Window Dressing

Solutions from Hunter Douglas Gulf.
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Not so long ago in the Gulf, office workers used their bodies to shield their computer screens from the glare of the sun, and restaurant diners avoided window seats for fear of ending up as roasted as their lunch.

Fortunately, the region’s window dressings industry has advanced considerably since then.

Blinds have transformed offices, hotels, restaurants, hospitals and schools into light-filled, energy-efficient commercial spaces. Although many manufacturers are increasingly paying attention to the decorative aspects of blinds, they nevertheless remain a pragmatic choice. “More often than not, given the nature of our projects, we install blinds as a practicality rather than an aesthetic detail,” said Jason Roberts, group design manager, Bluehaus.

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“Interiors are very ornate here,” added Yvonne Tobien, sales executive, Hunter Douglas Gulf, referring specifically to the hospitality industry. “I don’t know if this region is ready for the European style, which is more practical-oriented; more ‘less is more’.”

Paring down

The global financial crisis, however, has left its mark on interior design, in many cases veering it away from traditional, over-the-top opulence towards a subtler, more understated style. “People have been really scared with everything that’s been going on in the past couple of years and design has been reflecting that,” said Marie-Noelle Swiderski, managing director of interior design firm, Blanchard. “Clients want something that’s a bit pared down, not too much excess.”

When it comes to window dressings, “people are turning towards simpler solutions, like shutters or roman blinds,” Swiderski noted. But this change in style does not indicate a lapse in craftsmanship, she was quick to point out. Although the fabrics that designers are using are simpler, they still stand out for their quality.

“There’s very little overload of detail or texture or colour, but when you look at it, the fabric will be of a particularly beautiful weave or it will have an interesting pattern,” she said.

In fitting out offices, Bluehaus looks for blinds that are “as inconspicuous as possible,” Roberts maintained. “They’re very minimalist and very sleek, although we don’t ignore the aesthetics of that either.”

Aesthetics aside, blinds have a very practical purpose: they must allow as much natural daylight as possible into a building, while keeping out heat and glare. “We look for something that has a degree of transparency – a fabric that you can see through. Some of the larger buildings have good views that they don’t want to block out, so we usually use a white or very light grey fabric. Nine times out of ten it’s a roller blind as well,” said Roberts.

Catering for hotels, shopping malls, offices and other commercial enterprises, the Hunter Douglas factory in Dubai produces fibreglass fabrics with openings of 5% or 10%. “Those are roller blinds and they’re our biggest sellers here,” said Tobien. The screening fabrics allow a person to see out, and are available in light colours that reflect the sunlight away.

Curtain manufacturers, similarly, are under pressure to produce fabrics that can resist the harsh elements of the Gulf climate, Swiderski pointed out.

“Because the light, temperature, wind and the sand are quite harsh on any finish you’re going to use, you need to make sure that the fabric has an excellent dye quality, that it has a colour fastness with UV protection, and that the weave is solid enough to withstand having sand particles lodged in it,” she explained.

Full-length, custom-made silk curtains are an investment, she continued, and must hold up to rigorous use. “Blinds are easier to change because they’re cheaper, but curtains are hopefully something that you don’t have to change – even if the whole room is changed, the curtains usually stay the same,” Swiderski said.