Budget Blinds — The Company That Brings A Full Design Showroom To Your Home! 

If you’ve been thinking about enhancing the beauty of your home, call Budget Blinds of North Tampa & Land O’Lakes for an in-home design consultation. (All photos provided by Adriane Wonderlin) 

As Florida summers seem to get hotter (and start sooner) every year, keeping cool inside becomes a growing priority for local homeowners. You can crank up the air conditioning, but what you may not realize is that a more efficient and stylish solution to the heat is getting new window treatments. These not only help regulate temperature but also enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home, both inside and out. 

Mike & Adriane Wonderlin are the owners of Budget Blinds of North Tampa & Land O’Lakes. 

When it comes to finding a company that meets all of your window treatment needs, Budget Blinds of North Tampa & Land O’Lakes stands out. Owned by Wesley Chapel residents Adriane and Mike Wonderlin, the local franchise on W. Fletcher Ave. (near I-275) in Tampa offers personalized consultation services. Whether you visit their showroom or invite a Budget Blinds consultant into your home, you can choose from the company’s huge variety to find the perfect window treatments that align with your budget and style preferences. 

Adriane says, “Many people think blinds are expensive, but we offer a wide selection that can fit any budget.” Mike, with more than 30 years of experience in the business, and Adriane have expanded their service area from San Antonio to Palmetto and now Lakeland. Their showroom is a hub for exploring various styles, although in-home consultations remain a key part of Budget Blinds’ services. 

“Our consultant will come to your home and help you pick out just the right style and material,” says Adriane. 

Employing a team of about 40 people, the Wonderlins are looking to expand further by hiring additional administrative staff and installers in Tampa. Adriane encourages anyone reading this story to contact her (see contact information at the end of the story) if interested or looking for more information. 

Budget Blinds can show you how easy and affordable it is to add hybrid pleated shades with drapes to your home. 

The Wonderlins just came back from the Budget Blinds Expo called “Shaping Our Future Together” in Grapevine, TX, and shared that the most recent trends in the industry have not changed. 

“Motorization is still one of the most popular features with customers,” Adriane says. “One older trend that is making a comeback, are draperies. In the ‘80s and ‘90s, the trend was draperies, but for many years since then, it’s been blinds or shades. However, over the last couple of years, draperies have made a comeback. The difference is that now, shades and blinds are accompanied by draperies — all of which are motorized.” 

The landscape of the window treatment industry has seen some notable changes, especially with the rising popularity of motorized blinds. For example, “In Canada,” Adriane notes, “a law mandates motorized blinds for safety, prohibiting the sale of homes with corded blinds.” While the U.S. has not adopted this regulation, Budget Blinds educates customers on the benefits of motorized blinds, anticipating potential future legislation. For those who don’t want the expense of motorized blinds, but are still concerned about safety, Budget Blinds does also offer a variety of manual pull-down cordless blinds. 

Adriane and her outstanding sales team are always happy to run down the variety of blinds available, including vinyl, wood, fabric, faux wood and aluminum. Adding draperies for accent can enhance the look with a pop of color. Budget Blinds’ drapery specialist Cheryl Visalli, who has a degree in interior design, assists customers in choosing the perfect drapes to complement their blinds or shades. 

Budget Blinds of North Tampa & Land O’Lakes offers every major trend in the window treatment industry, from (above) hybrid pleated shades with drapes to (below) motorized shades and so many more. 

Among those who appreciate not only Budget Blinds’ selection, but the service she has received, is customer Tina Marie, who says in one of the hundreds of 5-Star Google reviews the franchise has received, “We had our beautiful blinds installed today after about 6 weeks of initial contact with this company. We could not have been more happy! Luis was our installer and made it extremely easy from beginning to end! He was very professional, (we were) impressed with how quiet he was with the installation of all rooms and cleaned up like he wasn’t even here. Also very quick on installing the entire house, our home having 13 windows. I’m very impressed and excited and I will definitely recommend this company as they are the BEST!” 

The Wonderlins actively market their services through advertisements (including in the Neighborhood News), highlighting the benefits of upgrading from builder-grade window treatments. The company offers a buy-one-get-half-off-deal, appealing to those looking to enhance efficiency and aesthetics, as well as 12-month interest-free financing. 

For those who prefer shades, the many options include roller, pleated, Roman, woven wood, bamboo, sheer, solar, or graphic varieties, along with an assortment of panels, valances and drapes. 

Also available are shutters, made from wood or composite materials, which remain a popular choice in Florida due to their durability and innovative designs like the invisible tilt feature, which offers an unobstructed view. 

