Bring the Lake Look Indoors

With the increased use of smart home technology, motorization is moving from wire-free tubular motors with wand controls on roman shades to tubular motors powered with remote controls. Wand controls have an entry-level price point; however, they have limitations due to the length of the wands. Motorized shades and draperies are becoming commonplace in homes today due to convenience and ease of use.

What is in demand and what is selling for interior residential? Automation takes motorized shades and draperies to the next level. Automated shades and draperies are in high demand. These employ a hub and app that allow the user to wield the touch of a button or voice command to easily open and close their shades and draperies. The demand for these is driven by the desire for increased comfort, convenience and energy efficiency in the home.

The clients in this home in Flowery Branch, GA, on Lake Lanier wanted the view of the lake during the day and to keep the outdoor lights out for sleeping at night. Wall-to-wall motorized draperies were the answer for both the master suite and their daughter’s room. Keeping the draperies as far off the windows as possible during the day was necessary to showcase the beautiful lake view from each room.

The Ripplefold draperies (100% fullness) in each room were hung from R-TEC Automation 13/8" H-Rail from Rowley Company. The master suite draperies were fabricated in 110"-wide Europatex CelineFoam for seamless beauty. Although this fabric is room-darkening by itself, a wide cotton lining was used to add additional beauty to the treatments. The daughter’s room draperies were fabricated in 118"-wide sheer Europatex Allure/Buff and lined in 100"-wide Trinity Room Darkening Lining. Using the wide fabrics allowed no seams for these wide treatments.

Careful planning and measuring were considered for the wall-to-wall treatments in both rooms. The motorized tracks were spliced due to the finished size of 209". Unpackaging and installing these wide rods took a team of installers the better part of one day.

After programming the shades with handheld remotes, the client also opted for an R-TEC Hub and the R-TEC Automation App so that the window treatments may be operated by a smartphone or an integrated device while at home or away. The R-TEC app is intuitive, quick to learn and easy to set up, allowing anyone to open and close their shades and draperies from anywhere they are—either with their voice or through the app.

Motorization and home automation are here to stay. Do not let the price point prevent you from offering this to your clients! Find a system that is compatible with different types of motors, draperies, and shades and then become proficient with that system. Providing these solutions is rewarding as it helps to improve clients’ quality of life and satisfaction with their living spaces. V

Designer: Donna Cash

Workroom: Donna Cash, Designs by Donna Atlanta, DesignsByDonnaAtlanta.com

Installer: Chris Ray and team, Hangman Installations

Drapery

Hardware: Rowley Company

Fabric: Europatex.com