1563 days ago

Did Roman Blinds Come from The Romans?

Robert Anderson from Curtain Clean Palmerston North

Roman Blinds are one of the most popular blind styles available on the market today, but interestingly, their origins started rather differently to how we know it today…
Created more than 2,000 years ago in Rome (surprise, surprise!), essentially the concept of the Roman blind still remains the same today – to provide a simple solution to an everyday problem.

Introduced to The Eternal City in the ancient times, during the construction of the Colosseum, the Roman blind was invented out of pure necessity. Dust was constantly kicked up from the horse-drawn carriages and masonry remnants from the creation of the Colosseum, which was a nuisance and a huge inconvenience when windows were opened. Therefore, hanging a damp cloth from the windows seemed a natural solution to stop the dust from entering the home.

Once the blind (damp cloth) was well established in the home, it was soon discovered that as well as keeping the dust outside, it was also very useful in protecting against the very hot, Mediterranean sun and keeping their homes cooler.

The Romans are known for their love of elaborate decorations and the development of the Roman blind confirms this. They soon turned the damp cloths into ornate furnishing, with various patterns and colours to choose from, and once this was well established in the homes of many Romans, it became widespread throughout the whole Empire.

Following this, the strip of material then incorporated a drawstring, in order to lower and raise the blind as and when needed. The most common design of cord slats that interlinked is typical of Roman creativity, which came much earlier than even the simplistic roller blind.
Roman blinds remain a popular choice in modern homes. They’re available in a wide variety of styles and may be made from a range of materials, including bamboo, hemp, silk, reinforced cotton and other fabrics.

Roman blinds should be deep cleaned periodically. Unfortunately, they’re heavy and unwieldy to work with – and that’s where we come in. We can clean and repair your roman blinds – see out website if you’re interested in finding out more.

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More messages from your neighbours
2 days ago

Poll: Are quality products on the decline?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Gift-giving looks a lot different these days when you can pick up super-cheap goods made overseas. But do they last?

Do you have any old items like appliances, electronics or clothing that have stood the test of time? Share below!

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Are quality products on the decline?
  • 91.5% Yes
    91.5% Complete
  • 7.8% No
    7.8% Complete
  • 0.8% Other - I'll share below
    0.8% Complete
1054 votes
15 hours ago

Only the Sharpest Minds Will Get This Riddle… Are You One of Them?

Riddler from The Neighbourly Riddler

I twinkle and glow, guiding paths in the snow.
I’m not the sun, moon, or star in the sky,
yet on rooftops and trees, you’ll see me up high.
What am I?

Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.

Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed?
Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.

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1 day ago

Kmart duvet recall

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

Kmart will be recalling a number of their Anko duvet sets.

What you need to know:
- The recall is involving Christmas-themed duvets: Mrs & Mrs Claus Reversible Queen Size Bed Quilt Cover Set and Christmas Elf Reversible Single Bed Quilt Cover Set
- A recall of the products began in Australia following health concerns from several families.
- One woman said she thought she was having a heart attack after using one of the products which smelt of diesel.
- One customer said she’d purchased the quilt covers and said they smelled like gas. Another mum said hers did not have that smell but claimed her son developed a rash that only went away when he stopped using the product.
- The product is no longer available for purchase on the Kmart website.

Regardless of whether you have experienced an issue, customers who have purchased this item may return the product to store for a refund.

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