Deb Malewski
Contributing Writer
When you combine cabin fever on top of COVID-19 isolation overload, you might wish you had a creative outlet to help deal with your frustrations. Some have found that making changes in their home décor helps alleviate some of the frustration, which is where Budget Blinds steps in with a wide array of window coverings for every home.
Budget Blinds is a franchised window-covering business. Kirt and Patricia Austin are the franchise owners for Eaton County and live in Charlotte. “We take pride in providing style and service for every budget,” Kirt Austin said.
“We’ve weathered the storm, I think, of COVID-19 and actually had a great year in 2020, overall, as far as our business,” Austin said. “Maybe people watched home improvement shows while they were socially isolating and were inspired to update their homes,” he said with a smile.
“We now are cleared to go into people’s homes wearing a mask; for a while there we were doing all virtual consultations and then were closed down completely for a few months,” Austin said.
Budget Blinds is unique in that it brings the showroom to your home, which simplifies the process. In this way, you can experience the products in the setting and actual lighting of your home.
They carry just about any type of window treatment, including interior shutters, exterior roller shades, and any kind of shades or drapes. “There aren’t too many types of window coverings which we don’t carry,” stated Austin.
Today there is much thought given to the preservation of our natural resources, and Budget Blinds hardwood window coverings are produced using North American hardwoods which are harvested through sustainable-yield forest management. There are window coverings made from hemp, kenaf, and flax, all of which are 100% organic, environmentally friendly, and completely recyclable.
“We are seeing trends towards more motorization of window coverings, and not just for shades,” Austin said. “We can tie into home networks, or handheld remotes can be used.” Most products have a cordless option.
The window coverings are all custom made and most orders take about four weeks. Shutters sometimes take a bit longer when ordered. With 17 years in the business, Austin, himself, installs about 75 to 80% of the products he sells.
As far as decorating trends, “Grey is the new beige,” said Austin. “Grey is extremely popular for home furnishings right now. It makes a nice neutral, and is very trendy.”
“We’re also seeing a lot of people opt for solar shades,” Austin said. Besides just blocking the bright sun, solar shades help reduce glare and prevent fading from the sun on carpets, furniture, and household surfaces. They also protect against harmful UV rays.
Honeycomb and cellular shades have been popular, also, Austin said. They can make a big difference in the heating and cooling of your home; cellular shades can reduce summer heat gain by as much as 45%.
You can find Budget Blinds of Charlotte online at BudgetBlinds.com, and on Facebook. Call them at 517-541-1676. You can also schedule a free at-home consultation on their website.
