As we all came back to the devastation from the storm, one thing that I had not anticipated was the impact it would have on my business. While we were blessed to have our office go unharmed, having no electricity did shut us down for eleven days. When we got reopened the phones were ringing. Those with minor damage were already calling to say, “With our trees down, I need to wear sunglasses in my kitchen, what can I put on my skylights?” or “We have no privacy now and we need shades where there were none before.”
The other benefit to having window treatments, besides the obvious reasons of making a room beautiful, is the increased insulation, energy efficiencyand UV protections that are created. This benefit is becoming much more evident to homeowners now with their increasing utility bill as well as the sun damage to their furnishings, rugs and floors. I will admit to feeling uneasy about gaining business from this devastating storm, yet I try to remember we are fulfilling a need and helping families continue to enjoy their homes.
I think many of us were complacent about the overgrowth that had taken place over the past 20-30 years in our area. Trees were not thinned out and kept cut back and now we are paying the price. So as we rebuild and re-plant hopefully we will all be mindful of planting and maintaining those new plantings with an eye towards the future, knowing now that major storms will not always pass by us.
I was amazed at the phenomenal camaraderie of my neighbors at home and work. So many helped and shared resources with others. For many of our fellow HHAHBA members and building contractors that set aside their own projects to help their neighbors using their staff and equipment to “dig out” homes, cars , driveways and yards. They then turned back to complete their projects with a sense of being a good neighbor as well as a good business person. I wish to say thank you to all of you and that I am proud to be a fellow member of the Hilton Head Area Home Builders Association and we are blessed to live in this wonderful area called the Low Country.
Submitted by Jennifer Kirkland, ASID
Graduate Parson’s School of Design
Owner of Carolina Window Designs
Lowcountry Home Magazine
2 C Anolyn Ct, Bluffton, SC 29910
(843) 785-7272
