The virtues of venetians

Blinds by Peter Meyer

Blinds by Peter Meyer manufactures custom made natural timber Venetian Blinds, using only the highest-quality timbers across their range, says Managing Director Simon Meyer. 

“Our meticulous process begins with specially selected 4.2mm thick blades of Canadian Western Red Cedar, available in 46mm, 60mm, and 85mm slat widths. The Cedar is sustainably sourced from Canadian government-regulated forests, boasting full PEFC certification and a replanting ratio of three new trees for every one removed. This ensures a fine grain and consistent finish that has become a hallmark for designers, architects, and decorators.”

“In-house customisation capabilities are a cornerstone of our offering,” says Meyer. “Each slat is hand-sanded and undergoes a rigorous quality check at every stage of production. Blinds by Peter Meyer’s dedicated paint booths allow for unparalleled control over the finishing process, enabling them to deliver custom paint colours – often from the Dulux, Resene, or Taubmans ranges – as well as custom stains. 

“Additionally, oiled finishes in light-to-medium and medium-to-dark ranges highlight the natural grain variations of the Cedar, creating a unique aesthetic for every Blind. Assembly is performed entirely by hand, guaranteeing exceptional quality and attention to detail throughout the process.

“This dedication to craftsmanship and sustainability has positioned Blinds by Peter Meyer as one of the last Australian manufacturers of custom painted and stained Cedar Venetians, preserving a legacy of excellence while meeting the diverse needs of today’s interiors.”

The evolution of Blinds by Peter Meyer’s Habitus range into the Habitus Plus collection reflects an ongoing commitment to updating the company’s offering to meet contemporary interior trends, with updated colours introduced this year to enhance the range further. The collection now features Habitus Timber Venetians, available in 50mm and 63mm slats, in five carefully selected colours: Glacier, Quartz, Champagne, Mist, and Gunmetal. These Timber options perfectly balance sustainability and contemporary design.

The Habitus Poly Venetians, available in 50mm slats, include the best-selling Pure and Ivory alongside five new colours: Alpine White, a brighter white than Pure; Warm White, a contemporary warm white tone; Karri, a mid-tone wood grain colour; River Teak, a warmer wood grain colour; and Ironbark, a darker wood grain colour. Additionally, Alpine White and Warm White are also offered in 63mm slats, further broadening the collection’s versatility.

An 80mm wide flat valance complements all options, delivering a sleek and modern finish. The Habitus Plus Timber Venetians can span widths of up to 3000mm, while the Poly options extend to 2700mm, ensuring coverage for even the widest windows. This updated range reflects the latest interior decor trends, providing both versatility and timeless appeal.

Blinds by Peter Meyer’s Manhattan Venetians represent a unique blend of contemporary style and practical functionality, tailored for both residential and commercial settings. Combining premium 50mm crowned Aluminium slats with rich Canadian Western Red Cedar fascias and baserails, these Blinds bring a fresh perspective to traditional Venetian Blinds.

The Cedar fascias, offered in clear lacquer, custom stains, and a selection of classic colours like bright white, off white, basic beige, and black, elevate the aesthetic appeal while maintaining versatility. Mitred returns and fascias up to 3600 mm in width cater to a wide range of design applications, ensuring Manhattan Venetians adapt seamlessly to both modern and retro-inspired spaces.

Built with precision, the premium-quality headrails and flexible fixing options provide lasting durability and ease of installation. The combination of high-grade materials and thoughtful design enables these Blinds to complement interiors with elegance, providing a solution that harmonises form and function. Manhattan Venetians stand as a testament to Blinds by Peter Meyer’s commitment to innovation and design excellence, enhancing the possibilities for architects and designers alike.

In general, white and off-white tones remain enduring favourites in the Venetian Blind market, with subtle greys and Timber textures continuing to gain popularity, Meyer says. The Habitus Plus range reflects these preferences, offering a carefully curated palette that blends tradition with modernity.

Meyer notes that the industry has faced rising raw material costs in recent years, but Blinds by Peter Meyer has navigated these challenges with integrity, passing on only the essential increases without adding margins. 

“Our dedication to providing premium products at competitive prices underscores our commitment to supporting trade professionals and end consumers alike.”

Norman

“Normandy SmartPrivacy Venetian Blinds are redefining what you can expect from timber blinds, offering unparalleled performance, innovative design, and premium finishes,” says Peter Boyle, Product Development Manager at Norman. “These blinds feature the best blade closure on the market, with cord holes located at the back of the blade, ensuring minimal light leakage and maximum privacy. The patented headrail design further enhances light control, significantly reducing gaps when the blinds are closed. Available in standard 50mm or larger 63mm slats, they offer superior privacy and the option for expansive views, making them an ideal solution for any room.”

