Buyers' Product Review

Elegant Coordinated Collection Premiere, the newest exclusive collection from Decrotex, Richmond Hill, NY, was one of the exciting collections featured at Heimtextil this January. This coordinated program features an elegant tassel motif in luxurious colors and designs. Jacwood Line Expanded Window Modes, Ltd., New York, NY, has created two new additions to its extensive Jacqwood line of natural shades. Style 161, left, is a large tight knit weave, and style 150, right, has a strongly defined diagonal appearance. Both are available as vertical or Roman blinds and can be custom sized to any width. Arch Window Alternative The Blind Maker, Austin, TX, offers the new HIGHLIGHT[TM] arched window covering as an alternative to costly shutter arch coverings. Available in two fully operational perfect arch styles and a new eyebrow arch style (non-operational). Available in Graber® wood painted colors to complement Graber mini-blinds, WoodPerfect[TM] wood blinds and pleated shades. Natural Wood Shutters National Shutter Co., Marianna, FL, introduces the Naturals¬wood shutters custom-made from poplar or basswood with no fingerjoints or laminations. These unfinished shutters allow the fabricator to promote a truly custom shutter over "customized panels." They are offered to complement the Hardwood Collection and Town and Country shutters, which are finished and ready for installation. Decorative Trim, Workroom Supplies Mastex Corp., Dallas, TX, is celebrating 20 years of offering decorative trimmings, tassels and tiebacks. Workroom supplies including shirring tapes, crinolines, weights, thread and hook and loop tapes also are available. High-quality Natural Hardwood Shutters Window Fashions, Inc., Cheswick, PA, now offers Nanik products featuring high quality and custom design options. Nanik seals and finishes the ends and route holes to prevent moisture penetration, and Nanik slats won't warp or camber over time. Wood blinds and shutters feature the elegant natural grains of northern hardwoods. Aluminum Blind Cut-down Machine The aluminum blind cut-down machine from Richview Window Coverings, City of Industry, CA, cuts head- and bottomrails and cuts and rounds slats in less than a second. An accompanying aluminum stock program features 80 sizes in two colors. The cut-down machine also is available for lease in program. Universal Rail for Window Treatments Concord Shading Systems, Concord, Ontario, Canada, offers the most flexible rail system for motorizing lift window treatments with its Universal Headrail[TM]. One clean, contemporary look for pleated, cellular, Venetian and roller shades. One beautiful, uninterrupted look for balloons, Austrian and Roman shades. Zippers by the Roll R.H. Rowley Co., Gastonia, NC, offers zippers by the roll. Three different types of zippers are available: nylon, aluminum and brass. Each is available in white and tan in size 4.5. A free catalog on this and other workroom supplies is available. Room-darkening Shade Backing The Pellon® Wonder-Shade® from Delaware Dry Goods Co., Newark, DE, is a unique, no-sew premium shade-backing material that is easy to use. Available by the roll or kit, it can be cut lengthwise or crosswise to make finished shades that are room-darkening. On the outside, the shades will be white, with no fabric showing through. On the inside, the material maintains the decorative fabric's true colors. Sample Books and Sales Aids U.S. Sample Corp., Chicago, IL; Miami, FL; Montreal, Ontario, Canada; offers sample books, color cards, merchandising and sales aids specializing in custom designed sample programs for the window coverings industry. New and innovative ideas for shop-at-home or in-store models. Wood Rods and Accessories Wood traverse rods from Hamilton Design Inc., South Orleans, MA, are available with hard, clear wood pulley or baton drawn options. Finials, brackets and track come all assembled for 1 3/8- or two-inch rods. Custom lengths are available, and sections can be spliced up to 24 feet. Textured Shadings Available Silhouette® window shadings by Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, available from Beauti Vue, Bristol, WI, feature soft colored fabric vanes suspended between sheer facings. The vanes rotate like a blind for varying degrees of light control. Silhouette also can be raised like a shade into the color-coordinated headrail. Available in three- and two-inch vane sizes, textured and room darkening