The Challenge
When George began the full renovation of his family’s future 30‑year SW London home, he designed the extension around a dramatic 2m x 4m single‑pane skylight. His goal was simple: bring as much natural light as possible into a north‑facing kitchen‑living space that would otherwise feel dark for much of the year.
However, as George planned ahead for how the skylight would perform in the future, he realised it would also create several challenges.
George realised the room would need every drop of daylight in winter. However, during summer, the large expanse of glass would introduce overheating, glare and uncomfortable brightness, especially with young children using the space all day.
George needed a roof‑light blind that could:
- Control heat in summer
- Maximise light in winter
- Avoid sagging across a 4m span
- Look high‑quality and minimalist
- Operate as one single piece
- Integrate seamlessly into the architecture
Very few companies could meet all of these requirements. As George explained:
“Once I put in all those criteria, there were very few companies who met that. WindowTreat did.”
The Vision
George had no interest in cheaper pleated systems.
“A lot of companies did pleated ones… they were much cheaper but I had issues with their durability and look.”
Instead, he wanted a clean, modern fabric that would glide silently across the full 4m span without cords, ripples or sagging. Because achieving a minimalist look mattered to George, the blind needed to be partially concealed while still preserving the full view of the skylight and all the natural light.
The brief became clear. He needed a high‑performance blind that would disappear into the architecture while delivering year‑round comfort.
Our Solution
During a detailed TEAMS video consultation, we explored the structural constraints and the precision required for a blind of this size. George was project‑managing the build himself, so accurate technical information mattered to him.
“The level of technical information WindowTreat provided was far in excess of anything else we saw.”
Creating the Concealed Shelf
Although the blind enters from the bottom of the upstand, we calculated the angles carefully so the full skylight remains visible and no natural light is lost.
Using WindowTreat’s exact sizing, George’s builders created a bespoke shelf inside the upstand to house the Athena cassette and side-channels. As a result, the system becomes almost invisible when open.
“Chris was really instrumental in making sure we could build a high‑quality shelf for the blind so you can’t see it. We wanted it hidden and coming out of the ceiling naturally.”
The shelf was also adapted to include LED strip lighting, which now creates a soft, ambient glow at night and reflects beautifully off the glass.
Precision Engineering for a 4m Span
The Athena Roof Blind proved to be the perfect match for the project.
Engineered Tension System Keeps the fabric flat and taut across the entire 2m x 4m opening.
Cordless False‑Ceiling Fabric Provides a clean, modern aesthetic with no visible cords.
Heat and Glare Control Reduces solar gain in summer while keeping the room bright and usable.
Single‑Piece Operation Ensures one blind, one mechanism and one smooth movement.
During the survey, our team identified that the opening was not perfectly rectangular. This would have caused the blind to run out of alignment. By working closely with the builders, the plasterboard was adjusted to achieve perfect parallelism.
“The survey was really important. Once your team got the lasers out and lined it up, it was all good.”
The Result
The transformation happened immediately.
On bright days, the blind prevents glare and overheating. On cooler days, it opens fully to flood the space with natural light. The children can watch TV without being dazzled, and the room stays comfortable throughout the year.
“It makes a difference immediately. It’s a really sunny day and we’ve got the blind closed and it’s making a big difference.”
The concealment works flawlessly. The blind disappears into the shelf, the runners stay hidden, and the skylight continues to be the architectural focal point of the room.
Would George Recommend WindowTreat?
His answer was clear and confident:
“Yes, absolutely. I’m really happy with what we bought. I don’t think we could have asked for any more.”
He also commented on the value:
“Maybe it was slightly more than some of the others, but this is absolutely not something I regret. I’m really happy with what we installed.”
