Wood Or Vinyl Blinds

The market for blinds have expanded past those traditional aluminum mini blinds the bend, break, and warp. Many homeowners are electing to install a 2 inch blind made of either wood or vinyl to add a more sophisticated touch to a room. Much cheaper than wooden shutters and able to allow in more light, these blinds combine function and design to produce a look that is sure to suit everyone?s needs. In years past, the purchase of these two inch blinds would literally break the bank, but fortunately, there are a great many options available for those on all sizes of budgets.

There are pros and cons for choosing either wood or vinyl. The main difference in the material of the blinds is the color and the price. Typically, wooden two inch blinds are a great deal more expensive than vinyl blinds, but are available in more colors. If you have stained wood trim and molding around your windows, consider continuing that color to your window treatments. A rich dark wooden blind or a refreshing honey hue wooden blind can make all the difference in the world when it comes to the look of your home. For a price, you can create a fantastic look that makes the difference between a ho-hum room and a spectacular room.

Keep in mind that wooden blinds tend to be lighter than the vinyl variety, so they may be the best choice for double or even triple windows to prevent bowing in the middle of the blind. Also, wood blinds?just like vinyl?can be custom cut to fit the exact specifications of your window. Vinyl blinds; however, are a great deal less expensive and easily be mistaken for the wooden variety. Especially if you choose a bright white or soft ivory for your shades, vinyl shades are probably your best bet if you are on a budget. Additionally, vinyl blinds tend to be easier to clean, since water can warp wood or cause the finish to bubble or crack.

If you are in the market for wood of vinyl blinds, consider visiting your local home supply warehouse. Quite often, the selection at these stores is surprising and the cost may be a great deal less than those purchased from special blind stores. Another alternative are catalogs and websites that sell blinds direct. Wholesale options are excellent for keeping your price at a minimum, but you must do the measuring and installation once the blinds have been shipped to your home. If budget is not a problem, then look to a special window treatment shop in your area, where professionals will come to your home and will complete the measuring process and the installation.
John Marcus specializes in Shades and Curtains.

What To Look For When Purchasing Window Blinds

In addition to providing much needed privacy, window blinds can also complete the design plan of the room. Especially in small spaces where privacy may be a concern, blinds may likely be the best way to keep your private life private. Especially in areas like bedrooms and bathrooms, window blinds can be an inexpensive look that can drastically change your room. Furthermore, the blinds you install may have special light blocking capabilities, allowing rooms like bedrooms to remain dark during daylight hours, no matter how strongly the sun shines. This is a great addition for children?s rooms, as young ones may need their rooms to be darkened during midday naps.

When purchasing window blinds, know your options. There are several different versions of window blinds on the market made by numerous manufacturers. To prevent replacement costs down the road, you should be sure to purchase a quality blind that will hold up to daily wear and tear of opening, closing, raising, and lowering. If you purchase a cheaply made set of window blinds to save money, you will likely find that your budget will be stretched to its breaking point when they must be replaced within a short time after purchase.

The different types of window blinds include traditional roller window shades, mini blinds that are typically less than an inch in diameter, wooden or vinyl blinds that are usually two inches in diameter, pleated shades that create a unique look in any room and work to diffuse the light, and a unique combination of the two looks that allows the functionality of a mini blind and the look of a pleated shade. Before you choose a specific type of blind for your home, consider all your options and ensure that your budget will allow for the purchase of blinds for all available windows in your home.

The traditional roller window shade has been used for many years without fail. Easy to custom fit and install, roller shades are typically your least expensive option. Consider a special room darkening roller shade to block light from entering your bedroom. You may find it necessary to install one of these shades even after you have installed blinds in your room. However, roller shades will not take a great deal of use and abuse, so you exchange look and durability for price.

A mini blind has also been used in many homes for countless years. These blinds are typically made of aluminum and are incredibly lightweight. For this reason, mini blinds are easy to install and do not require a great deal of strength and assistance. Aluminum mini blinds also come in a wide variety of colors, so you can easily choose a specific color to fit into your design plan. However, much like roller shades, mini blinds can be easily bent or broken, so their thriftiness may wear on your budget when they must be replaced.

Wooden or vinyl blinds tend to be wider, around two inches, and are becoming more popular with designers. These blinds tend to be more expensive, but are also made more durable and have a more elegant look. If you choose wooden blinds, you may be able to custom match the color of stained woodwork or trim already in your home.

Pleated shades are available in a wide range of colors and look great for many types of rooms. In addition to providing a softening look to a room, pleated shades are popular as a combination of roller shades and mini blinds. However, unlike mini blinds, the shades cannot be opened and must be completely raised or lowered in order to utilize the window. There is an aspect that allows pleated shades to be opened and closed like mini blinds, allowing you to open the shade for light and view without raising the shade.

Mike Barus specializes in Window Blinds and Window Treatments.

Have You Considered Bamboo Blinds for Your House or Apartment?

It's quite easy to bring a touch of the outdoors indoors by adding stylish bamboo blinds to your windows. Made from all natural materials, bamboo blinds come in a wide range of styles and shades which will compliment just about any room.

Bamboo Blinds are made with a variety of grasses, jute and reeds which are woven in with the bamboo, The blinds can range right through from pale colored to dark, burnt colored wood. If you want a truly natural finish then the edges can be left raw or you can edge them with some fabric tape for neatness. Generally speaking bamboo blinds come in two opening styles either the roman-fold type or the roller style.

Another option you might want to consider is that bamboo blinds can come either lined or unlined. Given that the weave can be quite loose, an unlined bamboo blind will let through a great deal of the daylight and therefore will provide only partial privacy. Whereas a lined blind will do the opposite and will effectively block out the daylight and provide almost complete privacy.