“Engineered for ease of use and long-term reliability, Normandy SmartPrivacy Venetian Blinds feature a cordless operating system certified ‘Best for Kids,’ ensuring child safety without compromising on style. The advanced SmartRelease system allows blinds to lower smoothly and quietly to a fully closed position with a simple pull on the cord, offering a seamless and convenient user experience. The patented Insta-Lock system reduces the pull force required for operation and provides precise control to lock blinds securely at any height or angle, ensuring both functionality and durability. Each blind is quarter-sawn to enhance stability and resist cupping and warping, maintaining its beauty over time. Backed by Norman’s exclusive No Questions Asked warranty, these blinds offer peace of mind for your customers with every purchase.

“These blinds don’t just perform exceptionally; they also look stunning. Crafted from wood harvested from sustainably managed forests, Normandy SmartPrivacy Venetian Blinds have the option to be finished with the revolutionary LUXE. Made from natural vegetable and plant-based waxes and oils, LUXE is free from harmful chemicals commonly found in lower-quality finishes. It amplifies the natural grain of the timber, delivering a luxurious, on-trend aesthetic while protecting the wood from degradation. With these environmentally conscious and meticulously crafted blinds, you can provide your customers with a superior solution that combines timeless design, sustainable materials, and exceptional performance.”

Somfy

“Motorised internal and external Venetian blinds offer precise control over light, shade, and privacy, making them a popular choice for both office and home office environments,” says Nicki Beggs, Somfy’s Product Marketing Executive.  

“Their sleek design allows slats to tilt to reduce glare while letting in natural light. External Venetian blinds also provide an energy-efficient solution by blocking heat in summer and retaining warmth in winter before it reaches the window pane. Somfy’s wide range offers customers complete flexibility when it comes to motorising Venetian Blinds with a variety of powering options to suit any application.”

For internal Venetian blinds, Somfy offers the silent Sonesse 40 RTS or Zigbee motor, the Tilt & Lift 25 RTS Central or Zigbee, and the Sonesse 40 RTS or Zigbee WireFree motor, which provides tilt and lift functionality. “The Tilt & Lift motor provides a compact design, innovative features, and ease of use,” says Beggs. “WireFree motors offer discreet integration that is simple to install as they do not require an electrician or wiring.”

The recently released Tilt & Lift 25 WireFree Zigbee is a dual-shaft smart motor designed for cord lift applications. Offering bi-directional feedback, users can know the motor position and battery level from the TaHoma by Somfy application anytime, anywhere. “Additionally, when commissioning using the TaHoma pro application, speed can be adjusted in 1 rpm increments”, states Beggs. 

The range of motors for internal Venetians now includes the Tilt Only 50 Zigbee, a WireFree through-shaft smart motor specifically designed for tilting applications. The Tilt Only 50 is suitable for headrails at least 50mm wide, and like the Tilt & Lift 25 WireFree Zigbee it can be powered by an external battery pack or direct power supply.

Somfy’s Tilt & Lift 25 RTS Central, a popular option for small Venetian blinds, can be powered by a fixed power supply plug, an external battery pack with Lithium-ion technology, or Somfy’s WireFree solar panel kit.  

For larger Venetians, the Sonesse 40 RTS and Zigbee motors offer versatility. “The Sonesse 40 RTS can be used with either 230V (3, 6 and 9Nm) or the WireFree Li-ion (3Nm – with a 12-month battery life). With its ultra-quiet (<45dBa) manoeuvring, the Sonesse 40 WireFree RTS motor has an elegant soft start and stop operation with various adjustable speed limit options (10 > 28 Rpm),” says Nicki Beggs, adding “The Sonesse 40 Zigbee has a powerful 4Nm lifting capacity and is whisper quiet.”

Somfy’s J4 WT motor remains the most popular solution for external options, designed to drive all types of exterior Venetian blinds. The universal external motor is a compact solution that fits either side of a headrail, through the use of a bi-directional (2D) mushroom. The mushroom works both in the up and down direction, which ensures the blind is protected in the event of false installation of the motor (where up and down directions are reversed).

Users can pair a J4 WT motor with the Soliris Mod/Var Slim Receiver RTS and a Hirschmann Plug to enable RTS control. “Additionally when the J4 is converted to RTS, it is also controllable with TaHoma switch; adding timers, scenes, schedules, and voice control too.” states Beggs. 

For controls, Somfy’s Situo Variation RTS range of 1 and 5-channel remote controls are designed specifically for the precise adjustment of tilting Venetian blinds, with a newly released Ysia 5-Channel Variation Control designed for Zigbee motors.

“Our Variation Controls are more than just a remote”, added Beggs. “The innovative scroll wheel allows for easy and precise adjustment of tilting on Venetian blinds, giving users the power to adjust and control the amount of light entering the room with precision and convenience.”

Somfy’s convenience is elevated with the addition of app control integration with the TaHoma switch, allowing users to boost the simplicity, security and energy savings that motorisation offers.