Visit Our Kitsilano Showroom:
Open Monday to Saturday
1703 West 4th Ave, Vancouver
Vertical Blinds Have Changed in Canada
Vertical blinds use individual fabric or PVC vanes that hang from a track and tilt for privacy and light control.
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Since changes to Canadian cord-safety regulations, traditional vertical blinds must be operated with a wand that you push across the full width of the window.
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For many homeowners, Hunter Douglas Luminette sheer panels provide the same side-to-side function with a softer look and far easier operation, including motorization options.
With 1000s of fabrics and colours to choose from, you'll be
able to find the perfect vertical blinds or sheers to suit your space.
Love the Color and Design
I had a vertical blind made for my balcony sliding door. Love the color and design. Excellent quality and service! Thank you.
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-Linda Holland
Installation Was Even Faster than We Expected
We had such an excellent experience working with Emily and team at Fresh Design Blinds! Our blinds look perfect and installation was even faster than we expected. We would definitely come here again. Thank you!
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-Alison Funk,
Recommending to Anyone!
We are looking to refresh our window covering, and the process with Fresh Design has been very smooth. No issue recommending to anyone!
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-Thomas L
Luminette Sheer Panels: An Elegant Vertical Window Covering
Luminette sheers combine a sheer drape with vertical fabric vanes that tilt open and closed giving you light control and privacy.
They stack to the left, right, or both sides of the window and provide a much more elegant and up-to-date look than traditional vertical blinds
Luminette Sheer Window Panels
Vertical Window Coverings for Patio Doors and Large Windows
Hunter Douglas’ Luminette sheers work well on sliding patio doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and the large condo windows that you see all through Vancouver.
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Luminette sheers are a vertical window covering that can stack on the left, the right, or both sides of your window. Their smart and functional design gives you access to your sliding door while adding a soft and elevated look to your space.
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Hunter Douglas Luminette Sheer Panels
Duette Vertiglide Cellular Shades
Skyline Gliding Window Panel
Vancouver’s Best Source for Premium Vertical Blinds and Alternatives
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Fresh Design Blinds carries premium Hunter Douglas window coverings. ​
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If you’re looking for a vertical window covering solution, we can show you the following optinos:
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Traditional vertical blinds
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Luminette sheers
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Vertiglide shades
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Skyline gliding window panels
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Our team will measure your windows carefully, explain where the blind will stack, and provide professional installation and local warranty support.
Great Team
Many thanks to Vanessa & her team at Fresh Design Blinds, Vancouver
They are all fantastic. A great team that works well, making their customers happy.
Highly recommend their services.
-John Langmuir
Blinds Work Wonderfully
Our new blinds are great and work wonderfully. They make our condo look and feel much more like a home. The installer for Fresh Blinds (Logan) was professional and courteous. Thanks for the great service.
-David Marriott
Fantastic Product
Fantastic product, personable service ( thank you, Vanessa!) and seamless installation (thank you, Logan and Aidan!). Fresh Design Blinds is the absolute best.
-Gena Kolson
Benefits of Luminette Sheer Panels for Large Windows
Luminette Sheer Panels give you the left-to-right function people want for a patio door, along with the beauty of a sheer drape and the privacy of a blind.
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Blind and Drapery in One Product: A sheer layer of fabric creates a soft look, while the vertical fabric vanes tilt open and closed for light control and privacy.
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Flexible Stacking: The panels can stack on the left, the right, or both sides of the window which allows for greater ease of access and flexible design.
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Privacy with Filtered Light: The sheer filters the light during the day, and the vanes close when you need privacy.
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UV Protection: The sheer fabric provides a buffer between your interior and direct sunlight, protecting your furniture, art, and eyes from harsh UV rays.
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Motorization for Large Windows: One motor can operate up to 20 feet of Luminette panels, making this an affordable product to motorize across a large window.
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Matching Window Treatments: Luminette and Hunter Douglas Silhouette shades come in matching colours, so you can use a Luminette sheer on a patio door and Silhouette on nearby windows.
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Durable Fabric: The fabric is durable and very easy to clean — in fact, they are far easier to clean than traditional vertical blinds.
Why Traditional Vertical Blinds Are No Longer Our First Choice
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Hunter Douglas Somner® Custom Vertical Blinds
Traditional vertical blinds are harder to operate now that cord control has been removed to meet Canadian safety rules.
To operate vertical blinds, you now need clear access in front of the whole window to push the wand across.
Fabric choices are also limited because many manufacturers are phasing out the product.
In addition, airflow from an open patio door can pull heavy PVC vanes out of their carriers, making them a product that often requires warranty support.
We strongly recommend looking at the alternatives first unless your strata requires vertical blinds.
Designer Screen Shades and Skyline Gliding Window Panels
Where Can You Use Vertical Blinds and Luminette Sheer Panels?
Sliding Patio Doors
The panels stack to the left, right, or both sides, making them a natural fit for sliding patio doors. You can tilt the vanes for light and privacy or move the window covering out of the way when you use the door.