Even the motorization trend has new advancements that make these systems more affordable and quieter. “Smart Homes,” says Adriane, “benefit greatly from improved motorization features.” This technology is particularly useful for Florida homes with large or high windows, allowing homeowners to easily manage light and heat. 

Businesses also benefit from motorized window treatments, which can be set on timers or controlled via smartphone, remote, wall switch, or voice command. About 70 percent of Budget Blinds’ orders now feature motorized options. 

Budget Blinds, founded in 1992 in Orange County, CA, has grown to more than 1,000 franchises across the U.S. and Canada. The Wonderlins’ North Tampa franchise, purchased in 2018, earned Budget Blinds’ national Franchise of the Year award in 2020, marking the location’s third such honor since 2016. 

Beyond business, Adriane and Mike are committed to community involvement. They partner with Homes for Our Troops, providing window treatments for homes built for permanently disabled military personnel. 

To schedule a complimentary in-home Budget Blinds consultation, call (813) 968-5050. For more information, follow “BudgetBlindsofGreaterTampa” on Facebook and Instagram or visit BudgetBlinds.com/NorthTampa.

Budget Blinds Owners Celebrate Five Years Of Having You Covered!

On May 5, the Wonderlin family celebrated the one-year anniversary of the opening of their “Inspiration Center” at the KRATEs with their Budget Blinds family and members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber. (Photo by Charmaine George)

When Tara Leblanc bought her home in Lexington Oaks, the blinds were old and outdated. She knew she wanted an upgrade, so she called “a bunch of different companies” to come to her home and give her an estimate.

After four consultations, she says it was an easy decision.

“We went with Budget Blinds,” says Tara. “They were absolutely amazing.”

She says she’s “not good with decorating” and notes that her Budget Blinds design consultant made many helpful suggestions. There was great communication throughout the process, and when the installers came out, they were friendly, didn’t make a mess and cleaned up after themselves. Tara was thrilled.

The local franchise of Budget Blinds is owned by Wesley Chapel residents Adriane and Mike Wonderlin, who are marking five years of owning the business, since they purchased it in June 2018. Their territory stretches all the way north to San Antonio and south to Palmetto and includes showrooms on W. Fletcher Ave. (near I-275, two exits south of Wesley Chapel’s S.R. 56 exit) and in Riverview, covering nearly 90 zip codes.

Whether you’re looking for beautiful new drapes (above) or motorized shutters with drapes you can control with your smartphone (next page), the local Budget Blinds franchise has you covered. (Photos provided by Adriane & Mike Wonderlin)

Budget Blinds also has an “inspiration center” at the KRATE container park at The Grove in Wesley Chapel. As people wander through the rows of converted containers to sample food and check out tiny shops, they also can pop into Budget Blinds to see how they might transform their homes with a huge variety of available blinds, shades, shutters and drapes.

A quick visit to Budget Blinds at the KRATEs will allow you to see the many possibilities, with videos of the products in motion on the TVs, consultants available to answer questions about how something functions or how it would look, and education about the different types of window treatments.

The KRATE location has been open since May of 2022, and the Wonderlins had the opportunity to celebrate their innovative shop with a one-year anniversary North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting event on May 5 (photo above).

As the local franchise continues to grow, the Wonderlins also are building a 7,500-square-foot warehouse and design center in Ruskin. When that opens later this year, the existing Riverview showroom will move to that new location.

But, for most people, a trip to one of the showrooms isn’t even necessary.

The Wonderlins employ a team of nearly 40 people, including design associates who come to your home with what Adriane describes as “a ton of samples” to help determine the best look and functionality for window coverings in your home.

There is a variety of styles from which to choose. Blinds come in vinyl, wood, fabric, faux wood and aluminum. Shutters are made from real wood or composite material that will not fade or warp.

If you prefer shades, you can choose from roller, pleated, Roman, cellular, woven wood, bamboo, sheer, solar or graphic, plus a variety of panels, valances and drapes.

The trends they continue to see, Adriane says, include motorization and lots of customers adding draperies.

“The functionality of the shutter is great and the look is classic,” she says. “But now, we’re adding a soft piece of fabric, too. In the 1980s and ‘90s, draperies were everywhere, but in the 2000s, no one did drapes because it looked like ‘your mother’s house.’ But now, it’s back.”

The Appeal Of Motorization

She says that window covering motorization continues to improve, with motors that are nearly completely silent and a trend that continues to make these “smart home” features more affordable. 

