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PRODUCT:
VALLEY CANVAS & AWNING
theambiant
awning
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Expertly made to give you shade
BY DOROTHY BROTHERTON
he warm Okanagan seasons lure us outdoors, calling us to do as much of our living as possible in the fresh air. Alas, some activities must be done indoors, but it’s possible to extend our indoor spaces into the ambiance of outdoors with the simple addition of awnings. Imagine an awning or canopy stretching over your pool and patio. You’ll spend so much more time out there, sipping lemonade, soaking in the season’s warmth but out of the direct blaze of the sun. The chance rain-squall won’t intimidate you and your friends, tucked under the awning. If you have a traditional sun deck, so popular in Okanagan home construction, you likely don’t use it often because it’s often so fiercely hot out there. Besides, you feel conspicuously on display. There are several awning treatments that can solve that problem. A wide awning with an optional drop screen on the south or west can do wonders to shield your gathering. Or you can create a cozy outdoor area with a retractable screen enclosure in a covered deck. Awnings are not a new idea. Roughly 5,000 B.C., Jonah discovered the benefit of shade from a vine, in probably the earliest recorded appearance of the awning concept in world literature. Ancient Egyptian and Syrian records note
woven mats that shaded market stalls. Leave it to the Romans to invent retractable awnings to extend over their stadiums, including the famous Coliseum. European and North American store fronts sprouted canvas duck awnings in the nineteenth century, both for shade and to display business names, lending charm to the streetscape. We’ve rediscovered the awning concept for homes, and nowhere is it more appropriate than the sunny Okanagan. Today’s awnings are tough, made of acrylic fabrics that resist fading and cracking, coated with Teflon-type substances so water beads off. Advances in retractable arms enable almost any design and motorized options make management a breeze. The fixed-framed awning style adds personality to the home, much like artistically arched eyebrows. Colours and styles in awnings open possibilities for a new fashion statement in outdoor decor. Valley Canvas and Awning has been around since 1967 and is the largest manufacturer of awnings and fabric-based products in the B.C. Interior. N Commercial, industrial and customized products are also available.
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