About Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings

Nobody rings a blinds company because they want to buy blinds. They ring because the afternoon sun turns the lounge into an oven. Because the bedroom never gets properly dark. Because the patio is unusable when the wind picks up. Because a guest bedroom needs to feel finished before December.

Custom Blinds solves those problems. Morning coffee on the deck happens despite the southeaster. The bedroom stays cool through a January night without running the aircon. The braai area works in rain. The holiday home looks cared for even when you are in Johannesburg.

That is the real product. Not the blind itself, but the way a room feels when the right solution is in place.

Duncan Kane founded Custom Blinds in 2010 after years in the window covering industry. The Garden Route breaks products that work perfectly elsewhere. Salt air corrodes mild steel fixings within months. UV bleaches fabrics in a single season. Berg winds in George snap brackets that hold fine in Johannesburg. Humidity in Knysna grows mould behind blinds that stay dry in Cape Town.

Understanding what fails, and why, is the foundation of every recommendation Custom Blinds makes. It is why the company manufactures its own awning and outdoor blind ranges rather than relying entirely on imports. Canvas awnings and outdoor blinds are made in Knysna. Shutters are built to our specification and installed by our own team. It is why every specification starts with the question: what conditions will this product face in your specific location?

10,000+ projects later, that approach has not changed. Duncan still consults with every Garden Route client personally, designing the shading or shutter system from scratch. Professional installation teams handle all fitting. One team handles everything from first consultation to final fitting. No handoffs, no gap between what was discussed and what gets installed.

Garden Route: full turnkey service

For homes and businesses in Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounds, Custom Blinds provides the complete service: on-site consultation, precise measuring, product specification, manufacture (where applicable), professional installation, and ongoing aftercare. Duncan and the team handle everything. One point of contact. One standard of workmanship.

This covers indoor blinds, shutters, outdoor blinds, awnings, shadeports, fly screens, security screens, safety bars, and LockLatch window restrictors. Commercial projects including body corporates, housing estates, dealerships, hospitality venues. Engineering documentation where required.

Nationwide: the Custom Blinds online shop

The online shop at shop.customblinds.co.za brings Custom Blinds to every home in South Africa. Measure your windows using the step-by-step guide, select your blind type and fabric, see the price instantly, and order with free nationwide delivery. Products arrive made to your exact millimetre measurements with clear fitting guides for self-installation.

The Custom Fit Guarantee applies to all online orders: if a blind arrives too large, return it and we will trim it to size and ship it back free. If too small, return it and we will remake it at a reduced price and ship it back free.

Online shop contact: WhatsApp 076 022 8410. Garden Route consultations: Duncan on 079 523 5407.

Custom Blinds does not only sell other manufacturers’ products. The company designs, specifies, and manufactures three proprietary ranges built specifically for South African coastal conditions:

Custom Lifestyle Shutters™. PVC indoor shutters built to our specification for humidity, salt air, and UV exposure. Engineered for coastal homes where timber warps and imported PVC degrades. Available across the Garden Route with professional installation. See shutters.

Custom Lifestyle Awnings™. Canvas and Wedge awnings manufactured in Knysna. Retractable folding-arm, fixed wedge, and custom-designed configurations. Aluminium louvre awning systems sourced from internationally accredited manufacturers with local production. See awnings.

Custom Lifestyle Outdoor Blinds™. Café blinds, zip screens, PVC and SheerWeave outdoor blinds fabricated for coastal resilience and wind-load tested for Garden Route conditions. See outdoor blinds.

The company does not manufacture roller blinds. Indoor blinds are sourced from BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas, South Africa’s benchmark manufacturer, ensuring UV-tested fabrics, corrosion-rated hardware, and full manufacturer warranty backing.

The whole list

We don’t sell carpets, tiles, curtains or sanitary ware. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings controls the sun, light and weather on a building and in your home, and the automation that runs it. That is all we have done since 2010.

BlindQuip / Hunter Douglas. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings has been the longest-standing accredited agent for the world’s leading brands across the Eden area in the Garden Route since 2010, and is an authorised BlindQuip representative. BlindQuip is Hunter Douglas’s South African manufacturing and distribution arm, producing the full range of indoor blinds including Luxaflex. This partnership gives Custom Blinds access to UV-tested fabrics, corrosion-rated hardware, and manufacturer warranty backing. See BlindQuip. Shop BlindQuip online.

Somfy. Certified Somfy installer and programmer. Somfy motorisation with wind, sun, and rain sensors is available on all retractable and louvre awnings, outdoor blinds, and indoor blinds. Smart-home integration via TaHoma, Apple HomeKit, Google Home, and Amazon Alexa. 5-year manufacturer warranties on all Somfy motors.

Motion by Coulisse. Authorised supplier. European smart blind technology with Thread and Matter compatibility for Apple Home integration. Battery-powered motors for retrofit installations where no wiring exists.

