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Make the Most of Your Views

April 29, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

You just bought or rented the most beautiful space, with 360-degree views, but how do you make the most of those views? We’ll give you three guesses (but we’re going to tell you anyway, so don’t worry)! Here’s a clue, though: if you cover your beautiful new windows with thick curtains, why even live in a place with windows?

See what others have done

Before you commit to anything, why not take a look at some of the most beautiful views you’ve ever seen? The inspiration may prompt you to change your window design. Elle Decoration UK has 10 homes with beautiful views you might like: 10 homes around the world that make the most of a view. Scroll down to the one designed by John Lautner, a pupil of Frank Lloyd Wright, to see a favorite.

Weigh the options

Of course you could do curtains, but what other options do you have? Drapes get dusty and need cleaning. Shades also can collect dust. Blinds can be a natural part of your decor, if you choose the right textures and colors. If you do have shades or drapes, make them simple so they don’t obstruct the view too much. Also, you might want to place your furniture so you can look out your windows. Sounds obvious, but a lot of people don’t do this. You might like this article from Better Homes & Gardens about how to hang curtains correctly the first time.

Add more windows

If your home or office is old-fashioned with only a few windows, you might consider adding more windows. That way you could really take advantage of your views. Consider when during the day you would be looking out your windows. Here’s a good article from Martha Stewart about Maximizing your natural light. Also, make sure you spend time in the parts of the house with the best natural light.

Design your layout to maximize the views

Have you ever been to someone’s house who would have beautiful views, but they’ve stuck a big bookshelf right in front of the window? Don’t do that! When you move in, think about where you place your furniture (or bathtub!) so that you can see out each window. You might take your own views for granted, but your guests will definitely love to see your views.

Use window film

Of course you knew we’d say this, right? Window film doesn’t block your view, and also keeps your space uncluttered. In fact, we’ve written about how to tackle clutter with window film. Check it out: How Window Film Keeps You Clutter-Free: Five Ways.

Ready to make the most of your views?

Give us a call and we can help you make the right choice. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Why Use Window Film for Security?

April 16, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Are you feeling a little more jumpy these days and are you considering window film for security purposes? A lot of people are feeling a bit more on edge, so using window film for security is a good idea. Window film can protect your home, your business, and your employees, too. Here are some examples of how you can use window film for security.

Shatter resistance

You can apply window film to make your windows more shatter resistant. You might be in a slightly dangerous area, whether from cars careening into nearby buildings from a busy intersection or break-ins happening in the neighborhood. Sometimes your building could be in the path of a bird migration, and there are films to protect your glass (and the birds!) from that, too. You might like our article Can Technology Save Billions of Birds with Window Film? Earth Day is right around the corner, and of course we always want to protect birds.

Blast mitigation

If you’re in a high-risk area (think government buildings, embassies, and other critical infrastructure), you definitely want to consider the risk of bomb blasts. Window film can hold shattered glass in place and reduce flying shards. This can also be useful for restaurants and shops. If your neighborhood is prone to earthquakes or high winds, window film can also protect you from glass shards shattering and hurting people. With climate change, there have been more high wind events, with some high rises experiences windows breaking.

Forced entry protection

Window film can be applied to make it more difficult for intruders to break through glass, providing an additional layer of security. Intruders and burglars often try to find the easiest point of entry, so why not make it a little more difficult to enter your building? Besides, window film is more cost-effective than other security measures, and it’s invisible, so it doesn’t hurt your aesthetic.

Protection against graffiti

Window film can be applied to protect glass surfaces from graffiti, which can be a costly and time-consuming problem to address. You can also use window film on metal surfaces, such as elevator panels or bathroom mirrors. It’s easier to replace a film than to replace an entire panel of glass or metal.

Privacy

You can obscure views of sensitive areas, such as security control rooms or data centers, or to provide privacy in areas such as locker rooms or restrooms. And in your home, you can use window film to keep your nosy neighbors from peering in. Here’s an article we wrote that includes some privacy tips: How to Make the Most of Your Windows.

UV protection

Window film can be applied to protect people and equipment from harmful UV rays, especially in areas where large amounts of glass are used, like government buildings, courthouses, and so on. We have written about how window film provides UV protection, and can even protect you against skin cancer! The Skin Cancer Foundation says it best: UV Window Film & Tint.

In summary

Overall, window film can be an effective and cost-efficient solution for addressing a wide range of security needs. It can provide an added layer of protection for buildings and people, and helps to deter intruders and other potential threats.

Have questions?

