PowerView® Automation
Program your window treatments so that they adjust themselves automatically, creating the perfect room ambiance morning, noon and night.
Sheer Shades
Learn more about Hunter Douglas custom window sheers, including our shadings and privacy sheers. Innovative, light-diffusing sheers. Your trusted source for window treatments.
Cellular Shades
Cellular honeycomb shades from Hunter Douglas. An energy-efficient design that traps air in distinct pockets to help keep your house cool in the summer and warm in the winter.
Roman Shades
Custom-made fabric Roman Shades by Hunter Douglas, combining the look of soft folds with the ease and convenience of a shade. Custom-crafted.
Roller Shades
The Hunter Douglas roller shades & solar screen shades collections offer excellent light control and a clean, stylish look in a range of fabrics and materials.
Woven Shades
For a warm, natural look our Hunter Douglas Woven Wood Shades collection of window treatments transforms sunlight into captivating design statements. Choose yours today.
Vertical Shades
Find the right custom vertical shades for any room in your home. Search our most popular window shades.
Wood Blinds
From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, wood blinds have been a favorite among homeowners for decades.
Metal Blinds
Find the perfect metal blinds for any room in your home. From controlling light to their stylish, sleek look, metal blinds have been a favorite among homeowners.
Vertical Blinds
Discover Hunter Douglas customized vertical blinds featuring elegant styling and translucency in a large selection of colors, treatments, and textures. Lifetime guarantee.
Shutters
Hunter Douglas custom window shutters provide superior light control and privacy with classic styles, long-lasting finishes, and exceptional craftsmanship.
Drapery
Choose from timeless and on-trend fabrics, including lofty textures and alluring jacquards, artisanal embroideries and luminous sheers.
Light Enhancing
Enjoy the beauty of natural light and make any space more captivating, with the following light-enhancing shades.
Room Darkening
Want a darker room for better sleep or optimal movie binging? These shades and drapes help block light at the window.
Energy Efficient
Live comfortably and save energy with these shades. Designer to keep a room warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
Door Coverings
Manage natural light and add privacy with these window treatments that work well for sliding-glass and patio doors.
Sound Absorption
Create a quieter, more relaxing room with these window treatments, which help absorb sound, reducing exterior noise.
Top-Down Bottom-Up
For privacy and natural light, position shades from the top, bottom or both. These shades have this feature available.
Commercial Blinds & Shades
We offer window treatments for any business or commercial setting.
Cornices
We offer window treatments for any business or commercial setting.
Custom Bedding
We create one-of-a-kind custom bedding designs.
Drapery & Valances
Add the perfect finishing touch to your windows.
Drapery Hardware
Choose from a wide selection of styles.
Motorized Window Coverings
Enjoy the convenience of motorized window coverings.
Outdoor Solar Shades
Make your outdoor spaces more comfortable with our outdoor solar shades.
After-Hours & In-Home Consultations
Our schedule is flexible, and we can come to your home for a consultation.
Free Estimates
Get a free estimate for your next decorating project.
Motorized Covering Expertise
We offer expert motorization services for your window coverings.
Upholstery
We offer re-upholstery services for all furniture styles.
About Us
At North County Blind Company, we take window fashions seriously. We can provide treatments that capture the sun's warmth and add architectural interest to your home.
Encinitas, CA
At North County Blinds, we have been serving our valued customers since 1985. Our commitment to exceptional products from Hunter Douglas, expert design consultations, and in-home installations has made us a trusted name in Encinitas, California.
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See window covering solutions for privacy and room darkening.
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See window covering solutions for light filtering and glare control.
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See window covering solutions for a variety of needs and kitchen styles.
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See child-safe window coverings for baby nurseries and kids rooms
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See blinds and shades for bay, bow and corner windows.
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See shutters, blinds and shades for French Doors.
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Blog
How to Choose the Best Sheer Shade for your Home
Sheer shades are some of the most versatile window coverings when it comes to finding a window treatment that ticks off all the boxes when it comes to design and performance. These sheer shades offer light enhancement and diffusion, better noise control, a sleek and sophisticated look, privacy without compromising your view, and much more.
However, with so many different Hunter Douglas shade options, it can be hard to know which one might work best for your home. At North County Blinds, our team is going to go over two of our favorite shades: Luminette® Sheer Panels and Silhouette® Sheer Shades, so you can get a better idea of what each option has to offer your Encinitas home.
Silhouette® Sheer Shades
Imagine a soft and diffused light filtering through two sheer panels and delicate fabric vanes, creating an ethereal glow in your living space. This is the allure of Hunter Douglas Silhouette® Sheer Shades. These sheer shadings combine the beauty of sheer fabric shades with the functionality of adjustable slats, allowing you to control light, privacy, and your view at all once.
