Classic charm

Toso Australia

“Roman blinds have been around for centuries and even today, a ‘roman’ is still one of the best choices for window treatments,” says Malcolm Young, Managing Director of Toso Australia, adding that the product has become very popular again over the last several years. 

“The ability to match up with a wide variety of designs means they virtually never go out of fashion.”

“One of the biggest benefits of roman blinds is that they really make a feature of their fabric. Where patterned curtains can overwhelm a smaller space, roman blinds cover a more contained area beautifully. They do not take up any room on the sides of the window, which maximises the interior space.

“If the space is larger, they can also match up excellently with other curtains on the same window. For designs that incorporate two types of fabric for the window furnishings in the living room, this can be achieved by using one fabric for the roman blinds and then another for the curtains enveloping them. This allows even more light control in the room.”

Young notes that romans are now more likely to be chain operated rather than the conventional cord operation, because of child safety concerns. Toso still offers its Creaty Cord system, which can do widths of 2400mm, but has three chain operated systems, Creaty Drum Single, Creaty Drum Twin and their recently launched Creaty Drum Geared, either as plastic or stainless-steel chain and have many added benefits.

Motorisation on the other hand, has not yet been a popular option as compared with roller blinds where this is now a more common request.

“With the TosoCreaty Drum Single, operating a roman blind is as easy as ever. With its innovative Relay clutch system, Creaty offers one-handed operation, and pulling the chain 1.4m raises the blind by 1m, which is two or more times quicker than other chain operated systems in the market. To raise 1kg, pull the chain with a force of only 0.7kg. It also has a speed controller, so when you want to close the blind, you pull the chain 2cm, and the blind will come down at a constant speed regardless of the load. Maximum width and drop is 4000mm and 3000mm, with a weight of 5kg.

“The same applies with the TosoCreaty Drum Twin, which is on a compact and slim headrail that can take two blinds. “With this system you can have one chain for each blind (same side or opposite sides), or have only one chain, and this chain will operate each of the blinds individually. To raise the front blind, you pull down on the front side of the chain. To pull up the rear blind, you pull down on the back side of the ball chain. To lower the front blind, pull down on the front side chain and release, and for the rear blind, you pull down on the back side of the chain and release. The speed controller prevents a rapid fall of the blind. Maximum width and drop is 4000mm and 3000mm, with a combined weight of 8kg.

“Creaty Drum Geared with a maximum weight of 8kg, is ideal for those Romans that are larger in size or heavier fabric and raising is as light as the other systems. Maximum width and drop is 4000mm and 3000mm.

Young notes that Creaty Drum Single and Creaty Drum Geared are both equal in popularity and Toso can supply made to measure headrails that can be delivered directly to their customers’ workrooms, or supply in componentry form for those that want to assemble themselves.”

Blinds by Peter Meyer 

Simon Meyer – Managing Director of Blinds by Peter Meyer, notes that innovations within the Roman Blinds industry tend to be rare, with notable exceptions like the advent of battery-operated systems. 

“However, this scarcity of innovation has not hindered the remarkable success of our Simply Naturals Roman Blinds collection, which has experienced significant growth and a resurgence in popularity. Embraced by prominent designers and featured in leading publications like ‘Home Beautiful’ and ‘House and Garden’, our Simply Naturals line has become a sought-after choice in the industry, capturing attention for its unique aesthetic and enduring appeal.”

The Simply Naturals collection at Blinds by Peter Meyer encompasses four distinct Woven Blind ranges, each showcasing exquisite craftsmanship and natural elegance:

Urban Weave: Urban Weaves are a stylish natural look fabric range especially designed for city living. It has been designed exclusively for Blinds by Peter Meyer in Australia and has been specified by designers and decorators for a range of homes from stylish prestige, city chic through to simple beach side retreats. The weave offers around 90% UV blockage and has great heat retention.

Le Blinde French Woven Timber: Handcrafted for over a century by France’s finest timber craftsmen, Le Blinde can be showcased in their beautiful natural state, stained to your preferences, or custom painted to perfectly match your design palette. To ensure lasting quality, they bias bind the edges of our Woven Timber Blinds, providing a finish that withstands the test of time. 

“Le Blinde holds a special place in the history of Blinds by Peter Meyer,” says Meyer. “It was the first range we produced back in 1987. Inspired by a vision to offer the world’s finest timber weaves, Peter selected premium hand-woven timber from a renowned French company established in 1872. To this day, Le Blinde adorns some of the most prestigious homes in Australia and New Zealand (not to mention both interior and exterior options throughout major cities like Paris and London), embodying a legacy of exquisite craftsmanship and enduring beauty.”

Silk Road: This unique fabric line is constructed from rustic weaves, traditionally woven, combining natural harvests from oriental grasslands, woodlands and riverbanks. Completely naturally harvested, they combine a wide range of fabrics, grasses and botanicals – each fabric a unique work of nature’s art. All Silk Road blinds are carefully hand loomed, taking up to three days to weave one unique 15m fabric roll. Naturally, all blinds are totally individual and carefully planned so that the pattern is repeated to work in multiple blinds, whilst ensuring the natural uniqueness inherent in each of the individual blinds. Silk Road is a very special collection of exotic fabrics.

Chinois Eclectic: The Chinois Eclectics range features ten exotic oriental weaves, offering a delicate yet durable choice for window treatments. Handcrafted from bamboo, seagrasses, jutes, and other natural reeds, Chinois is intricately woven together using polyester yarn to ensure exceptional durability and longevity. This product showcases stunning window definition, enhancing the beauty and elegance of any space.

“I always wanted to give the best designers a challenging weave that just said ‘use me’… I’ve found it with this Chinois Eclectics collection”…… Peter Meyer 

“Among these captivating ranges, the Urban Weave collection remains a favourite among customers for its contemporary appeal and versatility,” says Meyer. “However, the Silk Road, Chinois Eclectic, and Le Blinde ranges have also garnered renewed interest, each contributing its unique charm and style to our Simply Naturals collection.

“Notably, approximately 30% of our Roman blinds are equipped with motorisation, enhancing both convenience and functionality for modern living spaces.

“One exceptional feature of our Simply Naturals range is its outstanding durability and longevity. It is not uncommon to encounter Simply Naturals blinds that were installed decades ago and still maintain their pristine appearance, a testament to the superior craftsmanship and enduring quality that define our Simply Natural Roman Blinds. This enduring appeal makes them a trusted choice for discerning homeowners and designers seeking timeless elegance and sustainable design solutions.”