Larry Bowden and his wife Elba, who bought AAA Drapery 14 years ago, place a strong emphasis on personal service to customers in NorthPalm BeachCounty. They also complement each other nicely as they each provide all the requisite skills for their business: Elba has been a seamstress for 30 years, and Larry's in house workroom has all the tools needed to create turnkey, customized, window treatments. And he does every design consultation and installation himself. Larry recently took time to answer some questions about hot trends in window treatments and the damaging effects of excessive sunlight.

What should homeowners consider when determining what window treatment is right? How do you help them do that?

When we go to a house, we'll look at a window and listen to what a customer needs and what preferences he or she has. Homeowners buy window treatments for any of three options: privacy, sun control and decoration. So working with them, we'll consider their motivation, their preferences in fabric, color and styles, and the shape and size of the window and the room. Of course, budget is a consideration, too. There are some great values in window treatments that look beautiful. But with all the choices, it can be daunting task to decide. We help guide our customers through the hundreds of products and thousands of options to choose from. Most of the time, we can narrow the field down to 3-5 products that will address their décor, desires and lifestyles, and then go from there.

What is one of the hottest products with consumers right now?

Duettes® are a very popular line that we carry. The honeycomb shades come in sheer, semi-sheer, semi-opaque and opaque fabrics to give homeowners a choice in terms of light control. The honeycomb design is notable for greater energy efficiency and sound absorption, and they come in a radiant palette of colors.

What are the latest trends in window treatments?

Two emerging trends are motorized shades and retractable shades. Some homeowners face a challenge in trying to block out light coming from a very high or inaccessible window, for reasons of both temperature control and to protect valuable furnishings, such as Oriental rugs, which can fade. One simple solution is a battery-operated motorized shade controlled by a remote; other times, clients want a full electronically-controlled shade. Retractable shades, which can be installed inside or outside, are a great option for reducing sunlight in a home. You will save energy by keeping your home cooler.

Speaking of sunlight, energy, and protection, what are the different solutions available in window treatments?

We specify both the UV, or ultraviolet, ratings and R-values for many of our window treatment products. Just as ultraviolet rays can harm your skin, they can also damage furnishings, floors and fine art. Our fabrics and privacy sheers offer UV protection. A material's R-value is a measure of thermal conductivity - in other words, how well a product resists the flow of heat through itself. The higher the R-value, the higher the resistance to heat flow. In our climate, this is important to keeping cold in and heat out.

AAA Drapery, 561.746.9166, provides custom window treatments including shades, blinds, shutters, valances, draperies and more. AAA Drapery designs, builds and installs the window treatments that best suits customer's décor, desires and lifestyles. AAA Draperyis a member of www.ReferredHomeServices.com, a website of respected, experienced, dependable businesses who meet or exceed RHS's rigorous review process which requires proof of proper licensing, certifications, insurance and ten verified customer references. Referred Home Services 561-401-4004 www.ReferredHomeServices.com.