Sun Protection

Wow That Sun is bright!!!

Do you realize how much energy is wasted trying to keep your house cool with the hot sun beaming in??

Do you realize how much damage is being caused on your carpets, furniture, accessories by the UV rays??

Of course we like the sun, especially here in Florida, but we have to pay a price for it.

Now that I have caused you to think, maybe there is something that can be done to save energy, and protect your furniture.

First of all let’s look at the definitions that apply to the problem:

R-Value is a measure of a products ability to resist heat flow, which is especially important in the summer months. The higher the R-value the more insulation it provides and better it is at reducing heat flow.
A bare, low e-double glazed window has an R-factor of about 3.5.
Solar Heat Gain Coefficient [SHGC] is the amount of solar heat that passes through a window, where 0 is none and 1 = all. The lower a product SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits and the cooler the home will stay in the summer months.
The SHGC of a bare double glazed window is 0.76, which means 76% of solar heat is transmitted through it.
UV exposure is not only harmful to the skin; it will also damage furnishings, floors and fine art.

Let’s look at the cure!!!

· Add a Hunter Douglas Duette Architella 1 ½” honeycomb shade with Panache opaque fabric and the R-value increases to 7.86, more than doubling the energy efficiency, and reducing heat loss buy over 50%.
· Also, by adding the Duette Architella shade and the solar heat gain coefficient drops to as low as 0.15 --- only 15% of the solar heat is transmitted, reducing cooling costs
· Adding a Hunter Douglas Silhouette window shading or Luminette Privacy sheers, filter out as much as 87% of the harmful UV rays in the open vane position. Yes that means, you still have the view, but no UV.

Wow, we can save energy and protect our furnishings.


Call us and we will help!!!

New portfolio

our new portfolio is on

http://uncommondesigner.com/portfolionew.htm

New & old customer discount

For anyone responding to this blog we will offer 10% off on your first invoice.

New Prices

We were informed that Hunter Douglas will be raising their prices on May 2nd. So for all of our old customers and new ones, we need to get the wimdows in and priced the old way

Interor Designers Response to George Will

Dear Editor,
On behalf of the American Society of Interior Designers, representing more than 38,000 members, & ourselves who are professional licenseced designers, we were very disappointed to see that Mr. Will’s column ("Wallpapering With Red Tape") presented only one side of the issue and may mislead readers that all persons offering decorating and design services are equally qualified.

Professional interior designers are qualified by education, experience and examination to enhance the function, safety and quality of interior spaces. Every decision an interior designer makes impacts the health, safety and welfare of the public. In what is considered one of the worst hotel fires in modern U.S. history, 87 lives were lost and 785 people were injured in a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas because some interior finish and furnishing selections were not appropriate for commercial use. If furniture is placed in such a manner that it impedes egress during an emergency or exit pathways are not appropriately marked or laid out, people will die. Should a non-qualified, non-educated person select the materials for the interior of a hospital, nursing home, school or high-rise building?

Interior designers in the State of Florida are tested and licenseced by the Board of Architecture. We need to pass tests on building codes, we need to complete 20 hours of CEU training for each license renewal. The Board allows us to stamp drawings to pass on to architects. Do not belive that you would wish a decorator without any training, to seal your prints.

Interior designers must comply with building, life safety and accessibility codes in specifying interior finishes and configuring space plans and furniture layouts that are safe, functional and attractive for the public. Registration or licensure of interior designers is in the public’s interest, as it ensures that only qualified individuals design interior spaces or hold themselves out as qualified to do so.

As Mr. Will mentions, in such states where the interior design law merely protects the use of a title, such as in New Mexico and 18 other states, anyone can perform interior design services provided they do not refer to themselves by the title designated in that state. While six states and jurisdictions currently have interior design laws that both restrict the use of a title and the ability to practice interior design to those qualified, the American Society of Interior Designers advocates for such state registration and licensure laws for interior designers in all 50 states to ensure that the health, safety and welfare of the public is adequately protected.

VIVE magazine

We recently had a four page article published in the VIVE magazine [February/Match 2007 issue. This was for a new home that we designed and installed for a client from CT that had a vacation here in the Palm Beaches.

Thsi article is also being published and reffered to in other local press

George Wills Editorial on licensing interior designers.

There was an article written recently by Mr. George Will that lambasted the certified, licensed, professional interior designers. It appears that he was not sure what registration did.

He failed to note that designers know about ADA act, proper materials, and proper egress for many tyoes of buildings. Recent fires that killed many people in LAs Vegas, were caused by improper use of materials.

We should let Mr. Will know that there is a real need for licensure.