fabric. High Performance, Durable Track The ALL-PRO vertical track system from Gilmore Enterprises, Sun Valley, CA, offers durability, value and performance with carriers that are rated five times stronger than other systems by independent tests. Available in white, off-white and anodized finishes with custom finishes available these tracks can be ordered with traverse cord and tilt chain or with a wand control with one-way and center opening options. Create Unique Blinds Trim Design, Brooklyn, NY, offers self-edging bonding material to give a different look to vertical and mini-blinds, louvers and PVC vanes and is ideal for "signature work" in contract and consumer markets. Not an insert, this resilient material is easy to apply in straight lines and comes in 10 designer colors to meet almost every color-matching need. Colorful Premiere Collection K Blair Finials, Norcross, GA, offers the new Premiere Collections: Crystal, Classic Wood Resin, Rod-ender, Fine Porcelain. More than 60 standard colors, plus custom colors. Rods, brackets, rings, traversing hardware, Elegance swag holders. Twenty-page color catalog. New Designers' Color Guide show 60 standard colors in hand-painted swatches. Custom Sizes, Infinite Colors Chromagraphic Processing Co., Williamsport, PA, uses technologically advanced equipment to supply its clients with custom sizes and colors. INTERMIX, a computerized coloring system, assists in matching or creating infinite colors and stores custom color formulas for future use. A full line of mini-, micro- and vertical slat material also is stocked in standard colors. 18Shades Control Heat, Light Hella solar screens from VIMCO, Richmond, VA, are available with hand strap, crank or electric motor operation. These shades control up to 80 percent of incoming heat, glare and ultraviolet degradation to provide a more comfortable interior environment for any building or home. An insect screen model also is available. Custom Hardwood Shutters, Arches Rushman's Magnolia® Shutters, Dallas, TX, offers a full line of custom hardwood shutters and arches featuring no visible tilt rods or divider rails. Known for its advanced technology and industry firsts, Magnolia introduces a fingertip control arch. The adjustment of any louver automatically changes all of the louvers. Coordinated Pleated Shades The Nordic Light pleated shade program from Turnils USA, Duluth, GA, is offered in 56 colors in six patterns. Color-coordinated rails and components also are available along with honeycomb single-cellular product in 21 colors. Steel Wall Display System Make good use of available wall space for sample book display on CalTRACKs[TM] and CALHOOKs[TM] from Emerling & Co./CALHOOK[TM], Sunnyvale, CA. This all-steel system is designed for fast mounting and superior strength. White-finish CalTRACKs can be painted to match surroundings; they mount vertically or horizontally. All-inclusive Motorization System 3+ from Add-a-Motor, Annandale, VA, includes the motor plus an extraordinary remote control with built-in timer. System 3+ can operate up to eight motors with remote buttons and four motors automatically. Wall switch and key-chain remote can be added. No electrician needed. Motors fit in end-loop of all cord or ball-chains for draperies, vertical blinds and shades. Beautiful, Durable Exterior Awnings Elegant Awnings, South El Monte, CA, is offering a line of retractable exterior window awnings. With a completely powder-coated frame, acrylic fabric and European styling, these window treatments are durable yet beautiful. These lightweight, easy-to-install awnings provide the interior designer exterior sun protection and elegance. Bead Chain for Windows Bead Chain® and accessories from Bead Industries, Bridgeport, CT, allows the decorator's imagination and innovation to add style and efficiency to any window treatment. The chains can be used in myriad ways from headrail systems to creative fashion statements. Offering dependable products since 1914. Workroom Services Complete custom manufacturing services for most types of draperies, bedspreads, top treatments and accessories are available from Merrill Y. Landis, Ltd., Telford, PA. For unique home fashions, designs can vary from ornate to simple. Specialty shapes and sizes also are available. Workroom Shade Table The shade table from Faber Industries, Ltd., Fredericksburg, VA, is ideal for squaring, cutting and mounting fabrics on rollers. It helps to efficiently produce