Vertishades® – Sheer Vertical Blinds
The elegance of a sheer curtain. The precision of a blind. One system that replaces both. Order online with free nationwide delivery from R978, or book a Garden Route consultation for complex installs.
What are sheer vertical blinds and how do they compare to curtains?
- Sheer vertical blinds (also called allusion blinds, luminette sheers, or curtain voile blinds) combine soft fabric vanes with a rotating vertical mechanism that shifts from sheer to opaque in a single movement
- Each vane has two layers: a translucent sheer face and an opaque backing. Rotate the vanes for filtered light, angled privacy, or complete blockout, all from one blind
- They replace a traditional curtain-and-sheer combination with a single system. Less fabric, one track, lower cost, and far better light control
- Walk-through design: pass through the individual vanes at any point without drawing the blind aside. Ideal for sliding doors, stacking doors, and room dividers
- Available in two ranges: Vertishades Luxury (five colours, free-walk fabric, no weights or chains) and Vertishades Opulence (integrated weaving, stiffer drape, two colours)
- Available nationally via the online shop with free delivery and the Custom Fit Guarantee. Garden Route homes can book a free in-home consultation with Duncan
National orders: shop Vertishades online from R978. Garden Route homes: WhatsApp Duncan for a free consultation
You wanted the softness of sheers and the privacy of curtains. You should not have to choose between them.
Vertishades give you both. In one blind.
“Vertishades are the product I recommend when a client says they want curtains but need blinds. The sheer-to-opaque rotation gives you everything a curtain and sheer combination does, in a single system, at a lower price point, with better light control.”
Duncan KaneFounder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings
What are Vertishades and how do they work?
Vertishades are a modern hybrid window treatment that sits somewhere between a vertical blind and a flowing curtain. Each individual vane features two fabric layers: a translucent sheer face that filters soft light, and an opaque backing that blocks it. A simple twist of the operating wand rotates every vane between three positions: fully sheer for gentle filtered light, angled for privacy with daylight, or fully closed for complete blockout.
Unlike traditional vertical blinds with rigid PVC slats, Vertishades use soft woven polyester vanes that move with the air and drape naturally. The result looks and feels like a flowing curtain but delivers the precision light control of a blind. When stacked to the side, the vanes fold tighter than curtains, maximising window exposure and letting you enjoy the view.
The Luxury range uses a free-walk fabric with no weights or chains. You can pass through the vanes at any point, whether they are open or closed. They sway aside and settle back perfectly. This makes Vertishades ideal for sliding doors, stacking doors, and any opening where you move between indoor and outdoor spaces.
Two ranges: Vertishades Luxury and Vertishades Opulence
Vertishades Luxury
The Luxury range uses a delicate, free-flowing fabric that hangs beautifully without weights or chains. You can walk through the vanes at any point. Available in five colours: White, Stone, Fawn, Lindt (a warm chocolate), and Black. The fabric is 100% polyester with a semi-blockout shading effect. Maximum width of 5,198mm on a single vertical track. Maximum drop of 3,000mm, with higher drops available on request. The solid-to-sheer repeat is 120mm to 160mm. Three-year warranty.
Vertishades Opulence
The Opulence range uses an integrated weaving technique with non-woven fabrics, creating a stiffer, more structured drape. The vanes are more sculptural than the Luxury range, offering a contemporary, architectural feel. Available in two colours: Aluminium and White. Same 100% polyester composition, semi-blockout shading, and 5,198mm maximum width on a single track. The solid-to-sheer repeat is 98mm to 128mm, creating a tighter pattern. Three-year warranty.
Vertishades Luxury vs Opulence at a glance
| Feature | Luxury | Opulence |
|---|---|---|
| Drape style | Soft, free-flowing | Structured, architectural |
| Walk-through | Yes, free-walk | Stiffer vanes, less fluid |
| Colours | White, Stone, Fawn, Lindt, Black | Aluminium, White |
| Fabric | 100% polyester | 100% polyester, integrated weave |
| Shading | Semi-blockout | Semi-blockout |
| Max width (single track) | 5,198mm | 5,198mm |
| Max drop | 3,000mm (higher on request) | 3,000mm |
| Solid-sheer repeat | 120mm to 160mm | 98mm to 128mm |
| Warranty | 3 years | 3 years |
Why choose Vertishades instead of curtains?
