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Window blinds have been around for centuries to provide protection from the sun, wind and outdoors. Ancient Egyptian civilizations used wetted cloth strips to keep out the dirt and the sun. In Persia, Venetian blinds were first used from 1100AD to 1500 AD and the ancient Chinese created window blinds by tying bamboo stalks together. Window blinds did not appear in European culture until the early 1700’s and although they did not originate in Europe, Venetian blinds emerged near Venice, hence the name.
Over the years, window blinds grew in popularity and developed in function and style. John Hampson of New Orleans invented a mechanism in 1841 to control the angle of Venetian blind slats, allowing them to adjust the amount of light passing through. After WWll, Venetian blinds took off in popularity and sales as Hunter Douglas was founded in 1946 and started mass producing aluminum blinds in North America.
In 1950, Edward and Frederick Bopp from Kansas city invented and patented the vertical blinds in 1950. In the 1970’s the 1” aluminum Mini-Blinds were introduced and starting in the 1980’s the wide-slatted wood and faux wood blinds gained popularity throughout the US.
Hunter Douglas took off in 1947 with the production of more than 1,000 independent fabricators in the US and Canada. A new louver system was developed in 1975 that provided sun protection while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing look. A few years later, in 1985 the soft, durable and highly energy efficient Duette Honecomb Shades were created. Vignette Modern Roman Shades were released in 1994, offering a fresh, clean appearance in window blinds. There was further improvement in 2000 when the Literise cordless system was introduced and again in 2011 with Platinum Technology Motorization. The Hunter Douglas motorization continues to improve and now the PowerView system is widely used.
No matter what your taste is in window blinds, Hunter Douglas has the perfect option for you. At Normandeau Window Coverings we offer a wide range of Hunter Douglas products for your every need. Visit us today to determine the perfect window treatment for your home.
