For many people, when we suggest roller shades for their homes they look at us like we’ve gone around the bend. More often than not, our customers are reminded of the roller shades of their childhood – visiting a grandma who had uninspired and stiff sheets of vinyl fabric that rolled up with snap and swayed at the top of her window. We admit the roller shade designs of the past have been lacklustre, particularly in the mid-twentieth century; however, recent developments in their production have allowed for a total roller shade transformation. Now available in fabrics and styles that both homeowners and interior designers love, roller shades have left behind their unattractive, cheap look for sophistication and style.
With origins that date much further back than your grandmother’s kitchen, roller shades have a long history unknown to most. Dating back to 18th century Scotland, the first roller shades were made out of starched linen. Dubbed Scotch Holland Roller Blinds for having been made in Scotland using Dutch linen, these blinds sat at the bottom of the window in folds and were raised by a cord when shade was required. By the 19th century, an American inventor, Stewart Hartshorn, improved this design and patented the spring roller shade. The apparatus, using a ratchet and spring, is very similar to the mechanism in our modern roller shades and allowed its users to roll and unroll the fabric from the top of the window.
Fast forward to 2015, and the spring mechanism has been perfected to allow for the smoothest operation yet. The shade’s fabric is rolled around a hollow tube housing the ratchet and spring. With either a side chain or pull tab at the bottom, the shade is easily manipulated. The ratchet lets you lock the shade at your preferred height, allowing for optimal light and privacy control. Our customers enjoy the ease with which they can control the amount of light and view they see, with solar screens, privacy screens, and blackout fabrics available to further limit light and view.
We’ve come a long way from the look of our roller shades as well. While it was popular in the 18th and 19th century to have landscapes, floral designs, and other imagery painted on to the fabric, you’ll see no such thing in our stock. Rather, we let our roller shades speak for themselves, allowing the beautiful colours and grade of fabric to take centre stage. Once you see our selection, you’ll realize that modern roller shades are nothing like the ones your grandmother used to have. Today’s roller shades are a smart, stylish, and practical option for any homeowner.
If your house is ready for custom fit shades, let us know. Our design consultants can direct you towards the best roller shades in the Greater Toronto Area and help find the perfect mixture of light and privacy control that’s right for your rooms. Just send us off a quick email to get started.