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Guest Editorial
To Automate, or Not to Automate
If that’s the question, the answer can be simple.
by Jon Vrielink
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Special Section: On The Move
Window treatment operating systems combine style, performance
and opportunity.
- The Importance of Not Being Noticed
- Market Trends: On The Move
- Product Showcase: Motors & Lift Systems
- To Automate, or Not to Automate
- Reader Survey
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The impact that window coverings have on the “feel” of
a room, the ambience of a home and the overall degree of comfort
and well-being for those inside, simply cannot be overrated. Windows
are the absolute light source by day, and the opening to the world
that controls privacy after dusk. For all practical purposes, window
coverings are the only way we can control the desired functionality
of the window for both conditions.
Selection of the window coverings material—its color, shape
and form—is the art that a successful decorator or designer
masters to place a crown on his or her design creation. Professional
designers expend a great deal of attention selecting colors, carefully
considering the various light levels by day, by night and during
transitions. This presumes some degree of control over light intensities
under different conditions to ensure the desired effects are being
accomplished.
Automation is not an element of this interior design process as
a rule, because this technology is not a part of aesthetics and
appearance. It is usually not apparent when a room environment is
examined, and it should not be. Automation, therefore, does not
spark the imagination of many a decorating professional.
A successful automation and motorization system should be unobtrusive,
as it is not a means by itself. However, it is a critical means
to achieve the presumed design criteria. Whether or not the light
is being filtered, moderated or totally blocked determines the ambience
of the room, its privacy and its protection against undesirable
thermal and UV exposures. Therefore, it is essential that designers
do not overlook the functionality of their creations.
WELL-BALANCED SOLUTIONS
Whether an individual window is equipped with a motorized window
coverings system is usually not much of an issue unless the window
is large or inaccessible or one simply desires to have the comfort
of not having to get up and pull cords or batons to adjust open
or close the treatment. The situation is quite different when designing
a demanding environment for a discriminating client. The likelihood
is that the client truly does not want the hassle of going from
window to window and room to room to adjust one or more treatments
at each opening depending on the time of the day, the exposure to
the sun or the desired level of privacy.
Nowadays, it is a given that garage doors open and close automatically,
security systems can be armed or disarmed for an entire home at
the push of a button or by a dial tone and, lately, artificial light
mood settings can be selected from a touch screen.
Still, many a decorator and designer shun the idea of becoming involved
in automating their beautiful window treatment creations. But as
a design community we are seriously shortchanging our clients if
we do not make them aware of the possibility of automating and controlling
the window functionality. This can be accomplished easily, without
any compromise to design. As a rule customers are not fully aware
of their options. It is the role of the well-informed professional
design consultant to inform the client of the advantages of enhancing
a well-balanced design solution through automation.
STEPPING UP
Automation should not burden the load for the designer. Instead,
it offers additional powerful tools to increase service and value
to the customer. A well thought out automation plan will invariably
result in great satisfaction at both the end customer level as well
as the designer level. To a large extent, BTX Window Automation,
Inc. helps make this possible. The infrastructure of a widely developed
network of experienced dealers in motorization relieves the designer
of the technical concerns of installation and control methods. This,
coupled with the availability of motorization systems for almost
any treatment that is now on the market, truly provides the professional
with the ability to offer the advantage of automation.
The designer and decorator should no longer have to be concerned
with the technicalities of installation and operation as that is
the task of the specialist dealer. The designer should be able to
fully concentrate on offering the customer the very best solution,
not only in aesthetics but also in functionality.
The tide carrying home automation forward can be turned back no
longer. Automation is integrated in our lives in too many ways today.
Decorators and interior designers are daily being confronted with
varying degrees of automation: in media rooms, in lighting controls,
in HVAC systems and in security systems. Professionals in these
industries are making their clients aware of the conveniences that
are available in their own specific fields. Of course, it is not
their task to offer help or information on automation in other fields.
In spite of this, automation is penetrating ever more deeply into
the window treatment business. The window coverings business has
before it a huge emerging potential in automation, but all too often
misses out on the opportunity to add this value to its products.
Home automation installers who tend to be more aggressive about
it are entering into this field as opportunities develop. Window
coverings professionals must step up to the challenge to safeguard
their important roles as turnkey supplier, designer and consultant
to the interior design market.
Jon Vrielink is president of BTX Window Automation, Inc., Dallas,
TX.
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