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Sean Welsh (Sean) (64.81.73.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 - 2:33 am: | |
Good folks,
I am seeking input and advice on window coverings for my Neoplan Spaceliner.
I thought I had this problem licked, with a Hunter-Douglas product called "Duette Smart Shade" that was basically a honeycomb (cellular) shade with curved side tracks. It appears, however, that Hunter-Douglas has discontinued this product.
The specifics of my situation are this: I have large windows that I would like to leave as unobstructed as possible when the blinds are open. These windows are both parallelogram (front and back edge of window are parallel, but not vertical) and curved at the top as they segue into the roofline. The windows are approximately 74" long and 36" tall. The top 9" or so of the windows are curved to meet the roofline, with a radius of curvature approximately 20"-24".
I'd like to use something that will curve with the profile of the window, as opposed to either valancing off the curved portion, or "boxing" the windows in at an angle to use a straight window covering.
Comfortex makes a product that is similar to the old Hunter-Douglas "Smart Shade" that they call "Symphony Soprano," but the distributors will only take orders for it in widths up to 36".
We are contemplating buying standard Duette or Symphony cellular shades and fabricating our own tracks to hold them in the curved shape, but we would prefer an off-the-shelf solution. Also, we are concerned that a standard honeycomb shade may "buckle" at the curve as it is operated up and down.
If it helps you to visualize the problem, here is a link to a photo of one of the windows
http://odyssey.smugmug.com/gallery/77559/2/2693260
and there are some other shots of the windows throughout this gallery.
The other key requirements are that these must be able to provide complete privacy (room darkening is not required), and the thinner the better as far as required valancing is concerned, due to some tight quarters already. Insulating qualities are a plus.
Any pointers to a product or manufacturer that can meet this requirement are appreciated. Also, if you have solved this problem yourself, let me know what worked (and what didn't work, as the case may be), and how to duplicate your efforts.
As you can see from the photos, the interior is already fairly well along, as we had been counting on the now-discontinued Smart Shade system to meet this need.
Thanks in advance!
-Sean |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.239)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, April 21, 2004 - 3:34 am: | |
Sorry, could'nt see your pics as your site was under system maintenance.
The RTS has a very gradual window curve, not like the Prevost at the top, just gradually curving toward the roof with the roof metal taking most the curve to the roof line.
I am using tripple cell "honeycomb" type blinds with Top down/bottom up on some windows. They will conform with my curvature very well.
They are from SMITH & NOBLE windoware
WWW.Smithnoble.com
Part of the wall trim will hold back the blind to conform to the window curvature.
My solution, might be helpful to you
"Imagine"
cd |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.209)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 12:38 am: | |
Sean
I finally was able to look at your site.
I see the ANGLED window ends.
what I would do is to widen the inside trim to cover/support the blind, top to bottom, straight up and down. If you are not concerned about the angled look, the striaght up and down will give a nice clean look and you can hang wall lamps on the trim.
I saw an MCI that had the angled window ends. This bus had all the windows in. They used vertical blinds as a solution for the window coverings.
"Imagine"
cd |
Sean Welsh (Sean) (64.81.73.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 1:53 pm: | |
Cory,
Yes, already planning to use straight verticals. The real problem is the curve at the top... still looking for some kind of solution with a curved track.
We may end up with standard style Duettes and some kind of home-brew track set up.
-Sean |
TWO DOGS (63.185.96.215)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 3:56 pm: | |
seems like there is someplace that sells plastic fog....kinda like if you wanted to cover a bathroom window so nobody could see in...but it still lets in light |
TWO DOGS (63.185.96.215)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 4:01 pm: | |
even butcher paper with a small amount of spray adhesive... |
Sean Welsh (Sean) (64.81.73.194)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 6:46 pm: | |
Umm, we'd like to see the view when the blinds are open. No point in keeping the windows uncluttered all the way around otherwise...
