If you’ve ever wished the sun came with a dimmer switch, you’re not alone. Even the greatest sun worshippers among us can admit that the glare can be too much at times.
“We all want to feel comfortable at home and know that our family and fur babies are comfortable too, especially when we’re not home to control the amount of heat and light coming through the windows,” says Shaun Hart, owner of Simcoe Audio Video.
Thankfully, the latest innovations in smart shade technology make it even easier to control your window coverings from anywhere or implement sensors and scenes that allow your home to monitor and minimize its sun exposure independently.
While there are several automation systems on the market, Shaun says the best window covering automation systems by far comes from Lutron and Hunter Douglas. These brands not only offer a range of textile colours and fabrics, but they also come in a range of weaves that allow you to tailor the amount of visibility and opacity to your needs.
Adapting to exposure
“Imagine your window shades rolling down, or up from the floor, as soon as the sun’s strong rays start glaring through,” says Shaun. “Protecting your floors, furniture and art from UV damage, all while keeping your HVAC from running in overdrive to keep your home cool.”
With these brands’ latest innovations, you get much more than hands-free control – you get set-it-and-forget-it automation that allows your window coverings to adapt on their own to keep the glare out. That is, if installed correctly by an automation expert, like Shaun and his team.
“We can design your system to know when the sunrise and sunset are on any given day, adapt to your thermostat and sense the amount of heat and glare coming through the window.”
Promoting privacy
They can also craft scenes for each day that maximize your privacy and security, whether you’re home or away.
“While the shade industry will tell you that heat and sun are the leading reasons for window coverings, we know from experience that privacy is a paramount concern for
our customers.”
During the day, he notes, many want a semi-sheer roller that allows you to see out without others seeing in. While the sheers are great for daytime, they are often paired with blackout roller shades on a motorized dual-roll chassis that can be set to raise and lower to give you the right level of light without sacrificing privacy.
If you’re considering automated window treatments for your home or cottage, Shaun says a good place to start is considering your lifestyle, main concerns and style preferences.
“Think about how much you want to see out at different times of the day, how much you want others to be able to see into your home at different times of the day,” says Shaun. “We’ll help you find the right colour and weave size, and craft the perfect automation system for your lifestyle.”
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE
