The psychology of colour in your home

Posted on September 14, 2012 by GC Family

Choosing the colour scheme for your home that best expresses you, matches your individuality, and – most importantly – makes you feel truly at home requires thoughtful deliberation. And it is not just about whether or not you like a certain colour.

Different hues set a different mood for a room and they have a variety of sensory effects on people – from calmness to stimulation. Did you know, for example, that some colours could even be imperceptibly detrimental to your health? Yellow has been proven to strain the eyes and cause eye fatigue.

There is a host of questions that you need to answer when making decisions about your home interior. Are you going for classic yet dull neutrals or exciting yet busy bolds? Would you be colour consistent throughout the entire house or use completely different tints room to room? If you wish to install blinds or shutters, what colour should they be?

This handy infographic on the psychology of colour, crafted by Painters of Louisville, can certainly help you in answering these tough home interior questions in a definitive way. Enjoy!

Courtesy of NowSourcing, Inc

Three steps to picking the correct shutters for your home

Posted on September 3, 2012 by GC Family

If you wish to smarten up your home and are looking for a stylish yet practical window dressing solution, shutters could be just what you need.

Shutters are more durable than blinds, with the added bonus of giving your home that much-needed extra insulation for the cold months, while being an elegant complement to your home interior or exterior (depending on whether you wish to place them internally or externally).

Just like making any other major purchase decision for your home, choosing the right shutters requires a lot of forethought. You need to consider both the practical and the aesthetic aspects of the purchase, and the wide range of shutter styles on offer could make this look like a daunting endeavour.

Not if you follow these three simple steps.

1. Decide which windows you want to adorn with shutters.

If you are looking to dress your bedroom windows, you may find that external shutters are the best choice for you as they are long-lasting and provide extra insulation and privacy.

Your dining room or living room windows are likely to look best with internal shutters as these create a focal point in your room, blending in with your room’s interior. Internal shutters are easy to maintain, which also makes them ideal for moisture-rich rooms, such as bathrooms and kitchens.

2. Don’t rely on DYI when measuring for shutters.

Knowing the exact shape, form and dimensions of the windows you wish to order shutters for is critical. However, as simple as taking measurements seems, there is more to it than meets the eye so we would not recommend doing it yourself. Being a complex product, shutters fit differently into different window types, and there is also a range of choices that are not available across the range.

So instead of risking it, why not book a visit from one of GC Family’s shutter specialists? They will guide you through choosing the correct shutters for your home so that you don’t end up with shutters that don’t match or fit your window type.

3. Get creative with the design.

Once the shutter specialists have advised you of the perfect shutter type for your home, it is time to select the shutter colours and design.

The Goldcrest Family have a wide range of shutter designs on offer, including full height, café style and tier on tier, in addition to a rich selection of colours.

Our shutter specialists are on hand to help you choose the right shutters for your windows and select the style that is the best addition to your home.

The Goldcrest Family’s top 5 FAQs answered

Posted on August 28, 2012 by GC Family

Goldcrest Family’s home design consultants and salespeople have to answer a whole range of queries – from questions about our products’ specs to more practical matters such as fitting and cleaning the shutters or blinds.

And since this blog is dedicated to teaching you all you need to know about shutters, blinds and home design, we asked our consultants to answer the five most frequently asked questions.

1. Will the salesperson have samples for me to look at?

- Yes, our salespeople have sample books for every type of blind or window covering available. There is also a variety of small sample blinds available for you to look at so you will know exactly what you will be getting.

2. I have windows that tilt in at the top and I have been told I cannot have blinds unless they are fitted outside the recess. Is this true?

- No, this is not true. Most standard blinds will not fit into most recesses as the window would knock the head rail every time it is opened. However, at the GC Family we have a range of specially designed blinds that have been developed especially for this type of window.

Our Intu and Perfect Fit ranges are designed to fit directly onto the window. For further information, please contact us to discuss and we can arrange an appointment where one of our salespeople will be able to show you a sample of how these blinds work.

3. Do my blinds come with child safety controls as standard?

- Yes, all blinds from the GC Family come with child safety controls as standard. From safety cleats to tie up cords, to a helpful safety leaflet to advise on how to avoid accidents, we take Child Safety very seriously.

4. Are your fabrics washable?

- We have a wide range of washable fabrics, including PVC fabrics. These are ideal for high moisture areas such as bathrooms and kitchens and are perfect for kids’ rooms, etc. as they can easily be wiped clean.

5. Do you do Blackout blinds?

- We have a wide selection of Blackout fabrics available in Verticals and Roller Blinds. Our Roman Blinds and curtains all have a blackout lining option available, and don’t forget Venetian blinds have blackout qualities, too.

Our sales team are happy to discuss your requirements and advise on which fabrics are most suited to you.

Do you have any questions regarding the products and services we offer? Leave a comment or contact one of our branches and we will get back to you in due course.