Call us for ideas on the best window film for your security needs. We can steer you to the right choice, and keep you and your clients or friends safe. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Spring Cleaning Tips You’ll Really Love

March 28, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

When you think of spring cleaning tips, do you typically think of bleach and ammonia? Please don’t mix them together, though, as that is a recipe for disaster! You probably already knew that, though. However, stick around for some ideas that you’ll not just love, but actually use. Really.

Vinegar has many uses

Why is vinegar so good for so many things? And we’re not just talking about salad dressing, either! Here are a couple:

One tip we use all the time is to mix equal parts vinegar and water in a plastic bag and then rubber band that mixture around your shower head. Leave it for a few hours and you’ll have a sparkling clean shower head.
Another idea is to mix 1/2 cup vinegar with four cups warm water for an all-around cleaning solution.

The three-minute rule

Could you spare three minutes to get your house cleaner? Of course you could! Set the timer on your phone to three minutes and get cracking! Of course you could do five, ten, or fifteen minutes as well. Just do as much as you can in those few minutes. And then give yourself permission to stop.

If you’re more the three-hour or all-day cleaning type, you might like Martha Stewart’s How to Deep Clean Your Home in One Day.

Don’t buy organizers before cleaning

While this is a what not to do tip, it still applies. Most of us love to buy pretty organizers and then force our stuff into those organizers, which is backwards of course. Clean everything, purge what you must, and then get the organizers when you know where everything goes and everything is sparkling clean. You might like our recent post Ten Ways to Get Organized Right Now.

Dust from top to bottom

Once you’ve heard this idea, you can’t unhear it! Dust falls from the top of your rooms to the bottom because gravity. So get your stepladder out and start up high. Work your way down with that dust rag. And mop the floors after dusting.

Clean windows

If your windows have film installed, avoid harsh chemicals such as ammonia and don’t use paper towels as they can scratch the film. Use a mild soapy solution and a soft, lint-free cloth is best.

Advanced cleaning

If you’re adventurous, you could try to clean the oven! There are loads of commercially available oven cleaners on the market. You could also read this recent article: Things People Forget to Clean the Most. (We almost forgot the range hood filters.)

After spring cleaning

What do you do after your place is sparkling clean? Install window film, of course! You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can help you choose, and keep you and your friends cooler in the spring and into the summer. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Surprising Window Feature Reduces Your Power Bill by Hundreds

March 15, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Maybe you’ve been reading and rereading our blog posts whenever you get the chance. Or maybe not. In any case, if you’d like to reduce your power bill, you know what to do! Keep reading, that is. We’ve written about reducing your energy bill before. You might like: How Window Film Helps Save Energy Five Ways.

Get an energy audit

Want to know where your energy is going? Maybe your power company offers a free audit! Our local power company, PG&E, offers a free home energy checkup that you can do yourself. And it only takes five minutes! There may be some easy changes you can make to reduce your energy bill. You could also get an energy assessment from the Department of Energy.

Check your windows and seal the cracks

If you live in an older home, there are likely to be drafts coming from around the windows. Even newer homes can suffer from cracks and drafts. Inspect your windows (or hire someone to do it for you), and seal those cracks. There are probably hundreds of YouTube videos showing you how to do this, and it doesn’t have to cost a fortune. It’s an inexpensive way to save on your energy bill.

Be the first

Do you value being a leader? Energy costs are going up and up, while many people’s incomes are spiraling downwards. We don’t mean you! But you still want to be a leader and save costs on your power bills, right? So why not be the first on your block or in your neighborhood to have window film installed. (You knew window film would eventually come up, didn’t you?)

Double the efficiency

When you install window film on your single-pane glass, that pane becomes like a double-pane window. And if you install it on your double-pane window, guess what? It becomes like a triple-pane window, thus insulating you from the cold and the heat and also helping to lower your energy bills. You also might have to change the clothes you wear since window film makes the temperatures inside your home or office more even.

Immediate savings

You could get solar panels to help lower your energy costs (and we encourage going solar), however with window film you’ll get immediate savings! No sense waiting for years or decades to break even on your solar installation. Come to think of it, you could do both!

Ready to reduce your power bill?

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can steer you into the right choice, and keep you and your friends cooler in the summer. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Stay Cool and Protected: The Climate Benefits of Window Film

February 28, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

By now, everyone has heard about climate change, and probably experienced it personally. Summers are hotter, glaciers are melting, and we’re all feeling more than a little uncomfortable with what’s happening climate-wise, aren’t we? So if you work inside a building, live inside another building, and visit friends in buildings, is there anything you can do? Yes there is! And we’re so glad you asked.

