Motorized drapery in Los Angeles.
Drapery on a quiet motorized track, drawn by remote, keypad, app or schedule: the practical answer for tall rooms and long walls of glass.
Why motorize drapery?
Some drapery is simply too tall, too wide or too heavy to be drawn comfortably by hand. A double height living room, a thirty foot run of glass or an interlined panel of real weight will be left alone if it is a labor to move, and drapery that is never drawn protects nothing. A motorized track moves it smoothly and evenly at a touch, and it will do so every day at the hour you choose.
It is also kinder to the fabric. The panels are never tugged by the leading edge, so they stay cleaner and keep their shape.
How a motorized drapery track works.
A compact motor sits at one end of the track and drives the carriers along it by a concealed belt. The drapery hangs from the carriers exactly as it would on a hand drawn track, in ripple fold or pinch pleat. The track may be fixed to the wall or ceiling or recessed, and it can be curved for a bay. A pair of panels may part at the center or a single panel may travel to one side.
Power and control.
Motors may be hardwired, which is best when the house is being built or renovated, or powered by a rechargeable battery, which lets a finished room be motorized without opening the walls. Control is by remote, wall keypad or app, and many systems can be joined to home automation so that the drapery answers to the same scenes as the lighting. The details are set out under motorized window treatments.
Planning ahead.
If you are building in Bel Air, Beverly Hills, Malibu or Encino, let us speak with your architect and electrician early. A recessed track, a concealed motor and a power point in the right place cost little during framing. Existing drapery can often be moved to a motorized track as well, and we are glad to advise. Our entry on what to decide before the walls are closed applies to drapery as much as to shades.
From selection to installation.
Consultation
We begin with the room itself: how it is used, where the light falls through the day and what you would like the windows to do.
Selection
Fabrics, materials, finishes and hardware are chosen together, so the treatment suits both the architecture and the furnishings.
Measure and Make
Every opening is measured precisely and each treatment is made to that measure, never adapted from a stock size.
Installation
Our installers fit and adjust every treatment, so it hangs true, operates smoothly and is finished properly.
Motorized Drapery: common questions.
Can existing drapery be motorized?
Often, yes. If the panels are in good order they can usually be rehung on a motorized track, though the heading may need to be adapted. We look at the drapery and the window before advising.
Is motorized drapery noisy?
A good drapery motor is very quiet, little more than a soft hum as the panels travel. Correct sizing of the motor for the weight of the fabric keeps it so.
Can motorized drapery still be drawn by hand?
Many systems allow it, and some will start the motor when the fabric is given a gentle pull. We specify this where clients want it, and confirm how the track behaves if the power is off.
Motorized Drapery: further reading.
Protecting Art, Floors and Furniture From the California Sun
The light that makes Los Angeles so beautiful is also hard on everything it touches. How window treatments protect what you have collected.
Motorized Shades: What to Decide Before the Walls Are Closed
Power, pockets and control are far easier to plan during construction than afterward. A short guide to the decisions worth making early.
Transform your space with custom solutions
Tell us about your windows and the way you live with them. We will guide you from selection to installation.
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