Adriane says that for high places you can’t reach, motorization is ideal. It’s also great for businesses to set their timers to automatically open as the business opens, or at home to automate window shades to help kids or teenagers wake up for school in the morning.

With these options, you can use a smartphone, remote, wall switch or even voice command to open or close your window coverings.

What you won’t find at Budget Blinds are outdated blinds that are raised and lowered with cords. A new law was passed to eliminate dangling cords that are known to be harmful to children, because they can get tangled in them.

“In Canada, you can’t sell your house with cords in the window,” explains Mike. “We don’t know if that’s going to follow here in the U.S. But, our sales team continues to educate customers about the laws in the U.S. and why it’s important to replace those window treatments.”

In fact, that’s one reason Tara was impressed with the Budget Blinds consultant who visited her home.

“I’m an ER nurse and I have small children,” she says. “So safety is really important to me.”

She says the consultant was knowledgeable and helpful, and that her understanding of the new law and how to keep her kids safe made Tara feel confident in choosing Budget Blinds.

For her family room, Tara chose a motorized roller shade and smart drapes, safe options that also are incredibly convenient for her. To open and close her window coverings, she just pushes a button on her phone.

Mike says that’s in line with what he and Adriane are seeing across their business. “About 70 percent of our orders have motorization now,” he says.

Tara says Budget Blinds offered the best value of all the companies she evaluated, and her choice was easy once she heard about the company’s warranty, which includes a one-time replacement, no questions asked.

It’s been six months and she hasn’t had any problems, but she says that knowing the warranty is there if she needs it gives her peace of mind.

“I have two boys and two dogs, including a Great Dane,” Tara says, “so somebody’s about to destroy something, I’m sure.”

Budget Blinds was founded in 1992 in Orange County, CA, and today has more than 1,000 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. The Wonderlins’ North Tampa franchise, which they purchased in 2018, was awarded Budget Blinds’ national Franchise of the Year for 2020, which was the franchise’s third such honor since 2016.

To schedule a complimentary in-home consultation, call (813) 968-5050. Visit the KRATE location on Mondays from 2 p.m.-8 p.m.; noon-8 p.m. on Tuesdays-Saturdays; and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, follow @BudgetBlindsofGreaterTampa on Facebook or Instagram or visit BudgetBlinds.com/NorthTampa.

Another Busy Month For North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbon Cuttings 

There have been no fewer than a half-dozen different North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting events in Wesley Chapel since the middle of April. 

The events in questions include: 

‱ Dietrich & Kelso Orthodontics (in the former location of Abdoney Orthodontics) on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., across from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel on Apr. 13; 

‱ Totally Blu Pools off S.R. 54 near Morris Bridge Rd. on Apr. 20; 

‱ Ann’s Spa & Nails Lounge off S.R. 56 (next to Chicken Salad Chick), also on Apr. 20; 

‱ The five-year Anniversary Celebration for The Beach House at Wiregrass assisted living & memory care on S.R. 56 on Apr. 21;

‱ The groundbreaking of Blue Heron Senior Living’s skilled nursing facility expansion on Apr. 26;

‱ The one-year anniversary celebration for the Budget Blinds “inspiration center” at the KRATE container park on May 5;

‱ The ribbon cutting event for Nuevo Salon & Spa on BBD, also on May 5.

Dietrich & Kelso — With its main office in Lakeland and six total doctors in what is now a five-office practice (and four orthodontists working out of its Wesley Chapel office; photo below left), the new Dietrich Kelso Orthodontics is one of the largest orthodontic practices in our area. Led by Dr. Andrew Dietrich (in light blue short in the photo below) and Dr. Andrew Kelso (with scissors), the office promises outstanding doctors and a friendly staff in a state-of-the-art office that offers a variety of treatments — including Invisalign, clear braces, metal braces and laser gum contouring.

For more information about Dietrich & Kelso Orthodontics (2653 BBD Blvd.), call (813) 921-9211 or visit DKOSmiles.com.

Totally Blu Full Service Pools — Owners Sunil Mohammed and Rashmi Maharaj have owned their highly respected mobile pool service and repair company for years, but their storefront in the Publix plaza off S.R. 54 at Eiland Blvd./Morris Bridge Rd. is their first-ever brick-and-mortar location.

The store has everything you need to enjoy your pool — from chemicals and equipment to toys — and they also are happy to send their mobile unit to your home to service, repair or even remodel your pool, and even offer commercial pool services, too. The same location also doubles as the storefront for the couple’s Totally Green Lawn Services.

