Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight. Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement. During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down. The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact. Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer. A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density. Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays. Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening. Challenges of Front Door Installations Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed. The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar. How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night. We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut. To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door. Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project. Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.

Example of a trendy one-story wood flat roof design in Minneapolis

Example of a trendy bedroom design in Los Angeles

Door Style: Parkside Inset Construction: Flush Inset Wood Type: HDM Paint: Showplace Paints - Black After purchasing this modern style ranch home built in the 1980's the homeowners wanted to open up the floor plan and modernize the look and feel. Creating a functional space that met the cooking needs of a large active family while supporting entertaining large parties with ease was very important. With good bones and many appealing architectural details already in place, the home just needed a make over with good design to become the next better version of itself. One of the first hurdles in developing this design was creating a contemporary Scandinavian feel without upper wall cabinets, so special attention needed to be placed on storage needs. This was addressed through the use of multiple sets of wide, large drawer banks, tray divider cabinets, and storage on the back side of the island's counter top overhang. This created the necessary space to ensure every pot and pan had a home, and in the correct place for its intended purpose. Entertainment needs were addressed by creating a separate space dedicated to wine columns, a coffee station, and associated glassware. The homeowners came into the project with a desire for black painted shaker style cabinetry with large gold hardware; this was an appealing challenge for the design team at Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design, who loved the unique opportunity to "color outside of the lines" and stretch their creative talents. A combination of sky lights and large windows flood the space with natural light and enhance the dark painted choice in cabinetry. In the end, the homeowners brought their tasteful vision of a great design to this project which became beautiful reality in a space they will love for years to come. Completed by Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design in Norcross, GA, this beautiful project was a 2019 Showplace Cabinetry National Award Winner – Best Kitchen Design for a New Showplace Dealer.

Photography An Original When your family thrives on outdoor activities, living on the water is a bonus! The main house and pool house are all about the river views- from the windows expanding floor to ceiling and updated open floor plan, the project team capitalized on bringing a whole new light to this incredible property. Paying homage to the beautiful coastal town of Nantucket, our goal was to bring the love for the island’s classic aesthetic to our clients primary South Shore, MA residence. It wasn’t long after our clients took ownership of the Gulf River property, did they want to change the dated interiors, divided floor plan and tired exterior elements at the main house and pool house. Architect, Hoadley Martinez and interior designer, Christine McGinty were charged with opening the space up to represent a coastal love all while bringing functionality to an active family lifestyle. Our project timeline was nothing short of unique. The homeowners had twenty-three family members arriving on the 23rd of December to enjoy the holiday week. This is an annual traditional for the family so how could we let them down! Our shovel broke ground the first week of September, giving our team sixteen weeks to renovate multiple interior and exterior areas of a 5,500 square foot home. Multiple crews were strategically scheduled daily, keeping areas dedicated to the appropriate process all while keeping the project moving forward efficiently. The existing cabinetry, appliances, moldings and flooring were removed and donated to a local charity. At the main house, working alongside Roomscapes Cabinetry & Design, we extended the existing footprint to include a 12 x 10 mudroom, raised the ceiling in the kitchen to incorporate a coffered ceiling, opened the existing walls up to incorporate a new pantry and sitting room. All mechanical infrastructure, plumbing, HVAC and electrical were updated. The floors throughout were replaced with an 8” Carlisle Wide Plank White Oak. The exteriors shell was stripped down to the sheathing. We increased the size of multiple window openings to capitalize on the stunning coastal views. We used an Alaskan Yellow cedar shingles on both the roof and sidewall as the material properties weather to a beautiful silvery grey. The exterior trim profiles and scale was increased to bring more definition to the architectural elements. The finishing touch were custom copper gutters to add a little extra sparkle! All these hurdles made the project team grow closer and committed to making this magic holiday gathering happen. You could say it was a Christmas miracle!