-Sean |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.34)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 6:56 pm: | |
Sean
Why would you not be able to for the curve with the side trim so the blinds would hold the curve.
Ok, I recall you have really wide windows, so I am thinking two thoughts, similar but different.
put a heat formed (you can do this yourself) plexiglas to support the curve. Once the blind is out of the curve it does not need the support and you can see through it. I could not see how far the curve goes up in the pics but I know you will lose some viewing area frome the body of the blind.
The other thought, same but different, would be to place plexiglass fingers, probably 2 to 3" wide and as long as you need to support the blind material at midway or in thirds, what ever is needed to support the blind w/o damage.
If you think this may be damaging to a blind, try a windo0w shade, you could use a rod to suport the shade material and can take the rod down if needed.
I keep thinking about this, I can usually come up with some kind of workable solution in time.
"Imagine"
cd |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.34)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 7:03 pm: | |
You know
if using some of that new shade material, and there is some nice looking coverings at that site I mentioned above, You dont have to close the blind by going DOWN! You can close it going UP, and do you REALLY need to curtain off the top portion?
Perhaps the bedroom and bath could be frosted at the topcurve.
Hmmm another thought....
I had a Cadilac DeVille and the neetest thing I saw was the built in visor that slid into the ceiling material. When it was slid in, it was invisibe but it would slide out and block the top of the windshield. Could you incorporate something like that, then pull the shade up to the visor???
LOL "Imagine Your Dreams"
cd |
TWO DOGS (158.254.224.152)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 8:11 pm: | |
o.k. another idea....on my Eagle....I have horizontal mini blinds...but....it is an 05 & I wanted to be abel to open the top 6" of window ...so..I installed the venetion blinds 6" inboard of the window.. on the bottom of my cabinets.think you could do it to the ceiling ,inboard of top of window& mounted the little holders that hold the bottom next to the wall..hope I explained that correctly |
ChuckMC9 (Chucks) (66.167.95.248)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 8:23 pm: | |
Horizontally sliding curved 'milk' plexi on alum. tracks top and bottom w/fingerholds drilled in. ala Eames era cabinet doors. I'm considering horizontally sliding window coverings in the shoji-screen Japanese style.
??? |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.119)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 9:30 pm: | |
Sean
I was just thinking about some friends that had a nice summer house in Pleasant Prarie Wisconson. The dining room had window screens from a long gone era. The screens were like shades, only, they followed a track in the window casing and when fully open, the screens were hidden in the wall.
The only reason I recalled this was because they had to replace one so they are still made to order today. Perhaps a heavy material shade with treated ends would work the same way in the tracks.
Speaking of tracks, the RV catalogs sell a track that can be bent. It is used for the curtain that covers the driver door window, windshield and passenger window. This would be pretty cheap to run two, one on each side and curve as needed at the top. They have little nubs that attache to the curtain, in your case blinds or shade, that follow the track. I have a cheap version of it in my RV and have never had a problem with it, perhaps an idea here could help you.
"IMAGINE"
cd |
CoryDane RTSII (66.155.188.119)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, April 23, 2004 - 9:42 pm: | |
I could'nt see how far back the curve goes for the window as it melds in with the roof line, so this idea may sound off the wall.....
Kind of a thought off of the idea above mine, if your window does not go too far into the coach, perhaps you could set up the blind base (what is normally connected to the top of the window or sides of the wondow trim, and attach it to a pivot. The piviot would be hinged at the top most of the vertical window area and nearest the side of the bus for the top window area.
Assuming 6" for the pivot, when the pivot is down, the blind would be 6" down from the ceiling, next to the vertical window and operable as a normal blind. When the pivot is in the up position, the blind would be comvering the upper curve area of the window, about 6" out from the window, again the blind would work normally from either pivot position. I think the top down/bottom up blinds could be used in this scenario too if you just want to open the top for a little light but keep the privacy.
Oh my, what else can I come up with lOLOLOL
"Just IMAGINE"
cd |
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