Sunglasses for your home

Having window film on your windows is like having sunglasses on your home! By that we mean that it filters out the UV rays that can damage your skin, your eyes, and your personal belongings. UV rays can cause skin cancer, too, which is why it’s so highly recommended by the Skin Cancer Foundation. Just like when you put window film on your vehicle, window film on your home can give you a more zen experience! For those of you with sensory overload, you know what we mean. With the sun getting stronger and more intense with every passing summer, you can get the climate benefits of window film now and into the future.

Keeps temperatures more even

When your A/C and thermostats stay on an even keel, you use less energy. So you’ll stay cooler and more protected during those intense summer days that are getting hotter each year! You don’t have to just read about it–you can actually do something about it. And that holds true whether you’re a homeowner or a facilities manager. We’ve written about energy savings before and you might like: Energy Savings for Springtime. Although the temperature might not be too hot right now, we get very busy during the summer months, so it’s best to book ASAP.

Saves energy which protects the planet

Protecting the planet is a big deal for us, and probably for you, too! After all, as they say, there is no Planet B! This is all we’ve got. When you use less energy, the planet breathes a sigh of relief–metaphorically, that is. Speaking of protecting the planet, did you know that window film can also protect birds from hitting your windows? We’ve written about that before here: Can Technology Save Billions of Birds with Window Film? You probably already know the answer to that question if you’ve been reading our blog posts, right? If you can keep cool and also protect the birds, that’s at least a double win!

Ready to stay cool, protected, and garner some climate benefits?

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need us to install some window film. Give us a call and we can steer you into the right choice, and keep you and your local feathered friends safe from climate change. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

What Are the Benefits of Window Film? Five Best Ones

February 13, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

You might think you know all about the benefits of window film because you have it installed on your car windows. Many automotive manufacturers now install window film automatically. Maybe in the future all builders will also install window film on their new buildings. It’s such a good investment we wonder why no one is doing that right now! Here are our five best and favorite window film benefits.

Saves energy

Because it’s winter right now, everyone is complaining about high energy costs. Installing window film can help with your heating costs in the winter and your cooling costs in the summer. In fact, window film evens out the temperatures year round. Although we get more calls in the summer, you can save year round with window film. We’ve written about this before and you might like: Window Film Energy Savers for Spring. We estimate that you can save about 10% on your energy bill, but like a lot of things it depends on where you are in the country, how much sun you get, etc.

Protects your belongings

We all have that friend with discolored furniture and flooring because the sun comes in through that ginormous window. Yes, it’s a beautiful window and so is the view, but you can protect your rugs, valuables, and flooring with window film. Harmful UV rays are the biggest source of fading. Aren’t your belongings worth the best treatment available?

Saves your eyes

Everyone knows you shouldn’t look directly at the sun. If you do, you risk cataracts or worse! Shield your eyes by putting window film on your windows. It’s like sunglasses for your house! Because chances are that the windows you have now are not doing much to protect your eyes. And you shouldn’t have to wear sunglasses inside, because that’s just silly!

Prevents cancer

One of our favorite organizations, The Skin Cancer Foundation, has many suggestions for preventing skin cancer. And one of their many recommendations is using window film to prevent UV rays from coming into your home. You’re at risk of premature aging as well as skin cancer from the UV rays that enter your home through windows.

Gives you privacy

Maybe you live in a crowded neighborhood. Or maybe you have nosy neighbors, always wanting to know what you’re up to. Why not install window film to block some of those neighbors? Or maybe you have a modern bathroom and need some window film to give you more privacy from others in your household? Window film gives you privacy without adding clutter. Speaking of clutter, have you read: How Window Film Keeps You Keeps You Clutter Free.

Questions about energy savings?

We’ve got answers to all your energy-related questions! Call us and we’ll help you get started! Our Chief Window Works Benefits Expert is standing by to answer all your questions. We install film all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the Peninsula and Marin. And we’ve now expanded into Southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Why Not to Install Window Film Yourself: Five Reasons

January 29, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Why wouldn’t you want to install your own window film? Let us count the ways!

What could possibly go wrong if you install your own window film?

You might have woken up with the idea of installing your own window film. Maybe the idea came to you in a dream and you thought How hard could it be? We’ve seen plenty of window film projects gone wrong, and are often called in to fix those do-it-yourself jobs. So before you do it yourself, here are some reasons you’d maybe want to call us instead!

Wrong measurements

You’ve all heard that old saying in construction Measure Twice, Cut Once, right? Well, lots of people tend to eyeball it with window film. Or even if they want to measure their windows, they’ve lost their measuring tape! If that sounds like you, maybe read Ten Ways to Get Organized Right Now. And get back to us later. Window film is not something where you want to guess about how big your window is. And with more complex installations, measuring is even more important!

