The Challenge
Helen and Michael had spent years transforming their London home, working with an architect to open up the ground floor and create a bright, modern kitchen and living space. The design included a large 5m × 3m glazed roof area that flooded the room with daylight from sunrise to sunset. It looked spectacular, but the reality was far less comfortable.
During the summer months, the space became intensely hot. The sun tracked across the roof all day, creating glare, overheating and making the kitchen unusable for long stretches of the year. As Helen put it, “There are just some parts of the year where we can’t sit in the kitchen, which is not good because it’s our kitchen.”
They explored every idea they could think of. Shade sails, awnings, internal blinds, films, foliage, even experimental DIY concepts. Nothing solved the problem. Internal blinds trapped heat inside. Films reduced light but not enough heat. Awnings were impractical. After years of searching, they still had no solution that felt right for their home.
The Vision
What they needed was clear: a system that stopped the heat before it entered the glass, preserved natural daylight and didn’t make the kitchen feel dark or enclosed. They wanted comfort without sacrificing the architectural openness they loved.
They were also concerned about aesthetics. Adding anything to a carefully designed home risks looking bulky or out of place. Michael explained that they didn’t want something that would “look visibly clunky and disfigure the smooth lines of the house.” The solution had to feel integrated, refined and robust enough to withstand daily use and changing weather.
Above all, they wanted their kitchen back. A space they could enjoy every day, not just in the cooler months.
Our Solution
After years of searching, Helen and Michael discovered WindowTreat’s Artemis external roof blind. During their consultation with Chris, they quickly realised it was the only solution that addressed every challenge they had faced.
Artemis is engineered to stop heat at the source, preventing up to 95% of solar gain before it enters the glass. This external approach aligned perfectly with their experience that once heat enters the home, it is almost impossible to manage. As Michael said, “We needed to protect the house from absorbing any heat rather than trying to deal with it once it’s in.”
The Artemis system offered everything they needed:
- A full cassette headbox that keeps the mechanism hidden and protected
- Dyneema tensioning for a perfectly taut fabric across the large 5m × 3m span
- Water‑repellent, fade‑resistant fabrics that allow soft daylight through even when fully closed
- Somfy motorisation for smooth, quiet operation
- Optional sun and wind sensors for automatic protection
They also appreciated that the blind could be partially closed depending on the sun’s position. This allowed them to fine‑tune comfort throughout the day without losing the openness of the space.
The Result
The transformation was immediate. The kitchen became comfortable again, even on the hottest days. The glare disappeared, the temperature stabilised and the room remained bright without the harshness of direct sun. Helen described it beautifully: “Even when it’s fully closed, you still have light coming through. It doesn’t feel like you’re in a dark cave.”
The Artemis blind also exceeded their expectations in appearance. It sits discreetly above the glazing, maintaining the clean architectural lines of the extension. Michael noted that it “feels like it was almost part of the original design,” and praised its strength and build quality, describing it as “robust and effective.”
Perhaps the most meaningful feedback came when Helen said, “It’s just made me love my house again.” A space that had become frustrating and uncomfortable is now the heart of their home once more.
