I am 76 yrs old. In summer of 2024 I got a divorce from my spouse of 43 years, in early 2024. I had learned 42 years prior to divorce, to let her make all decorating decisions. That way it caused far less fighting. I bought a condo in Windsor Gardens, on the ground floor, facing West, in May 2024. It has a 25 foot lanai on West side. It has double sliding glass doors between the lanai and very large living room.
There are very large West facing windows in the two bedrooms just North of the Living room. The guest bedroom windows are quite large. They double pane sliding, and have white acrylic borders. The master bedroom has even larger windows with four sliding panes.
Mr Kern was so kind, cordial and accommodating. I was immediately impressed, with him. I had already gutted my condo. my unit was built in 1972 and had never been updated. It was like walking into Dick Van Dyke's home (i.e. Rob and Laura Petrie's). It had the worst vertical blinds I have ever seen they were warped and badly discolored.
Mr. Kern, very calmly asked what I had in mind. He had gently been asking questions since I had met him. The 2nd time out to my condo, because I had to shop several other window covering, companies.
I hadn't been impressed by the high pressure sales tactics of salesmen who, often did not seem to know the products they were marketing well, and just wanted me to sign their contract. Their boss would come out after I had signed the order, to go over the details. Steve Kern, really knew the products, as they are his stock and trade. He took the time to find out what would suit my taste and even suggested products that he thought I might like but had not considered.
Ultimately I chose remote controlled shades, for my lanai. They are in three sections. Two are on West side. Each shade is 7 1/2 feet wide. Since homeowners cannot run electricity on the lanais, the shades had to have their own electrical system. Eureka, thank god for high tech batteries. I just charged them this month for first time,13 months after purchase. The charger connection is at the top of shades, 8 feet off floor. I did not think this was going to work. Wala, Steve produced a rather long stiff wand. At the end was a very strong magnet that just sucked the charger head-piece into place from about 5" away. Wonderful.
The shades are not opaque. I can see outside both night and day. Believe me, I have gone outside and checked both at night and day to make sure, whether if I was walking naked any one outside could not see me through them. well I can assure you, they can't. The shades let light in, however people outside can only see a blurred figure when they move around. The shade material is warranted for life.
I have furniture on my lanai. I do not want the hot afternoon sun eating my furniture, some of which are antiques. The narrow shade is on the North side of the lanai, because the lanai sticks out from my condo about 6 ft with a 4 1/2 foot wide window in that wall. All shades can be operated independently, or all at once.
I absolutely love them.
For windows in my two bedrooms, Steve suggested wooden blinds. Each blind blade is is 4 1/2 inches wide, and the blinds are in two independently operated halves. Each shade has a break half way down the window. You can have the bottom closed with the top open and letting light or looking out at the sunset. The blinds can be flipped open or closed by using one finger to control the upper or lower halves. Flipping one blade controls the whole section. Very easy to use, and very easy to clean. I wish I had these 30 years ago, instead of those really small Venetian blinds that were in vogue at the time. They used twine to open and close them, and a twisty plastic wand thingy, to twist and open or close the whole blind. None of that stuff ever lasted. The plastic wand thingys, always broke and the cords always got kinked and tangled up. When the blinds became grimy, they were absolutely miserable to clean. One time I became so frustrated, I took them to the car wash. That didn't work out well. However, I don't think the grudge from that was the cause for the divorce.
Steve Kern, owner and operator of Better by Design, was great to deal with. he gently and kindly recommended the best products for me. I love my window coverings. They were also very fairly priced. Every one in the Better by Design, office is very cordial, and very friendly. These people are golden.
After a year of use, when it came time to recharge them, I had an old man kerfuffle, trying to negotiate the charger. So, I called Better by Design. Steve, himself came out to my home, and showed me what I was doing wrong, at NO CHARGE. You just don't find businesses and people like, Steve Kern and Better by Design very often any more.
Thanks Mr. Steve Kern. You are a one of a kind gem.
Arthur S. Bowman
Retired
Windsor Gardens Home Owner.
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