Curtains and blinds for landed homes

Double-height and very tall windows

Curtains in a double-height living room can drop five metres or more. At that length the fabric is heavy, so we use a sturdier track with more brackets, and we often suggest a lighter sheer or a linen-look polyester that hangs straight without pulling the track down. S-fold (ripple fold) curtains keep the folds even over a long drop. Pinch pleat suits a more traditional living room.

Measuring tall windows needs access, so tell us the ceiling height when you book and we will bring a suitable ladder. Hems are finished to clear the floor slightly, because a long curtain that drags picks up dust and mould in Singapore's humidity.

Outdoor zip blinds for patios and porches

A patio or back porch facing the garden gets afternoon sun and sideways rain during a storm. Outdoor zip blinds run in side channels that hold the fabric edges, so the blind stays steadier in wind than a loose roller blind. Mesh fabrics cut sun and glare while you can still see the garden. Solid fabrics give more shelter from rain.

Zip blinds on a wide patio are often motorised, because a large outdoor blind is heavy to wind by hand. Tell us early if you want this, so the electrician can plan an outdoor-rated power point.

Zip blinds also suit a car porch that doubles as a sitting area, or a side passage where rain blows in. We look at the posts, beams and ceiling of the porch on site, because the blind needs solid fixing points at the top and along both side channels.

Motorised tracks and blinds across several floors

Motorisation helps most in landed homes, with high windows, long tracks and many rooms. You can group blinds by floor or room and run them from a wall switch, remote or phone app. Wired motors need power points near each track or blind, so plan them with your renovation contractor before the ceilings and walls are finished. Rechargeable motors are an option for blinds where adding wiring is difficult.

If you are not renovating, motorising a few key windows first, such as the double-height living room and the staircase, often covers the windows that are hardest to use by hand. Other rooms can stay manual.