 For more info about Totally Blu Pools (32781 Eiland Blvd.), call (813) 788-7665, visit TotallyBluH2o.com.

Ann’s Spa & Nails Lounge — Although some people in our area complain about the number of nail spas there are here, people who attended the salon’s ribbon-cutting event (middle photo, right) who already were customers of the new Ann’s Spa & Nails Lounge definitely seem to appreciate the luxury, value and outstanding manicure and pedicure services.

Owner Annie Lam (in light blue in photo) invited attendees to enjoy not only great deals on her spa’s outstanding services, but also some homemade Vietnamese egg rolls, fried rice and more.

Ann’s Spa & Nails Lounge is located at 25032 Wesley Chapel Blvd, Lutz. For more info, call (813) 949-6663 or visit annspanailswesleychapel.com.

Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch — This NTBC ribbon-cutting ceremony was just part of an outstanding five-year anniversary celebration for the assisted living and memory care residence.

The first such facility located in Wesley Chapel, executive director Bonnie Berkman (with scissors below right) invited the Beach House’s residents and guests to enjoy delicious free food and beverages and DJ music and got to check out the immaculate assisted living residence together.

To arrange a tour of your own or for more info about the Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch (30070 S.R. 56), call (813) 508-6677 or visit BeachHouseWiregrass.com.

Nuevo Salon & Spa — Owner and medical practitioner Agnes Ubani, MD, introduced NTBC members to her new spa (in the same plaza as Dietrich & Kelso and The Hungry Greek; photo top of page ), which actually opened in March. The spa features a variety of state-of-the-art clinical equipment and cosmetic procedures — everything from facials and Botox to medical weight loss, body contouring and more — with licensed massage to be added in the future.

For more information or to book a consultation, call (813) 559-9790 or visit NuevoHealthMD.com.

Budget Blinds Comes To You – Or Visit KRATE For Inspiration

As the much-anticipated KRATE container park at The Grove in Wesley Chapel is finally opening, people are flocking there to try all kinds of food and check out little shops. As they wander through the rows of converted containers, they also can pop into Budget Blinds for inspiration on how they might transform their home with blinds, shades, shutters and drapes.

Wesley Chapel residents Adriane and Mike Wonderlin own one of the top Budget Blinds franchises in the country, serving a territory that stretches all the way north to San Antonio and south to Palmetto and includes showrooms on W. Fletcher Ave. (near I-275, two exits south of Wesley Chapel’s S.R. 56 exit) and in Riverview, covering nearly 90 zip codes.

The Wonderlins employ a team of nearly 40 people, including design associates who come to your home with what Adriane describes as “a ton of samples” to help determine the best look and functionality for window coverings in your home.

But, for anyone who isn’t quite ready to have a design consultant come to their homes, a quick visit to Budget Blinds at KRATE will allow you to see the many possibilities.

Adriane describes it as almost like a kiosk, where visitors can see videos of the products in motion on the TVs, ask questions about how something functions or how it would look, and learn about the different types of window treatments.

There is a variety of styles from which to choose. Blinds come in vinyl, wood, fabric, faux wood and aluminum. Shutters are made from real wood or composite material that will not fade or warp.

In June, Budget Blinds is offering a special that gives anyone purchasing plantation shutters a free upgrade to an “invisible tilt” option, which eliminates the rod that typically runs down the middle of the shutters. The invisible tilt allows for an unobstructed view and is typically an expensive upgrade, but is being offered completely free for the month of June.

If you prefer shades, you can choose from roller, pleated, Roman, cellular, woven wood, bamboo, sheer, solar or graphic, plus a variety of panels, valances and drapes.

All of these options can be explored at the Wesley Chapel KRATE location, where Adriane says she and Mike are excited to support the growing Wesley Chapel community.

“It’s almost like its own downtown area for Wesley Chapel,” she says. “You can bring your kids and your dog and come to a friendly area where people are gathered together. A couple of years ago there was nothing like that here.”

Adriane says Budget Blinds signed its lease for a spot in the KRATE container park in December 2019, hoping to open by the summer of 2020. After a number of delays – including, of course, the Covid pandemic – the park is finally coming to life and with more than 70 percent of the converted shipping containers ready to go, the Grove has scheduled an official Grand Opening for June 4 (see pg. 12).

“A lot of these local small businesses have been around for a long time, but you only see them in passing as a food truck, for example,” Adriane says. “They haven’t had the opportunity to be open year ‘round, until now.”

