Shades of style and savings
Armed with a keen eye and a strong point of view, interior designer Ivy Almario is illuminating the path to luxurious homes by balancing the artistic and financial demands of her clients.
“In each of my projects, I pursue the best design solutions and deliver in a timely fashion at a reasonable price,” says Ivy, who is one half of the sister duo behind Atelier Almario, one of the most prestigious interior design studios in the country. She honed her craft in Los Angeles, California, for 15 years before returning to Manila, where she now services the high-end residences of business titans and industry movers.
True to her role as a trendsetting interior designer, Ivy recently discussed the growing importance of window coverings as a stylish and practical home improvement. Entitled “Saving Energy Through Fashionable Windows,” the talk was held at the Ricco Renzo art space and was co-sponsored by the venue owner and Hunter Douglas.
“There is a current fascination with tropical and Asian contemporary design — a style that requires bigger windows,” says Ivy. “With windows taking up more interior space, home owners should choose beautiful and sturdy window coverings like those from Hunter Douglas.”
Since developing the first lightweight aluminum blind in 1946, Hunter Douglas has led the industry in creating the highest quality, innovative window coverings. One of its most celebrated products is the Duette honeycomb shades, whose classic and energy-efficient honeycomb design has been satisfying homeowners since 1985.
“The Duette was developed in response to the energy crisis. It has earned the highest energy-efficiency rating in the industry and ranks as the nation’s best-selling honeycomb shade,” said Gigi Lapira, president and country manager of Hunter Douglas Philippines.
Lapira attributed the energy efficiency of the Duette to its unique honeycomb design that repels intense outdoor heat. In fact, it has one of the best shading coefficients — an indicator of effectiveness at blocking solar heat — among Hunter Douglas window coverings. This feature is one of the reasons why Ivy chooses Duette for many of her projects.
“I intuit the lifestyle and wellbeing of my clients. I often choose the Duette for two reasons. One, it has an elegant style that makes a chic statement. The shades come in opaque, semi-opaque or sheer fabrics and more than 299 colors — giving my clients more design freedom,” says Ivy. “And two, its practical energy efficiency gives the home some much-needed comfort.”
The Duette’s light-control features not only keep rooms optimally cool against the sun, they also offer privacy and UV protection. With a simple pull or click of a button, Duette shades can shut the room from the prying eyes of outsiders. Worries about skin cancer and furniture damage also fade away with its 99-percent UV blockage rating, according to Lapira.
“The bedroom also benefits a lot from these window coverings. As your sanctuary for sleep, bedrooms should be conducive to rest and relaxation,” says Ivy, citing how Duette shades keep out the distracting sunlight and absorb up to 65 percent of outside noise.
With its promise of comfort and energy efficiency, Duette honeycomb shades by Hunter Douglas have become Ivy Almario’s chosen tool for adding style and savings to every home she designs.
For more information on Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, visit Ricco Renzo Galleries at G/F LRI Plaza, 210 N. Garcia St. (formerly Reposo), Bel Air II, Makati City, call 898-2542 to 45 or e-mail art@riccorenzo.com.
