Custom made Roller Blinds

A translucent back blind is coupled with a Roman Blind. Also an example of double blinds

As a kid I remember the old style holland blinds in the windows along with curtains. In those days it was more about frill whereas now we seem to prefer no fuss in most cases. Our lives have become busier so minimum maintenance is also a must.

PRIVACY ROLLER BLINDS

See the separate page on Cassette Roller Blinds for more detail.

If you are a shift worker or just have trouble with light these roller blinds could save you. They are also known as Smart blinds in some other circles. The pictured blind is motorized however they can also be done manually. You will need to dig a bit deeper to enjoy the benefit of these as they are not cheap. Basically you will pay for the blinds and then a price on top for all the extra channels. The channels and head box come in black or white only at this stage.

You can also have a bottom channel but shouldn't really find that necessary.

Can you use existing blinds? To some degree it may be possible but they would need to be trimmed to size to allow for the head box and channels and probably different controls. The head box likewise isn't necessary if you are just trying to stop the light on the sides. As a room darkening blind they are great.

Simple looks are the trend in blinds

The trend it seems these days seems to be minimizing fuss and this simple blind will do just that. Whether in a window or a door you can roll it right up and right down as usually they are flat across the bottom. The older styles with fancy trims and a spring operation are still available but not as popular. Last time I was asked to do a spring it took a bit of finding the right springs.

Link Blinds together manually

Sometimes there is nowhere to hang an operating cord in the middle of a doorway, or you simply want symmetry. In some cases it is able to be solved by linking two or more blinds together. They will operate at the same time so you do not have individual control. Please note that there is no guarantee that over time they will still operate at the same level, due to wear and tear, however adjustments can still be made.

Available in motorized form with remote control

Although this is an option not open to everyone's budget, it is something to consider if you are thinking about a smart house. A remote control will choose which blind you wish to operate and then you can move a roller blind up and down or if it was a vertical or panel glide it can move sideways; although more commonly used on roller blinds. It is set with limits when fitted to ensure it will not over extend and will stop at a predetermined level. There are also options today to use a solar panel on the window or a rechargeable battery operated motor. The batteries are expected to last about 12 months. The remote control can be programmed and can accommodate up to 15 blinds. I recently did a job with manually operated blinds on the sides of a stacker door but with linked motorized blinds in the centre in an effort to avoid needing cords.

Double brackets

These allow for two blinds in one window which can be seen in the picture above. They will allow for block out and transparent to give the best of both worlds to ensure privacy when needed and filtered light rather than having nothing on the window during the day. The brackets are rather large so they don't necessarily suit all windows or everyone's taste, but this option can also be done if there is sufficient space, using normal brackets with one blind set lower down. There are now also adjustable brackets so the two blinds can be better positioned to suit the window and individual likes. They are able to sit almost totally inside the frame if a normal depth.

This double bracket is a slimmer version of the old one so the blinds can sit almost above each other but allowing the top one to hang over the other to 'hide the workings!

Great range of fabrics and colours

**Bottom Rails in Square with bump strip, round and oval**

So much choice. Everything from easily cleaned and great block out polyester, which is very popular and reasonably priced, to more expensive softer fabric options which are not as easily cleaned. There are of course cleaning services available. Bottom rails come in a few different shapes being round, oval and rectangular. My customers tend to like the round which incidentally can be of benefit when it comes to banging blinds. I have a couple of fixes for that which I can help you with. There are now also bottom rails with a plastic strip that will mean they don’t make as much noise.

no fuss operation

Most of the roller blinds fitted today use either a metal chain or a nylon beaded cord which is located on your choice of side for ease of operation There are different components available from different manufactures so the look can differ slightly. As mentioned above there are still springs available and motorized blinds. Personally I recommend the nylon cord as the metal can tend to break easily and can also leave black oxidation marks on paintwork etc. It can also rust over time when near to the sea. The nylon cords come in several colours.

Roller blind cut down service

We offer a cut down service for roller blinds if you have bought a blind ready made from a store or indeed an old blind you may have brought from elsewhere. Please just be aware that the fittings in many 'off the shelf' blinds are not the same quality and will therefore probably not serve you as well over time. The picture added here shows the difference between a ready made and a custom made blind so you can see why the ready made blinds are often less expensive. Some ready made blinds these days are closer to the quality of a custom made however little things will differ that make all the difference not the least of which is the fabric quality and how it cuts. One thing I notice is the noise of the controls compared to a custom made one.