Daily Informative Updates on
New Residential Real Estate & Construction News
for Vancouver Island Communities
Oct 12, 2024
Automated Window Coverings Bring Security, Energy Efficiency and Enhanced Priavcy to Your Home
Could your home or business benefit from automated window coverings? Consider the energy efficiency, privacy, and security needs that automation can offer. Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island offers a variety of automation options with Lutron smart shades, blinds and more.
Smart shades, lights, and thermostats from Lutron all integrate easily with your choice of smart home devices that that include Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Google Nest, Sonos and more.
You’ll be able to monitor and control your smart blinds, lights, and home temperature from any mobile device by using the Lutron app. Use the app to create lighting schedules that change with the seasons, and provide added security when you're away.
With Lutron, your home or business shades and blinds can be programmed to automatically open and close for both peace of mind and energy savings. You can set your blinds to automatically tilt throughout the day to diffuse sunlight or maximize the privacy in your space. And best of all, they install quickly and easily, with no new wiring required.
Start your home automation with just a single window or room - Lutron automated shading systems are modular and can be easily expanded.
And Budget Blinds will measure, install and do it all for you. It’s smart and easy. Ask about Lutron smart home automation today!
Contact your local store today to learn more:
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Sep 07, 2024
Cut Out The Cold This Winter By Planning Your Window Coverings Now
Cooler weather will be here before we know it. Now is the time to prep your home to reduce those winter heating bills.
As much as 50% of a home's heating (and cooling) energy can be lost through windows. Energy efficient window treatments can make a significant difference to help conserve energy, and cut down on the chill and those bills!
Look to Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island for a number of great solutions that will look great, and save you money year-round.
Modern, energy saving window covering options include:
- Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, combine the soft look and energy efficiency of window shades with the functionality of horizontal blinds.
- Layering your curtains or drapery with light filtering or room darkening liners to control light gaps and improve insulation retention.
- Floor-to-ceiling drapes that fold back against the wall. This allows the drapes to seal off the window, preventing drafts and loss of heat through convection.
- Traditional wood shutters use an insulating design that helps make indoor spaces cooler in summer and warmer in winter, keeping your room at an ideal temperature.
- Window film deflects up to 99% of damaging UV rays, reducing heat gain and protecting your furniture against harmful UV damage.
Learn more about all of the options at your local Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island:
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249
Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Jan 06, 2024
New Year, New Look for Your Home!
There are lots of ways to refresh your home, but an easy way to improve so many areas is new window coverings. Blinds, shades or curtains will update the look of your home, and also aid in temperature control, lighting, privacy and security.
Budget Blinds on Vancouver island offers a multitude of options to suit your style and budget. For unusually shaped windows, or for specific needs, they are your window covering specialists. Even if you don’t need to update the coverings themselves, maybe it's time to add automation, to let light in when you want it, and keep it out when you don’t. Enhance your home security by automatically opening and closing your blinds or curtains, even when you’re not home.
Locally owned and operated, Budget Blinds has several Vancouver Island locations to serve you, from the Cowichan Valley to Campbell River, and all places in between. Call your local store today to schedule a complimentary in home consultation. Trust the experts to measure and install it right the first time!
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Apr 10, 2023
Why The Direction Your Windows Face Matters
Our Vancouver Island weather varies dramatically from season to season, and depending on the direction your rooms face, that variability can be even more impactful. Your home’s direction impacts how and when the sun hits each room and this can mean big changes in heat and light, depending on the season and direction each room faces.
South-facing windows
If your home faces South, it may have higher energy bills in the summer. Direct sunlight from the south causes heat to build up, forcing the AC to work harder. However, it may also be warmer in the winter for the same reason.
Southern exposure makes a room cozy in the winter. The addition of shades to the window allows the option to raise the shades and enjoy the sun's warmth during those chilly winter months. However, it can also make summer too hot or bright without the right window treatments. That’s why it’s essential to work with a professional window treatment designer to determine which product will work best for a southern-facing window.
North-facing windows
Windows that face north receive natural light all day but don’t receive direct sunlight. Interior shutters are a great way to take advantage of the indirect sunlight from north-facing windows. Their louvers can let in as much or as little light as you like while the cordless design looks clean and uncluttered in kitchens, bathrooms, and home offices.
Alternatively, sheer curtains add gentle textures and patterns to your interior decor without restricting sunlight. In daylight, pulling sheer drapes across the window allows the indirect sunlight to shine through and highlight the design. Adjust the blinds or shade behind the drapes to add privacy or control the light.
