September 2011 Newsletter

Cool Down the Summer with Vintage Fall Style

"Cool Down the Summer with Vintage Fall Style"

Fall into Retro Style

As summer heats finally edge downward, designers (indoors and out) are beginning to look forward to the luscious layers of autumn style. The biggest trend for this fall is all vintage.

From Craftsman to Art Deco to Post War, home design in the first half of the 20^th Century was finished with artfully placed awnings. This had a practical motivation – a lack of air conditioning – but the practical heavily influenced the stylistic reasons. Retractable awnings and similar shade systems gave distinction and flair to mid-century houses. Both metal awnings and canvas awnings were used, although canvas was more popular for homes because of its color and its low cost.

Door awnings and window awnings were less common once air conditioning became cheap and easy to install, but they remain associated with that time – a time of growth, optimism, and individualistic style.

As a wave of nostalgia grips this autumn, the visual texture, color, and softness of traditional canvas awnings can be recaptured on modern homes for a bit of mid-century chic.

It’s easy to imitate the lux glory of retro awnings:

It’s all size and location. Although large lateral arm frames are popular for patio awnings today, the most common awnings in mid-century modern styles were small, rounded canopies over windows and front stoops. Window awnings give a bright pop of color and really effective shade in a very compact space.
Get the color right. Of course, work with the house and trim paint. Still, the most retro-friendly color schemes are traditional black and white bistro stripes or brilliant jewel tones, particularly in reds like cranberry, wine, and scarlet.
The valance sets the tone. Straight-edged valances are modern and sleek. However, the awnings of yesteryear used a bit of flourish to soften the bold lines of the awning. A vintage-flavored valance is going to be a blocky squared scallop or a very wide round scallop with wide, squared troughs between the round scallops.

Retro isn’t just for homes – almost anything from RV awnings to historical business districts can use a simple design device like a retractable awning to create a vintage look.

Eric M. Scop, VP Sales & Marketing RetractableAwnings.com

9 Random Cool Facts about Retractable Awnings

Almost 33% of European homes have awnings of some kind – while only about 2% of US homes do (even though over 80% of US homes have decks, patios, or balconies).
The newest retractable awnings sensors are used to check indoor comfort settings for heat and brightness. This makes rooms more comfortable without touching a thermostat.
The best quality awning frames are designed and manufactured in Italy.
The most popular fabric color in the US is forest green and tan stripe.
Victorian homes used to use red awnings, curtains, and lampshades to create a soft pink glow of light in a room – especially in parlors. Red signifies life and vitality and is a welcoming color.
The earliest awnings – in ancient Egypt – were made of animal skins or mats woven of leaves. In the 1800s, awnings were made of the same canvas used for ships’ sails.
Underwriter’s Laboratory-rated retractable awnings are tested for 15 years’ of use or 5,000 open/close cycles.
A retractable awning means that the fabric of the awning rolls up. For lateral arm awnings, the entire frame retracts, but for other styles the fabric rolls up but the awning frame is fixed.
Standard (budget) awnings sizes have only two projections (8 feet and 10 feet) and widths in 1-foot increments from 11 feet to 20 feet. Custom sizes can have widths and projects from only about 3 feet to as much as 52 feet in ½ inch increments.

To Italy and Back

We have attended 25 conventions for the Industrial Fabrics Association International (IFAI), and we hit the tri-annual R+T trade show in Stuttgart, Germany, in 2009. We’re about to add a new trade show delicacy to our rotation: the Tende & Tecnica (T&T) in Rimini, Italy, this coming October.

The soul of retractable awning and shade system design is in Italy (with some really amazing work coming out of Australia). For the first time, T&T is dedicating an entire exhibition hall to textile structures, with a special emphasis on retractable awnings and canopies. Another full exhibit hall will be dedicated to the latest in industrial fabrics. A veritable feng shui of professional community is emerging at this event as T&T combines its trade show with the SUN trade show (a selective exhibit that focuses on bathing and beach systems). The focus of this year’s T&T is fabric. Industrial applications, finishes, colors, landscape design, architecture, and interior design – it’s a smorgasbord of awning and shade system ideas.

T&T has a full roster of case studies looking at the latest trends in outdoor designs, as well as training venues and practical work areas. This is a real hands-on experience, and it’s one of the best ways we have to see for ourselves what’s going on in the world of awnings.

In past events, we’ve uncovered whimsical new canopy designs, creative design and implementation ideas, resilient fabric finishes, and clever new sensors for even better retractable awning control. It’s almost impossible to guess what treasures we’ll find – but we’ll let our customers be the first to know. Become a customer today!

Company Bio

RetractableAwnings.com an A+ Better Business Bureau member for 19 years has been assembling and distributing the highest-quality, best-designed European sun, wind, rain, bug and snow protection systems for 25 years. This is our passion – finding unique and lovely solutions to make the outdoors more comfortable and more useful. From private homes to major architectural and landscape design projects, we have the expertise to help. Just ask: 1-866-438-2964 or 305-628-2424.

Retractableawnings.com
Corporate offices and fabrication
5160 NW 165 Street
Miami Gardens, Florida, 33014-6303
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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In Partnership with Crest Capital Equipment Leasing

September 2011 Newsletter

Cool Down the Summer with Vintage Fall Style

In Partnership with
Crest Capital Equipment Leasing