Bubbling Film

You’ve seen those big air bubbles on car window film installations, haven’t you? You’re stuck in traffic, and you look over and–there it is–an assault on your eyes and brain! Don’t be tempted to yell out the window, “But WHYYYYY???” because you just don’t know who’s armed these days. And chances are, the driver already knows how horrible their windows look, without the reminder. Anyway, the point is don’t let bubbling film happen to you!

Wrinkles

We’re not talking about crow’s feet around your eyes. We’re talking about wrinkles in your window film! Ugh. Another reason not to take window film into your own hands. Once there are wrinkles, there is little you can do but start over. And let the cussing begin.

Warranty issues

Did you know that when you install your own window film you might not get the benefit of the warranty? Many major brands issue a warranty when a professional installs the window film. For example, 3M issues a warranty, but the film needs to be installed correctly.

Damage potential

Do you have a place to store that beautiful window film while you’re getting ready to install it? Have you trained your cats and your crazy border collie not to jump all over and scratch it? If the answer is no, then you might want a pro doing the install for you!

Falls and injuries

As the picture above illustrates, falling happens more often that you might realize. And you might not have everything you need–such as the correct ladder. (Yes, we know this is reason #6, but who’s counting?) And if you’re determined to do it yourself, the CDC has plenty of info about Ladder Safety. There’s even a Ladder Safety App (scroll down).

We make it easy!

You can fill out our Quick Residential Estimate form if you need to have window film installed by us. Give us a call and we can steer you into the right choice, and keep you safe from bubbles, wrinkles, and falls. We’d love to help you choose the best film. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

Ten Ways to Get Organized Right Now

January 15, 2025 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Do you really really need to get organized right now? You bet you do! We all do, right? You’ve all seen those articles about how you need to get organized, but you have to get a bunch of equipment, or hire someone, or do something silly to get there. So stop playing that video game for a minute and listen up! We’re here to help!

Choose an area to organize

This might be your break room, office, or kitchen. Choose the area that bothers you the most–that way you’ll see the most progress and have the most momentum. If you’re also thinking of changing the color of your home or office, you might want to revisit: What Happened to Those Color of the Year Predictions? But don’t get sidetracked with thoughts of color palettes just yet.

Make that area small enough

If organizing an entire room is overwhelming, make it smaller. After all, you eat an elephant one bite at a time, or so the saying goes. So instead of an entire room, make it a drawer. Or one shelf in a bookshelf. You might want to get some inspiration from a place like This Old House (How to Organize Tool Storage Drawers).

Don’t procrastinate

You can do anything for 15 minutes, and when you’re done, you’ll feel better. So get started and don’t give yourself time to make excuses. Don’t overthink it because it’s not rocket science! If you’re still stuck, here’s Harvard Business Review’s article on procrastination. And how to overcome it. But again, don’t go down any rabbit holes. We’re here to organize!

Be ruthless

Keep in mind that if you have any doubts about whether to toss something, throw it out. Think about times you’ve organized in the past and whether you ever missed any of the stuff you got rid of. Well, maybe don’t throw out that original Stradivarius violin just yet. But seriously–you’re not going to miss 99.99% of what you recycle.

Make labels

Some ideas for labels are: TOSS, KEEP, RECYCLE, and GIVE AWAY. You can use Post-it notes or big sheets of paper. They don’t have to look beautiful! Put these on bags or boxes so you can see what’s going where.

Get the right tools but don’t let it stop you

You may need baskets, file folders, or markers later, but don’t let that stop you from organizing. Getting started is your key to success. You can always pick up the perfect tools later, once you’ve built some momentum.

Put your stuff in piles

Sort through the area you decided on and put everything in one of the labelled piles. Make more labels if you need more. Don’t make it too complicated! Set an alarm for 15 minutes if that helps you. Now sort everything.

Immediately move it out

Once you’ve sorted your area, get that stuff out of there! Toss it, recycle it, give it away, or whatever. Do not crack open that champagne until the stuff is out of the office or house. Piling it next to the front door doesn’t count! Put it in the car and take it away!

Don’t look back

Unless it’s a valuable family heirloom, chances are you can replace it if you need it later. If you need help getting rid of heirlooms, you might want to hire a Professional Organizer. Or get a neighborhood kid to help you organize and take things away.

Plan your next session

Does getting organized feel good? You bet it does! So don’t lose that momentum. Put another organizing session on your calendar. Do it right now! That’s all there is to it.

Can window film help you be more organized?

Yes, it can! Window film helps remove clutter. Give us a call and we can steer you into the right choice. We’d love to help you choose the best film for your home or building. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

What Happened to Those Color of the Year Predictions?

December 31, 2024 by Carol S Leave a Comment

For those of you who are interested in color, fashion, and design, you may wonder what happened to those color of the year predictions many of us made way back in 2024? Seems as though some were instantly rejected, some were adopted, and many were sneered at. So what do you do when there are so many around? Do you simply pick your favorite or do you do eenie meenie minie mo or what? Here are some ideas for those of you experiencing confusion!

If in doubt, go with Pantone

After all, Pantone is the one who began all those color of the year pronouncements! So why not start there? Pantone’s color of the year for 2025 is Mocha Mousse. It’s a warm color that, in Pantone’s words, “embodies connection, comfort, and harmony.” And we have to say anything to do with coffee has us giving a collective thumbs up. But mocha mousse softer than espresso, and makes us think of dessert, too. If you look at the Pantone website, you’ll even see a video with swirling mocha mousse that looks better than any dessert you’d get at a coffee shop.

Nutshell, from Sherwin-Williams collection, reflects mocha mousse

Regarding chocolate brown colors like Nutshell, this mocha-ish color can be used along with Mocha Mousse, or with Sherwin-Williams’ other beautiful colors. For instance, you couldn’t go wrong with Sherwin-Williams stucco for your exterior and then a variety of chocolatey brown varieties for the interior of your home. If you added an espresso-scented candle, people would believe they were living in a coffee shop!

Behr shows colors that work well with Pantone’s color of the year

We particularly love Behr’s Color Trends Palette (check out the one for 2025) because so many of the colors work with the Pantone Color of the Year. Although we loved Behr’s prediction of a Ruby Red color, their color trends palette is an even better choice, in our opinion. For example, take a look at their Oxford Street color–a beautiful and rich golden brown. Gardener’s Soil is even more interesting, with its blackish brown hue.

Making the most of your windows

You can use window film to enhance your choice of interior/exterior colors, or in some cases, you can choose a neutral window film that you won’t even be able to see. Many window films do their best work when you can’t even see they’re there. See our last post, Making the Most of Your Windows for more info. On a side note, are you impressed that we used “their, they’re, and there” in the same sentence?

Still confused by all the color of the year predictions?

Give us a call and we can steer you and your color choices. We’d love to help you choose the best film for your home or building. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and have expanded into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.

How to Make the Most of Your Windows

December 16, 2024 by Carol S Leave a Comment

Do you know how to make the most of your windows? We’ve already talked about swapping out your curtains for window film, but there are so many other ways you can beautify and improve your windows. If creating a more beautiful space and saving energy are on your bucket list, read on!

Privacy both inside and outside your building

You can use window film to keep neighbors from peeking into your house or your patio, but did you know all the ways that window film can give you privacy inside your home or building? For instance, say you are a young couple and just had kids. Suddenly, your ultra-modern bathroom with all the glass surrounding the shower isn’t so great anymore! Kids and pets are running in and out without any warning. What’s a parent to do? How about some window film so you get a little privacy? You don’t have to cover the entire glass wall, either. Just enough so you decent. Or, like in the photo above, you can have some privacy in a conference room!

Your home as a sanctuary

When you get home after a hard day’s work, you want your home to be as zen as possible. There are so many different types of window film. Use film to echo or complement your design favorites. Love bamboo? There’s a window film for that! How about polka dots? That’s also an option! Or you could go with a standard clear or just a little bit darker if you’re in a very sunny place. The best thing about good window film is you don’t even know it’s there! We like some of these ideas from Mountain Living: 7 Ways to Transform Your Home into a Sanctuary. (Especially naming your home. Do you do that?)

Window graphics for your business

Want to create a graphic on your glass that tells people what you do? Plenty of our customers like that kind of film. It’s easy for us to create for you, too. Just tell us what you need. We can use your logo or create something artsy. It’s up to you.

Don’t let energy savings fly out the windows!

Did you know with certain types of window films, your single pane windows can act as double panes? And the double panes can act like triple panes? That means you’ll save energy in the winter as well as the summer! Window film is actually an investment in your home or business.

For other ideas about making the most of your windows

Still have no idea what to do? Give us a call! We’d love to help you choose the best film for your home or building. We work all over the greater San Francisco Bay Area, from San Jose to the East Bay to the San Mateo Peninsula and Marin–and are expanding into southern California, too! Give us a call at 415.623.8700.