rugs
• -Round pillows
• -Curved patterns in wallpaper or upholstery fabric
• -Cylindrical, round or oval accessories - such as vases, bowls and urns
• -Disk-shaped tables - including dining tables, end tables and coffee tables
• -Round light fixtures or lamps
• -A circular sofa sectional
• -Elliptical or round mirrors or artwork
• -Spiral staircases
• -And if you're remodeling, round windows and arch top doorways or windows - or you can change the shape of a room to have a rounded window bay.

Think outside the box. Round out your interior design with some circular shapes!

Hunter Douglas Pirouettes

A Roman Shade with a View

We recently attended the Premier of Hunter Douglas’ newest products. There are many new and exciting window fashion products and some of our favorites are the newest fabrics in the Pirouette Alustra Collection. Our favorite “ Best of Both Worlds” Shades just got better.

The already amazing beauty of Pirouette window shadings just received a heightened level of style. The many new fabrics and colors bring these window coverings into an exclusive world of high fashion window treatments for the ultimate in style and sophistication. Striking design and dramatically filtered light. With Pirouette window shadings, the look and feel of a traditional fabric shade is enhance, the gentle pull of a cord lets you change a room’s lighting in a whole new way. Soft, horizontal fabric vanes close to filter natural light, or open to give you a perfect outside view. Our revolutionary Invisi-Lift system allows the vanes to float gracefully, and even when opened they offer UV protection and reduced glare through the sheer backing.

Let Light Create a Distinctive Manner of Expression

The dramatic backdrop of your View, the maximum view through to your beautiful landscape has been improved as the Pirouette Alustra Collection offers sheer backing in dyed colors for a softened viewing experience even beyond what made Pirouette window shadings remarkable in the first place. These Window coverings highlight the beauty of your view with with fabric vanes that adjust open for a range of levels that offer you light control at your fingertips. You can create the perfect atmosphere with these shades.

So many fabrics with new textures and colors offer so many possibilities in creating the perfect look for your home. Most all of Hunter Douglas lifting systems can be used with Pirouette including the new PowerView Motorization where with the touch of a button, you can control the lighting in your room.

Colleyville, Texas Installation

Recently we used one of my favorite fabrics - Valencia, color - Calatravafor our customer in Colleyville. She had called our Southlake Store for an in-home consultation. We showed her the new Alustra Pirouette and she also fell in love with the color and texture. It was the perfect treatment for her Family Room where the view to the yard was important. She now tells us she will be adding these shadings to her Master Bedroom and will use the room darkening lining.

Call Read Design Plano or Read Design Southlake to see all the newest Trends and latest styles in Hunter Douglas Window Fashions. All of the new samples are here and ready for viewing.  Our Designers can also help you finish the look with Custom Window Treatments including Drapery Panels, Curtains, and Top Treatments. Also make sure to get of the new Art of Window Dressing Books as our gift to you.

Don't miss out on the rebate savings now through June 27th!

Plano: 972.608.4999

Southlake: 817.416.7164

Read Design helps customers From Dallas to Fort Worth including Highland Park, Park Cities, Preston Hollow, Plano, Frisco, Prosper, Celina, Allen, McKinney, Richardson, Lucas, Wylie, Irving, Carrollton, Lewisville, Flower Mound, Robson Ranch, Grapevine, Colleyville, Southlake, Keller, Roanoke, Trophy Club, Denton and all areas in bebween.