Atlantic Sun Control, Fairfax, Ashburn, Manassas, and Bethesda; sunlightcontrol.com. This window-tinting company installs transparent film by Vista and other brands. The film eliminates distracting glare and ultraviolet light. For an average-size window, film and installation cost $75 to $100.
Blinds to Go, locations in Maryland and Virginia; 800-BLINDS-7; blindstogo.com. Horizontal and vertical blinds as well as blackout, Roman, and pleated cellular shades. The Serenity shade, with light-filtering panels, comes in 12 colors. Roller shades are available in a vinyl that reduces glare.
Calico Corners, nine area locations; calicocorners.com. At this custom decorating store, you pick a fabric and style, and the staff creates the rest–everything from drapes and shades to swags and cornices. Roman and cornices are popular for home offices. The Web site includes a guide to measuring windows. For $75, an associate provides an in-home consultation.
Country Curtains, 4805 N. First St., Arlington; 703-522-7111; countrycurtains.com. Ready-made curtains, shades, and accessories are available through this store and catalog. Their microsuede curtains and shades are popular for home offices, as are solid-colored drapes with decorative rods. Tie a room together with matching accessories like lamps, rugs, and mirrors.
The Curtain Exchange, 8305 Wisconsin Ave., Bethesda, 301-657-5574; 11942 Grand Commons Ave., Fairfax, 703-266-5658; thecurtainexchange.com. Customers can take curtains home and try them out for 48 hours before buying. The store does alterations and made-to-order curtains–everything is the Curtain Exchange brand. For home offices, patterned draperies are popular with women; men like silks and chenilles in solid colors.
Lutron, lutron.com. Lutron makes manual rollers as well as technologically advanced window treatments controlled by keypads and remotes. The system works with most draperies and Roman or roller shades. Lutron offers 300 fabrics for shades, but customers use their own draperies. Visit the Web site to find out which area stores carry Lutron.
Next Day Blinds, locations in DC, Maryland, and Virginia; nextdayblinds.com. Designers like the low prices and wide variety. Next Day carries Hunter Douglas, including its Silhouette line, as well as the store's own wood blinds, plantation shutters, and honeycomb shades. Free in-home consultations.
Smith & Noble, 800-560-0027; smithandnoble.com. The large selection of window treatments includes bamboo, fabric, honeycomb, and solar shades, plus wood blinds and valances. Accessories such as rods, tiebacks, and rings are also available. Customers do their own measuring.