East-facing windows
An east-facing window will catch the early sun, which can appear bright and glaring in the morning, and diffused and delicate later in the day. Dark colors will seem gloomy, but light colors and sheer materials bring out the softness of the sunlight.
Morning sunlight is welcome in a kitchen or living room, but it can be an annoyance in a bedroom. The best way to deal with morning light is to customize your window treatments to get exactly the amount of light you want.
West-facing windows
On summer afternoons, west-facing windows can cause heat to build up. To keep the room comfortable, make sure to keep them covered. Like with south-facing windows, you don't want to lose all the natural light you get from west-facing windows, but you also need to deal with glare and heat. Blinds are a great choice because you can change their angle as the sun moves, diffusing light without blocking it out.
Energy efficiency
Most energy-efficient window treatments use layers of fabric to improve insulation and control light in the room, keeping it cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Whether you like shades, drapes, blinds, or shutters, there are many energy-efficient window treatment choices.
To prevent UV rays from damaging your furniture and decor, consider solar shades or try UV-resistant window film if you prefer a clear view but don’t want to risk damage to your decor.
Motorization
Motorized window treatments will help you avoid continually moving the position of your blinds. With various sensors and timers available, they can be programmed to change on their own based on the sun’s position to give you the perfect lighting without lifting a finger.
Regardless of your home's direction, Budget Blinds can help you find window treatments that make sense for your home.
Request a free in-home or virtual consultation from your local Budget Blinds design experts to get started.
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249
Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Sep 28, 2022
Get Ready For Winter with Budget Blinds
Cooler weather will be here before we know it. Now is the time to prep your home to avoid sky-high heating bills this winter.
As much as 50% of a home's heating (and cooling) energy can be lost through windows. Energy efficient window treatments can make a signifant difference to help conserve energy.
Look to Budget Blinds for a number of great solutions that will look great, and save you money year-round.
Modern options include:
- Cellular shades, also known as honeycomb shades, combine the soft look and energy efficiency of window shades with the functionality of horizontal blinds.
- Layering your curtains or drapery with light filtering or room darkening liners to control light gaps and improve insulation retention.
- Traditional wood shutters use an insulating design that helps make indoor spaces cooler in summer and warmer in winter, keeping your room at an ideal temperature.
- Window film deflects up to 99% of damaging UV rays, reducing heat gain and protecting your furniture against harmful UV damage.
- Floor-to-ceiling drapes that fold back against the wall. This allows the drapes to seal off the window, preventing drafts and loss of heat through convection.
Learn more about all of the options at your local Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island:
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249
Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Mar 18, 2022
Put Safety First With Cordless Options From Budget Blinds
When it comes to making the safest choice in window coverings for any home with children or pets, why take chances? Fortunately, with Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island, you don’t have to.
From cordless child-safe blinds and cordless shades with retractable lifts, to motorized options, Budget Blinds has an array of safe window coverings to minimize the risk of accidents or injury. The Budget Blinds pledge to help keep your children and pets safe with state-of-the-art, safety-first window coverings begins early in the product design phase and continues throughout the entire manufacturing process. The result of this safety-first approach to window coverings means you can have peace of mind knowing your children and pets are in a safer environment.
With new Health Canada regulation coming into effect to protect children from window coverings cords, Budget Blinds is also enacting some changes to their product lines.
Starting in April 2022, Budget Blinds will only be selling cordless, child-safe or motorized window coverings. Products like Top Down Bottom Up Cellular Shades will be discontinued as they have exposed cords.
Over the last three decades, Health Canada has worked to reduce the risks posed by corded window coverings.
To help eliminate this hazard, Health Canada has published the new Corded Window Coverings Regulations to restrict the length of cords and the size of loops allowed on window coverings sold in Canada, to avoid the possibility of their getting wrapped around a child's neck. The new regulations go further to protect children from this hazard than those of any other country. The requirements for window coverings will apply to all products sold in Canada, both custom-made and off-the-shelf.
If you’re looking for safe options for children's rooms or playrooms, Budget Blinds has a huge selection of shutters, window film and motorization options that allevaiet concerns over safety, as well as address the need for night filtration and privacy.
Contact your local store today to learn more:
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249
Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Dec 05, 2021
Budget Blinds - Local Business Supporting Local Charities
One of the many great reasons to support local businesses is they also support your community! This month, a percentage of all sales at Budget Blinds will be donated to a number of Vancouver Island charities (and there’s a bonus in it for you too - see below).
In 2021, your locally owned and operated Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island stores are supporting:
- Campbell River Habitat for Humanity
- YANA
- Nanaimo Ladysmith School Foundation
- Ladysmith Resource Center
- Catnap Society
- Vancouver Island Crisis Society
Budget Blinds is donating 5% of all sales this month to these charities.