Here's one of our most recent projects that was completed in 2011. This client had just finished a major remodel of their house in 2008 and were about to enjoy Christmas in their new home. At the time, Seattle was buried under several inches of snow (a rarity for us) and the entire region was paralyzed for a few days waiting for the thaw. Our client decided to take advantage of this opportunity and was in his driveway sledding when a neighbor rushed down the drive yelling that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, the house was already engulfed in flames. Equally unfortunate was the snowstorm and the delay it caused the fire department getting to the site. By the time they arrived, the house and contents were a total loss of more than $2.2 million. Here's one of our most recent projects that was completed in 2011. This client had just finished a major remodel of their house in 2008 and were about to enjoy Christmas in their new home. At the time, Seattle was buried under several inches of snow (a rarity for us) and the entire region was paralyzed for a few days waiting for the thaw. Our client decided to take advantage of this opportunity and was in his driveway sledding when a neighbor rushed down the drive yelling that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, the house was already engulfed in flames. Equally unfortunate was the snowstorm and the delay it caused the fire department getting to the site. By the time they arrived, the house and contents were a total loss of more than $2.2 million. Our role in the reconstruction of this home was two-fold. The first year of our involvement was spent working with a team of forensic contractors gutting the house, cleansing it of all particulate matter, and then helping our client negotiate his insurance settlement. Once we got over these hurdles, the design work and reconstruction started. Maintaining the existing shell, we reworked the interior room arrangement to create classic great room house with a contemporary twist. Both levels of the home were opened up to take advantage of the waterfront views and flood the interiors with natural light. On the lower level, rearrangement of the walls resulted in a tripling of the size of the family room while creating an additional sitting/game room. The upper level was arranged with living spaces bookended by the Master Bedroom at one end the kitchen at the other. The open Great Room and wrap around deck create a relaxed and sophisticated living and entertainment space that is accentuated by a high level of trim and tile detail on the interior and by custom metal railings and light fixtures on the exterior.

JUST SOLD: $600,000 short sale within walking distance of Siesta Key Beach This 5 bedroom, 3 bath home within minutes from the beautiful Siesta Key Beach just closed at the price of $600,000. This was a short sale transaction, which presented some typical challenges along the way, but closed with the satisfaction of all parties involved. A Short Sale transaction means that this is a sale for less than what is owed on the home. The bank must approve the seller to sell this way, as they have to provide evidence that they cannot pay off the note and not all of these transactions are approved. Once a contract is submitted, it typically takes an average of 3-6 months from contract to closing but they vary greatly. The majority of short-sales that Shayla has handled have fallen into the 3-6 month category with many these days closing in 90 days! Both Buyers and Sellers face difficult and unique problems when dealing with a short-sale. As long as each party is educated by their agents and know what pitfalls and hurdles could come their way, the process isn't as painful as it could be. Unfortunately there are no set guidelines that fit every transaction. You should always expect delays with a short sale and having a professional agent to guide you is crucial. There are different reasons why the transaction may be delayed. Some of the most common are: the buyer not wanting to wait for a reply from the lienholder; the seller not wanting to move out or in denial that the have to sell their home this way; paperwork issues; loan delays; etc. If you are considering entering a short sale transaction as a buyer, you should know that just because you offer full price does not ensure acceptance by the bank. They can counter any of the terms presented in the initial contract that is signed by both the buyer and seller. With the changes in the local market, lenders are looking at prices closer to market value whereas during the Recession, they were willing to accept lower offers. These are changes an experienced realtor is aware of and will consider when advising you on a short sale transaction! In close, despite it's name, a "short sale" is NEVER short. They should deem them the "long sale." So working with a seasoned Realtor who is an expert in the distressed property transactions will save you a lot of grey hairs and stress along the way!

A large island, soft colors, and modern interiors were used to give this Austin kitchen a contemporary update. We created a more usable layout and improved functionality by adding custom cabinetry, charging drawers, wall-mounted shelves, and an appliance garage. Modern pendant lights, double bowl hammered copper apron kitchen sink, geometric glass chandelier, and black rattan kitchen chairs add sophistication to the kitchen. After the kitchen, our Austin studio worked on this client’s bathroom remodeling project to design a modern, bright, and polished space. We started with a light, soothing color palette and two large mirrors to create an open, airy vibe. Modern sconces and striking lighting add a sophisticated touch. And finally, a beautiful tub creates a relaxing, luxurious, spa-like appeal to the space. --- Designed by Sara Barney’s BANDD DESIGN, who are based in Austin, Texas and serving throughout Round Rock, Lake Travis, West Lake Hills, and Tarrytown. For more about BANDD DESIGN, see here: https://bandddesign.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://bandddesign.com/modern-kitchen-bathroom-remodel-lost-creek/

