THE NEW FACE OF WINDOW FASHIONS IN ATLANTA
Hunter Douglas Offers Styles Plus

CONTACT: Amanda Farmer / Sarah Fletcher
LOU HAMMOND & ASSOCIATES
1-800-742-3464; ext. 123, 120
kimberlyl@lhammond.com

UPPER SADDLE RIVER, N.J., Aug. 18, 2006 - "Until not so long ago, it was common to see Scalamandré silk swags on the windows of even mid-century modern houses in Atlanta," says Gordon Plummer, one of the principals of Perry & Plummer, a firm that has been designing award-winning interiors in Atlanta for over three decades.

"Today, thanks to all the decorating information available on TV and the Web people are much more savvy. They want what works for them and their house, rather than something pretentious," he observes. Because Plummer has always been an advocate of designing interiors that are very personal to each client, rather than a signature "look" he relishes the variety offered by Hunter Douglas window fashions. "Hunter Douglas has a huge line that can solve a lot of problems. It is terrific," he says.

He is not alone. Atlanta's designers are increasingly becoming aware of the enormous variety of Hunter Douglas window fashions and the solutions they provide for privacy, light control and UV protection. Katherine Anderson, who works primarily with traditional double-hung windows and favors a minimal look, pretty much stuck with shutters or wood blinds until she attended a seminar on designing with light given by premier designer Nancy Braithwaite at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center.

"I was especially impressed with how Silhouette® shadings can roll up and totally disappear," Anderson says. But that's not all they can do. With its soft fabric vanes suspended between sheer panels, Silhouette shadings and Luminette® Privacy Sheers (a similar product on the vertical) diffuse light and allow you to gently direct it by tilting the vanes or close them for complete privacy. These window fashions also provide protection from the sun's harmful UV rays without blocking the view. Now, with the introduction of the QuartetteT four-inch vane size, Silhouette window shadings are bigger and better than ever. "Shutters have always been very popular in Atlanta but with shutters you only have two options, opened or closed.

With Silhouette Quartette, you can have the best of both worlds, function and beauty," says Sarah Youngblood who heads her own firm in Atlanta, specializing in window decoration. She explains, "Like a shutter, the Quartette four-inch vane size enhances the architecture of a room, and also provides superior UV protection and, with the vanes, open a great view." "My young clients want a window treatment that will stand alone, something different from what their mothers and fathers have," Youngblood notes. For those who want to step up to a premium window dressing she often suggests a window fashion from the top-of-the-line, exclusive Hunter Douglas AlustraT Collection, such as Alustra Woven TextureT shades, an innovative alternative to solar screen shades and woven woods that highlight natural textures. Alustra Modern Precious Metals®, which combine unique metal finishes with wood features, are also a popular choice. For a truly luxurious look in a bedroom, Youngblood recently used Alustra Silhouette window shadings in the Gold Radiance sheer fabric. "It completely transformed the mood of the room," she says. "The gentle, gold tint enhanced the colors in the room, and by softening and diffusing the light, created a feeling of great serenity."

Carole D. Weaks, who is now designing interiors for a second generation of Atlanta clients, notes that it is not just her younger clients that want less elaborate window treatments. "Even my clients who were accustomed to having damask draperies with elaborate cascades and swags now want a lighter look at their windows. Simpler window treatments can completely update the look of a room," she says. Weaks also notes that the strong southern light can damage fabrics and fade colors in no time. Products like Duette® shades, Silhouette shadings and Luminette Privacy Sheers offer superior UV production to help protect fine furnishings.

Hunter Douglas was even able to provide the perfect window fashion solution for a client of Gordon Plummer's who wanted to have her privacy as well as a lakeside view which often includes 45 sailboats. In a corner bath with a large tub recessed below two walls of windows facing the lake, Plummer installed Duette honeycomb shades with the top-down / bottom-up design option and PowerRise® battery powered motorization. "She loves it," he says. "With the touch of a button she can raise the shades up when she is ready to rise from her bath and at night she can lower it from the top to her height and still have the view of the stars and moon!"

Hunter Douglas Inc. is a national sponsor of Habitat for Humanity, covering windows in every Habitat home built in the U.S. and Canada. Headquartered in Upper Saddle River N.J., the company is the leading manufacturer of custom window coverings in North America. For more information, contact Hunter Douglas at 1-800-274-2985 or visit www.hunterdouglas.com.