Versatility makes an open-and-shut case for blinds

Blinds have been around for a long time and are still used extensively today -- for good reason.With blinds, you can control sunlight levels by tilting the slats.Blinds offer privacy when closed. This is accomplished if the rout holes, through which the cords are threaded, are placed at the back.Blinds offer a geometric elegance to any window. The consistent lines -- horizontal or vertical -- are attractive from inside and outside.Wide slats resemble shutters without costing as much.They are available in a variety of colors. Some blinds come in dust-repellent paints, which keeps dust to a minimum.They don't usually touch the floor, making it easy to clean carpet and flooring. Sometimes, draperies can get in the way of the vacuum or the mop.What about the mechanisms that open and close the slats? Well, they used to be a problem sometimes, but modern blinds have easy-to-use wands and cords. A child-safe no-cord style allows you to raise the blinds by pushing up from the bottom and lower them by pulling down by the bottom slat. And motorized blinds -- operated by remote control -- make opening, closing and raising really easy.You might consider blinds either by themselves or in conjunction with other fabric treatments. They give a clean look to any room.For a newsletter of "Window Types with Treatment Suggestions," send $3 plus a long, self-addressed stamped envelope to L&M Publications, PMB 229, P.O. Box 413005, Naples, Fla. 34103-3005. Be sure to mention the title.(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, an interior designer in Naples, Fla., is author of "Mystery of Color," available at Barnes & Noble Booksellers and Amazon.com. For design inquiries, write to her at DsgnQuest(at)aol.com.)