quality window shades or awnings. Chain and spring roller shade hardware also is available. Natural Light-filtering Fabric Newcastle Fabrics Corp., Brooklyn, NY, introduces a new natural light-filtering weave fabric available in roller shade and soft Roman shade applications. Oriel is manufactured in the United States and is offered in five natural colors. A brochure and samples are available. Fabric Display Racks Cary Welding & Fabrication, Sanford, NC, offers display racks for a quick and convenient means of establishing a showroom for contractors, jobbers and retailers of drapery and upholstery fabrics. Several models of displays are available in three versatile standard colors. Complete Vertical Head Tracks The Rehoboth 5000, a new patent pending vertical blind head track from Rainbow Industrial Inc., Anaheim, CA, can be used with fabric valance to coordinate with wallpaper or furniture, or with golden valance for a more luxurious and sophisticated look. The tracks are offered complete to distributors only. Wood Shades Galore Silverado Services Co., Calistoga, CA, offers a wide array of wood-style shades. Choose from woven wood and bamboo matchstick styles in many colors to complement any decor. Vertical Components Les Outillage Ricci Inc., Montreal, Quebec, Canada, offers vertical blind components featured in its Vertisystem[TM] component brochure. The blind components are self-lubricating to reduce track system friction and permit uniform ALIGNment. Wood Blind Fabrication Texas Wood Co., Dallas, TX, introduces the most efficient way to manufacture wood blinds. Its two-inch wood slats and headrail systems are available in all of the most popular colors in hand-selected grade-A, kiln-dried hardwoods. No inventory costs. No scrape rates. Next day shipments available also. Quality Blinds at Factory Prices Blind Buster Inc., Dallas, TX, manufactures name brand quality custom blinds at low factory-direct prices with fast turnaround and responsive customer service. Product information and free sample kits are available. Colorful Custom Wood Blinds Delta wood blinds from CACO, Inc., Johnson City, TN, are manufactured of American hardwoods and available through a custom program. Choose from an array of colors and both standard and sandblasted finishes. Battery-operated Motor Units Miniature electro-mechanical drive units designed and manufactured by Techniku BV, The Netherlands, can be integrated into standard blind casings and replace draw strings. The battery-operated units can be installed without costly wiring and operate blinds up to 10 square meters in size. The functions of the blinds can be operated from anywhere in the room by an infrared remote control unit. Cords for Any Window Covering Artcraft Braid, Providence, RI, offers an extensive line of cotton and nylon cords for traverse rods, two-inch horizontal and vertical blinds. Also available is a complete line of polyester cords for pleated shades, micro- and mini-blinds, Duette® and balloon shades. A wide variety of colors are available with attractive minimums. At-a-glance Storage Systems Rolykit® storage systems from Unique Specialty Fasteners, Fullerton, CA, allow the user to see everything at a glance. Rolykit's patented interlocking design keeps everything perfectly organized and is made of high impact polystyrene so it is strong and lightweight. Coordinated Program The Premiere Collection from Kay & L Draperies, Waverly, IA, is a coordinated fabric and wall coverings program with more than 40 exciting fabrics with matching wall coverings and borders available. Moire Fabric Verticals, Valance Coastal International, Elgin, IL, offers 3 1/2-inch fabric moire vertical blinds with matching fabric valance. These blinds feature fabric vanes with white, laminated backing for privacy and a consistent look from outside. Vanes open, close and rotate 180 degrees for maximum light control and run along a reversible headrail for left or right draw. Available in ivory, rose, hunter green or blue in 78- by 84-inch and 104- by 84-inch sizes. Geometric Sewing Camatron Sewing Machine, Inc., New York, NY, has customized the popular CAM-driven, programmable machine. Now, any geometric shape can be sewn for pinch pleats, vertical blinds and pillows. Special clamps and gauges help position materials. Two machines can even be arranged to tack two patterns simultaneously. Also featuring a specially designed retractable needle bar to facilitate difficult jobs.