LockLatch™. Exclusive Garden Route distributor. SABS-compliant child-safe window restrictors that allow ventilation while preventing falls. See LockLatch.

Cornerstar Screens. Preferred supplier. Coastal-grade insect screens and retractable screen systems.

Stocking a brand and being appointed by that brand are two entirely different things. Any retailer can order blinds from a catalogue. A manufacturer appointment means the brand has assessed the business, its installation standards, its technical knowledge, and its aftercare record, and chosen to trust it with their name in a specific territory. Custom Blinds holds manufacturer appointments from four of the world’s most respected brands in window covering and home automation. Two of those appointments are exclusive to the Garden Route.

Exclusive Garden Route agent

Ziptrak® Australia

Custom Blinds is the sole appointed Ziptrak agent for the Garden Route. Ziptrak is Australia’s leading track-guided outdoor blind system, engineered for coastal UV, wind load, and salt exposure. No other company in this region is authorised to supply and install Ziptrak systems. The appointment covers Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounds.

Exclusive Garden Route distributor

LockLatch™

Custom Blinds is the exclusive Garden Route distributor for LockLatch, the SABS-compliant stainless steel window and door restrictor. Open windows and doors secured against forced entry, pets, children, and baboons while maintaining full ventilation. The only place on the Garden Route to purchase and have LockLatch professionally supplied and fitted.

Longest-standing accredited agent

Hunter Douglas | BlindQuip

Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings has been the longest-standing accredited agent for the world’s leading brands across the Eden area in the Garden Route since 2010. Hunter Douglas is the world’s largest window covering manufacturer. BlindQuip is their South African manufacturing and distribution arm, producing the full range of indoor blinds including Luxaflex. A decade-long relationship built on consistent installation standards and direct manufacturer warranty backing.

Somfy Expert | Outdoor automation specialist

Somfy

Custom Blinds holds Somfy Expert status and specialises in outdoor automation across the Garden Route: from complex louvre systems with integrated lighting and wind sensors to motorised awnings, Ziptrak outdoor blinds, SheerWeave screen blinds, PVC outdoor blinds, and cafe blinds for South Africa’s most prestigious hospitality venues. Indoor roller blind automation is available nationwide through the online shop or by personal consultation.

Custom Blinds also works with Motion by Coulisse (authorised partner) and Cornerstar (preferred supplier for coastal-grade screens and security screens across the Garden Route).

Custom Blinds provides commercial-scale installations for dealerships, housing estates, body corporates, retail centres, hospitality venues, and industrial properties across the Garden Route.

Waterproof PVC membrane systems carry 15-year warranties with 25-year structural steel warranties.

See commercial shadeports.

Knysna. Company headquarters. Lagoon-facing and estate properties. Simola, Pezula, Leisure Isle, Thesen Islands, Brenton, Belvidere.

George. Berg wind conditions, UV exposure. Heatherlands, Herolds Bay, Wilderness, Pacaltsdorp, Blanco, George CBD.

Plettenberg Bay. Direct ocean exposure. Robberg, Beacon Isle, Keurboomstrand, Kranshoek. Marine-grade specifications standard.

Sedgefield. Holiday homes and permanent residents. Low-maintenance products for properties left unoccupied between visits.

Mossel Bay. Wind-dominant conditions. Somfy wind sensors standard on retractable awnings. Somfy motorisation with app and remote control on outdoor blinds.

Nationwide (online). The online shop at shop.customblinds.co.za delivers indoor and outdoor blinds to every address in South Africa. Free delivery included.

10,000+ Installations 2010 Established 20+ Years experience 4 Manufacturer appointments Exclusive agent: Ziptrak® Australia, Garden Route
Exclusive distributor: LockLatch™, Garden Route
Longest-standing accredited agent: Hunter Douglas and BlindQuip, Eden area in the Garden Route
Somfy Expert: Outdoor automation specialist

What does Custom Blinds manufacture?

Custom Blinds manufactures Custom Lifestyle Awnings™ (Canvas and Wedge awnings) and Custom Lifestyle Outdoor Blinds™. The company does not manufacture roller blinds. Indoor blinds are sourced from BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas.

Is Custom Blinds a franchise?

No. Custom Blinds is an independent, owner-managed business. It is not part of a franchise network. Duncan Kane founded the company in 2010 and remains the owner-operator. Custom Blinds® is a registered trademark. Read more about why choosing an independent specialist matters.

Does Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings sell flooring or bathroom products?

No. Plenty of showrooms will sell you a floor, a basin and a blind in one visit. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings makes and fits the things that shade a building and control the light inside your home, together with the automation that runs them, and nothing else. It is why the company that measures your awning is still the one servicing the motor five years later.

Does Custom Blinds sell blinds online?

