Umbra

Blinds for Skylights and Velux WindowsBicester Village is an expansive shopping village located in Oxfordshire. As hub of shopping activity, it is a prominent part of any London tourist’s itinerary.Bicester Village can also boast a selection of KuroLok RL and KuroLok Twin RL blinds, specially designed to provide a blind solution for ceiling light, giving much more flexibility and an added layer of utility when it comes to overhead lighting.The KuroLok RL blind is a specialised roof blind, fitted with a constant tension spring mechanism that ensures that there is no unwanted sagging of fabric despite the challenging angle.The KuroLok Twin RL blinds are much the same, but with the added feature of having two blinds that meet in the middle of the framework. This means that the blind itself can cover more space than the single KuroLok RL, also making it infinitely easier to work around obstructions such as chandeliers or other ceiling décor that may get in the way of a traditional roof blind.

Swimming Pool Shading SystemsThis project features blind system specifically designed for swimming pools. The ExtraLok blinds are much the same as our KuroLok blackout blind line, but with a greatly heightened resistance to corrosion caused by moisture.This makes them perfect for pools, outdoor projects, and other projects where the shading systems will come into contact with heightened levels of moisture.This project also incorporated custom printing, a service which we can provide when requested. In this scenario, it meant that the curtains became retractable displays.

A Shading Revamp for ICC WalesThis was a project in which both functionality and aesthetics played a large role. It was important that the shading system installed not only provided a professional aesthetic, but also could boast robust performance.This particular project shows Umbra's top of the range automation systems at their best, the ability to power a whole room of blinds at the press of a button is one that suits large office spaces perfectly.Besides the automation aspect, the KuroLok blackout blinds themselves suited the professional and stylish nature of the project with ease. Self-Zipping edges mean that the blind itself never falls out of the side channels, thus eliminating unwanted light leaks, and the high quality, full blackout fabric provided the privacy and security the project needed.The slim side channels of KuroLok and Umbra's in house powder coating services meant that the blinds matched the style of the room flawlessly providing a professional look.

Creating a Luxury Blind SystemThis project was a series of high-end luxury apartments developed by the Berkeley Group. There were multiple techniques used throughout the project that were vital to keep in-fitting with the luxury nature of the development.One of which was the coupled use of Umbra's Sirios motorised roller blinds with concealment profiles. The Sirios line is designed with compact functionality in mind, making the blinds perfect for projects that require concealment to create a sleek finish.The blinds also make use of a feature known as 'slave and drive', a system whereby a pair of blinds next to each other use a singular motor and a shaft to create a synchronized and energy efficient blinds system.Umbra's wide range of fabrics also came into play, the high end material were chosen to provide both privacy and an aesthetically pleasing design.

The Project That Harnessed Evolve ZeroThis residential project used Evolve Zero blinds to replace existing blind systems for a set of bifold doors.Evolve Zero blinds are one of the most high quality solutions on the market when it comes to covering large windows or doors.They are a solution unique to Umbra, being equipped with an anti-bending technology which allows the Evolve Zero to cover spaces monumentally larger than previously possible.Problems regular blinds face when covering large areas:The blind fabric sagging inwards.The roller mechanism becoming too large.The top mechanism bends out of shape with the weight of the blind.Benefits of the new anti-bending technology:Blinds can cover up to 5 meters horizontally.Mechanisms are more compact.There is less light leak than using two blinds to cover the same area.This project shows that Evolve Zero blinds are the perfect solution when covering large areas of glazing.

A Modern and Stylish Dream HomeThis stylish home is a quintessential residential project, designed for ease of life and hassle free functionality.Bearing this in mind, our Evolve line was the perfect fit for this project. The motorised roller blinds provide clean aesthetics and practical functionality with equal proficiency.

Innovative Solutions to Common ChallengesThe StayCity Hotels project was one in which Umbra's unique motorisation options were brought into play in a major capacity.The main challenge at the time was that motorised blinds were catching on objects within the room such as furniture and other objects obstructing the blinds mechanism. This was causing damage to the blind system themselves and meant a lot of downtime and maintenance cost. This was solved by a unique obstacle detection solution that Umbra offers, meaning that the blinds would stop when coming into contact with an outside object.The wide range of fabric options Umbra offers also helped greatly in this project. A fabric with high heat control properties meant that over the entire hotel, large savings could be made on heating and cooling costs. With sensors within the blinds also being able to communicate with the BMS, helping further with heat control and therefore energy efficiency.This is where Umbra's unique obstacle detection motors came into play, whereas before an obstacle would have been met with the force of a blind trying to close despite being unable to, now the smart sensors detected the obstacle and brought the mechanism to a swift halt, saving the obstruction from damage or wear.The full blackout KuroLok blinds also go a long way in quality of sleep for the residents of the hotel, blocking all light and creating a private environment greatly heightened the customer experience.The wide range of fabric options Umbra offers also helped greatly in this project. A fabric with high heat control properties meant that over the entire hotel, large savings could be made on heating and cooling costs. With sensors within the blinds also being able to communicate with the BMS, helping further with heat control and therefore energy efficiency.

The Cabin is a stunning residential project in West Wales.Featuring motorised roller blinds, motorised curtain tracks and specialist tensioned rooflight blinds, this project has a little bit of everything when it comes to shading.Being as this was one of the most aesthetically pleasing projects we have ever worked on, it was vital that the shading provided functionality and style simultaneously. Umbra's' wide range of hardware options and powder coating services meant that the blinds and curtains could fit both the interior design style and the stunning scenery flawlessly.Being a modern style, it was absolutely vital that the shading solutions were smart home compatible. Every blind that Umbra fitted was controllable via a smartphone app. This meant that the home owner had complete control over the blinds directly from their phone. With the ability to set scenes, create automatic schedules, and make use of various sensors, (including light, weather and presence detectors) to gain fully autonomous control over their shading.Another unique challenge that the project posed was that of temperature control. The project had the dual challenge of large glazed windows and a costal location, (meaning the weather has the capability to go from scorching heat to vicious gales at the drop of a hat). Specialist fabrics were selected from Umbra's very own fabric range to provide optimal heat gain and loss control.All of these factors came together in perfect harmony to create one of the most visually pleasing and functionally robust projects Umbra have completed to date.