She hopes that as others gather and enjoy the area – even if they’re not shopping for window treatments – they may stop in and be inspired.

“There’s always a new trend,” she says. “You can always come in and see it because we’ll be switching up the displays.”

The trends right now, Adriane says, are motorization and draperies.

“The functionality of the shutter is great and the look is classic,” she says, “but now we’re adding a soft piece of fabric, too. In the 80s and 90s, draperies were everywhere, but in the 2000s, no one did drapes because it looked like your mother’s house. But now, it’s back.”

She says that motorization continues to improve, with motors that are nearly completely silent and a trend that continues to make these “smart home” features more affordable. 

For high places you can’t reach, motorization is ideal. It’s also great for businesses to set times to automatically open as the business opens, or to automate window shades to help kids or teenagers wake up in the morning.

With these options, you can use the traditional wand in the window, or you can use a smartphone, remote, wall switch or even voice command to open or close your window coverings.

While Adriane says you can get ideas from the showrooms or the container at KRATE, the best way to determine the ideal products for your unique home is for the design consultant to spend time there with you.

Kristine Dugas, who lives in Land O’Lakes, says she has used Budget Blinds twice and they have now covered almost every window in her house. She says she highly recommends the company.

“Budget Blinds was by far the best value and had the best selection,” says Kristine. “They have tons of selections to choose from, and the design process was fun and easy.”

She says the designer who came to her home was on time, professional and helpful, and so were the installers, who left everything clean and tidy when they finished the job.

“My experience with the office, customer service and communication with Budget Blinds was top notch,” Dugas says. “If I had any questions, they got back to me right away, the ease of scheduling my appointments to work around my busy schedule was wonderful.”

Budget Blinds was founded in 1992 in Orange County, CA, and has more than 1,000 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. The Wonderlins’ franchise, which they purchased in 2018, was awarded Budget Blinds’ national Franchise of the Year for 2020, the franchise’s third such honor since 2016.

To schedule a complimentary in-home consultation or learn more about the June promotion of a free upgrade to invisible tilt on plantation shutters, call (813) 968-5050. For now, the KRATE location is only open on the weekends. Call (813) 340-3360 to check when it’s open. For more information, follow @BudgetBlindsofGreaterTampa on Facebook or Instagram or visit BudgetBlinds.com/NorthTampa.

Budget Blinds Offers A Variety Of Styles and Expert-Only Service

Adriane & Mike Wonderlin will be opening a new Budget Blinds showroom in a few months at the KRATE container park in The Grove off S.R. 54. (Photos courtesy of Adriane Wonderlin)

Considering the amount of time you have probably spent looking longingly out your windows the past few weeks while quarantined, have you noticed that maybe your window treatments aren’t as attractive as they could be? Do your drapes look a little outdated? Do your shutters need to be modernized? Is there too much sun coming in and driving up those electricity bills?

Budget Blinds can solve all of those problems, and more.

Lexington Oaks residents Mike and Adriane Wonderlin are owners of the Budget Blinds franchises in Greater Tampa, Brandon and Lakeland. North Tampa has the nearest showroom, which is located on W. Fletcher Ave. near I-275, two exits south of Wesley Chapel’s S.R. 56 exit. The Wonderlins have a second showroom in Riverview, which serves their customers in the Brandon and Lakeland ares.

However, Wesley Chapel residents will have even easier access to the almost unlimited selection at Budget Blinds in a few months. The Wonderlins have already signed a lease for another showroom at the upcoming container park called KRATE by Gold Box at The Grove.

“Wesley Chapel, Land O’Lakes, Lutz, that whole area is still growing like crazy,” Mike says. “That’s why we decided to open a third showroom.”

Mike and Adriane have owned the local Budget Blinds franchises for two years. In January of 2019, they expanded by purchasing the Lakeland territory.

The current showroom in Tampa has been open since 2013.

Budget Blinds was founded in 1992 in Orange County, CA, and has more than 1,100 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. The Wonderlins’ franchise has been named the company’s Franchise of the Year in 2016, 2017 and 2018, and finished second in 2019.

While Adriane says some of their customers know exactly what they want, many don’t, due to the countless design and style combinations available. That’s where Budget Blinds comes in and offers service that few others can match.

“I didn’t know what I needed, I just knew I wanted some blinds that my two large dogs wouldn’t destroy,” says Tara LeBlanc, whose Palm Cove home in Wesley Chapel has glass sliders in the back that receive a lot of sunlight. “I called Budget Blinds and they sent a consultant who was very nice, showed us a bunch of samples, went over the warranty and came up with the solution. Now, I have blinds that go up and down horizontally, they don’t get in the way of the doggie door and it’s actually pretty cool.”

