Light has such a powerful influence. Not only can it elevate your mood and increase your productivity, but it can even improve your health.

What if you could harness the sunlight coming in your windows to reap all its benefits without also spiking your energy bills, fading your couch, or creating a not-so-pleasant glare on your flatscreen or monitor?

The solution comes in the forms of window coverings from Hunter Douglas – the pioneer of the industry — which provides products that are stylish, energy-efficient, and child- and pet-safe.

Now, meet the family-first, born-and-raised Eastern Washington couple who offer an exclusive Hunter Douglas showroom for all of the Spokane community’s lighting needs.

Alex and Jessica Warr, along with two of their five kids, opened a beautiful showroom - Spokane Blinds - in Spokane Valley in October 2021.

After initially operating the business from their home and representing a multitude of brands, the Warrs made the easy decision to showcase Hunter Douglas products.

“We decided to go exclusive when we realized what a superior product Hunter Douglas is,” Alex Warr said. “We then started pushing it more and it just took off.”

It’s no wonder: Hunter Douglas regularly creates groundbreaking designs like the wildly popular Duette Honeycomb Shade with its patented cellular technology that’s energy-efficiency for homes, while still drawing in the light by diffusing it - or keeping it out, depending on your needs.

In fact, the Duette reduces heat loss in the colder months by a whopping 40 percent and prevents heat gain in summer by 80 percent.

Then there’s the Pirouette shade - one of the Warr family’s personal favorites - featuring sculptural fabric vanes attached to a sheer backing and offering varying levels of light diffusion and unparalleled UV protection. Even when open, the Pirouette provides 81% UV protection.

“They’re so versatile and give our house a certain…glow,” said Jessica Warr.

Not only has the technology of the window coverings themselves come a long way; the mechanics of operating them have as well. The company’s proprietary Invisi-Lift system makes opening and closing the shades a cinch.

“The motorized blinds are so much easier these days as now they’re powered by a lithium-ion battery that you only charge once a year,” Alex Warr said. “It’s magnetic, so you just pop it in; it’s so easy that it allows you to install blinds in high-up places, where before it would have been difficult and very expensive.”

In addition to blinds and shades to fit any size and shape of window, with unique options like opening from the top down and the ability of the shades/blinds to open with a window and remain fully intact, Hunter Douglas also offers a vast selection of fabrics and textiles.

From wood and Polysatin shutters to Precious Metals aluminum blinds, to Design Studio side panels and drapery designed by industry-leading artists, Hunter Douglas covers the gamut of everything you could want in window coverings by showing you what you didn’t even know was possible.

The Spokane Blinds showroom is a great place to start your journey of finding just the perfect fit for your home and lifestyle. Jessica, Alex and their two kids, Carly and Kempton, are always ready to talk about their passion for window coverings.

“We love having the showroom – it’s a great way for people to come in, see the blinds, learn how they operate, become educated on just what would fit their needs best,” said Jessica Warr.

Serving Spokane, North Idaho and surrounding areas, Spokane Blinds is the second Hunter Douglas showroom in the area. The Warrs plan to open more showrooms in the next five years, including Seattle.

“We have really enjoyed watching the business grow, especially because we have done it as a family. Spokane customers have been so great,” said Alex Warr.

The family-friendly attention to customers goes hand-in-hand with the exceptional customer service Hunter Douglas provides.

Not only are customers drawn to the product for the aesthetics, but also the thoughtful engineering and wide selection. Hunter Douglas is known for putting the customer first. The company does this with a Limited Lifetime Warranty and really listening to customer feedback, including requests for pet- and kid-friendly options and sustainable choices.

The company now has Greenguard Certified products, which adhere to stringent indoor air quality guidelines.

Alex Warr said the company’s commitment to service and quality is what drew the family in.

“We are exclusively Hunter Douglas because we love their quality and their exceptional customer service, and that’s what we want for our customers - only the best.”

Spokane Blinds is at 6818 Sprague in Spokane Valley. The showroom is open to the public Monday-Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Wednesday and Sunday. In-home consultations are also available. For more info call (509) 900-2000 or visit www.spokaneblinds.com/