Q. What do I do with my sliding glass patio doors if I dont care for vertical blinds?

A.If you want a horizontal product, I always suggest splitting the shades into the number of panels of glass that you have. This way you can operate the access-side shade or blind independently of the stationary one. This is great for when you have a lot of traffic through the sliding door. On a hot summer day you might just opt to raise the access-side shade or blind and leave the stationary side down for protection against a hot sun. If you like the vertical look but don't want a vertical blind then LUMINETTE Privacy Sheers and our DUETTE VERTIGLIDE Shades.

Q.What should I use for my French doors? My door handles seem to get in the way?

A.You need a product that has a low-profile headrail and something that can be attached on the bottom of the window portion of the door with hold-down brackets. You also need a product that allows the vanes or shade material to stay close to the door itself. I recommend that you use something like a DUETTE Shade, which has a headrail that isn't very deep and won't interfere with opening and closing the door. Or you could try an aluminium horizontal blind with the same type of headrail. French doors can also be treated with a product that mounts above the doorframe.

Q.What do I use for my bathroom window? I want privacy but not mildew or water stains?

A.Aluminium venetian blinds and imitiation wooden Venetians look wonderful. The movable louvres let you choose the amount of privacy and light control you need and desire.

Q. I have bedroom windows that are allowing a tremendous amount of light in the morning. My husband has to sleep during the day because he works at night. What do I do?

A.What you need is a room darkening product.

Q.I want to preserve the beautiful view out my windows, but I also want to maintain my privacy and block some of the incoming sun and heat in the evenings. I'm also concerned about the sun damaging my furniture, carpets and accessories. What would you suggest?

A.There are some wonderful products for you to choose from that will allow you to maintain your view when you want it but will also preserve your privacy"and, in addition, these products will also block a hot sun from heating up your room and damaging your furniture and accessories. The SILHOUETTE Shading is so versatile. It has fabric-covered vanes that are suspended between sheer fabric facings. The vanes rotate for privacy but for you, they allow you to control that light when you have the hot sun. The vanes in the open position will always give you a soft-filtered view but in the closed position you will be able to close out that sun. When the sun doesn't interfere you can raise the shades totally off your windows. They retract into their own headrail, giving you a completely unencumbered view. Sunscreens are a relatively new fabric blind that allows you to see out while providing day time privacy. They keep out up to 70% of heat without making your room dark as traditional black-out fabrics do.

Q.We have very high windows. I would like to cover them because they allow a lot of sunlight in the morning, which heats up the house. I would like something that I can control with motorization.

A.I would recommend a battery-operated, remote-control system. The PowerRise lifting system allows you to control high windows by utilizing a battery-operated system built into the shades. Another motorization option is electrical-powered, and can be operated by a switch or remote control. It can also be hard-wired if you are planning this for new construction. This is a wonderful alternative.

Q. want to put up a shade in my daughter's room that blocks the sun. I'm concerned about safety, too, because I've heard of the terrible stories of children being hurt or worse by getting tangled in blinds and cords. What should I use? I

A.Provision of child safety devices or child-safe construction of window treatments is compulsory in some States. Always ask if your supplier provides standard or optional safety features. Some offer more than others. For example, cordless Holland blinds have no operating cords. They just push up and pull down from the bottom. The shade or blind raises or lowers evenly to the desired position, and then holds that position, locking in automatically. Some blinds with cord loops are provided with a cord tensioner, a specially designed cord weight with spring tension and brackets, which improves the safety of cord-looped products. And a Break-Thru safety tassel is designed to break open under pressure should a child or pet become entangled in the cord loop.