How to choose the right designer fabrics for your blinds

Posted on August 21, 2012 by GC Family

Choosing the right colour and type of fabrics for your curtains and blinds to match your room’s interior is not easy. There are lots of companies that urge people to order directly from their website or catalogue but we all know that colours in pictures are often distorted.

So you may be disappointed, for example, to find out that the burgundy fabric that you really thought would match your sofa cushions is in fact maroon. Even the most high resolution images sometimes do fabrics a disservice. When it comes to choosing the right blind and curtain fabrics, nothing can replace look, touch and feel!

Why you should book a home design consultation

The Goldcrest Family work with Harlequin, giving you a wide variety of fabric styles to choose from, including floral, contemporary, minimalist and retro. The vast array of colours, textures, prints and weaves on offer provides you with the opportunity to find the ideal window dressing for you.

You can now do so from the comfort of your home – just book a no-obligation home visit. Not only will you be able to touch and feel the fabrics that we offer but you will also get free home design advice. Our friendly expert advisors will help you select the design fabric that really enhances your home and gives your blinds that individual look.

Here is what to expect:

A fast local service with an appointment time to suit you.
An appointment time confirmation made the following day
Free measuring and fitting of all blinds by our trained experts
Example blinds on hand with our advisor, suited to your appointment.
Your blinds can be customised with our large selection of shaped scalloped bottoms, braids, decorative pulls and beaded trims, making each blind unique to your requirements.

How to redesign your room quickly

Posted on June 28, 2012 by GC Family

: www.younghouselove.com

Has your room (bedroom/living rooms etc) looked the same for quite some time or is the look and feel of your room just not inspiring you anymore? There are some small changes that you can make to your room to update the look and feel of the space without having to redecorated or replace your furniture.

Redesigning your walls

If you are happy with the colour of your walls there are still a few things you can do to refresh them. Why not update the pictures that you have hanging on you walls, or update your picture frames? A great way to create a feature on you walls is to gather your picture frames together and arrange them into a layout that groups them all together.

Rearranging your furniture

Getting new furniture can be quite costly, so why not try and change the layout of your room and arrange your furniture so the focal point of the room is slightly different?

Updating your accessories

A great way to inject new colour into a room is to update your current accessories such as cushion covers, vases, light shades and curtains/window blinds.

You would be surprised at how much changing your curtains or window blinds and complimenting these with any new coloured accessories can have. Matching up your new accessories is a great way to pull the whole look together and give your room an updated feel without going to the cost of fully redecorating or buying new furniture.

Moisture resistant blinds

Posted on June 8, 2012 by GC Family

Are you looking to buy binds for your bathroom or kitchen? Then you are probably already thinking that water resistant blinds are your best option.

For rooms that have high moisture levels such as bathrooms, wet rooms and kitchens, a water resistant material is the best choice when it comes to deciding which window blind to buy for these rooms.

Moisture resistant blinds are easy to wipe clean and deter mould from setting into the material, which spoils the look of your blind and can even be a health hazard. Aside from being moisture resistant, most waterproof blinds are naturally work as black out blinds – giving you that extra privacy in rooms such as a bathroom, shower room or wet room.

Most water proof or moisture resistant blinds are made from soft or rigid PVC – PVC is waterproof and a highly durable material, which makes it the perfect material choice when looking for kitchen or bathroom blinds.

Practicality doesn’t have to be boring – moisture resistant blinds come in a variety or colours, patterns and styles.

How to Decide on the Perfect Blinds

Posted on March 19, 2012 by GC Family

The addition of blinds can instantly change the look and feel of a room, bringing a modern, clean feel to it. Blinds are very easy to fit and take little to no aftercare. The best thing about blinds is that they can either be used on their own to block out light or with curtains to complement the look.

The following paragraphs detail all you need to know about the right blinds for your home. This blog will help you get the most out of your new blinds – whether it’s choosing the style, the material or making use of some handy pointers along the way.

Which blinds are right for your room?

The best thing about blinds is that they are very versatile and adapt to change really well. Blinds can either be used to decorate windows in places such a front rooms or living rooms but can have a more practical use in rooms such as bathrooms, home-based offices or kitchens. Total blackout blinds can also be practical in bedrooms.

The first thing to consider when choosing a blind is which room you are choosing it for. Having an idea will make it easier to find a match.

Continue reading →

What Blinds are Right for You? The GC Family Top 3 Tips

Posted on March 19, 2012 by GC Family

Window Blinds

Are you thinking of giving one of your rooms a new look in the New Year? Why not upgrade your room by adding a stylish pair of blinds that are practical to boot!

Picking the right blinds can make a dramatic difference to both the appearance and feel of a room. So here are our top 3 tips when deciding what blind to go for.

Safety first

While having a stylish pair of blinds is important, you must consider how safe they are depending on your circumstances. If you have pets or young children you may want to go for either a short cord that is well off the floor or a safety window cord. All of the Goldcrest Family blinds are BBSA Child Safe so we will always have you covered.

Continue reading →