Tag Archives: decorating ideas

Be sure your bamboo window treatments look right on your windows. Have fun researching online and/or asking a trusted friend so you come up with the best options for your home.

Would an inside mount be more effective or attractive than an outside mount?

Be sure to measure carefully. You might need an inch and a half of depth if mounts are on the inside. (Otherwise it could push outside your window). Some people are fine with the shade or blinds being a few inches larger in width & length than the width of their window. If want a perfect fit, you’ll need to consider a custom bamboo window treatment.

Retail stores are wonderful as there are quite a few window treatment specialty stores depending on the city or towns you may be near. You can touch and see your options and possibly speak with someone who is experienced with hanging them.

Visiting a design studio or interior decorator can provide important insight if they have worked with bamboo window treatments before. Be sure to ask plenty of questions of your designer if you go that route; you want to ensure the designer knows exactly the how you wish the shades or blinds to function in your room.

The internet can make things fast and easy when it comes to shopping, but it is important to be cautioned, sometimes the color in the photographs on the internet are not always exactly or even the same as what will arrive in the box. Internet shopping can prove more cost efficient; it is still up to you to measure carefully. We also recommend establishing a rapport with the customer service staff to ensure you are pleased with your purchase.

Take your time, shop around, go to the library and Google all your options online. Make a well informed decision prior to your purchase.

The following are questions to consider:

Will you require a liner for your shades/blinds? Do you need a darker affect for a bedroom or do you enjoy the natural light? Are you looking for a design style that is unique or simply trying to match color shades in your room(s).

How will your shade or set of blinds raise? Is there a “top down” option?

Will they be cut evenly? Do you have an option to put cords on either side?

Bamboo blinds are not only a versatile and affordable window treatment, they are very attractive. Bamboo blinds can be purchased in a variety of attractive shades and patterns that will add either a festive or refined look; depending on your design preference.

There are shades or blinds made of flattened bamboo that is woven. Depending on the color choice, it can add texture to your room(s). Matchstick blinds are the more recognizable option, but even those blinds come in a variety of colors, widths, and styles. You may also purchase bamboo slat blinds. This option looks very much like the wood slat blinds, only they tend to be lighter in weight.

Bamboo slats may come in different colors, depending on where you purchase them.  They can be nailed, screwed, glued, or bolted to the specific surface you choose to cover.  Bamboo slats are often used for covering walls, bars, ceilings, etc….

A simple oil based stain can transform natural slats to any desired color.

We know how you can complete that beach theme or prep for the Luau!

Add Lampac matting to those finishing touches!

Lampac matting is a thin matting that, typically has no backing to it. If you need to add an extra feature of durability to it, feel free to apply a clear varnish to help it last longer and make it water resistant. You can find this matting in as dark a color as a coco brown variation to a lighter, natural tan. This form of matting can serve in many ways, especially for a light, decorative screening. It is a multi-toned matting that can be used for both interior or exterior décor. Glue or staple this matting to your wall and/or ceiling or even the front of your tiki bar.

Thatch umbrellas come in a variety of shapes and sizes, it all depends on what your needs are, the look you are trying to achieve, and the weather conditions. There are refined looking reed thatch umbrellas that maintain a very clean and elegant look, as well as tropical, tiki style umbrellas made of dried palm leaves. Thatch umbrellas can help create a mood and/or provide a durable refuge from certain weather conditions depending on what the user needs are. The more common thatch umbrellas are the hand woven Mexican palm or rain cape umbrellas that can be purchased pre-made or easily constructed with proper tools and materials.

A thatch runner is a roll of thatch, typically 30 inch by 10, 20, 30, 60 feet.  You can use the runner of thatch for decoration, especially if you have an island theme in mind.  The most popular thatch runner is made from hand woven palm leaves.  The life span of palm thatch is approximately 3-5 years, doing best in warm or dry climates.  When using a thatch runner or roll of thatch, you will unroll and cut it to the size that will fit the area you are covering.

It’s best to start from the lower edge of the work area and staple over the nylon webbing, typically found at the top of your thatch runner.

It helps if you screw a strip of furring (wood works best – at least 1”) over the nylon webbing.

Install the remainder thatch by overlapping your sections.  The bottom edge of thatch will cover only 6 inches or so, into the subsequent layer.

Have fun and don’t forget your sunscreen while working outside!

Thatch is an insulation material and is also used as a building material for roofing. Thatching is the popular choice when it comes to thatching your tiki hut, it is attractive, durable, and affordable.

For heavy-duty wear and tear; synthetic thatch is a consideration, but synthetic thatch is more expensive. Palm thatch is the most popular choice for theme décor, especially when it comes to Tiki huts or Tiki bars. There are different varieties of palm leaves to choose from, the best being palms that have leaves similar to a queen, king, or kentia palm.

Palm fronds are long and finger-like coming off the main leaf stalk.

You also have a variety of sizes. You can purchase palm thatch in square sections: either, 3' x 4' or 4' x 4'. There are also rolls of palm thatch available: 30" x 22' or 30" x 57'. It’s best to calculate the square footage of your roof first, so you are aware of how much thatching is required. It is helpful to purchase an additional 10%, just in case. If your roof is a unique size, you may want to get a bit extra to avoid having to use small pieces of palm thatch. You can even purchase treated palm thatch you can that is fire retardant if that is a concern for you.

When it comes to thatching your roof, you have options, keeping your roof dimensions in mind. If you are using a plywood base, you can easily staple the thatch directly to the roof. There are other methods that might make it easy to attach and remove the thatch.

For example: the use of wood lathing, 2" wide x 1/4" thick x 8' long. Lay the thatching on the roof and then place the lathing over the palm thatch every foot. Screw the lathing down using rubber gasket screws into the joists. You can also use chicken wire over the palm thatch and attach the chicken wire at the outside edges of the roof. If you are not using a plywood roof and have an open roof between joists, you need support under the thatch, at least ever 4 inches, or so.

Tips to make your thatching water resistant:

Thatch is often installed on a plywood base. The plywood helps make the roof water resistant. If you do not have a plywood base, you have a few alternatives. You can use two or three layers of thatch, staggering the thatch. Or you might use a layer of transparent plastic between two layers of thatch. Face one thatch layer down and the other up so that the plastic layer in between is not visible.

The photographs used in this and most of the blogs are merely visuals to see what a panel or material option might look like. The photos are not directly related to the instructions and tips above or the other blogs in this site.