Amnet Shines in
Shade Category

WIns The Lutron Best Shade Project Award

What was unique about this project?

Our homeowner put a new twist on the saying things should be seen and not heard - they wanted a shade option that would be neither seen nor heard!

In this case, the homeowner wanted a complete blackout shade solution that would not alter the appearance of the existing windows in any way – no exterior box, no changes to the trim, no visible modifications at all. They did not want the usual exterior box hidden by a valence and they didn’t want to be limited to special window treatment options. The system needed to be simple enough for children to operate and it was to be completely silent. As if that wasn’t a challenge enough, it was a retrofit!

Our answer was to create and build a flush-to-the-wall, invisible compartment to house the shade roller at the top of each window. This innovative solution would in no way change the outward appearance of the window and would preserve the integrity of the homeowners existing décor. All while remaining completely invisible - not even the drape options were effected. Additionally, our answer was practical; the custom designed invisible compartment that is easily accessible for servicing and management including a biscuit joint system used to secure the top piece of trim.

The shade track, which was hidden along the sides of the window, allowed the shade to ride seamlessly within the window. This completely blocked any light from entering the room via the top or sides of the window. To seal off the bottom part of the window the homeowner did not want us to use a sill angle (as it would be visible and change the look of the window sill). Instead, we chose to use an architectural hem bar at the bottom of the shade to block off all light from the bottom part of the window. The result, 100% blackout was achieved without any aesthetic compromise!

Utilizing this innovative installation technique allowed the shade to remain completely hidden when not in use and, therefore, completely fulfilling our client’s request. Once the homeowner saw how successful, invisible and quiet the Lutron blackout shade installation was in their Master bedroom, they decided to install them throughout the house!

What challenges did we overcome?

The first challenge during this project was the fact that this was a retrofit. The walls were already up and wide-ranging décor in place that couldn’t be altered in any way. To completely meet the objectives set by the client we had to literally think outside the box. We successfully completed this retrofit installation by using a combination of inventive design, quality craftsmen, quality products and professional installation. Every step of the project was overseen by our engineers and technicians resulting in an extremely high quality, seamless installation.

It was also imperative the shade system be easy to service. We overcame this challenge by creating detailed drawings and working with a very skilled carpenter to create a custom box and ‘biscuit’ joint system that would allow a technician to remove the top trim and pop it back into place without using nails, working almost exactly the same as a “trap door”. The installation track actually came forward about ½ inch so we had to build out the entire window casing to make it completely invisible. We built out the molding very slightly and modified the molding to make the change invisible.

In order for this project to be successful our project management had to be impeccable. The project required much coordination with carpenters and other professionals - everyone involved in the project had to be on the same page at all times in order to achieve a successful result.

The second major challenge was the homeowner’s unusual lifestyle. Our client is an international Portfolio Manager, and as such he works at night, therefore requiring quality sleep during the day. Being able to achieve complete darkness during even the sunniest day was of incredible value to him. We accomplished this goal using total blackout and to enhance the shade function we created a custom “Alarm Clock” program for the Master Suite. This program allowed the homeowner to set a natural light waking pattern in his suite alone, resulting in a simulated sunrise light diffusing into the room. This sleep/wake pattern could be changed at the touch of a button if the clients work hours determined and allowed him to sleep better which proved invaluable to his lifestyle.

Any unusual requests?

The customer also requested a solution that would give them the ability to easily control all the shades. We used hand held remotes and touch panels to allow them to control their shades from any room. We programmed different settings for each bedroom according to the client’s needs – e.g. the baby’s room followed naptime schedules, the master suite allowed the homeowner to meet sleep during the day and be refreshed to tackle his night working hours, etc.

The customer stated that they were very concerned about the environment and energy costs and wanted a way to incorporate this concern into the overall shade solution. We conducted an audit of the home, taking special note of the sun facing rooms and created a program that would automatically lower shades in rooms that were unoccupied and during periods of intense sunlight, saving on energy costs.

In addition, the homeowner had several rooms that contained valuable antiques and we gave him the ability to automatically lower the shades throughout specified rooms, protecting his possessions with one touch. We also created a custom program that allowed the homeowner to remotely close the selected blinds which could deter intruders.

Project Location
New Canaan, CT

Square Footage of Home
12,000 square feet