Yes. The online shop at shop.customblinds.co.za sells indoor and outdoor blinds nationwide with instant quoting, self-measure guides, and free delivery. All prices include VAT. The Custom Fit Guarantee applies: too big and Custom Blinds trims it free, too small and it is remade at a reduced price.

What is BlindQuip and how does it relate to Hunter Douglas?

BlindQuip is Hunter Douglas’s South African manufacturing and distribution arm. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings has been the longest-standing accredited agent for the world’s leading brands across the Eden area in the Garden Route since 2010. As an authorised BlindQuip representative, the company has access to the full Hunter Douglas product range including Luxaflex. Products are manufactured in South Africa by BlindQuip, not imported.

Does Custom Blinds do commercial installations?

Yes. Custom Blinds provides commercial shadeports and awning systems for dealerships, housing estates, body corporates, retail centres, and hospitality venues. See commercial services.

What areas does Custom Blinds cover?

On-site consultation and installation covers the Garden Route: Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas. The online shop delivers blinds to every address in South Africa.

How do I contact Custom Blinds?

Garden Route consultations (awnings, shutters, outdoor blinds, shadeports): Duncan on 079 523 5407. Online shop orders and enquiries: WhatsApp 076 022 8410. Email: sales@customblinds.co.za.

Whether you are designing a new home, refreshing a single room, or specifying a commercial project. Custom Blinds has the range, the knowledge, and the team. See what our clients say or browse our frequently asked questions.

About Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings

Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings is an independent, owner-managed shade and weather solutions company based at 8 Simola Drive, Simola Estate, Knysna 6571, Western Cape, South Africa. The company was founded in 2010 by Duncan Kane and has completed over 10,000 installations across the Garden Route and nationally.

The company operates a dual model: on-site consultation and installation across the Garden Route (Knysna, George, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, Wilderness), and a national online shop at shop.customblinds.co.za for self-measure, self-install blind orders with free delivery.

Custom Blinds manufactures two proprietary ranges in Knysna: Custom Lifestyle Awnings (canvas and wedge awnings) and Custom Lifestyle Outdoor Blinds (café blinds, zip screens, PVC and SheerWeave). Custom Lifestyle Shutters (PVC indoor shutters) are built to our specification, supplied and installed. Indoor roller blinds, venetians, verticals, honeycomb blinds, and double rollers are sourced from BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas.

The company is an authorised BlindQuip and Hunter Douglas representative, a certified Somfy automation installer and programmer, an authorised supplier of Motion by Coulisse smart blind systems, and the exclusive Garden Route distributor of LockLatch child-safe window restrictors.

Commercial services include shadeport installations for body corporates, housing estates, dealerships, and commercial properties.

Custom Blinds and Custom Blinds Shutters and Awnings are registered trademarks. The business is insured through Old Mutual and Garden Route Insurance Brokers. Duncan Kane is contactable on 079 523 5407. Online shop enquiries are handled by WhatsApp 076 022 8410. Email: sales@customblinds.co.za.

Related: Indoor Products · Awnings · Shutters · Outdoor Blinds · Shade Ports · Somfy Automation · BlindQuip · Commercial Shadeports · Online Shop · Insights

Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings® | 8 Simola Drive, Simola Estate, Knysna 6571 | Founded 2010 | Registered trademark | Product ranges, pricing, and availability may vary. Contact us for current information.

Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings is a registered trademark (Custom Blinds®) operating under Saxon Commodities T/A Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings. The company was founded in 2010 by Duncan Kane in Knysna, Garden Route, South Africa.

Duncan Kane is the most experienced shutters and awnings specialist based in the Knysna and Plettenberg Bay area. Since founding Custom Blinds in 2010, he has personally consulted on and designed systems for over 10,000 completed projects across the Garden Route. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings is also the longest-standing accredited agent for the world’s leading brands across the Eden area in the Garden Route.

Physical address: 8 Simola Drive, Knysna, Western Cape, 6571, South Africa

Garden Route installations (Duncan Kane): 079 523 5407

Online shop enquiries: 076 022 8410

Email: sales@customblinds.co.za

Custom Blinds manufactures Custom Lifestyle Awnings™ (canvas awnings, plus retractable and fixed awnings) and Custom Lifestyle Outdoor Blinds™ in-house in Knysna. Custom Lifestyle Shutters™ (PVC plantation shutters) are built to our specification, supplied and installed. The company also supplies and installs indoor blinds (roller blinds, venetian blinds, honeycomb blinds, aluminium blinds, no-drill blinds, motorised blinds), security shutters, shade ports, fly screens, and security screens across the Garden Route.

National customers can purchase blinds through the online shop at shop.customblinds.co.za, managed by our team. The shop features Melvin AI, South Africa’s AI shades specialist, for guided blind selection in any language.

Garden Route (installation): Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, Mossel Bay, Wilderness, Buffalo Bay, Brenton-on-Sea

National (online shop): Delivery across South Africa

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