Form and function

Norman

Norman has released its latest fabric update in the pleated and honeycomb category, a new, enhanced white for both light-filtering and room-darkening fabrics, confirms Peter Boyle, Product Development Manager at Norman.

“This updated shade is brighter and purer, designed to meet the increasing demand for crisp, clean aesthetics in modern interiors. Additionally, we are introducing three new flame-resistant colours in white and neutral tones, expanding our collection to better serve the market.

”Direct control over the fabric printing process, thanks to our vertical integration, means we assure exceptional quality and consistency across our fabric lines. This provides the ability to supply customers with window treatments that are aesthetically pleasing but are built to last, enhancing both satisfaction and loyalty.”

Boyle says the latest additions to the Portrait Honeycomb program address a gap in the market for high quality, visually appealing, and affordably priced fabric options. 

“We recognise the growing demand for diverse fabric choices that cater to various customer preferences. These new fabrics are specifically tailored to meet these needs, ensuring that our retail partners have a comprehensive selection to offer their customers, thus enhancing their shopping experience and satisfaction.”

Boyle notes that Honeycomb Shades offer a timely solution in response to rising energy costs and living expenses. 

“They’re not just stylish—they’re also highly energy-efficient, providing savings that make them increasingly popular among cost-conscious consumers. The demand for these products is growing, fuelled by better consumer understanding of their long-term benefits, which represents a substantial opportunity for increased sales.”

He adds that about 20% of our Honeycomb Shades are now motorised, a percentage that has grown significantly in the last few years as smart home solutions become more popular with consumers. 

“These motorised options are perfect for tech-savvy customers or those looking for the ultimate in convenience and luxury.”

Blinds by Peter Meyer

Simon Meyer, Managing Director of Blinds by Peter Meyer, notes that in recent years, there has been a noticeable shift in preference towards Honeycomb Blinds over Pleated Blinds, a trend that shows no signs of slowing down. 

Meyer says the surge in popularity can be attributed to the remarkable insulating properties of Honeycomb Blinds, which far surpass those of their pleated counterparts. 

“Not only do they excel in energy efficiency, but they also offer versatility, effortlessly complementing a wide array of window styles.”

He notes that the soft launch of WincovER by the BMAA is progressing well, and is likely to have a positive impact on the future performance of Honeycomb Blinds. This is attributed to their excellent insulating properties, aligning with the continuous evolution and innovation in the window covering industry, particularly towards more environmentally friendly solutions.

“At Blinds by Peter Meyer, we’ve embraced this shift by restructuring our offerings to reflect the changing preferences of our customers. We now provide Pleated Blind fabrics by indent only, redirecting our focus towards meeting the growing demand for Honeycomb Blinds. Since the launch of our enhanced “Simply Cell” Honeycomb Blinds system, we’ve witnessed steady growth in the Honeycomb Blinds market.

“Our revamped system combines innovative technology with groundbreaking design, featuring clean, elegant lines that underscore the ‘purist’ trend that continues this year. The uniform aesthetic of our profiles, whether standard or special shapes, enhances the overall appeal of our blinds. Intuitive operation is ensured through the Cord Lock mechanism, catering to various system configurations.

“Our Simply Cell collection, which features 196 fabrics, offers the largest selection of Honeycomb Blind fabrics in Australia. In 2024, the Simply Cell collection will be particularly popular with designers and architects because it reflects the latest trends with vibrant colours and bold patterns that are ideal for creating modern and stylish interiors. Moreover, we also offer the ever-popular whites, neutrals, and greys. Whether it’s captivating floral designs or striking geometric patterns, our fabrics inspire creativity and enhance a space. 

“For designers and architects working within the trend of bold patterns and vibrant colours, our honeycomb fabrics provide a unique opportunity to elevate interior aesthetics. Whether it’s coordinating translucent and blockout options or exploring the myriad of design possibilities, our fabrics offer both functionality and aesthetic appeal. These unique offerings, featuring ombre effects and nature-inspired motifs, are set to resonate with professionals seeking innovative solutions for window coverings that align with the latest design trends. 

“For shaped, skylight, free-hanging, or pre-tension blinds, our honeycomb fabrics offer unparalleled versatility and adaptability. Our free-hanging and skylight blinds can be motorised with hard wired and battery operated solutions available.”

Hunter Douglas

Hunter Douglas has released a motorised system in its honeycomb offer – AMP Motorisation.

It is designed to deliver next level innovation with a smart, seamless user interface offering convenient operation at the press of a button. This lithium rechargeable battery pack produces 500 up or down cycles per charge. The motorised solution is compatible with our honeycomb Bottom up, Top down bottom up and Duo-Lite design options. 

AMP Motorisation features a wealth of benefits, which includes:

• 2-way technology with superior value and innovation. 

• Low DC voltage, no electrician required to install. 

• Includes internal/external lithium rechargeable battery. 

• Battery cannot be overcharged. Up to 12 months of battery life. 

• Can be controlled via a 15-channel remote control, large LED display wall switch or via an APP using the USB bridge. 

• Simplified set up: Quick pairing of the remote control. 

• AMP USB bridge allows bi-directional communication with shade position reporting & battery level status. 

• App features a smart and user-friendly interface. 

• Voice control integration with Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Shortcuts and IFTTT

• APP control for smart devices allows you to operate shades according to rooms, scenes and timer where you can activate scenes automatically at desired times of the day.

“Automation is the way of the future. Motorised honeycomb shades like the AMP Motorised solution, effortlessly integrates into modern day living and is definitely a worthwhile investment in the comfort and efficiency of any home. It is designed to fulfill many needs, such as homes with hard-to-reach windows; child and pet safety with no exposed cords; easy operation via remote, phone, wall switch or voice control and energy efficiency in the home by automating timers to lower or raise the honeycomb shades according to the position of the sun. It also creates a smarter home. AMP motorisation allows users to operate their shades when not at home and set scenes to have shades open or close all at a given time, utilising time zones and locations. 

A rang of Arena Honeycomb Shades are compatible with AMP Motorisation

Bottom Up Honeycomb Shades are the most energy efficient window covering in a bottom up design where the shade lowers from the bottom to reveal the view. 

Top Down Bottom Up Honeycomb Shades allow the shade to be raised from the bottom as well as lowered from the top, for complete light and privacy control. 

Day-Night Honeycomb Shades offer the best of both worlds when combining a sheer and blockout fabric in one shade.

“Honeycomb Shades is a growing category and has been growing year-on-year for the past five years. 

“Arena Honeycomb Shades are stylish, functional, energy efficient window covering solution, offers an abundance of choice with simple operation. Excellent insulation properties, sound absorption abilities and fabric durability have made Arena Honeycomb Shades a popular choice for the Australian market and one of the fastest growing product categories. 

“To sum up, Arena Honeycomb Shades and motorisation form a perfect pairing. With no complicated wiring necessary, the system is easy to install, operate and maintain. With the new release of AMP Motorisation, we are going to see the mix of operating systems shift towards automation.”