A straight up and down contender

LOUVOLITE

Market sentiment on the quiet evolution of verticals is aptly summed up by Louvolite Director of Business Development Steve Birtles. 

“As we entered yet another decade the humble vertical louvre blind is still a successful product in the global window shading market.  It’s had a number of facelifts along the way [and] with the increasing number of alternative systems in today’s market, the vertical blind remains a really popular choice for versatile light control and privacy.”

“While the key elements have remained the same, vertical blind systems really are superior today. They’re child safe, come in a stunning range of fabrics, are ideal to cover large expanses of windows or doors and can now even be motorised.”

Ease of installation has enabled a significant leap forward for the category, he adds. “The headrails for the first era of vertical blinds way back in the day were more akin to a heavy duty girder rather than the sophisticated items we see today. In those days, in order to fit the headrail, installers used to drill through the underside of the headrail and screw-fix it directly to the lintel. It was, in fact, Louvolite who first introduced the humble fixing bracket as the company recognised the difficulties involved in installation and how it could deter sales.”

To help the product compete with other more popular (less expensive) products, the first vertical blinds featured pull cords to allow end users to pull the louvres across. Weights were sewn into the bottom of the louvres and traversing sets and chains for the weights were actually ‘optional extras.’

“When you drove around the country in those very early days you could get excited by seeing a vertical blind in somebody’s window. Typically at first there would be only one window featuring this new product rather than the more normal ‘full house’ of today. Then, almost imperceptibly, vertical louvre blind sales started to grow as they became the fashionable way to replace net curtains.”

“The clean, modern lines of the stylish vertical louvre blind helped change the face of  homes almost as if by magic – but in fact it was the hard work of the trade that latched on to the many benefits of this ‘new’ blind.”

“Patio doors and other large glazed openings are largely deemed responsible for the real step forward in the domestic acceptance of vertical blinds. A real must have for the ‘up and comers’ in the late 1970s early 1980s, these double glazing salesman’s dreams were a challenge to furnish with traditional window furnishings. The homeowner would want to retain access to the levels of newly acquired natural daylight on some occasions, re-direct it on others and have privacy and sun control too. There really was only one answer and from that moment to this, the vertical blind has continued to thrive.”

Louvolite’s 12 louvre fabric choices from the early days has now grown to over 300 in its current collection, Birtles confirms. 

“In most first world countries that feature significant domestic market sales for window shades, the vertical louvre blind is still a major product. The diversity of textile finishes currently available is now so wide that, whatever your customers’ furnishing choices are, there will be something to enhance their home.”

The hardware supporting these products has also evolved dramatically, he says. “The Louvolite Vogue headrail system features an organic form that sits perfectly into any home and window type. It’s offered in many finishes, with the latest addition being anthracite grey to match the trend for this colour in many new build homes and renovations.”

“And of course the introduction of wand operated vertical blinds, pioneered by Louvolite, has made this most popular blind ‘safe by design.’ So now it not only challenges the other shade types as being the most flexible window furnishing product, it’s also near the top of the list for ‘safe by design’ blind types.

Motorised vertical blinds are a very welcome and innovative addition that builds on the success of the Louvolite One Touch program. Yes, they’re also ‘safe by design’, but they offer so much more than this. Currently a tilt only option to satisfy the majority of operational needs, it’s a high value program that has been designed to operate with the market leading Vogue vertical system. The child safe system has been developed in such a way that the presence of a motor unit is barely visible when the blind is installed.

No hard wiring is required as lithium rechargeable batteries power the One Touch motor that operates almost silently to manoeuvre the louvres to the required position. The operating control offers a number of relevant features including a favourite button to allow the operator to send the louvres to predetermined positions at the simple touch of a button.”

“As with all Louvolite One Touch products, the Vogue motorisation package is designed to allow ease of assembly using traditional blind manufacturing techniques and components that any accredited Louvolite manufacturer would have as stock items. Voice activation in the home is now offered, as is app control to schedule daily opening and closing times, which is ideal for home security, when out at work or away on holiday.”

BLINDS BY BORONIA GROUP

“For those of us who grew up with venetian blinds in our parents’ home and seeing the struggle to keep them free of dust, Vertical blinds were the perfect solution,” says Blinds by Boronia Sales Manager Michelle Macready. “As sliding doors and windows grew in popularity the rotating blades and the ease of cord and chain or wand operation made them the product of choice.”