Here's one of our most recent projects that was completed in 2011. This client had just finished a major remodel of their house in 2008 and were about to enjoy Christmas in their new home. At the time, Seattle was buried under several inches of snow (a rarity for us) and the entire region was paralyzed for a few days waiting for the thaw. Our client decided to take advantage of this opportunity and was in his driveway sledding when a neighbor rushed down the drive yelling that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, the house was already engulfed in flames. Equally unfortunate was the snowstorm and the delay it caused the fire department getting to the site. By the time they arrived, the house and contents were a total loss of more than $2.2 million. Here's one of our most recent projects that was completed in 2011. This client had just finished a major remodel of their house in 2008 and were about to enjoy Christmas in their new home. At the time, Seattle was buried under several inches of snow (a rarity for us) and the entire region was paralyzed for a few days waiting for the thaw. Our client decided to take advantage of this opportunity and was in his driveway sledding when a neighbor rushed down the drive yelling that his house was on fire. Unfortunately, the house was already engulfed in flames. Equally unfortunate was the snowstorm and the delay it caused the fire department getting to the site. By the time they arrived, the house and contents were a total loss of more than $2.2 million. Our role in the reconstruction of this home was two-fold. The first year of our involvement was spent working with a team of forensic contractors gutting the house, cleansing it of all particulate matter, and then helping our client negotiate his insurance settlement. Once we got over these hurdles, the design work and reconstruction started. Maintaining the existing shell, we reworked the interior room arrangement to create classic great room house with a contemporary twist. Both levels of the home were opened up to take advantage of the waterfront views and flood the interiors with natural light. On the lower level, rearrangement of the walls resulted in a tripling of the size of the family room while creating an additional sitting/game room. The upper level was arranged with living spaces bookended by the Master Bedroom at one end the kitchen at the other. The open Great Room and wrap around deck create a relaxed and sophisticated living and entertainment space that is accentuated by a high level of trim and tile detail on the interior and by custom metal railings and light fixtures on the exterior.

This project aimed to cater to a multigenerational family that occupies the main floor of their home, with the kitchen being the central hub. With four adults passionate about cooking and entertaining, it was staged to be a unique project! The primary aim was to enhance kitchen traffic flow and functionality, which was accomplished by introducing a nine-foot island with various features: trash/recycle, microwave, and storage for mixing bowls, utensils, and knives. The range top was elegantly positioned at the kitchen's end, framed by a stylish cherry hood with sweeping curves and a classic herringbone tile pattern. This naturally formed a captivating focal point in the room. During the construction, we faced a hurdle due to a cross beam obstructing ceiling venting. The formal dining room had two closely spaced doors, one from the kitchen and one from the hallway. To create a more functional pantry space and provide space for wall ovens, the kitchen entry was closed off. A highly efficient scullery-style pantry was designed with a 96” opening with 48" wide bi-passing doors; it features dedicated countertop zones for various large appliances that would be challenging to lift out of a cabinet. The bookshelves were carefully designed to emphasize balance between the refrigerator and ovens, enhancing the flow and overall continuity of the expanded kitchen. The homeowner's vast cookbook collection, along with a few tchotchkes, adds personal character and color to the space. While this design element removed the option for a countertop next to the refrigerator and ovens, the homeowners were very comfortable with the sizeable adjacent island, which provides an ample landing zone. Finally, the most daring choice is a bold blue hue. This topped with crisp white quartz countertops and warm cherry features, beautifully reflects the vibrant and joyful life of the family. The spacious nook area transformed into an ideal indoor entertainment space that seamlessly complements gatherings inside and out. The choice of cherry cabinets, paired with striking black quartz countertops, was deliberate, as it added warmth to the area and established a solid connection to the stunning outdoor views. Articulating arm sconces not only provided illumination but also highlighted the eclectic tiki-style glassware displayed on the floating shelves. Pendant lights strategically placed in front of each window improved countertop functionality, while the ceiling fan's light served as ambient illumination. The arm sconces, together with the brass-finished pendants, contributed to a cohesive design, extending the lighting theme from the adjacent nook area. The old desk area provided the perfect space for an extended pantry and appliance workstation. The extensive amount of cookbooks brought personalization, color, and texture to their new kitchen.

