'Fashion in Motion' at the 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The best of traditional style and cutting-edge technology for the home will be on display at the 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands.

Hundreds of consumer-product vendors, service companies and experts in home décor and gardening will be on hand for the "Create Your Dream Home" themed event being held on Aug. 23 and 24 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center.

Featured at the 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands is Hunter Douglas, the internationally recognized leader in quality window fashions and treatments for nearly a century.

"Hunter Douglas really is the premier window treatment company," said Mary Scalli, an expert in home décor and staging and founder of Simple Elegance in Houston. "They offer all the styles, fabrics, colors and options you want to fit your home and sense of style."

Simple Elegance will feature Hunter Douglas window fashions in the "Fashion in Motion" exhibit, and Scalli has been selected to lead a presentation on the latest trends in window fashions and treatments. She will talk about the exciting new home-automation options which allow homeowners to program window coverings to automatically open and close and to make other adjustments while at home or away.

"Pleated shades with artistic designs are making a big comeback," said Scalli. "Metals are growing in popularity, too. Gold, silver and bold-colored mini-blinds are being rediscovered by a new generation of homeowners. It's very exciting."

Shades, blinds and shutters are more than window dressing in the modern era, said Scalli. In addition to adding a sense of style and beauty, window treatments help maintain privacy and can even lower utility bills by screening out sunlight during hot summer days.

"There are so any beautiful options available to homeowners," said Scalli. "There's no need to settle for the stock items at the big-box stores. It's more interesting and satisfying to use your imagination and indulge your own sense of style."

Using the services of a window-treatment professional gives homeowners more options in terms of style and materials, she added. It also assures the treatments will fit properly and be installed correctly, which is especially important because one of the latest trends in residential window treatments is home automation − motorized window treatments.

"There is a lot of interest in automated shades, blinds and shutters," said Brian Crandall, Cypress-based district sales manager of Hunter Douglas. "We've greatly expanded our line of automated products that can be operated by switch, remote control or even by smartphones."

Motorized units, either hard-wired or powered by batteries, can raise and lower or open and close window treatments with a push of a button. The new technology even allows window treatments to be scheduled to automatically open or close at a specific time each day.

"Remote-control and automated window treatments are very popular for both new construction and replacement installations," said Crandall. "It's a great combination of style and convenience."

Safety is another key feature offered by Hunter Douglas, which is leading the way with blinds that do not have cords that present a potential hazard for small children or pets who could get tangled up and injured.

"There's a reason Hunter Douglas is the industry leader," said Crandall. "Style is important, but innovation and safety are concerns we address as well."

Crandall also is a featured presenter at 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands, addressing the expanding options in home automation and demonstrating the latest Hunter Douglas products at the show’s "Fashion in Motion" exhibit.

At-a-glance:

The 12th Annual Fall Home & Garden The Woodlands, featuring hundreds of consumer-product vendors, service companies and experts in home décor and gardening, takes place Aug. 23 and 24 at The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center. For more information, a discount coupon for $1 off show admission, and special offers from exhibitors, visit WoodlandsShows.com.

SHOW INFORMATION SUMMARY:

What:

12th Annual Fall Home & Garden Show The Woodlands

When:

Saturday, Aug. 23, 9 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Sunday, Aug. 24, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Where:

The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center

1601 Lake Robbins Drive

The Woodlands, Texas 77380

Tickets:

Cash only. Adults $9, seniors $8, and there is no charge for children 12 and under.

An ATM will be located near the ticket window.

Parking:

FREE parking is available in the parking garage behind the Convention Center next to the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion at Six Pines Drive and Lake Robbins Drive, with a covered walkway to the Convention Center. Visit WoodlandsShows.com for additional parking information.