window coverings - Carmel Monthly Magazine

Writer // Neil Lucas Photos // Laura Arick Abda Window Fashions is a full-service window treatment company offering blinds, shades, shutters and draperies from the highest-quality manufacturers in the industry for the last 20 years. Jerry and Pat Rebb started Abda, cleaning and repairing blinds, in 1998. Now their son Ben has joined the team. The reason behind the Abda company name, which means “servant,” is that the Rebb’s wanted to convey to their customers that they treat every everyone with a “servant” attitude. That laser-focus on customer service has been one of the keys to the success and longevity of the business. Abda is a dealer for some of the most recognized and trusted brands in the US, such as Hunter-Douglas Showcase, Norman Certified and Alta Elite Partner. As a Hunter-Douglas Showcase Dealer, they have access to the exclusive Allustra custom window treatments, which offer exclusive designer fabrics, textures, colors and hardware finishes. The Abda team takes pride in providing their customers with outstanding products and professional services at a reasonable price. You can feel confident that the people coming into your home to complete the installation are employees of Abda and not independent contractors. What to Expect When You Work with Abda Window Fashions During the in-home consultation, your Abda Design Consultant will take the time to find out what your goals are and what you want to accomplish with the window treatments. They will ask specific questions, such as how would you like to control the light in the room? Is your main concern privacy or light blockage? Do the windows face to the east or west? Are there small children, pets or elderly or disabled individuals in the house that need to be considered? Once your needs and goals are established, Abda’s Design Consultant will help you to select from the wide range of products, manufacturers and materials they offer. It is imperative to examine the samples of their products in your own surroundings. According to Jerry Rebb, “Because all our salespeople are installers as well, we have been trained so that we know what brackets fit best for a particular installation. We can truly professionally guide you not only in the decorating but also the logistics of how to install it properly.” Undoubtedly, this type of expertise during the sales and ordering process is a real value-added service. Working with experienced professionals adds up to time savings and, in some instances, cost savings. The other value-add is that there are no hidden fees. Installation is always included in your cost. When you hire Abda, you will have the assurance that window measurements and complete installations are done in a professional manner and the work is secured by extended product warranty. Abda Extended Product Warranty Abda Window Fashions stands by the products they sell and install by offering its customers a two-year wear-and-tear warranty that goes above and beyond the standard manufacturer’s warranty. During the first two years of owning your window coverings, Abda’s service techs will fix the problem at no charge to you. Most importantly, if there is ever a problem with a product, chances are Abda will be able to repair it in-house quickly rather than having to send it back to the manufacturer. Abda’s showroom has been in the same location for 15 years. You can always drop off window treatments that need repair and see the variety of available new products. What’s the Difference Between Blinds, Shades and Shutters? Generally, window treatments can be divided into four categories: blinds, shades, shutters and draperies/curtains. One question many have is, “What is the difference between blinds and shades?” Window Blinds While the term “window blinds” sometimes is used to refer to the all-window coverings or treatments, more specifically, they are understood to be the type of window coverings with slats that can control the amount of light by raising or lowering the entire blind or by changing the tilt of the slat. Horizontal blinds are made of hard materials, such as wood, a polymer, wood composite or aluminum. The slats are held together with cords that run the length of the blind. Typically, but not always, blinds are the least expensive of the mechanical window coverings. Vertical blinds have vanes (slats) made of vinyl or fabric. Vertical blinds, like draperies, can be ordered to draw to the left, right or as a split draw where the vanes pull to both sides of the window or door. Window Shades Most window shades are usually made from fabric that can be rolled around a metal tube or pulled up in folds to a decorative headrail. The light and privacy can be controlled by pulling up or down with a cord or similar lifting mechanism. Honeycomb shades are made of a blend of fabrics that help keep the pleated shape. Some designs allow the shade to be moved up and down from the top or the bottom of the shade. While you may think of roller shades as an old-fashioned model with a single piece of material that simply pulls down or rolls up, roller shades are becoming more popular with new designs and materials that have evolved from the original concept, such as the transitional or zebra shade. Some of the categories of shades are honeycomb, roller, roman, screen or pleated. Interior Shutters Interior or plantation shutters are a type of window covering that is typically made of a solid frame fitted into a window opening, constructed with horizontal louvers in varying sizes from 1 3/8 inches to 5 inches. Like a blind the louvers can be adjusted to control the amount of light and privacy desired. When purchasing shutters, it is important to consider framing. Choosing the wrong material or incorrect frame can be problematic. Abda carries shutters made of different materials. The type of material selected is contingent on the environment in which it will be placed. What’s New in Window