Door Style: Parkside Inset Construction: Flush Inset Wood Type: HDM Paint: Showplace Paints - Black After purchasing this modern style ranch home built in the 1980's the homeowners wanted to open up the floor plan and modernize the look and feel. Creating a functional space that met the cooking needs of a large active family while supporting entertaining large parties with ease was very important. With good bones and many appealing architectural details already in place, the home just needed a make over with good design to become the next better version of itself. One of the first hurdles in developing this design was creating a contemporary Scandinavian feel without upper wall cabinets, so special attention needed to be placed on storage needs. This was addressed through the use of multiple sets of wide, large drawer banks, tray divider cabinets, and storage on the back side of the island's counter top overhang. This created the necessary space to ensure every pot and pan had a home, and in the correct place for its intended purpose. Entertainment needs were addressed by creating a separate space dedicated to wine columns, a coffee station, and associated glassware. The homeowners came into the project with a desire for black painted shaker style cabinetry with large gold hardware; this was an appealing challenge for the design team at Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design, who loved the unique opportunity to "color outside of the lines" and stretch their creative talents. A combination of sky lights and large windows flood the space with natural light and enhance the dark painted choice in cabinetry. In the end, the homeowners brought their tasteful vision of a great design to this project which became beautiful reality in a space they will love for years to come. Completed by Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design in Norcross, GA, this beautiful project was a 2019 Showplace Cabinetry National Award Winner – Best Kitchen Design for a New Showplace Dealer.

This project aimed to cater to a multigenerational family that occupies the main floor of their home, with the kitchen being the central hub. With four adults passionate about cooking and entertaining, it was staged to be a unique project! The primary aim was to enhance kitchen traffic flow and functionality, which was accomplished by introducing a nine-foot island with various features: trash/recycle, microwave, and storage for mixing bowls, utensils, and knives. The range top was elegantly positioned at the kitchen's end, framed by a stylish cherry hood with sweeping curves and a classic herringbone tile pattern. This naturally formed a captivating focal point in the room. During the construction, we faced a hurdle due to a cross beam obstructing ceiling venting. The formal dining room had two closely spaced doors, one from the kitchen and one from the hallway. To create a more functional pantry space and provide space for wall ovens, the kitchen entry was closed off. A highly efficient scullery-style pantry was designed with a 96” opening with 48" wide bi-passing doors; it features dedicated countertop zones for various large appliances that would be challenging to lift out of a cabinet. The bookshelves were carefully designed to emphasize balance between the refrigerator and ovens, enhancing the flow and overall continuity of the expanded kitchen. The homeowner's vast cookbook collection, along with a few tchotchkes, adds personal character and color to the space. While this design element removed the option for a countertop next to the refrigerator and ovens, the homeowners were very comfortable with the sizeable adjacent island, which provides an ample landing zone. Finally, the most daring choice is a bold blue hue. This topped with crisp white quartz countertops and warm cherry features, beautifully reflects the vibrant and joyful life of the family. The spacious nook area transformed into an ideal indoor entertainment space that seamlessly complements gatherings inside and out. The choice of cherry cabinets, paired with striking black quartz countertops, was deliberate, as it added warmth to the area and established a solid connection to the stunning outdoor views. Articulating arm sconces not only provided illumination but also highlighted the eclectic tiki-style glassware displayed on the floating shelves. Pendant lights strategically placed in front of each window improved countertop functionality, while the ceiling fan's light served as ambient illumination. The arm sconces, together with the brass-finished pendants, contributed to a cohesive design, extending the lighting theme from the adjacent nook area.

Door Style: Parkside Inset Construction: Flush Inset Wood Type: HDM Paint: Showplace Paints - Black After purchasing this modern style ranch home built in the 1980's the homeowners wanted to open up the floor plan and modernize the look and feel. Creating a functional space that met the cooking needs of a large active family while supporting entertaining large parties with ease was very important. With good bones and many appealing architectural details already in place, the home just needed a make over with good design to become the next better version of itself. One of the first hurdles in developing this design was creating a contemporary Scandinavian feel without upper wall cabinets, so special attention needed to be placed on storage needs. This was addressed through the use of multiple sets of wide, large drawer banks, tray divider cabinets, and storage on the back side of the island's counter top overhang. This created the necessary space to ensure every pot and pan had a home, and in the correct place for its intended purpose. Entertainment needs were addressed by creating a separate space dedicated to wine columns, a coffee station, and associated glassware. The homeowners came into the project with a desire for black painted shaker style cabinetry with large gold hardware; this was an appealing challenge for the design team at Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design, who loved the unique opportunity to "color outside of the lines" and stretch their creative talents. A combination of sky lights and large windows flood the space with natural light and enhance the dark painted choice in cabinetry. In the end, the homeowners brought their tasteful vision of a great design to this project which became beautiful reality in a space they will love for years to come. Completed by Haggard Home Cabinetry & Design in Norcross, GA, this beautiful project was a 2019 Showplace Cabinetry National Award Winner – Best Kitchen Design for a New Showplace Dealer.

