Window Blinds Ellicott City
Window Blinds, Shades & Shutters in Ellicott City, MD
Ellicott City is 22 miles from our headquarters in Beltsville, an easy run up US-29 to Columbia, and one of the more architecturally complex cities along our Maryland service route. Minutemen’s row of Victorian mills along Main Street, followed by acres of modern subdivisions in Turf Valley, Centennial and Dorsey Search – few cities in the state have as much contrast in one zip code as this one. No matter which side of Ellicott City you are on, we are offering the same free in-home window blinds consultation, precise custom measuring, and discount pricing to your door.
25+ Years Serving MD, DC & VA
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Free In-Home Consultation Available
Why Ellicott City Homeowners Choose Custom Window Treatments
Ellicott City isn’t one housing market, it’s several layered on top of each other. Established in 1772 as a town of flour mills by the Patapsco and Tiber rivers, the historic core currently retains over 200 remnants of the 18th and 19th centuries, including Federal and Georgian, Italianate, Victorian and American Foursquare. Few miles in any direction and you will hit a new Ellicott City: homes bordering the golf course in Turf Valley, single-family upscale subdivisions in Dorsey’s Search and Normandy with most of the area built since 1980 and the townhome community.
The split is significant when it comes to window treatments. Built between about 1992 and the newer examples in the 2000s and 2010s, the median home in Ellicott City was constructed in 1992, and there is a significant variation in both dates and styles. You don’t always want to install a blind in a builder grade window opening in a 19th century rowhome on Main Street.
Homes within or within a half mile of the Historic District may have window openings that are narrower, taller, or original to the building, and a custom fitting is the only way to get a usable fit. In newer (and outlying) subdivisions, a focus on energy performance and light control becomes more important in larger, more regular window openings.
Climate is one layer more in Ellicott City. In summer, this area is hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms; in winter, there are occasional snows and a bit of cold. That’s one of the reasons two products are always mentioned when talking with local homeowners:
Faux Wood Blinds
When you're looking for faux wood blinds for bathrooms, kitchens, or any room where moisture could be a problem, especially in older homes in urban areas close to downtown where the original woodwork and trim are valuable and need to be preserved from moisture.
Cellular Shades
Energy Saving cellular shades for bedrooms and living areas where energy management is most important, particularly for homes constructed prior to the mid-2000s that may lack the insulation features of newer construction.
Window Treatments for Suburban Ellicott City Homes
Take a short step beyond the old part of town and the house is a completely different place. Depending on your neighborhood – such as Turf Valley which has larger lots, bigger windows, and floor plans designed for natural light; Centennial, Dorsey’s Search, and Dunloggin are more townhome and condo fare.
The following should be considered for these homes:
Cellular Shades and Solar Shades
For larger window expanses like great and sunrooms, heat gain becomes a greater issue than glare and will be present more than in older homes downtown that have smaller windows.
Vertical Blinds or Sliding Door Panels
For common patio doors and walkout basements found in homes adjacent to Centennial Park and Centennial Lake.
Motorized Blinds and Shades
In Ellicott City, these newer subdivisions often feature tall great room windows and other difficult-to-reach areas, such as two-story foyers.
Plantation shutters
For more suburban single-family residences in areas such as Dunloggin, where a classic, timeless approach to style might be favored over the more modern shade style.
Ellicott City at a Glance
Ellicott City is the Howard County seat and is the most populous unincorporated community in the United States with a population of approximately 76,000. That is a significant fact – and one that gives a clue about the character of the city: that there is no single downtown serving the entire population. Instead, Ellicott City is actually two things: the small historic quarter around Main Street, and a much larger extensive mix of suburbs both to the southwest towards Columbia, and also to the northwest beyond Marriottsville Road.
Housing is approximately 54% detached single family homes and the newer suburban part of Ellicott City has some of the best schools and some of the most upscale communities in the State of Maryland. It is a very nice contrast to the historic district – in which multi-unit rowhomes are much more common, with apartments above ground-floor storefronts, and which predate the requirements of indoor plumbing by a huge amount.
The Buy Home Blinds Process for Ellicott City Customers
Installing new window treatments shouldn’t involve several visits to a showroom or trial and error when it comes to measurements. For homeowners in Ellicott City, here’s how it works:
Step 1 – Choose Your Style
Check out the entire collection online, order free fabric samples, or discuss your options with our design team whether your window opening is historic or built-up, a picture window.
Step 2 – Measure and Order
Call your local office with your questions, or use our measuring guide to order online. A design expert will come to your house and accurately measure each window and review the fabrics and colors personally.