Treatments? The team at Abda stays informed of the newest trends, fashions and innovations in the window-covering industry by attending industry shows, conventions and manufacturer’s training sessions. Two of the newest trends in window treatments are transitional shades and smart home technology for automated window treatments. Transitional or Zebra Shades A variation of the conventional roller shade that is becoming very popular are transitional shades, also called zebra shades or banded shades by some manufactures. Unlike traditional roller shades that have a single layer of material, these shades have two layers of fabric with a dual-roller system that operates on a single headrail so that each layer has horizontal bands that can be positioned so they alternate between sheer and opaque. When the shades are raised or lowered and the sheer bands of both layers match up, the shade allows more light in the room and enable you to view the outdoors. Alternatively, when the opaque bands cover the sheer bands, the shade provides complete privacy. The transitional shades create a modern and clean look to a room while also being an effective way to control light and privacy. Smart Motorized Window Treatments Abda sells a large assortment of motorized options for window treatments . Most motorized systems can be synced with the smart speakers that you own. What’s more, you can download an app on your phone to control your shades, enabling you to program scenes to raise and lower your shades at specific times of the day. Away from home? No problem. You can now control your shades when you are away. This will add an extra layer of security, allowing you to randomly open or close your blinds and shades from a remote location. Power Options for Motorized Window Treatments There are several options used to power the motor that controls the window treatment: solar power kit, battery tube, rechargeable battery, DC power adapter or wiring to junction box to integrate with your home automation system. Outdoor shades and large interior shades require a 110-volt power source. As you might suspect, the solar power kit is great for windows that have exposure to a great deal of direct sunlight. The battery tube is ideal where a clean design, one without cords, is desired. Many of the battery tubes will hold approximately a dozen AA batteries, and these batteries can often last one to three years, depending on the amount of use. A rechargeable battery wand can last three months to a year before having to recharge. A DC power adapter, unlike the battery tube, has no batteries to replace, but it may have a visible cord running to an outlet. Having a reliable power source with no need to replace batteries or charge your battery wand are advantages to the DC power adapter. Control Options for Motorized Window Treatments Once you have decided what best suits your needs for power to your motorized window treatments, the next step is to determine how you would like to control it. Your choices can be as simple as a small remote control, a wall switch or a programmable timer. You may also choose to add the ability to integrate to other smart devices or a whole-home automation system. Since automated window coverings use radio frequency, you will need an added device to convert the frequency to talk to Wi-Fi devices. Abda’s automation experts will work with your home automation technician to sync everything together. Increase Living Space by Adding Outdoor Shades Adding outdoor shades to a patio or deck is a great way to make these spaces much more livable by blocking sun, wind and rain, providing insect protection or by increasing privacy. Most popular outdoor shades are made of solar screen material to reduce the heat and sun coming into your space. It is important to remember that outdoor shades, as well as any moving parts like motors, should be specifically designed for and constructed with materials that will survive the elements to which they will be exposed. Few, if any, interior blinds and shades are designed to survive if exposed to the outdoors. Abda Window Fashions offers outdoor shades that can turn your patio or deck into a three-season living space. One of the shades sold by Abda is rated to withstand 60 mph straight-line winds. Tips for Buying Window Covers for Doors The first thing you need to consider when you start looking for coverings for doors is the type of door: French door, sliding door, front entry door or arched shaped door. Each type of door has its own unique issues to deal with when you are choosing a treatment. For example, with a French door, the handles can be an issue and require a shade or blind that narrowly covers the window opening. Because of their large size, sliding doors can provide an abundance of light while also providing little if any privacy. If you are covering a sliding door, it is important to find the perfect blind or shade that will give you just the right amount of light and privacy. To learn more about Abda’s Window Fashions product selection, click on the links below: • Interior Shutters • Blinds • Roller Shades • Screen Shades • Woven Wood Shades • Roman Shades • Cellular Shades • Pleated Shades • Vertical Solutions • Draperies • Shutter Options for Doors • Specialty Shape Window Coverings If you want to avoid the hassle of measuring your window spaces and spending time trying to educate yourself on the intricacies of window treatments, simply call Abda at (317) 273-8343. You can also contact them through their website, Abdawindowfashions.com, and one of the members of the Abda team will schedule a Complimentary Window Treatment Consultation at your Home. Stop by Abda’s showroom at 1159 Country Club Road, Indianapolis, IN 46234.

Abda Window Fashions: A Local Window Treatment Expert Offering Blinds, Shades, Shutters and Draperies for Over 20 Years

Abda Window Fashions: A Local Window Treatment Expert Offering Blinds, Shades, Shutters and Draperies for Over 20 Years