We recently completed an extraordinary pool project in Jupiter, Florida, pushing the boundaries of traditional pool design. The client envisioned a truly unique space, a half-oval pool with a curved infinity edge, a raised spa, and dual sundecks. At Epic Watershapes, we embraced the challenge and transformed this artistic vision into a stunning reality. Creating a symmetrical pool with a vanishing edge along a curve presented a significant technical hurdle. However, our team's expertise and meticulous attention to detail allowed us to achieve perfect symmetry and a flawlessly functioning infinity edge. The client's inspired design was a work of art in itself, and we were determined to not only meet but exceed their expectations. The pool's standout features include the gracefully curved infinity edge, which creates a seamless transition to the surrounding landscape. A raised spa, tiled with luxurious materials, sits elegantly in the left corner, offering a relaxing retreat. Two sundecks, each positioned on either corner of the pool, provide ample space for lounging and soaking up the Florida sun. Bubblers integrated into the sundecks add a playful touch and create a soothing ambiance. This project embodies Epic Watershapes' commitment to innovative design and exceptional craftsmanship. From the unorthodox pool shape to the intricate details, every aspect of this Jupiter pool reflects our dedication to creating custom outdoor spaces that are as beautiful as they are functional. Located in beautiful Jupiter, this modern pool is a testament to our ability to bring even the most imaginative visions to life. Visit our website at www.epicwatershapes.com or our Houzz profile at https://www.houzz.com/pro/samuel-mello/__public to explore more of our projects. Contact us today to discuss your dream pool!

Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight. Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement. During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down. The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact. Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer. A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density. Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays. Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening. Challenges of Front Door Installations Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed. The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar. How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night. We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut. To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door. Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project. Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.

This project aimed to cater to a multigenerational family that occupies the main floor of their home, with the kitchen being the central hub. With four adults passionate about cooking and entertaining, it was staged to be a unique project! The primary aim was to enhance kitchen traffic flow and functionality, which was accomplished by introducing a nine-foot island with various features: trash/recycle, microwave, and storage for mixing bowls, utensils, and knives. The range top was elegantly positioned at the kitchen's end, framed by a stylish cherry hood with sweeping curves and a classic herringbone tile pattern. This naturally formed a captivating focal point in the room. During the construction, we faced a hurdle due to a cross beam obstructing ceiling venting. The formal dining room had two closely spaced doors, one from the kitchen and one from the hallway. To create a more functional pantry space and provide space for wall ovens, the kitchen entry was closed off. A highly efficient scullery-style pantry was designed with a 96” opening with 48" wide bi-passing doors; it features dedicated countertop zones for various large appliances that would be challenging to lift out of a cabinet. The bookshelves were carefully designed to emphasize balance between the refrigerator and ovens, enhancing the flow and overall continuity of the expanded kitchen. The homeowner's vast cookbook collection, along with a few tchotchkes, adds personal character and color to the space. While this design element removed the option for a countertop next to the refrigerator and ovens, the homeowners were very comfortable with the sizeable adjacent island, which provides an ample landing zone. Finally, the most daring choice is a bold blue hue. This topped with crisp white quartz countertops and warm cherry features, beautifully reflects the vibrant and joyful life of the family. The spacious nook area transformed into an ideal indoor entertainment space that seamlessly complements gatherings inside and out. The choice of cherry cabinets, paired with striking black quartz countertops, was deliberate, as it added warmth to the area and established a solid connection to the stunning outdoor views. Articulating arm sconces not only provided illumination but also highlighted the eclectic tiki-style glassware displayed on the floating shelves. Pendant lights strategically placed in front of each window improved countertop functionality, while the ceiling fan's light served as ambient illumination. The arm sconces, together with the brass-finished pendants, contributed to a cohesive design, extending the lighting theme from the adjacent nook area.

Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight. Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement. During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down. The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact. Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer. A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density. Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays. Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening. Challenges of Front Door Installations Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed. The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar. How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night. We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut. To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door. Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project. Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.

This upgrade had some unexpected hurdles to overcome that made this project complicated and unique. We completed this well known coffee shop renovation working under tight timelines, no plumbing or electricity and restricted access. Our team not only completed the project on time and met budget expectations, but our client and Richmond Centre. Landlord were left impressed with our work ethic, project management and the final result.

Discover how premium light-filtering materials and smart-home automation can secure street-level entryway glass without losing natural daylight. Choosing the right window treatments for a home's front entrance is one of the most challenging design decisions a homeowner can face. The front door is the focal point of a home's curb appeal, often featuring expansive glass panels or side-by-side double doors designed to make a grand architectural statement. During the day, these large glass features are an asset, flooding entryways and foyers with beautiful natural daylight. However, for homes situated on busy local roads or highly trafficked street-level lots, the dynamic completely changes once the sun goes down. The moment interior lights are switched on in the evening, a stark contrast is created with the dark outdoors. This creates a severe privacy issue, leaving the entire foyer completely exposed to passing traffic and pedestrians. Finding a solution that delivers absolute evening privacy without permanently plunging the front entrance into darkness during the day requires understanding how modern window treatment materials and operating systems interact. Light-Filtering vs. Blackout Fabrics The first step in solving street-level privacy is selecting the correct fabric type. Many homeowners mistakenly assume they need heavy, opaque blackout shades to secure their home from outside eyes at night. While blackout fabrics certainly block 100% of the view, they also block 100% of the natural daylight during the day, forcing you to constantly raise and lower the shades just to see inside your own foyer. A more effective approach for entryways utilizes premium light-filtering materials. These specialized fabrics are engineered with a precise, tight weave that operates on the principles of directional light and optical density. Daytime Functionality: When the sun is shining outside, the exterior light levels are significantly higher than the interior light levels. The light-filtering fabric diffuses the intense, direct sunlight into a soft, ambient glow throughout the entryway. This keeps the home bright, eliminates harsh glares, and protects interior hardwood flooring, paint, and trim from damaging UV rays. Night-Time Functionality: At night, the lighting dynamic reverses. The interior foyer lights make the inside bright, while the outside is dark. Because of the specialized tight weave, the fabric blocks the transmission of clear shapes and details. To a person standing out on the street or driving by on a busy road, the view inside is completely obstructed, delivering total privacy when the family is home for the evening. Challenges of Front Door Installations Securing privacy for a double wide front entrance introduces unique structural hurdles that standard windows do not face. Traditional blinds with hanging cords or manual pull chains are poorly suited for front doors. They disrupt the clean architectural lines of a grand foyer, create a safety hazard, and can easily get tangled or damaged when the doors are opened and closed. The window treatments must be mounted high and wide enough above the door trim to ensure that the front doors can swing open and close freely without ever catching on the fabric or the lower hem bar. How We Applied These Principles in Sherrills Ford, NC Applying these exact educational principles to real-world homes is what Cole and I do every day at Bloomin' Blinds of North Charlotte. We recently worked with a homeowner in Sherrills Ford whose beautiful new construction property sat on a highly trafficked road. They loved their double wide front door entrance but felt entirely too exposed to the street at night. We brought our mobile showroom directly to their driveway. This allowed us to hold up premium light-filtering fabric samples directly against their entryway glass, matching the materials perfectly to their home's natural lighting, interior paint, and trim before making a single cut. To solve their street-level privacy issue, we custom-built and installed two matching light-filtering roller shades, mounting them flawlessly side-by-side above the front door frame. To keep the home’s interior design completely cohesive, we carried the exact same style to the back of the house, installing a matching single roller shade on the rear door. Smart Home Window Automation at Your Fingertips Because entryway windows can be tall and awkward to reach manually, our family team integrated advanced smart-home motorization into this Sherrills Ford project. Beyond the convenience of a handheld remote control, these automated roller shades feature seamless Wi-Fi integration. The homeowners can control their privacy through a dedicated smartphone app or link the system directly to their existing voice-activated smart home networks, including Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, and Apple HomeKit. This allows for complete hands-free window automation. The clients can program custom daily routines—such as setting the front entry shades to automatically lower exactly at sunset—or simply use a voice command to secure the foyer instantly from the comfort of the couch.