Over the pandemic, many homeowners placed in remote work positions quickly uncovered how light can either accent or ruin the functionality of a space. The living room may serve as a great reading spot in the early morning, but harsh light in the afternoon can wreak havoc on a workspace setup. Therefore with many home renovations, creating the perfect office space has been in high demand for people, with solutions like smart shading being greatly valued as a high-performance asset in these spaces.
This was what Kimberly Lancaster, President of the PR firm, Caster Communications in Rhode Island, found out firsthand when her team switched to remote work during the pandemic.
As Lancaster selected her living space to be the vessel for her work setup, she envisioned a bright, quiet and spacious office with resplendent views out onto the nearby lake. However (and I feel her pain having done the same exact thing during the pandemic) as the day reached its brightest, screen glare and that halo effect lighting reared their ugly heads.
Smart Shading ‘Corrects’ the Amount of Light the Space Receives
Along with having the right décor to match a beautiful beach aesthetic, Lancaster’s home also came equipped with a powerful brain in the form of a Control4 automation system. As such, she wanted a solution that would not only fit in with her interiors design-wise, but also could be connected to the existing control system so the lighting could be proactively managed throughout the day.
Combining the aesthetic range of fabric options with PowerView automation, Hunter Douglas quickly rose to the top as the most salient smart solution, specifically, their Silhouette Window Shadings. This is because, throughout the day, the S-shaped vanes could rise, lower, tilt and adjust to balance the amount of sun entering the room.
The solution paired perfectly with the Control4 system as Lancaster and the team quickly found out. With the right automation routines that took the space’s transitional nature into consideration, Lancaster had a truly multifunctional space that could accommodate her needs throughout the day.
Starting in the morning, shades are set to let in a healthy amount of light, but tilt to prevent glare, adjusting throughout the day as light levels shift. Lancaster is shaded, while the furniture and carpet are also protected from sun damage during the brightest parts of the day. The system also allows for manual adjustments as needed, such as for days when cloud cover doesn’t require as much shading.
And, tying back to the aesthetics, the soft white fabric chosen compliments the rich blues and vibrant artwork beautifully. Plus, when combined with the overhead soffit, the shades disappear completely, granting full, near panoramic views out into the calming, natural landscape.
