Roller and solar shades in Los Angeles.
Slim, quiet shades that cut glare and heat, protect furnishings and keep the view, concealed in a pocket or behind a fascia and very often motorized.
Roller shades: the simplest answer, well made.
A roller shade is a single sheet of fabric wound on a tube. Nothing could be plainer, and that is its virtue. It suits a contemporary room, takes up almost no space, and when raised it leaves the window entirely clear. The fabric may be light filtering, room darkening or blackout, in textures from a fine weave to something close to linen.
Solar shades: keeping the view and losing the glare.
A solar shade is a roller shade in an open weave screen fabric. It reduces glare and the heat of the sun and screens out much of the ultraviolet light that fades rugs, floors and upholstery, yet one can still see the garden, the city or the ocean through it. The openness of the weave is chosen for each exposure, tighter for a west facing wall of glass, more open where the view matters most and the sun is gentler.
For houses in the hills and at the coast, solar shades are very often the first thing we fit. We discuss the wider subject in protecting art, floors and furniture from the California sun.
Dual shades, pockets and fascias.
A dual shade places two rollers at one window, a solar shade for the day and a blackout shade for the night. Either may be concealed. In new construction a pocket in the ceiling hides the rollers completely. In a finished room a slim fascia or cassette in a color matched to the frame does the same work. Side channels close the gap at the edges where full darkness is wanted.
Motorized roller shades.
Roller and solar shades are the easiest of all treatments to motorize, and on tall or wide glass we recommend it. Several shades can be aligned to move together, and a schedule lowers them before the sun reaches the room. See motorized window treatments for power and control, and custom shades for the other kinds of shade we make. We fit a great many in Bel Air, the Hollywood Hills, Malibu and Manhattan Beach.
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.
Roller and Solar Shades: common questions.
What openness should a solar shade be?
It depends on the exposure and the view. Tighter weaves give more protection from glare and heat and suit strong western sun. More open weaves keep more of the view. We test samples at your own window before recommending one.
Do solar shades protect furniture from fading?
They help considerably, by screening out much of the ultraviolet light and reducing visible light and heat. No shade stops fading entirely, so for valuable art and rugs we also discuss lining, schedules and clear film on the glass.
Can you see through solar shades at night?
From outside, yes, when the lights are on within. Solar shades give privacy by day only, so bedrooms and street facing rooms are usually given a second blackout shade or drapery for the evening.
Roller and Solar Shades: further reading.
Performance Drapery Fabrics: How the Synthetics Stand Up to the Sun
Performance drapery fabrics for Los Angeles homes: how polyester, acrylic, olefin, nylon, viscose and acetate stand up to sun, sea air and wear.
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.
Shutters, Shades or Blinds? Choosing by Room and by Light
Three families of window treatment, each with its own strengths. How to match them to the rooms of a house and the light they receive.
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.
Request a Quote → (213) 434-1619