- Vertishades replace a voile and a solid curtain — two fabric panels, two tracks, double the cost — with a single system that delivers both sheer and blockout from the same vane. One product does what two curtains cannot.
- Full light control without solid blocks: rotate the vanes to sheer for filtered light, angle them for privacy with daylight, or close fully for blockout. Curtains offer open or closed. Vertishades offer a continuous range between the two.
- Slide to minimum stack: Vertishades compress to a fraction of the wall space curtains require when open. On a sliding door, this means more glass exposed, more view, more light — not a heavy fabric panel swallowing the frame.
- Walk-through access at any point (Luxury range): pass through the vanes without drawing the entire treatment aside. Curtains block the opening until fully pulled back. Vertishades do not.
- Individual vane replacement: if a vane is damaged, clip it off and order a replacement. With curtains, a tear or stain means replacing an entire panel or living with it.
- Clip off and wash: each vane unclips from the headrail for hand-washing. Curtains require full removal, rod detachment, and typically dry cleaning. Vertishades are maintained one vane at a time.
- At a comparable quality level, Vertishades cost less than a voile-and-curtain combination. Less fabric, one track, one set of brackets, faster installation.
Garden Route homes: WhatsApp Duncan to see fabric samples in your home. Online orders: shop Vertishades from R978.
Vertishades vs curtains: an honest comparison
Most people who ask about Vertishades are replacing a voile-and-curtain combination, or seriously considering one. It is worth comparing them directly — not on aesthetics, but on what they actually do every day.
One system instead of two
A traditional soft furnishing solution for a sliding door typically means a sheer voile for daytime privacy with light, and a solid curtain for evening blockout. Two tracks. Two fabric panels. Two sets of hardware. Two things to wash, two things to replace when they wear. Vertishades consolidate all of that into a single headrail and a single set of vanes — each vane carrying both a translucent sheer face and an opaque backing. You rotate the wand and move between the two. There is no second curtain to pull.
Light control that curtains cannot match
A curtain is binary: open or closed. The voile softens things slightly, but the honest options are full light, filtered light through sheer fabric, or no light with the curtain drawn. Vertishades give you a continuous range. Fully sheer for gentle morning light. Angled for privacy while keeping daylight. Fully closed for complete blockout. That is three genuinely different light conditions from a single operating wand — without moving between two separate window treatments.
For rooms that change function through the day — a living area that faces west, a bedroom with an early-morning sunrise, a lounge that doubles as a home office — this range matters practically, not just aesthetically.
Minimum stack, maximum glass
When curtains are open they stack against the wall on each side. On a standard 2.4-metre sliding door, that means two substantial fabric panels sitting against the frame — each taking 300mm to 400mm of wall space when fully drawn. A significant section of the glass opening is hidden behind fabric even when the curtains are theoretically open.
Vertishades stack to a fraction of that. The vanes fold tightly against the headrail, compressing into a narrow column that sits at the edge of the opening. The full glass is exposed. On a Garden Route home with a sea view or bush outlook, the difference is immediate.
Walk through without operating the blind
This is the advantage that sounds minor until you live with a sliding door. Curtains block the opening until they are fully drawn aside. Every time you step through — to hang washing, to let the dog out, to bring the braai equipment in — you pull the curtain back. Vertishades Luxury vanes part when you walk through them and return to position. The blind does not need to be open. You do not need to operate it. On a door that opens a dozen times a day, this stops being a small thing very quickly.
Damaged vanes replace individually
A curtain panel is a single piece of fabric. A stain, a tear, a snag from a door handle — and you are replacing the whole panel, or living with the damage. With Vertishades, each vane clips onto the headrail independently. If one is damaged, it unclips. A replacement vane is ordered. It clips back on. The repair is invisible and the rest of the treatment is untouched. This also applies to fading — in South African coastal light, you can replace individual vanes as they age without touching the others.
Washing without the ordeal
Curtain maintenance means unthreading the entire panel from the rod, removing hooks or rings, laundering or dry cleaning, and rehanging. Vertishades vanes unclip individually from the headrail. Take off the vanes that need cleaning, wash them by hand, rehang them. The rest of the treatment stays in place. You can clean two vanes after a coastal dust storm without touching the other eighteen.