And in December they’re also giving back to you with 30% off all orders this month! Regardless of your budget or style, Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island has the window covering solutions for your home. Whether it's a single room or a full house, basic blinds or home automation, your local store is ready to help. With free in-home or virtual consultations with their designers, you’ll be sure to find the perfect match for your windows.
Contact your local store today:
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249
Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Nov 13, 2021
Call Budget Blinds' Designers for a Free Consultation Today
Designing any new element of your home can be overwhelming - and frustrating if you don’t have a designer’s eye, or a handyman at home!
If you’re looking to update your window treatments or technology, talk to the experts at Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island. With in-house design consultants and professional installation your home updates can be beautiful, stress free and completed on budget.
Paula Pilcher is one of Budget Blinds’ style consultants. Her complimentary services can be in-home or virtual. Paula has several years of experience in the arts, and in design. She has worked for many years in the window coverings industry, and brings a passion for assisting her clients in finding the perfect products.
And always remember - no project is too big or too small for Budget Blinds’ consultants, and the consultations are always free. Whether you’re updating a whole house or a single room, Paula and the other consultants are ready to help.
Budget Blinds offers products for every budget - from high-end designer window coverings to budget friendly options for every room in your home.
Contact your local - and locally owned - Budget Blind today!
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Oct 27, 2021
Add Automation to Your Window Coverings With Budget Blinds
While you’ve probably added a smart speaker, maybe a programmable thermostat or a monitoring doorbell to your home, have you considered automating your window coverings? Blinds and shades can be automated to enhance the comfort and security of your home!
Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island is a leader in automation for window coverings as well as other home technology.
The Smart Home Collection by Budget Blinds includes brands like Somfy®, SONOS, and other top tech brands to offer homeowners a full offering of state-of-the-art, intuitive solutions for today’s home. You can control your window coverings, lighting, climate, home security and entertainment systems, with the push of a button from your smart device, handheld remote control, or keypad.
But no need to buy everything new! Budget Blinds can work with your existing window coverings to retrofit them with any of this new technology. Motorized retrofit solutions will offer significant savings over an all-new motorized system, and allow you to program window coverings on timers to open and close at specific times during the day to help save on energy costs. You can even select from several control options - from wireless wall switches to hand-held remotes.
Automated window treatments allow you to control and schedule the positioning of your window coverings for enhanced, on-demand privacy, and since they are cordless, they provide a safer environment for children and pets. Motorized window treatments also include unique sensors that allow you to increase energy efficiency by automatically adjusting your window coverings with rising temperatures.
Contact Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island today to learn how you can simplify and automate your home:
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Sep 29, 2021
Meet Budget Blinds Style Consultant Chloe Traviss
Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island is proud to offer complimentary design consultations to help you sort through all of your window covering options.
Budget Blinds’ design professionals will help you find the exact right fit for your windows! In Campbell River, customers can meet with Chloe Traviss.
Chloe is a style consultant at Budget Blinds with many years of interior design experience. She started her design career with a sub-specialty in kitchens and home staging. Chloe has experience working on both new construction as well as renovations of all sizes.
Chloe lives in Campbell River with her husband, daughter, and their new puppy. In her free time you can find Chloe at the ocean or exploring the beautiful outdoors Vancouver Island has to offer.
Chloe is looking forward to building relationships with our new and past clients while bringing beautiful window coverings to the many homes of Campbell River. For all of your window covering needs, set up a free in-home consultation with Chloe and explore all of your options - from draperies, to shades, shutters, window film, home automation and more. Chloe will professionally measure your windows and leave you with a free quote, all from the comfort of your own home.
Additional Covid Safety measures are in place, and virtual consultations are also available.
Contact Chloe and the Campbell River team via the North Island location:
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Aug 15, 2021
Black Out The Light for a Better Sleep With Budget Blinds
As the kids get ready to head back to school, getting them back on a regular sleep schedule can be a challenge. But, Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island is here to help!
Black out shades or curtains can help get kids to bed on time, in a properly darkened room. Especially through the late summer, while we still have longer days and it can be difficult to settle into a regular sleep routine, something as easy as changing out the window coverings can make all the difference.
Your local Budget Blinds store can provide a live or virtual in-home design consultation, and can offer professional measuring and installation services, which means one less thing for you to prep for back to school.
As seasons change, it’s a great time to review your window coverings needs. For light control, for security and for temperature regulation, your window coverings are more than just pretty to look at. Having the right window coverings in each space can make your home more comfortable year round.
Contact your local Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island store today, to get set up for success to start the school year!