Step 3 – Installation Done Right
Get our step-by-step video tutorials and install yourself or book a professional installation. In either case, each product is constructed to the measurement taken within your home.
Window Treatments for Historic Ellicott City Homes
Old Ellicott City’s Main Street is one of the most iconic areas of historic buildings along the Baltimore-Washington corridor, and the windows found in the community are over one hundred years old. Many of these buildings feature window openings inspired by 19th century building codes rather than the 21st century, as well as ground floor retail shops and residential units above.
For these homes the plantation shutters or standard wood or faux wood blinds will be the most natural-looking choice since their classic profile looks much better with the Federal, Georgian or Victorian detailing than will a modern-made roller shade. Among homeowners who are primarily interested in maintaining a period character, but also look for more control over light and privacy, it’s typically the first step.
Moisture management is also a primary concern for residents in the historic district, which rests in a low-lying river valley between the Tiber and Patapsco, which might not be the case elsewhere. If you have windows on the ground floor or basement levels in this area of town, faux wood blinds may be a good option as they are less prone to warping and dampness than solid wood blinds.
Common Window Problems We Solve for Ellicott City Homes
Original window openings that don’t match modern sizing. It is the common problem of homes in and around the Historic District. Custom measuring addresses it head on; each blind, shade or shutter is made to your window, not a general measuring range.
Humidity and moisture sensitivity in older construction. Many fabrics and real wood blinds don’t fare so well in the humid summer months in Ellicott City, especially in homes along the river valley. Faux wood blinds and aluminum blinds are designed to withstand such effects.
Heat gain in larger, newer windows. Newer subdivision homes in Turf Valley and Centennial may feature large windows which allow the afternoon heat to penetrate. Solar shades and cellular shades will block glare and solar heat gain before it enters the room.
Mismatched style between historic and modern construction. What works in a 2010s subdivision doesn’t always mesh with a 19th century rowhome. We support you in bringing the right product to the right period and right home.
Privacy near Main Street and other high-traffic areas. Sheer shades and light filtering shades provide privacy and still allow light in, for homes and upstairs apartments near the busier commercial sections in Ellicott City.
Schedule Your Free Ellicott City, MD Consultation
Ellicott City has a wider variety of window treatments than you can find just about anywhere else in our service area ranging from the Main Street rowhomes to the Turf Valley subdivisions. Call us for a complimentary in-home consultation and we’ll come to your home with the correct samples and skills.
Schedule Free In-Home Consultation
Prefer to browse first? Shop our full collection of blinds, shades, and shutters or order free samples to compare materials before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions: Blinds and Shades in Ellicott City, MD
Do you offer in-home consultations in Ellicott City, MD?
Yes. Ellicott City is within our Maryland service area and approximately a 27-minute drive from our headquarters in Beltsville. A professional designer will come to your house, accurately size your windows, and offer a free estimate without pressure.
Does Buy Home Blinds have a showroom in Ellicott City?
Our company’s headquarters are in Beltsville, MD and our coverage includes Ellicott City. We have no showroom located in Ellicott City however we often travel there to handle in-home consultations and installations.
What window treatments work best for homes in Historic Ellicott City?
Faux wood blinds, wood blinds, and plantation shutters compliment the Federal, Georgian, Victorian, and Italianate architecture that abounds across the Historic District. Faux wood is also suitable for windows on the first floor in this lower section of town where humidity and moisture are a greater concern.
What about newer homes in Turf Valley or Centennial?
Great rooms, sunrooms, and hard-to-reach, two-story windows can be particularly matched with larger, more modern window openings in these neighborhoods, which generally go well with cellular shades, solar shades, and motorized blinds.
How long does it take to get custom blinds installed?
Most custom orders will ship in 7-14 business days. Installation is scheduled around your Ellicott City address, which can be a Main Street rowhome or a subdivision further out.
Can I order free samples before deciding?
Yes. Every fabric and material sample comes with no minimum purchase and you can see the color and texture up close in your home’s natural light before ordering.
Do you offer shutters that meet historic district guidelines?
We cannot comment specifically on historic preservation requirements in Howard County for your home, but our plantation shutters and wood blind lines are built in traditional styles that are generally well suited to old fashioned architecture. Make sure to check any local historic district rules with Howard County first, before deciding on your choice.
What if my windows are non-standard sizes?
Custom measuring is all about that, after all. From an original window opening downtown to a picture window in a newer subdivision, each product is designed to fit your specific dimensions.