FURNISHING OPTIONS
Whether it’s just a light refresh or a full-on construction refit, renovating is your chance to upgrade features to create a better home. We asked Russells what that means in terms of window furnishings
Upgrade to the latest technology. As New Zealand’s curtain and blind specialists, Russells offer all the latest in automation, which makes it easy to upgrade to the latest technology. Curtain tracks and blinds can be motorised so you operate them with the press of a button. Or there are fast-rise roller blinds that take almost no effort to operate, or zero gravity that goes up and down by simply adjusting the bottom rail with one hand and letting go. Zero gravity and motorised blinds have no cords or chains, making them safest for homes with children and pets.
Increase energy efficiency. Honeycomb blinds are a must-consider for better insulation. They get their name from their cell-like structure, which resembles a honeycomb when you look at it side on.
The cells create a pocket of air that acts as a barrier, much like how double-glazing works; in fact, sometimes honeycomb blinds are referred to as ‘the designer’s double-glazing’. The Russells range of honeycombs come in many colours with translucent, sheer, blockout and day/night options.
Reduce your carbon footprint. Some homeowners might feel that as they’re replacing old with new, they’re creating waste. To help offset that the Russells
Eco Range contains polyester fabrics made from recycled plastic bottles with some repurposing up to an incredible 30 bottles per metre of fabric. These fabrics are soft, durable and colourfast, and available in a wide variety of classic and contemporary colours and weights.
Optimise your space with curtains. Hang them high on the wall, right up near the ceiling, and right down to the ground.
This draws the eye upwards creating an illusion of height.
Stripes can fool the eye. For small rooms with low ceilings choose vertical stripes to make walls look longer and ceilings appear higher, while horizontal stripes will make long walls or high ceilings look narrower.
Choose a fabric in a slightly lighter shade of the wall colour to open up a small room; use darker coloured curtains to make a larger space cosier.
Long, solid curtain rails can help create an impression of spaciousness as you can pull the curtains clear of the window exposing the full width to make it appear larger and let in more light. This will also help reduce sunfade on the fabric.
Get a budget estimate early. Submit your plans on the Russells website for an early cost estimate. It helps you set the right budget and could reveal options that may not be available once your project is complete, such as a recessed ceiling curtain track that has to be built in. Getting a head start also means you’ll move into a completed home, not one with bare windows.
To learn more about Russells from real-life customers, visit russellscurtains.co.nz to watch their stories.