Hunter Douglas intros shutter-shade combo
By Andrea Lillo -- Home Textiles Today, 10/13/2003
UPPER SADDLE RIVER, NJ — Combining the utility of a shutter with the softness and convenience of a shade, Alouette Light Louvers launched from Hunter Douglas last month, along with a variety of other introductions.
"There has never been a better time to expand and diversify our product line," said Jim Mathews, vp of corporate marketing. "Today's marketplace is more complex and demanding than perhaps it has ever been and as a company and as an industry we have to meet and exceed consumer demands at the window."
With an elliptical, cellular shape, the fabric louvers soften and diffuse light and tilt 180 degrees, and may be raised and lowered like a shade. Alouette also includes a pivotal operating system, so that the color-coordinated headrail and bottom rail, which are also shaped elliptically, pivot with the louvers and blend in better. Available in either translucents or room-darkening opacities, Alouette also offers 25 color and pattern combinations.
"Over three years in development, Alouette Light Louvers is the most widely researched and tested product in the history of the company," said Mary Lonergan, director of brand development.
In addition, Hunter Douglas now offers motors with two of its products: Silhouette window shadings are available with the UltraGlide retractable cord lifting system, and the vertically oriented Luminette offers the remote control PowerGlide. Duette honeycomb shades have also expanded in fabric and color offerings and hardware enhancements.
