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Insulation properties, ease of use and motorisation are among the ongoing draw cards for the pleated and honeycomb fabrics category, writes Belinda Smart.
BLINDS BY BORONIA
The Blinds by Boronia Group reports a steady increase in sales for the Arena Honeycomb Shades that they manufacture for the wholesale blind market. “Arena Honeycomb Shades are known for being an excellent energy efficient blind with great insulating properties,” says Blinds by Boronia Sales Manager Michelle Macready. “The unique structure of honeycomb cells slows down the transfer of hot air from outside to in and inside to out. This regulates and keeps a more constant indoor temperature. With ever increasing energy prices, discerning clients know that the windows of their home are one of the greatest sources of heat loss in winter, so it makes sense to cover them with Arena Honeycomb Shades.”
She adds that the sound absorption properties of the Arena Honeycomb Shades also contribute to the product’s uptake. “The shades absorb sound energy helping to keep exterior noises out and dulling interior sound. With their sleek profile and unobtrusive stack, Arena Honeycombs are perfect for windows that need cover at certain times of the day however can be almost unnoticeable when drawn up. And the many choices of lift options suit windows such as skylights, sash and louvers that cannot be successfully covered with traditional window furnishings.”
“At Blinds by Boronia we are manufacturers of the Arena Honeycomb Shades and are proud to have this product made right here at our premises.”
BLINDS BY PETER MEYER
Blinds by Peter Meyer launched its Simply Cell + Pleat range in late 2016 with a German system designed to be neat and compact, and available in both honeycomb/cellular options as well as pleated fabrics. “We are certainly seeing good growth in these products but mainly in the honeycomb fabrics, however as we can produce some very interesting shaped blinds, the pleated blinds will always have their place,” says Managing Director Simon Meyer. “The solution we import has a patented ‘lay flat’ system which ensures that fabrics with a small top rail don’t fan up, ruining the look.”
Meyer adds that motorisation is becoming an increasingly significant part of the company’s offering. “The skylight solutions are second to none with motorised, crank operated and wand operated solutions all available. The latest technology and product solutions certainly revolve around cordless and child safe options. To this extent we have released the F-Touch cordless system which operates by simply touching the bottom rail and raising or lowering the blinds. There is also an ever popular range of pre-tensioned solutions where the bottom rails are fixed by a tensioned cording system which allows the blinds to be stopped at any point. With sleek slimline bottom and top rail designs and hidden magnets, the blinds click together with purpose and are designed with attention to detail.”
In terms of the overall market trends, he notes marked growth in the Simply Cell honeycomb ranges due to their superior insulation properties. “There really is no better insulating blind style on the market. With sleek head rails (29.5mm x 40mm) we are also seeing a lot more motorisation of this product, as well as chain drive alternatives in the same sized head rail, meaning you no longer have a huge amount of cord to cleat off to ensure the products meet child safety standards here in Australia. We have also just released a sheer range of honeycomb fabrics that allow you to easily offer a ‘day/night’ solution which combines a sheer fabric and a blockout in the same blind.”
LUXAFLEX
Vera Meharg, Marketing Communications Manager, Luxaflex Window Fashions, notes that with up to 30%1 of total heat loss from a home occurring through uncovered windows, “one of the greatest benefits of window coverings is the ability to control a room’s temperature through insulation from the right blind.”
Regarded as the market leader in honeycomb shades, the Luxaflex Duette Shades series, including Duette Architella Shades and Duette Architella Ménage Shades, is designed to meet market demand for an elegant window covering that keep a home in-style and insulated.
“Luxaflex Duette Shades are the original cellular shades, specifically engineered with a honeycomb construction to trap air in distinct pockets, which creates insulation that can help lower energy consumption and energy bills, relying less on air-conditioning and heating to control the temperature of a room.”
“The latest innovation in honeycomb shades is the Designer Series exclusive Luxaflex Duette Architella Ménage Shades. This revolutionary fabric range features a 38mm triple honeycomb construction with six layers of fabric and five insulating air pockets, providing the best insulation currently available for window coverings in Australia. Luxaflex Duette Architella Ménage Shades have been tested and proven to help reduce the cost of heating a home with savings up to 49%2 on heating costs.”
“The white fabric backing of the Duette Architella Ménage Shades provides light reflection and UV protection, as well as a neutral appearance from the outside. On the inside of the home, there’s a choice of a wide range of modern colours and stylish designer fabrics with varying opacities to control a preference of heat, light and privacy.”
“On a quieter note, Duette Shades make the perfect choice when looking at blinds for the bedroom or across the home including media rooms as the honeycomb technology also helps to reduce everyday noise pollution, allowing light to enter the home while keeping noise at bay.”
She adds that the latest collection of fabrics to the Luxaflex Designer Series offers a diverse colour palette and modern stylised textures that will add warmth to any room.
“The Architella Alexa and Architella Leela fabric collections focus on refreshing popular fabric ranges and have an element of design and sophistication.”
“The Alexa fabric range is about experiencing the beauty of nature’s imperfections. Inspired by organic elements, Alexa provides variations between its fibres giving each shade its own character in a living space. The Leela range strikes a balance between rustic character and modern lines, featuring rich natural hues. The versatile linentexture is further enhanced with a sophisticated, subtle sheen.”
“Another way in which we are seeing homeowners ramp up on their energy efficiency in the home is with automation technology,” Meharg adds. “With this clever technology becoming increasingly affordable, more and more people are looking at integrated solutions such as Luxaflex PowerView Motorisation, which gives homeowners the ultimate control to schedule their blinds to lower or raise when needed, to provide maximum insulation and living comfort.”
“Using the PowerView App on a smartphone or tablet, homeowners can create customised Scenes to schedule the lowering or raising of shades during peak sun exposure times in summer and cooler times during winter to control solar energy throughout the seasons.”
1 Based on information from NABERS (National Australian Built Environment Rating System). Visit www.nabers.com.au for more information.
2 Savings are based on the installation of fully-recessed, reveal-mounted Duette Architella Ménage Shades with 38mm blockout fabric in an average home in Sydney, compared with the House Energy Rating standard of Holland Blinds from AccuRate, in that home. These calculations have been modelled by an independent third party. Savings will vary based on the window type and installation.
