Motorized shades on Longboat Key

On Longboat Key the view is the house, and the afternoon sun off the Gulf is the problem. Motorized shades let you keep the water in sight at 4 p.m. and still sleep in a dark room, without a wall of cords and remotes.

We plan three layers. Interior roller shades with a solar-screen fabric take the glare and heat off the living room while the Gulf stays visible. Blackout shades or motorized drapery handle the bedrooms. Exterior motorized screens close the lanai against low western sun and insects, and roll away when the breeze is welcome.

Everything is chosen for the barrier island: outdoor-rated motors and hardware on the lanai, fabrics picked for UV, and shades on a sunrise and sunset schedule so the house looks after itself while you are away for the summer.

Condos and association rules

Many Longboat Key buildings control what the exterior can show: screen colour, housing size, where a cassette can mount. We bring fabric samples and cut sheets to the board before ordering, and we measure each opening twice, because gulf-front openings are rarely square.

Shades that work with the rest of the house

If the lighting is Lutron, Sivoia shades share its keypads, so one button can lower the screens and set the evening lights. Somfy motors fit wide sliders and existing pockets. Either way the shades can join an Away scene with the cameras and Wi-Fi the house already depends on. More on fabrics and layers in motorized shades for Gulf Coast sun.