Like blinds and roller shades, they provide privacy and are frequently used in combination with draperies or decorative top treatments. Unlike blinds and roller shades, their look is soft, and the light that enters through them is softly filtered.

The flexibility of the "top-down/bottom-up" option has drawn many homeowners to cellular and pleated shades. If you'd like to be able to cover just the bottom portion of your window for partial privacy while having a clear view out of the top, they are easily adjusted to do this. With a pull of a cord, you can change them to cover all of the window, or draw them up completely into a small stack that is completely out of the way.

Pleated shades differ from cellular shades in that they are made of one layer of fabric, rather than the two or more layers that form the "honeycombs" of cellular shades. For this reason they do not provide the benefits of energy efficiency described below. However, there are more choices in pleated shades in the degree of privacy offered because they can be made in semi-sheer or even lace fabrics as well as privacy fabrics. They are a nice choice for the budget-minded person who is drawn to a soft appearance. Both cellular and pleated shades can be selected in room-darkening materials.

Cellular shades are versatile in other ways. They can be made to cover many unusual window shapes such as arches, circles and hexagons, as well as skylights and even curved solarium windows. You can choose to operate your shades with a standard pull cord, by a continuous cord loop, or with a cordless lift mechanism. For hard-to-reach-windows, or for the ultimate in convenience, they can even be motorized!

Now let's talk about energy efficiency. Because cellular shades trap air in the spaces between the fabric layers, they have a significant insulating value in both summer and winter. Single-celled shades will cut heat transfer through an average thermopane window by over 40%; double-celled shades will reduce heat transfer by over 60%. Since in today's well-insulated homes windows account for a major portion of wintertime heat loss and summertime heat gain, these attractive, stylish window treatments can make you more comfortable and reduce your energy costs.

For those who wish to maximize these energy-saving benefits, we offer the ComforTrack system by Comfortex. By adding an unobtrusive-looking track around the inside of your window frame, ComforTrack eliminates drafts around the edges of your cellular shades, increasing their energy efficiency. Write or call us if you'd like to receive a free 12-page booklet on saving money with energy efficient Comfortex window fashions.