“At Blinds by Boronia we have been manufacturing vertical blinds for many years and continue to offer a variety of options. With the choice of either unobtrusive low-profile tracks or the classic look of the standard profile your track can be as sleek or traditional as your customers’ decor requires. Both systems can be custom powder coated on request, to blend into window surrounds or to make a bold modern statement. Our operating systems include wand controls in four colours or standard cord and chain controls.” 

“Our tracks are made with incremental spacing, so the blades sit evenly across the opening, making uneven stacks a thing of the past. The links we use are stainless steel, ensuring years of hassle-free use. The track profile is double sided and offers a decorative fabric insert if requested.

“For the neatest and most ‘child safe’ blind, it’s worth considering fully sewn in weights and a wand operation. This is a compliant system that eliminates messy chains and dangerous cords, perfect for any size window or door. The blades we offer are in 63, 89, 100 or 127mm widths so you can choose the right size to suit the opening you are measuring.”

Macready adds that the variety of fabrics that are now available has been a key driver of their continued success. “Encompassing  sunscreen, translucent and room darkening fabrics, they are a far cry from the Boucle fabrics of the past. Previously the choice of fabrics was very limited usually just to one or two ranges with only four colours within each range. We now have literally hundreds of fabrics to choose from. We also offer the ridged 89mm PVC slats in 14 colourways, ensuring that there really is something for everyone.”

The Blinds by Boronia Group offers made to measure complete vertical blinds to the wholesale market while Skins N More carries a variety of vertical blind fabrics for clients to manufacture their own vertical blinds. 

LUXAFLEX

The Australian designed and developed Luxaflex Edge Vertical Track System is positioned as a sleek addition to the Luxaflex collection, offering a premium in hardware, style, control and safety.

Vera Meharg, Marketing Communications Manager, Luxaflex Window Fashions confirms that child safety remains a key consideration for homeowners across Australia. “It is imperative that window coverings are not only complementary to a variety of home interiors, but are also specifically designed to fit to the lifestyle needs of style-conscious homeowners who hold the importance of child safety in high regard.”

The Edge Vertical Track System is well-suited to such Luxaflex window covering styles as Luxaflex LumiShade, which is designed to create “a stunning statement across feature window spaces, offering an elegant finish through its vertical design.” Free from noise with no connecting chains or bottom weights, Luxaflex LumiShade operates quietly and softly, effortlessly positioning itself to support seamless and safe indoor-outdoor living.

“Individually curved fabric vanes feature an alternating light filtering and room darkening fabric panel. By simply turning the fabric vanes, homeowners can achieve sheer light control or total privacy in moments,” says Meharg.

“Covering sliding doors and large windows can be challenging, but the innovative Luxaflex vertical window coverings provide both a practical and stylish option.”

The use of these window coverings is further simplified by two operating solutions. A cordless and enhanced child-safe solution can be accomplished with the Traversing Wand operation. Using just one hand, homeowners can simply rotate the fabric blades and draw the vanes across. Alternatively, the chain and cord operation features a heavy-duty roller blind chain and cord allowing homeowners to rotate the fabric vanes and stack them if needed.

NORMAN AUSTRALIA

“Large glass areas are one of the worst areas for heat loss in a home and one of the most challenging to fit window furnishings to,” says Norman Australia Sales & Marketing Manager Steve Payne. “Often the reveal is narrow or taken up with the door’s storm bars. So what do you do to stop or slow heat loss and gain, without taking up too much space, particularly if you have to mount your window furnishing on the face of the opening?”

“Shutters can sometimes project into the room 100-200mm, vertical blinds 100-150mm, roller or venetian blinds can be cumbersome having to lift and lower to enter or leave the room. What solution can offer a small projection into the room whilst giving privacy, light control and a minimal stack when the treatment is moved?”

He says Vertical Honeycomb Shades come into their own in these situations, offering businesses a way to set themselves apart as solution providers.

“One of the most compelling features of Honeycomb shades is the insulation they provide for homes and offices. This is very relevant to the rapidly increasing energy costs in Australia. The linear, open channels of the honeycomb cells trap air at the window, insulating rooms from the heat of summer and the bitter cold in the southern states during the winter months.  In a recent study, Norman Portrait Honeycomb shades were shown to reduce home heating and cooling energy usage by up to 34%, which is a massive saving.”

“Honeycomb shades come in a huge variety of cell sizes, colours and cell configurations. Fabrics are available in sheer, light filtering and block-out.”

“Day and Night Shade are like two shades in one. This unique solution allows you to select a sheer fabric and a room darkening fabric for the ultimate in looks and flexibility in light control.”