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Aug 06, 2021
Scratch and Save With Budget Blinds This August
Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island is holding its annual scratch and save sale, on all month! You can earn 25-40% off your new order, and there are numerous bonus prizes available as well, including 50% off motorization, save the GST and more. The sale applies to new orders only and goes until August 31.
Budget Blinds locations on Vancouver Island are all locally owned and operated, and they are well known for their great service, selections and savings.
Enjoy a complimentary in-home consultation with one of their designers to ensure you’re getting the right fit for your home, and a budget that suits your family’s needs. With options at all price points, and the great savings from the scratch and save sale, now is the time to invest in new window coverings.
Refresh and renew
New blinds, shades or curtains are a great way to update not only the look of your home, but also the functionality. The right window coverings can help control light and temperature year round, as well as provide added security for your home.
Contact Budget Blinds today to find out more about their services and their scratch and save sale.
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Apr 18, 2021
Meet Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island's Designer
Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island is locally owned and operated, and offers the same great service from several locations across the Island. One of the great services Budget Blinds offers, that you’ll never find at a big box store, is their complimentary design consultations.
Budget Blinds customers enjoy the opportunity to meet with Rebeccah Stefina of their design team. As a designer and sales manager for the Ladysmith location, Stefina works with clients in all of the communities Budget Blinds serves on Vancouver Island.
She has more than six years of experience in design and working with builders, contractors and interior designers on their projects of all sizes.
Her education in design, portfolio of clients and eye for detail will have you feeling confident in your project from start to finish.
"I love what I do,” Stefina says. “I like to turn my clients wants, needs and dreams into their reality. From single family projects to multi-home construction, I'm your local contact for the best residential and commercial window coverings in Canada."
If you’re ready to update your window decor for summer, or need to consider home automation, call your local Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island. Their complimentary consultations can be done in your home, following Covid safety protocols, or set up a virtual visit.
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249
Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Contact Rebeccah directly at rstefina@budgetblinds.com or 250-924-2150
Mar 07, 2021
Budget Blinds Biggest Sale of the Year is on Now
Budget Blinds is ushering in spring on Vancouver Island with their biggest sale of the year. This March enjoy 50% off your order (some exclusion apply).
Now is the time to update your home with new window coverings. The sale includes blinds, shutters, curtains and more, so no matter your needs or style, Budget Blinds has savings for you.
And as always, Budget Blinds design experts are available for free in-home or virtual consultations to make sure you’re getting the right products for your home. They’ll make suggestions that match your budget and your space. And with professional measuring, you know your new window coverings will fit right the first time. Choose Budget Blinds professional installation and you can simply sit back and enjoy your new look.
Budget Blinds offers exclusive brands at a variety of price points, so no matter how luxurious or budget-conscious your project is, they have the products that will work for you.
Budget Blinds is locally owned and operated on Vancouver Island. Call them today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Jan 06, 2021
Get a New Look For the New Year, With Help from Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island
What did you settle on for your New Year’s resolutions for 2021? Is it finally time to update your home to usher in a new year? If it’s time to ditch the outdated curtain, tattered blinds, or inoperable shades, it’s time to call Budget Blinds!
Often we procrastinate on making changes because we don’t know where to start. Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island’s in-house team of designers is ready to tackle any challenge, and help you find the right style, colour and price point, no matter what your window coverings needs are.
Whether you’re ready for a new designer look and elegant curtains for a formal living room, or child safe blinds or shades for a nursery window, Budget Blinds’ designers have options for you. Their designers can come to you for a complimentary in-house consultation, or if you prefer, connect on-line for a virtual consultation.
With professional design and installation services, your local and locally-owned Budget Blinds can help you usher in the new year with a new look for your home! Call them today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Jun 26, 2020
Keep Cool This Summer With Help From Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island
Summer is heating up on Vancouver Island and if you’re staying close to home you may have found your indoor spaces getting a little too warm and bright.
Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island is open, with Covid-19 safety protocols in place, and ready to help you find cool comfort with the help of new window coverings.
Whether your new home office needs new shades, or the nursery is too bright at nap time, Budget Blinds has the solution for your unique needs that will match your decor and your budget.
With 3 locations on Vancouver Island Budget Blinds is close wherever you are. Their interior designers can come to you or work with you remotely to select window coverings for any room in your home. They’ll provide professional installation and the entire process is quick and easy!
Enjoy cooler indoor temperatures, protect your furniture and artwork from UV rays and add a stylish touch to your home with the help of Budget Blinds on Vancouver Island.
Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
May 20, 2020
Budget Blinds Is Ready to Help You Update Your Home
If you’ve been spending extra time at home over the past few months, you’ve probably noticed a few areas that could use updating, or might be wondering about ways to make your home more energy efficient. Maybe your work from home space is getting a little too warm on these sunny spring days.
Budget Blinds is open and ready to help with all of these concerns. Their designers can suggest fresh new updates for your window coverings, provide shades that help regulate the temperature in your house year-round, and even automate them for you, so you can stay focused on other tasks.
Budget Blinds has implemented a variety of measures to keep you and their staff safe, including options for virtual consultations, wearing masks and gloves as required, additional cleaning and sanitizing routines, practicing social distancing during all appointments and paperless consultations to avoid passing paperwork back and forth.
While some of the day-to-day business activities have changed because of Covid-19 protocols, Budget Blinds is still offering the same friendly professional service and great prices they always have. You can still order from Budget Blinds and also choose to have their in-home consultations and professional installation done with your and the employees safety in mind.
Budget Blinds is locally owned and operated on Vancouver Island. Your support of local small businesses makes a difference to their employees throughout Vancouver Island.
Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:
Cowichan Valley
Call: 250.924.0249
Nanaimo-Oceanside
Call 250.751.8564
North Island - Courtenay
250.338.8564
Mar 25, 2020
Budget Blinds Has the Home Automation Options and Window Coverings You're Looking For
Have you been finding time for spring cleaning, and finding some things around the house in need of an update? This is a great time of year to refresh your home and Budget Blinds of Vancouver Island is ready to help with more than just blinds.
Budget Blinds has styles for every budget and the largest selection of window coverings in North America, including a new partnership with Hunter Douglas. You’ll find window coverings for every room of your home, in any style, colour or price point you need!
Backed by the best warranty in the industry, Budget Blinds has the solution for your window covering needs.
Their many Vancouver Island locations also offer a wide variety of home automation options from Lutron sure to spark the interest of the techie in your home. Not a techie? Not to worry, their staff can guide you through the options to give your home a modern update and make day to day life at home even easier.
Contact one of the Budget Blinds locations in the Comox Valley, Nanaimo or the Cowichan Valley to see how they can help. Click here to view their product selection online.
Call Budget Blinds today at any one of their three Vancouver Island locations:
Call: 250.924.0249
Call 250.751.8564
250.338.8564
Nov 14, 2019
Stay Warm This Winter With New Window Coverings From Budget Blinds - On Sale Now!
As temperatures drop, have you considered how your window treatments affect the energy efficiency of your home? The right window coverings can save you money on your heating bills this winter, and Budget Blinds of the North Island has all of the options your home needs.
Research shows that as much as 50 per cent of a home's heating energy can be lost through its windows. So rather than cranking up your heat (and your bills), let Budget Blinds help with a versatile selection of blinds, shades, shutters, and window film that are both practical and energy efficient, while also stylish.
Many experts agree that an average house with 15 windows, properly equipped with energy efficient window coverings, can achieve an annual energy savings of approximately $150.
With Budget Blinds of the North Island now offering a $350 rebate for every $1,000 spent on custom window coverings, now is the time to ensure your home both looks great and is cozy over the chilly winter months.
Contact them today to set up an in-home consultation with a design expert: Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island or visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. From that showroom consultants serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island.
Call 250.338.8564 or request a free in-home consultation online.
Aug 23, 2019
Read the Reviews - Budget Blinds of the North Island Comes Out on Top
Budget Blinds of the North Island has an outstanding reputation for providing quality products at great prices, along with excellent customer service.
Online reviews from customers rave about their friendly and knowledgeable staff, prompt service and their surprisingly low prices. Take a look at some of these five-star Google reviews:
“We have dealt with the team at Budget Blinds several times, both for our business, and our home. The level of service we have received from the team is unparalleled in the industry. The products that Budget Blinds offers are top quality and the pricing is extremely competitive.”
“5 star rating. Excellent service from order to install. Very friendly and helpful. Very quick on our second order once we moved on - greatly appreciate it!”
“5 stars - Sales, explanations, suggestions, installation were all excellent.”
“Budget Blinds came out on top. Very knowledgeable. Very professional and friendly, understanding as well, totally recommended.”
If it’s time to update your window coverings, give the team at Budget Blinds of the North Island a call. A free in-home consultation with their designers will ensure that you get the right product for your needs.
Contact Budget Blinds of the North Island or visit their showroom at 8 - 2663 Kilpatrick Avenue in Courtenay. From that showroom consultants serve the Comox Valley, Campbell River and the North Island.
Call 250.338.8564
Or request a free in-home consultation online.