You will find that bamboo blinds are available from a wide range of outlets. Custom fit bamboo blinds are quite easily affordable starting from as little as $20 for the smallest windows but becoming more expensive as the size of the area you want to cover increases. So you could perhaps be looking at somewhere in the region of $400 - $500 to cover the patio doors. However for patio doors they can be the perfect solution for a neutral colored, simply decorated room leading out into the garden. Check out your local home accessory store for good deals, or try some of the online blinds stores which you can find on the internet by simply keying "bamboo blinds" into your favourite search engine.

Many people still prefer to buy something like bamboo blinds in a "real" store, however, don't forget that the blinds websites contain handy measuring guides to ensure the right fit when out buying your new bamboo blinds. They'll also show all the various types available so you know the choices you have in choosing your bamboo blinds.

For lots more information on the uses of bamboo in the home you will want to check out Paul's website at http://bamboo-furniture.factafterfact.com

Home Poker Tournaments - Moving The Blinds

Poker night has made a comeback, and in a big way. People are gathering for friendly games of texas holdem on a regular basis in kitchens and rec rooms everywhere. And while most people are familiar with all of the basic rules of texas holdem, there are bound to be situations that come up in a home game where players are not sure of the proper ruling.

One of the more common of these situations involves . . .

The Blinds - when a player who was scheduled to pay a blind bet is busted from the tournament, what happens? Using what is called the Dead Button rule makes these rulings easier. The Big Blind always moves one place around the table.

"No one escapes the big blind."

That's the easy way to remember it. The big blind moves around the table, and the deal is established behind it. It is perfectly fine for a player to deal twice in a row. It is ok for a player to deal three times in a row on occasion, but it never comes to pass that someone is exempted from paying the big blind.

There are three situations that can happen when a blind bettor is knocked out of the tournament.

1. The person who paid the big blind last hand is knocked out. They are scheduled to pay the small blind this hand, but aren't there. In this case, the big blind moves one player to the left, as always. The deal moves left one spot (to the player who posted small blind last time). There is no small blind posted this hand.

The following hand, the big blind moves one to the left, as always. Someone posts the small blind, and the dealer remains the same. Now, things are back to normal.

2. The second situation is when the person who paid the small blind busts out. They would be scheduled to deal the next hand, but they aren't there. In this case, the big blind moves one to the left, as always. The small blind is posted, and the same player deals again.

Things are once again in order.

3. The last situation is when both blinds are knocked out of the tournament. The big blind moves one player, as always. No one posts the small blind. The same player deals again.

On the next hand, the big blind moves one player to the left, as always. Someone posts a small blind. The dealer remains the same.

Now, things are back to normal again.

Once people change their way of thinking from valuing the dealer puck being passed around the table, to seeing that it is the Big Blind that moves methodically around the table, and the deal is an offshoot of the blinds, these rules fall into place easily.

While no friendly game of poker should fall apart if there is confusion over dealing with the blinds when a player scheduled to pay one has busted out, knowing these rules helps the game move along smoothly. And it makes it more enjoyable for everyone.

I'll be writing more about hosting home tournaments, in the meantime, enjoy your time playing cards.

Mongoose is the webmaster of the poker rules website at http://www.online-poker-rules.net.

Home Poker Tournaments ? Moving The Blinds

Poker night has made a comeback, and in a big way. People are gathering for friendly games of texas holdem on a regular basis in kitchens and rec rooms everywhere. And while most people are familiar with all of the basic rules of texas holdem, there are bound to be situations that come up in a home game where players are not sure of the proper ruling.

One of the more common of these situations involves . . .

The Blinds ? when a player who was scheduled to pay a blind bet is busted from the tournament, what happens? Using what is called the Dead Button rule makes these rulings easier. The Big Blind always moves one place around the table.

?No one escapes the big blind.?

That?s the easy way to remember it. The big blind moves around the table, and the deal is established behind it. It is perfectly fine for a player to deal twice in a row. It is ok for a player to deal three times in a row on occasion, but it never comes to pass that someone is exempted from paying the big blind.

There are three situations that can happen when a blind bettor is knocked out of the tournament.

1. The person who paid the big blind last hand is knocked out. They are scheduled to pay the small blind this hand, but aren?t there. In this case, the big blind moves one player to the left, as always. The deal moves left one spot (to the player who posted small blind last time). There is no small blind posted this hand.

The following hand, the big blind moves one to the left, as always. Someone posts the small blind, and the dealer remains the same. Now, things are back to normal.

2. The second situation is when the person who paid the small blind busts out. They would be scheduled to deal the next hand, but they aren?t there. In this case, the big blind moves one to the left, as always. The small blind is posted, and the same player deals again.

Things are once again in order.

3. The last situation is when both blinds are knocked out of the tournament. The big blind moves one player, as always. No one posts the small blind. The same player deals again.

On the next hand, the big blind moves one player to the left, as always. Someone posts a small blind. The dealer remains the same.

Now, things are back to normal again.

Once people change their way of thinking from valuing the dealer puck being passed around the table, to seeing that it is the Big Blind that moves methodically around the table, and the deal is an offshoot of the blinds, these rules fall into place easily.

While no friendly game of poker should fall apart if there is confusion over dealing with the blinds when a player scheduled to pay one has busted out, knowing these rules helps the game move along smoothly. And it makes it more enjoyable for everyone.

I?ll be writing more about hosting home tournaments, in the meantime, enjoy your time playing cards.

Mongoose is the webmaster of the poker rules website at http://www.online-poker-rules.net.