👋 Hello from Kristine!
Hello friends and partners,
I’m excited to share big news: Bumble Bee Blinds of Mobile is now an authorized Hunter Douglas dealer. That means your clients can access an even wider range of premium shades, shutters, and drapery - paired with our measure-to-install service and trade-friendly support.
Whether you’re staging a listing, refreshing a rental between tenants, or specifying for a remodel, my team and I are here to make selections simple, timelines smooth, and installs turnkey across Mobile and Baldwin County.
Let’s collaborate on your next project!
– Kristine Jefferson
🐝 Owner, Bumble Bee Blinds of Mobile
If you see the bee-Mobile around town, be sure to wave hello! 🐝👋
🐝 Bee-spoke Beauty: Hunter Douglas Selections
Hunter Douglas brings a deep portfolio of styles and performance fabrics your clients will recognize and love. Think elegant sheer shadings, insulating cellular shades, tailored roman shades, woven textures, and streamlined rollers/solars. The collection covers light control from softly diffused to room-darkening, plus options for specialty windows and large expanses. Motorization is a standout: shades can be automated on schedules and controlled by app or voice for effortless living and consistent showings.
As your local trade partner, we’ll simplify the process with curated sample pulls, quick quoting, and professional measure/installation. For realtors, that means fast, high-impact upgrades that photograph well and help listings show their best. For property managers, durable textiles and easy operation reduce maintenance touches and tenant complaints. For designers, the breadth of fabrics, tapes, and hardware opens up beautiful, brand-right solutions without compromising function. We’re thrilled to bring this level of choice and support to the Gulf Coast, and we can’t wait to walk your clients through the options!
Keep rooms comfy in every season and bright with natural light—choose energy-saving Duette Cellular shades.
🍂 Fall on the Gulf Coast: Quick Seasonal Trends
Fall moves fast on the Gulf Coast, between open houses, turnovers, and pre-holiday refreshes. Here are our Top 4 Tips for Fall to keep listings, rentals, and remodels show-ready:
1. Warm neutrals & texture 🍁
Linen-inspired weaves and natural fibers soften spaces and play nicely with oak, rattan, and coastal palettes.
2. Layered light control 💡
Pair sheer shadings for daytime glow with room-darkening liners or blackout in bedrooms and media rooms.
3. Glare & heat management: ☀️
Solar screens tame afternoon sun for water-view rooms and offices without blocking the view.
4. Quiet convenience 🌙
Motorized shades keep showings and turnovers smooth. Set scenes for “Open House,” “Evening,” or “Away.”
Bumble Bee Blinds of Mobile offers several options in various materials. Reach out to me to learn more! It’s amazing what custom window coverings can do.
☀️ Spec Corner: Solar Openness + Color Cheat Sheet
Have you ever wondered what the percentages mean when choosing shades? Choosing the right solar openness and fabric color makes a visible difference in photos, comfort, and cooling. Use this quick cheat sheet to match openness to window exposure and pick colors that balance view clarity with heat control.
1–3% = maximum glare control for offices/south–west exposures. Ideal for harsh afternoon sun and screen-heavy rooms. Expect a slightly dimmer interior; plan task lighting to keep spaces photo-ready. Darker colors at these tight weaves preserve the view better than light tones.
5% = balanced view + comfort for living & dining spaces. A versatile “everyday” choice that photographs well without killing the view. If afternoons run hot, choose a lighter fabric or consider a reflective backing to cut solar gain.
10%+ = preserve views where glare is mild. Great on shaded lots or north/east exposures where the vista sells the space. Glare/UV control is modest. Pair with drapery or a secondary layer if clients need privacy or darker rooms.
Dark fabrics sharpen the view out; light fabrics reflect more heat. Dark reads cleaner through glass and reduces interior reflections. Light brightens rooms and helps with cooling, but can soften the view and show more moiré in photos. 💡 Moiré is the wavy pattern you sometimes see in photos when a tight fabric weave meets the camera’s pixels. If moiré appears in listing photos, change the angle or zoom slightly to blur the weave.
Consider dual shades (solar + blackout) for bedrooms and media rooms. Daytime solar keeps views and glare in check; the blackout drops for sleep, streaming, or presentations. Use a shared fascia/cassette for a clean look and confirm depth for two rollers.
🐝 The Buzz on the Bumble Bee Blinds of Mobile Blog
📸 Phone-Only Photo Wins: 3 Tips
Great shots don’t require a full crew, just a little planning. Use these three moves to showcase rooms, capture custom details, and create portfolio-ready images from your phone.
Chase soft, even light
Turn off overheads (they mix color temperatures) and use window light as your key. Shoot when the sun isn’t blasting straight in; if it is, diffuse with sheers or a light-filtering shade. Expose for the brightest area by tapping on the window, then slide exposure up just a touch so walls don’t go muddy.Compose like a pro
Turn on the grid and keep verticals vertical—tilt the phone until door and window edges are straight. Shoot most room photos at chest height (~48") with the main 1× lens to avoid distortion; use ultra-wide sparingly and keep furniture away from the edges. Clear small clutter, pull panels to show full glass, and leave clean “walk paths” in the frame so the room reads spacious.Nail focus + celebrate details
Tap to focus and press-hold to lock AE/AF before you reframe; this prevents the phone from hunting. For texture and craftsmanship (mitered corners, drapery headers, woven weaves) switch to 2×/3× and step back slightly to stay sharp. Try Portrait mode for a subtle background blur, shoot 3 angles (wide, mid, close-up), and take a smooth 3–5 sec video pan for social to complement your stills.
🤝 Networking Opportunities in Baldwin County
Business After Hours by the South Baldwin Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, October 24 • 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM
1701 Gulf Shores Parkway, Gulf Shores
Grow your network at Business After Hours. It’s where referrals take shape and where you often discover the provider you’ve been seeking. South Baldwin Chamber gatherings keep it mutually beneficial: friendly, stress-free, and great for real conversations!
Business After Hours with the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce
Thursday, Nov 6, 2025 from 5–7 PM
Daphne Senior Center: 2605 US-98, Daphne
The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce presents a free “Business After Hours” networking event at Sweet Water Dentistry (5915 Sweet Water Circle, Fairhope, AL). Mix and mingle with regional professionals, enjoy light refreshments, and connect in a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. Don’t miss this valuable, no-cost opportunity to grow your network!
🐝 Thanks for being part of our hive!
Sending you a warm thanks for being part of our local community. If you’ve got a listing to stage, a unit turning over, or a client choosing finishes, we’d love to be your easy button. We’ll bring a curated Hunter Douglas sample tray to your office, turn quick quotes, and handle measure-to-install so timelines stay tidy.
Wishing you a successful and happy fall season!
With gratitude,
Kristine Jefferson
Owner, Bumble Bee Blinds of Mobile
Kristine Jefferson is a lifelong entrepreneur with decades of experience in real estate, renovation, and business operations. After relocating to Alabama’s Eastern Shore from Virginia, she followed her passion for design and customer care into a new chapter of local business ownership. When she’s not working, you’ll find her walking her dogs, staying active, or spending time with her grown kids. Guided by her faith and a heart for service, Kristine is proud to live and work in the community she now calls home.