Floor-to-Ceiling Condo Windows
Luminettes are a beautiful option for the large, floor-to-ceiling windows found in many Vancouver condos. Vanessa generally recommends installing them wall to wall and floor to ceiling so the fabric covers the full wall and the stack can sit beside the glass.
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Living and Dining Rooms
The sheer fabric filters the light beautifully on large living room and dining room windows. Luminette panels can also match Silhouette shades on the other windows in the same room.
Bedrooms
The sheers are available with room-darkening vanes for large bedroom windows. Close the vanes for more privacy and less light while keeping the soft look of sheer drapery.
Visit Fresh Design Blinds on West 4th Ave
Why visit the showroom?
When you visit us in-person you'll have a chance to see the wide range of blinds and pick the perfect window treatments for your home. With over 150 colour choices and fabrics, it's helpful to see all your options in person.
Your needs and how you interact with your space is personal.
Each blinds system comes with different lifting and light filtering options. You can try out each system at our showroom and speak with a design consultant about your space.
Address
1703 West 4th Ave,
Vancouver, BC
V6J 1M2
Opening Hours
Common Questions About Vertical Window Coverings in Vancouver
What are vertical blinds?
Vertical blinds are made from individual fabric or PVC vanes that hang from a track. The vanes rotate to control light and privacy, and the blind stacks on the left, right, or both sides of the opening.
Who should buy vertical blinds?
Traditional vertical blinds may suit a condo where strata rules require them or someone who wants a blind that stacks on the left or right of a patio door. Most clients should also look at Luminette sheers, Vertiglide, and Skyline panels before deciding.
How much do premium vertical blinds cost?
Pricing depends on the width and height of the opening, vane material, control system, and installation requirements. Fresh Design provides a custom quote after reviewing the window and the product options that will work best.
What are the main downsides of traditional vertical blinds?
Traditional vertical blinds are fragile when air moves through an open door, have limited fabric choices, and can look dated or institutional. The wand on new vertical blinds also requires enough clear space to walk across the front of the whole window as you open or close the blind making them awkward to operate.
How did Canadian safety regulations change vertical blinds?
Traditional cord and chain controls are no longer available on current vertical blinds in Canada. They now use a wand that tilts the vanes and must be pushed across the opening to move the blind. You cannot purchase cord operated vertical blinds anywhere in Canada.
Can vertical blinds be motorized?
No. Motorization is not available for the traditional vertical blinds Fresh Design sells. If you want a motorized blind that moves left to right, Luminette panels are the better option and can cover up to 20 feet with one motor.
Motorized blinds typically require the least amount of warranty support because they are never handled manually which dramatically reduces wear and tear. We love motorized blinds and recommend that anyone in their long-term or “forever home” consider motorization.
Are premium vertical blinds worth it?
They can be worthwhile when strata rules require vertical blinds or you specifically want a standard vertical blind. For most homes, Luminettes are a more modern and functional option that can also be motorized.
Which brands of vertical blinds do you carry?
Fresh Design carries Hunter Douglas vertical window treatments. We can also show you Luminettes and other premium alternatives for patio doors and large windows.
What windows are best suited to vertical blinds?
Vertical blinds and Luminettes work best on sliding patio doors, floor-to-ceiling windows, and large condo windows. They are not usually the best choice for French doors or smaller windows.
What should I put on a sliding patio door instead of vertical blinds?
The main options are Luminette sheers, Duette or Applause honeycomb shades with Vertiglide, and Skyline Gliding Window Panels. All three move left to right and stack at the side, making them practical options for a patio door.
Are Luminette sheers the same as vertical blinds?
No. Luminette is a Hunter Douglas product in a category of its own. This window covering combines a sheer drape with vertical fabric vanes, but it is not an old-style vertical blind with sheer fabric sewn over it.
What exactly are Luminette sheers?
Luminettes combine sheer fabric with 3½-inch vertical vanes. The sheers create a soft, drapery-like look, while the vanes rotate to control light and privacy across doors and large windows.
Do Luminette sheers provide privacy at night?
Yes. People can see through ordinary sheer drapery at night, but the fabric vanes in these panels can tilt closed to provide privacy.
How much window space does a Luminette stack use?
The stack can cover about 30% of the window. Fresh Design will measure the full opening and look for enough wall space to place the stack beside the window rather than over the glass.
Can Luminette sheers darken a bedroom?
Yes. A room-darkening vane option is available for bedrooms and other spaces that need stronger light reduction. Your design consultant can show you how it compares with light-filtering fabrics.
Can Luminette panels coordinate with other blinds?
Yes. Luminette panels and Hunter Douglas Silhouette shades come in matching colours. You can use the panels on a patio door and Silhouette shades on the living room windows so everything works together
Should Luminette panels be mounted inside the window frame?
They are often mounted more like drapery than a blind. Vanessa recommends going wall to wall and floor to ceiling when the room allows because that is when the panels look most beautiful.
Are Luminette sheers easy to clean?
Yes. The fabric is 100% polyester, durable, and easy to clean. It can be carefully steamed or washed by hand and hung to dry, but it should not be put in a washing machine.