Thanks Governor Douglas!

Gordon's had a very special guest come by on Monday afternoon. Vermont governor Jim Douglas! The governor toured the factory and spoke with us about local business. Our great thanks!

Fancy Fabrics on a Budget - Top Five Ways to Economize Your Decorating

So, it's a recession, right? Which means, among other things, it's almost nauseating to think about splurging big-time on that much-favored but higher end fabric for large scale decorating of your room.

Well, what about using the high-end fashion prints for accents? The interior design writers at About.com came up with some creative and budget-friendly solutions for how to pull out the bling in a room while still saving some cash. (Content courtesy of About.com)

Here were our favorites from their picks:

1. Valance or Cornice: Traditional valances use lots of gathers - and fabric. Nowadays both valances and cornices are simpler, some requiring flat panels of fabric which will generally require minimal yardage.
   
   
2. Drapery Border: The leading edges or center split of a pair of draperies are the vertical edges closest to the center of a window. Dress up this seam with a flat border of expensive fabric, sewn into drapery panels made of less-expensive yardage goods.
   
   
3. Flat Panel Cafe Curtain: Forget all the and measured pinch-pleats. Next time you need to cover the bottom half of a window for privacy or color consider designing a flat panel curtain. It's easier to sew, and won't get lost in the folds.
   
   
4. Pillow Front: A small accent pillow or a larger bed sham allows you to use expensive fabric on the front of the piece and something simple on the rest.
   
   
5. Border or Hem: A contrasting hem for a bed skirt, drapery panel, or a tablecloth, is one way to spread an expensive fabric around the room.
   

Marriages trending later in life: What to gift at the wedding?

According to recent figures by the U.S. Census, more couples are putting off the vows than ever before, with the marrying age for women jumping from 20 in the 1960s to 25 today, and the average age for men at 27, up from 22.

As marriage age shifts, so does the ideal wedding gift, and many retailers are finding shoppers looking for ways to help newly married friends with major home investments instead of the old classics of flatware and linens.

Here are some ideas retailers have for later-in-life wedding gifts:

• Interior Design: Buy a session with an interior designer, feng shui expert or décor consultant for your relatives or loved ones to help them re-start on the right foot

• Prepay for an energy-saving home improvement, like cellular window shades, to help with money-saving long-term investments

• Purchase a gift card at a nearby hardware store or department store for couples who may be facing major fix-it jobs, or encourage engaged friends to register at stores with home improvement products.

• Collaborate with several friends to chip in and buy one major home purchase, gift card, or home improvement cash-equivalent as opposed to several small gifts.

Gordon's Window Decor will work with buyers on deals that cater to wedding gifts, and offer cost-savings for large purchases.

"We talk to many couples who are taking the next step in their relationship by shopping here - often their first investments together are in smart home purchases,” said Kelly Conklin, a sales manager.

“Helping out with those essential household needs fills a big hole in the budget for new couples,” she said.

5 Tips for Saving a Bundle on Baby's Room

It's that time of year when tummies bulge and families look towards making room for the new addition.

Decorating baby's room may be big project, but it doesn't have to be a major splurge. That can wait for college. A few smart purchases with durability will make the difference in designing with growth spurts in mind.

Here are some tips on designing for the new bundle:

1. Think continuity: Keep all the decorative accessories thematically similar - when picking out items, keep the "big picture" in your head.

Window treatments count for a large amount of space in a little room - once you have a theme, make sure the flooring, bedding and windows follow suit. Have window treatments reflect the crib set - it doesn't need to be identical fabric - professional decorators mix and match prints all the time - but keep the same style.

2. Simple life: Swags, balloon shades, layered drapes and cascades might not be the way to go and could interfere with the activity level of children. The simpler the window treatments, the more likely it can grow along with the child's room and decor.

3. Clean decor: It's important not only to stick with materials that are easy to clean and can stand many scrubbings, but it's also easy to reduce airborne allergens and harmful UV exposure with wise choices. Cellular shades are great at reducing dust and allergens, and roller shades are, too. Both are available at Gordon's Window Decor.

4. Neutral tones: Bright colors are eye catching and window coverings come in almost any color or pattern these days. But staying with neutral tones on the windows and using stronger colors on walls and bedding allows more flexibility to change in time or, in the case of first-timers, for do-overs.

