If you’re planning a room renovation in your home, you may have lots of ideas but wonder exactly how to start the process. The following steps will help you plan a renovation to minimize your headache while maximizing the value of your home, and stay within your budget: Begin with the end in mind The first step in planning a room renovation should be to decide exactly what your goal is. Think...

Your home is quite likely your most valuable asset. As such, it's important to make sure you don't ignore small troubles before they become much bigger. The following are common issues homeowners come across and how you can solve them before they snowball: Peeling Exterior Paint This shouldn't be considered just an aesthetic issue. Unless your home is vintage and the paint is reaching the end of...

There are companies that claim to be committed to improving the lives of children and young adults. Then there are companies that step up and take a swing at actually making tangible differences. Polar Shades – the country's premier manufacturer of quality indoor and outdoor window shades – falls into the latter category as gracefully as a chip shot played on the 18th hole. Representatives from...

The 4th of July is a holiday filled with fun, festivities, and friendship. It's a holiday meant to be enjoyed, but it's important to make sure you celebrate safely to avoid any unnecessary mishaps that can hamper your good time. Here are a few easy ways to prepare for a safe Independence Day: Swim Safely. Make sure an adult is always watching the pool if there are children around. Even if the...

At the suggestion of a neighbor, you are days away from a consultation with the window treatment experts at Polar Shades – and you cannot wait to see their ideas for enlivening your home with color and design. But you don’t want to have beautiful new shades installed on anything but sparkling clean windows. Gather some common household tools It's time to get to work and clean your indoor windows...

Installing shades to ensure an even, polished look can be tricky, especially if your windows are unusually shaped. Even if your windows appear perfectly square or rectangular, in actuality they might not be, because of settling or inconsistency in craftsmanship. Installing shades might look straightforward but rarely is. An experienced professional knows how to troubleshoot and finesse unexpected...

If you’ve made the decision to buy new window shades, you’ll want to make sure to avoid making these three common mistakes: 1. Failing to measure properly Accurately measuring your windows for shades can be tricky. If you’re off by even 1/16 of an inch, your shades may fit too tightly, or may let in too much light, which defeats their purpose. In some cases, they may not fit at all. Measurements...

Window treatments like shades are often neglected during house cleaning. This contributes to a room looking unkempt even if the floor and other areas are spotless. It is not difficult to keep window shades clean and if done regularly. Daily maintenance Window shades are not cleaned the same way blinds are since shades are made of fabric. Cellular, Roman and roller shades are easily cleaned with a...

If you own a home, it’s important to protect your investment with consistent maintenance. This helps prevent costly repairs and damage, protecting your home and furnishings before small problems turn into larger, more expensive ones. The following are tasks that can help protect your home and its belongings: Get a roof inspection You probably don’t give your roof much thought until you see...