Category: lutron

Using Hunter Douglas Honeycomb shades for maximum energy efficiency.

Earth Day at Home: How Window Coverings Can Help You Save Energy Year-Round

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Light & Living by Pamela Brown, Budget Blinds Stillwater / Lake Elmo

🌎 Earth Day is a great reminder that small changes at home can make a big impact.

But what many homeowners don’t realize is this:
👉 Your windows are one of the biggest sources of energy loss in your home.

The good news?
The right window coverings can make a noticeable difference—both in comfort and energy use.

🏡 Why It Matters (Especially in Minnesota)

Living in Stillwater, Lake Elmo, and the surrounding St. Croix Valley, we experience it all:

  • Cold winters with heat loss through windows
  • Sunny summers that can overheat your home
  • Drafts and temperature swings near the glass

👉 Without proper window treatments, your HVAC system works overtime.

đź’ˇ How Window Coverings Help Save Energy

1. Insulation Where You Need It Most

Certain window treatments act as a barrier between your home and the outdoors.

âś” Cellular (honeycomb) shades trap air and reduce heat loss
âś” Layered treatments add another level of insulation
âś” Proper fit makes all the difference

👉 This helps keep warm air in during winter—and out during summer

2. Blocking Heat from the Sun

Sunlight is great… until it overheats your home.

âś” Solar shades reduce glare and UV rays
âś” Light-filtering options soften natural light
âś” Exterior shades can block heat before it even hits the glass

👉 Less heat inside = less strain on your cooling system

3. Smart Control with Motorization

Energy efficiency isn’t just about the product—it’s how you use it.

âś” Schedule shades to close during peak sun hours
âś” Open them to naturally warm your home in winter
âś” Control everything with the touch of a button

👉 It’s one of the simplest ways to improve efficiency without thinking about it daily

4. Layering for Maximum Performance

One of the most effective solutions we recommend:

âś” Shade for function
âś” Drapery for added insulation and style

👉 Together, they help regulate temperature while giving your home a finished, designer look

🛠 What We’re Seeing Locally

In homes across Stillwater and Lake Elmo, more homeowners are prioritizing:

  • Energy-efficient shades
  • Layered window treatments
  • Motorization for convenience and control

It’s not just about style anymore—
👉 It’s about comfort, efficiency, and long-term value

đź‘‹ A Local, Family-Owned Perspective

At Budget Blinds of Stillwater & Lake Elmo, we’re proud to be a family-owned and locally operated business.

That means we understand:

  • Our climate
  • Our homes
  • And what actually works here

We don’t believe in one-size-fits-all solutions—
👉 We help you find what works best for your space and your lifestyle

🌱 Final Thought

This Earth Day, creating a more energy-efficient home doesn’t have to mean a major renovation.

Sometimes, it starts with something as simple—and impactful—as your window coverings.

đź“ž Call us or Text

If you’ve been thinking about improving comfort and energy efficiency in your home, we’re here to help.

We offer free in-home consultations throughout Stillwater, Lake Elmo, and nearby communities—so you can see what works best in your space.

Office: 651.351.7620

Web: http://www.budgetblinds.com/stillwater

The Brain Power Behind Your Smart Home

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Smart Home technology makes everyday life easier. I make it all so easy and affordable because I partner with Lutron, the gold standard in quiet and precise automated shades. At home or away, they’ll open and close automatically for ease, energy savings, and extra security.

 

 

Lutron integrates beautifully — control shades, Lutron lighting, and more from anywhere with your smartphone! As always, our smart shades come with beautiful style and expert service — we design, measure, install and do it all for you. It’s so easy, and so very, very smart.

visit my website for more info! www.budgetblinds.com/stillwater

-Pamela Brown

TRANSFORM YOUR HOME IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS

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If you need to upgrade your window treatments in time for the holidays, this is the week to start the process! It may seem a little early for holiday preparation. However, the fall and winter seasons are especially busy times for me and other companies in the industry, so to ensure your installation before the family arrives, call me today!

The holidays can be stressful as is. Nothing is worse than having people over to your home when you are less than proud of it. Whether it is the main gathering areas like the kitchen and living room, or your entire home, upgrading your window treatments is an excellent way to take your home décor up a notch! Not only can it improve the aesthetic appeal of your home, but we are partnered with Lutron and can connect your home to your smartphone! Wow guests with your tech-savvy and stylish home!

Don’t try to take on this project yourself. It can turn costly, quickly without the guidance of a professional. It is my goal to help you design a space that you will be elated to show off! I will walk you through each step and help take the stress out of what should be the most wonderful time of the year!

Beginning as soon as possible ensures you will be able to work with me, a credible, skilled and experienced decorator. It also reduces the chances of you having to rush through the project last minute, which can often lead to unnecessary costs. By tackling the home improvement project now, you will get it out of the way and make your life that much easier come the holiday season. Plus, you’ll find comfort in knowing you have carved out enough time to ensure every detail of the project will be up to your standards, and you won’t have to cut corners or glaze over the details.

To schedule your free consultation or to request a design guide, reach out at pbrown@budgetblinds.com or visit my web page budgetblinds.com/Stillwater

Budget Blinds and Lutron Electronics Join Forces to Simplify the Transition to a Smart Home

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Budget Blinds of Stillwater, MN is announcing its newfound relationship with lighting control pioneer Lutron Electronics, making smart home automation affordable and accessible to more homeowners. Home automation exclusivity to luxury homes is now a thing of the past. Lutron, in accompaniment with Budget Blinds, offers simple home automation solutions allowing homeowners to control and schedule window coverings, lighting and temperature with the touch of a button.

The Lutron line of automated window coverings offered by Budget Blinds can be controlled with a remote or wall control, through The Lutron App on a smart device, or with voice commands using Siri® on an Apple® iPhone®. Window coverings can be set to raise and lower according to daylight hours in a selected time zone, enabling morning sunlight to enter homes in an automatic fashion.

The relationship between Budget Blinds and Lutron provides homeowners with a wide variety of stylish window coverings ranging from drapery tracks to shades that offer the ease and simplicity of automation, while coordinating with furnishings and décor.

Budget Blinds’ Style Consultants, like myself are also certified Smart Home Consultants, offering custom installation and free in-home consultations so customers can see – and feel – fabrics, blind, and shade samples. Adjusting a thermostat, turning lights on and off and raising or lowering window shades is now easier than ever with automatic activation or the ability to control remotely while homeowners are out or on vacation. Coverings can now be installed with automation at an affordable price, offering added peace of mind and enhancing home comfort.

Creating a perfect smart home is now accessible to all Budget Blinds customers at an affordable price. To schedule your free Budget Blinds Style and Smart Home consult with me, visit our website!

Pamela Brown