LeBlanc adds that she also will be having solar shades installed. She said she has wanted to do her back windows for years, but thought it would be too expensive. But, she says she gave Budget Blinds a budget, and discovered it wasn’t nearly as pricey as she thought.

Whether it’s shutters or drapes or anything in between, Budget Blinds has what you need.

The Wonderlins have a staff of 27 consultants and have added an operational management team to its staff — installation manager Bill Tumelty, a U.S. Army veteran, and administrative manager Kristi Cicollelo. 

Tumelty is one of a few military veterans who work for the Wonderlins.

“It was really important to us to find someone that was in the service,” says Mike, whose company partners with Homes For Our Troops by doing the window treatments for wounded veterans.

Additionally, Budget Blinds hired a drapery consultant, Terri Williams, who specializes in soft treatments such as drapery panels, Roman shades, and pillows.

Whether you’re looking for improved aesthetics or smarter energy consumption — or, like many customers, a little bit of both — Budget Blinds can steer you in the right direction. And, don’t let the coronavirus pandemic slow you down — Budget Blinds has adapted and offers “no-contact” service.

“We are here to help you with your next home renovation project,” Mike says. “But the well-being and safety of our customers is always our top priority. We’re continuing to follow all guidelines and updates suggested by the CDC and local departments of public health. We are currently operating under a no-contact consultation procedure for sales and installation appointments due to the coronavirus.”

It might be a good time to find a deal as well, while helping a locally-owned business.

“Shopping local has never been more important,” Mike says. “Our vendors have offered some additional discounts to help us due to Covid-19, and we’ll be passing those savings along to our customers.”

Budget Blinds offers a complete line of window coverings.

Blinds come in vinyl, wood, fabric, faux wood and aluminum. Shutter options range from real wood (in painted or stained) and also composite shutters that don’t fade or warp.

If you prefer shades, you can choose from roller, pleated, Roman, cellular, woven wood, bamboo, sheer, solar and graphic, not to mention a variety of panels, valances and drapes.

Budget Blinds has recently renewed a partnership with Mirasol Shutters, which has been around since 1991 and offers shutters made right here in Florida (customers can have them installed in as little as 7 days, with express shipping).

Mirasol Shutters feature a number of different collections depending on your needs (including arched window treatments), and are made of a 100-percent recyclable composite core that mimics the look and texture of natural wood but isn’t susceptible to the same moisture, UV damage or dents and chips as wood.

While you can find window treatments at a variety of big box stores, having a consultant visit your home and make suggestions is a touch those bigger stores rarely offer. Budget Blinds can find the right style and product to match your bedding, walls and floors. 

“Our niche in the market is somewhere between a big box store and calling a decorator,” says Adriane. “Our design consultants don’t just go out and give a quote; they actually help design (your window treatments).”

And, Budget Blinds’ warranties are better, too. “You can buy the same exact line at Home Depot,” Mike says, “but you won’t get the same warranty.”

Budget Blinds only uses experts in the window treatment industry, and never uses independent contractors. Budget Blinds installers are employees, and Tumelty insures that every installation is done with the company’s commitment to quality.

Budget Blinds also is a leader in the “smart” products line, which allows you to open your drapes or raise your blinds from the comfort of your couch or bed by using your smart phone or devices like Alexa and Google Home.

In 2016, Budget Blinds began offering a “Smart Homes by Budget Blinds” partnership with the smart home company Lutron. The Tampa-area franchise was one of just 15 locations to pioneer the concept, introducing smart shades, lighting and thermostat controls for its customers.

That’s a big deal in neighborhoods such as Estancia,The Ridge, and Esplanade, where homeowners have nice conservation views, and people don’t want to have to go behind the couch to pull the cord to open or close their window treatments.

“There’s a big push for motorization and automation,” Mike says. “In five years, that’s all you’re going to see.”

Automation even allows you to set times for the drapes or blinds to open and close. Scheduled correctly, you can be awakened in the morning by natural sunlight as your blackout shades gradually rise, or change the ambiance of your whole home after the sun has set, all with the press of a button or a voice command.

Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa is located at 1208 W. Fletcher Ave. The showroom hours are Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m., and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sat. To schedule a complimentary in-home consultation, call (813) 968-5050. For more info, visit BudgetBlinds.com/NorthTampa.