5. Safety, safety: Since 1995, window covering cords have been designed with child safety in mind. Newer technology has brought cordless shades - an excellent option for homes with kids and pets.

Sale this week!

Hi Blog followers -

Just wanted to update you with news of our discount this week for residential treatment customers. We're offering a free top-down bottom-up feature on all EcoSmart Shades sold now through June 19. Come on by our store in Essex, or visit gordonswd.com.

See savings this summer with EcoSmart!

How to Decorate with Accents of Color

A dark economy doesn't mean we have to surround our living space with doom and gloom. In fact, recent trends show home decorating tastes are moving towards the more bright and lively these days.

A great article in quotes home design experts weighing in on what seems to be a changing face of home fashion. After decades of "brown, brown brown" they're seeing more bold and colorful paints used in interior design.

"With concerns over the gloomy economy, consumers are looking for a spark of brightness -- something that feels like fun and makes them smile," said Jaclyn C. Hirschhaut, spokeswoman for the American Home Furnishing Alliance.

At Gordon's Window Decor, we couldn't agree more. Our online shopping tools and Virtual Decorator make it easy to play with color and swap out fabric swatches with different colors for your walls, trim, and shades!

Gordon's has a limitless supply of colors for shades, and our experienced design consultants can help you with your questions or choices.

Here are some tips on how to decorate with colorful accents:

• Choose a color that's a personal favorite. You will find a spot for it somewhere because you'll love it unconditionally.

• Use a single bright or fun piece in a room with neutral colors or traditional furnishings. Color and whimsy are most effective when they are unexpected.

• Coordinate accent colors with existing colors. Add bright yellow bar stools to a pale yellow kitchen, for example. Or put a coral dresser in an aqua bedroom.

• Don't take yourself too seriously. It's your home; you should decorate in a way that pleases you.

• Don't be afraid of making mistakes. When all you're adding is a single, inexpensive accent, you can afford an oops! occasionally.

Top Five Affordable Ways to take advantage of Federal Tax Credits

All the home improvement and DIY decor blogs are abuzz with folks chattering about how they want to take advantage of the federal energy efficiency tax credit. Who wouldn't?

But a common theme pervades: All those hot new eco-trends seem too expensive!

The U.S. Dept. of Energy estimates homeowners can save 30% on their heating and cooling bills by adding insulation and air-sealing to their homes.

“The new tax credits can help homeowners defray the cost of several types of energy efficiency upgrades, making them more affordable at this time of economic strain for many” said Kateri Callahan, president of the Alliance to Save Energy, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that promotes energy efficiency for a recent article by RisMedia (rismedia.com).

“By tightening up their homes with added insulation...and sealing of doors and windows, homeowners will enjoy lower heating and cooling costs, too,” Callahan added.

Keeping that in mind, we've compiled the Top 5 Most Affordable Energy Efficient Home Improvements Using the Federal Tax Credit:

1 -Insulate The Roof - up to 25% of heat is lost through the roof. And it doesn't have to involve hiring contractors and major expenses. Check it out - the government has tips on how to do it yourself.

2- Cover windows with Energy Smart coverings.
EcoSmartShades have been certified for the tax credits when used with the energy tracks. We custom cut them to size, and if you're looking to really save we have DIY installation instructions online. Visit our site to learn more about them or order online. Or find stores near you.

3- Replace dying appliances with EnergyStar.
Do make sure they are eligible for tax breaks. Sure, it might not be the time to splurge on just anything, but look for that logo when replacing an old battered appliance that is on its last legs. And do it by Dec. 2010!

4. Insulate Hot-Water Pipes
Wrap all hot-water supply pipes with foam rubber insulation. The dense rubber will keep water that's trapped in the pipe hotter for longer, reducing the time you have to run cold water while you wait for it to heat up. As a bonus, you'll save on fuel to heat the water.

5- Sneaky Leaks: Cover up skylights, sliding doors, and get storm doors!
Cover skylights and sliding glass doors with energy-saving window treatments, and consider adding storm doors. The energy efficiency tax credit includes purchases of storm doors meeting requirements. Skylights and sliding doors can be easily overlooked, but are just as bad culrpits as windows. EcoSmart Shades also provide custom-cut tracked shades for these uses - and as always, we offer free fabric samples.

For more on home improvements with the tax breaks visit:
Alliance to Promote Energy Efficiency
The Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency
The Internal Revenue Service
EnergyStar Tax Credits rundown