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Welcome to my blog. I hope to share information and ideas that you will find informative, valuable and entertaining. If you would like information on something specific ( or you just have a question) be sure to e-mail me at (wallstoo@comcast.net), you can also visit my website at www.wallstoowindows.com Otherwise, sit back and enjoy!!!!

Saturday, October 17, 2009


Your new window shades may qualify for a tax credit!
HUNTER DOUGLAS "ARCHITELLA" SHADES CERTIFIED FOR FEDERAL TAX CREDITS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY .
DID YOU KNOW? “Uncovered windows can literally be energy holes, depleting a home of up to half of its heating and cooling energy dollars,” said Marv Hopkins, Hunter Douglas President and CEO. “We specifically designed and developed the award-winning, strikingly beautiful Duette Architella shade – our most energy-efficient product and the fastest-growing innovation in the extremely popular cellular category – to address this problem. This takes the air-trapping cellular structure of our original Duette honeycomb shade and makes it even more energy-efficient by placing a cell within a cell.”.
Duette® Architella® Shades: Energy Savings Made Beautiful
Introduced in 2006, Duette Architella shades have insulating R-values as high as 7.86 and solar heat gain coefficients as low as 0.15. Their patented honeycomb-within-a-honeycomb design forms more air pockets than traditional honeycomb shades and reduces heat transfer at the window by up to 50 percent when the shades are properly installed – more than doubling the energy efficiency of the window and helping to lower heating and cooling costs.Calculations, based on a conservative energy-savings methodology that was validated by the Rocky Mountain Institute, show that Duette Architella shades can save up to $2.94 per square foot annually in energy costs and approximately 10 percent of an average household’s carbon footprint. Of course, estimates will vary by region.
Consumers may now have the opportunity to save on their energy bills and their taxes with Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas, North America’s leading manufacturer and marketer of custom window coverings. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, federal tax credits for energy-efficient products are available for 30 percent of the cost of most Duette Architella shades, up to a maximum of $1,500 in total, when purchased and installed through December 31, 2010, provided the expense meets the tax guidelines. Highly insulating Duette Architella shades, which can more than double the energy efficiency of a window, are the first and only window shades to qualify for the tax credit without add-on insulation systems.
The LiteRise® TrimKit, which ensures shades are completely fitted to the window frame, may also qualify for the tax credit.
Consumers should consult their tax advisors or visit http://www.irs.gov/ to determine if they qualify and will be required to furnish a Manufacturer's Certificate to apply for the credit.
Homeowners should check the Manufacturer’s Certification Statement available at hunterdouglas.com/taxcredit for a list of qualifying Architella products and restrictions and also consult their tax advisor to determine whether they are eligible for this federal tax credit.

Here is a link to the Architella products page on the Hunter Douglas website. See how beautiful these shades are & be amazed at the energy
efficiency provided by these shades.
http://www.hunterdouglas.com/our-products.jsp?so=tn#/P_53/
Be sure to click BACK on your browser to return to this blog page.
Check out the Energy Star government tax credits link to see what OTHER types of home improvements qualify for the tax credit. www.energystar.gov/taxcredits.
I would love to bring out actual samples of these shades to see in your own home. Now is a perfect time to purchase these shades. .Great REBATES are available right now in addition to the tax credits that you may receive.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

This was actually a "design on a dime" project for a young girl that wanted a fun, yet a bit more sophisticated look for her bedroom. In addition, Dad wanted a room that would grow with her tastes. The current room had tall vaulted ceilings, irregular shaped walls and the existing murals broke up the room and made it look cluttered and busy. The main expense was sanding , priming and repairing the existing walls and replacing the woodwork. (repeat after me " thou shalt NEVER paint murals on woodwork).

The room was painted with Miller Paint, color Devine Kiwis and Beans. By painting the room one color, the room appears larger, without the visual breakup of the irregular ceiling. The bedding and accessories where purchased at a local box store and the beaded window treatments (which replicate the bedding) were found online. The end result-- a sophisticated and fun look that will last for years. If you need some assistance or some fresh idea's for someone in your family, be sure to call "Walls too Windows, Interior Design" 360-687-5076

Monday, October 12, 2009




It has always been my opinion, that truly great design is the end product of a great team. The most successful projects are always the collaboration of contractor-designer-client and gifted craftsmen and artisans. Here we see the creation of a one of a kind stair railing. the clients vision was to have the "earthy, organic look of trees and vines" to compliment the overall ambiance of the home. You can see from the pictures the painstaking process that is involved.
Here, Tom is heating and forging the ends of the vine grain round stock to form branch ends.
You can see the branch pieces on the table and Tom fitting one branch in place. You can also see the bender on the right that is used to create the organic look. Each piece is fit into place to resemble a vine. You can see the straight pieces on the table, waiting to be formed as needed. See the gray ends where we have sandblasted each piece after heating and forging to clean the scale and discoloration.
Once a single branch is formed to meet the desired look, it is tack welded in place. We do a few branches and then step back and look the arrangement over to ensure that it looks natural. Occasionally we cut off one branch and rework it to provide a more natural look. Look on the lower right, on the table. There is a 4" round circle with a center stud (handle) that is used to ensure that there are no spaces greater than 4" diameter. This is done to meet the building codes.
After al the pieces are in place and we like the design, Tom welds everything together and Linda takes the finished panel and grinds/sands/files off the rough spots and welding splatter. Then we sandblast the entire railing once again to remove the welding discoloration and any other areas that need to be cleaned.
It's a slow process, but we are enjoying.
As a designer, it is always a privledge to work with such gifted artists.
Patti Marvitz/Walls too Windows

Tom and Linda Hemphill
Hemphill Iron Works
12702 NE 50th Ave.
Vancouver, Washington 98686
360-574-1963
360-609-5477
www.hemphillironworks.com
tomh2491@comcast.net
r-client and exceptional craftsmen and artisans.