Here are some the key features of Silhouette® Sheer Shades:
- S-Vane Design: These Hunter Douglas sheer shades features patented S-shaped vanes, which offer the perfect balance between light diffusion and view-through. These vanes tilt and rotate to filter light, reduce glare, and enhance privacy without sacrificing your connection to the outside world.
- Light Control: With Silhouette® Sheer Shades, you have precise control over the amount of light entering your space. Tilt the vanes to direct sunlight upward for a soft ambient light or adjust them horizontally to allow more light in while maintaining privacy.
- UV Protection: The sheer fabric of Silhouette® Sheer Shades is designed to filter harmful UV rays, which in turn protects your furniture, flooring, and artwork from fading over time.
- Variety of Fabric Options: Silhouette® Sheer Shades offers over 150 fabric and color options, allowing you to customize the shading to match your interior decor and personal style.
There are a ton of benefits to these shades, some of which are already outline in their key features. Here are the top three benefits that come to mind:
- Elegant Aesthetics: Silhouette® Sheer Shades have a soft and graceful appearance that adds an air of sophistication to any room, making them a versatile choice for both modern and traditional spaces.
- Enhanced Privacy: Despite their sheer fabric, Silhouette® Sheer Shades provide a high level of privacy, making them an ideal solution for living rooms, bedrooms, and even bathrooms.
- View Preservation: Enjoy the beauty of your surroundings while reducing glare, thanks to Silhouette® Sheer Shades’ exceptional view-through capability.
Luminette® Sheer Panels
For larger windows and sliding doors, Hunter Douglas Luminette® Sheer Panels offer a vertical take on sheer shading solutions. With their vertical orientation, Luminette® Sheer Panels create a unique sense of drama and elegance while providing optimal control over light and privacy.
Here are some of the key features of Luminette® Sheer Panels:
- Vertical Fabric Vanes: Luminette® Sheer Panels feature vertical fabric vanes attached to a single sheer backing. This design allows for easy rotation, controlling light and privacy as you desire them.
- Gliding Track System: These panels operate on a sleek and smooth track system, making it easy to adjust even for wide windows and sliding doors.
- UV Protection: Like Silhouette® Sheer Shades, Luminette® Sheer Panels also filter out harmful UV rays, preserving your interior furnishings.
- S-Curve Design: The S-curve design of their opaque vanes resembles the graceful lines of drapery, adding a touch of traditional elegance to your space.
As you can see, there are already some key differences between Silhouette® Sheer Shades and Luminette® Sheer Panels. Just like their horizontal shade counterparts, Luminette® Sheer Panels offer their own versatile benefits as well:
- Vertical Versatility: Luminette® Sheer Panels are the perfect solution for wider windows and sliding doors, offering a vertical alternative to horizontal shading solutions.
- Diverse Light Control: By rotating the vertical vanes, you can effortlessly adjust the amount of light entering your space, from soft diffused light to complete privacy.
- Elegant Drapery Look: Luminette® Sheer Panels’ design combines the benefits of sheer shading with the classic appearance of drapery, creating a truly unique and elegant window treatment.
Choosing Between Silhouette® and Luminette®
Deciding between Silhouette® Sheer Shades and Luminette® Sheer Panels comes down to the specific needs of your space and your personal preferences. Silhouette® Sheer Shades are an excellent choice for windows of various sizes, providing a horizontal shading solution that combines elegance with effective light control. On the other hand, Luminette® Sheer Panels offer vertical versatility, making them an ideal choice for larger windows and sliding doors, while still maintaining the sheer fabric's graceful aesthetics.
Our take? Your decision may need to boil down to the general size and shape of your windows. Silhouette® offers more options for uniquely shaped windows, whereas Luminette® Sheer Panels are ideal for larger windows or homes with floor-to-ceiling windows or sliding glass doors.
Each of these options offer unique qualities, but both will result in a room with privacy and enhanced light options. No matter which choice you make, you’re in excellent hands with the window treatment experts at North County Blinds. You may want to check out Pirouette® Sheer Shades. They are a beautiful, unique sheer shade option that brings totally different qualities with horizontal vanes attached to a single sheer backing that rolls up into a header for clear views.
Request a Consultation to Learn More About Sheer Shades
At North County Blind Company, our team is dedicated to helping you make the best choice for your home. With a wide range of options and our expertise in window treatments, we're here to guide you through the decision-making process.
Whether you opt for the horizontal elegance of Silhouette® Sheer Shades or the vertical drama of Luminette® Sheer Panels, you can rest assured that you're investing in premium shading solutions from Hunter Douglas that marry form and function seamlessly.
Visit our showroom or request a consultation with us today to explore these products and transform your living spaces with sheer beauty and style. Plus, check out our promotions and learn how you take advantage of our special rebates when you pair sheer shades with PowerView® Automation.
We’re located in Encinitas, CA, but we are proud to service the greater San Diego region, including Encinitas, San Diego, Carlsbad, Oceanside, and San Marcos, CA.