Photo By: Eric Perry © 2014, Scripps Networks, LLC. Photo By: Photo Credit: Jenifer Jordan © Gibbs Smith, Charles Faudree Interiors, Charles Faudree, Jenifer Jordan (photographer) Photo By: Christina Wedge Photography Photo By: Jim Bastardo Photo By: Coddington Design Window treatments often turn into a design challenge or major investment, but let's face it: If you neglect your windows in favor of a different design focus, you'll be left with a bare view. Whether you find yourself in need of fresh window treatments, or are starting from scratch, we've gathered 10 trends to help you turn any window into your new favorite focal point. One of the most popular window treatments at manufacturer Smith+Noble is the natural woven shades in bamboo and matchstick. Cindy O'Reilly, product development manager for Smith+Noble, has them in her home. "They let in diffused light, so I can see what's going on outside, but it's not just an open window, so I have some privacy," she says, "I think it works in so many different environments."

We've seen white paired with black or navy. O'Reilly says blue is becoming the new "red" in the window treatment industry, with a variety of ocean hues in teal, aquamarine and soft green. Soft lavender and gray, dusty hues round out the soothing part of this palette. Persimmon, orange and gold will be popular jewel tones, while brown continues to dominate. "[Brown] has been, and continues to be, the new basic," says O'Reilly. Luxury fabrics key in this category are silks, velvets, damasks, fur, leather and suede, according to Grace McNamara Inc. While the overall design trend leans toward simplicity, this trend will remain popular with those who desire embellishment and luxury. Linda Henry, editor-in-chief of Window Fashions magazine, says this trend includes "sparkling crystal, beaded tassels and lavish embellishments on every element of the window — hardware, trimmings and fabric." Susan Schultz, trend specialist for Grace McNamara Inc., says decorative hardware had been dominated by metallics and sparkle for quite a while, but now is returning to wood and natural textures.

Bamboo is also popular for its sustainable, environmentally-friendly quality. "Soft textiles are still driving the market and styles," says Barrett. "Fashion and interiors trends are almost simultaneous now, and because of that you are seeing couture fabrications and dressmaker details such as ruffles, cording, beading, lace, etc." Grosgrain, a strong, closely woven ribbed fabric usually made of silk or rayon, is used as a ribbon detailing on blinds and drapes. Velvet banding can also be used as detailing, or as ladder tape to cover up route holes for string in blinds. On a business trip in Milan, Italy, O'Reilly got velvet inspiration when she saw some grassy window shades with bits of velvet woven in. When she returned to the states, she incorporated the trend at Smith+Noble. Simple, sleek lines are dominating window fashions in everything from flowing drapes to chrome decorative hardware. Creating sleek silhouettes against a window instantly lends a clean, modern look to any window and room.

A quick way to get truly streamlined treatments is with popular panel-track systems. Unlike their ugly vertical blind precursors, panel-track systems are made of fabric or woven-wood panels and can be used as room dividers or on window walls or doors, says Henry. Influenced by Asian shoji screens, these panel-track treatments can look contemporary or European depending on the fabric. Smith+Noble reports an extreme popularity of stripes and bold prints across all product lines, with bold stripes continuing as a trend in 2007. Window Cleaning Ladders GumtreeBright florals that attract traditional tastes and graphic geometric patterns that offer youthful spunk are some of the bold prints being seen on windows lately. Auto Repair Shops For Sale Suffolk County Ny"With pattern becoming more important, it will change the way a designer designs for the window and how the client views her [or his] window fashion," says Barrett.Garden Swing Chair Ireland

Silk is a pricier option for window treatments, but the shine and luxury of the fabric instantly wakes up a dull room. The Silk Trading Co. offers 100 percent Como silk panels in a variety of colors as well as embroidered silks, plaid silks and jacquard paisley designs. The online drapery maker is particularly helpful for building a window treatment and seeing how it looks before you order. "Technology plays such a huge role in our lives and yet we yearn for simplicity," says Henry. Window blinds can now be controlled via remote, a light switch or even the Internet. But just because your windows have gone high-tech, it doesn't mean they have to be stark and uninviting. Layering fabrics with high-thread-count cottons is one trend sure to cozy up a window. Green design is becoming a popular trend from consumers looking to combat allergies to those looking for heat- or cold-repellant window panels. Performance fabrics have also gone "green," with anti-microbial, anti-fungal traits woven into the yarn or offered as a topical spray.

Stain-resistant and mildew- and mold-resistant fabrics are also popular picks for allergy sufferers. Even the environmentally conscious will feel right at home with non-toxic dyes on fabrics.John Lewis vertical blinds We offer an extensive range of vertical blinds - all made-to-measure and ideal for a variety of window designs, from a standard window through to bay windows and patio doors. Our collection offers the highest quality of product, plus the blinds are manufactured in the UK and available with our 7 day service. We can deliver vertical blinds direct to your home come complete with comprehensive fitting instructions, or you can also arrange a measure-and-fit service through your local John Lewis. The benefits of vertical blinds Vertical blinds are ideal for floor to ceiling and larger windows. They're really easy to operate with a cord set to either the right or left hand side allowing the blinds to traverse the window. The cord has a weight fitted, colour-matched to the headrail colour.

You can set your blinds to bunch to the left or right, or centrally, or as a split bunch, enabling you to choose the amount of light you want to let in. A chain set alongside the cord tilts the vanes to varying degress to diminish the impact of bright sunshine and increase privacy. Chains are fitted to weights set at the bottom of each of the fabric vanes to ensure each vane is parallel to the vane on either side. The weight also guarantees that the fabric keeps its shape, so it's not needed for rigid metal and PVC vanes. For child safety, all blinds are supplied with a tie-back device to retain both cord and chain. You can also have a mono-control wand to give you total control without the need for cords and chains, and still stack the vanes can be stacked to the left or right. By twisting the mono-control wand you tilt the vanes, and then draw them by simply 'walking' the wand across the window. The wand option's a good idea if you have young children or pets. We offer design options in vertical blinds to match decor in every room in the home.

Vane widths are available in 89mm throughout the collection, with options on some materials to extend to 127mm. The choice of colours and textures is extensive, including plains, jacqards, and weaves. Some of these are full machine washable at 40ºC, and others can be sponge-cleaned. There's also a collection of solid and perforated PVC or aluminium vanes (89mm only), which are both really easy to clean with just a damp cloth. We also have performance options of black-outs, dim-outs, solar-protective or fire-retardant coatings and sunscreen fabrics. Blinds with your choice of fabric If you'd like to have vertical blinds made with your choice of any fabric from John Lewis, this is possible too. We'll work out how much is needed, and the fabric is then sent off to the manufacturers and cut into vanes. Each vane is carefully matched to the next throughout the width of the blind, so that there's continuity of pattern. The material is laminated to ensure it's stiffened sufficiently to allow the creation of 89mm louvre vanes.