Cost compared honestly
A quality voile-and-curtain combination — fabric grade that drapes well, hardware that does not sag, a track that runs smoothly after a year — costs more than most people expect. Two fabric panels, two tracks, brackets, rings or hooks, installation. For a standard 2.4-metre sliding door, a quality dual-curtain setup regularly reaches the same price point as Vertishades, sometimes higher. Vertishades are not the budget choice. They are the better-value choice at the mid-to-upper end — where you are comparing them against the curtain combination they actually replace.
Duncan KaneFounder, Custom Blinds — 20+ years industry experience"When a client says they want curtains, I ask what they actually need. Usually it is softness, privacy, and light control. Vertishades give them all three — without the bulk, without two tracks, and without the maintenance that comes with full curtaining. Nine times out of ten, they choose Vertishades once they see the fabric in person."
Where do Vertishades work best?
Sliding doors and stacking doors. The vanes draw and stack to the side, giving full access to the opening. With the Luxury range, you can walk through at any point without moving the entire treatment. This is the product’s strongest application and the one Duncan recommends most often for Garden Route homes with indoor-outdoor living.
Large picture windows. Wide expanses benefit from the continuous sheer look when the vanes are open, with full privacy when closed. The fluid drape avoids the segmented, commercial appearance of standard vertical blinds.
Open-plan living areas. The soft, neutral aesthetic works across contemporary and classic interiors. The fabric moves gently with airflow, adding texture and life that a flat roller blind cannot match.
Bedrooms. The opaque position provides genuine light block for sleeping, while the sheer position lets morning light in gently. For complete zero-light conditions, a pelmet can be added to seal the top edge.
Room dividers. Vertishades can be mounted on a ceiling track to divide open-plan spaces. The walk-through design means you pass between areas without operating the blind.
How do Vertishades compare to other window treatments?
| Compared to | Vertishades advantage |
|---|---|
| Curtains & sheers | Single system, less bulk, lower cost, better light control, child-safe |
| Vertical blinds | Softer fabric, sheer-to-opaque rotation, more elegant drape, walk-through |
| Roller blinds | Walk-through access, no full-raise needed, better for wide openings |
| Zebra / day-night blinds | Better for sliding doors, individual vane access, side-stacking |
Can Vertishades be motorised?
Yes. Somfy motorisation can be integrated for automated operation, scheduled control, and app-based management via the Somfy myLink or TaHoma system. Motorisation is particularly useful for wide openings and high-mounted installations where manual operation is impractical. The motorised system rotates the vanes and draws them open or closed. Duncan specifies and installs all Somfy automation for Vertishades on the Garden Route.
How are Vertishades installed on the Garden Route?
Duncan visits your home to assess the windows, measure precisely, and discuss fabric options. He brings samples of both the Luxury and Opulence ranges so you can see the fabric in your own light conditions. Once you approve the specification, the blinds are manufactured to your exact measurements and installed by the Custom Blinds team. The entire process, from first visit to installation, typically takes two to three weeks depending on the scope of the project.
Vertishades are available for homes in Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, George, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounding Garden Route areas. WhatsApp Duncan on 076 022 8410 to book a consultation.
Frequently asked questions about sheer vertical blinds
Are sheer vertical blinds the same as allusion blinds?
Yes. Allusion is a brand name used by Louvolite for the same product category. Luxaflex calls their version Luminette Privacy Sheers. Custom Blinds supplies Vertishades, our own range of sheer vertical blinds, in Luxury and Opulence fabrics. The operating principle is the same: rotating fabric vanes that shift between sheer and opaque.
Are Vertishades suitable for sliding doors?
Vertishades are one of the best options for sliding and stacking doors. The individual vanes allow walk-through access at any point (Luxury range), and they stack neatly to the side for full opening. Maximum single-track width of 5,198mm covers most residential door openings.
Can Vertishades be motorised?
Yes. Somfy motorisation can be integrated for automated operation, scheduled control, and app-based management. Contact Duncan to discuss motorisation options for your Garden Route home.
How do I clean Vertishades?
Individual vanes clip on and off the headrail for easy removal. They can be gently hand-washed or professionally cleaned. For regular maintenance, a light vacuum with a soft brush attachment keeps the fabric dust-free.
Do Vertishades provide full blackout?
When the opaque vanes are fully closed, Vertishades provide strong light block comparable to a blockout curtain. For complete zero-light conditions, a pelmet can be added to seal the top edge.
What colours are available?
Vertishades Luxury: White, Stone, Fawn, Lindt (warm chocolate), and Black. Vertishades Opulence: Aluminium and White. Duncan brings fabric samples to your home during the consultation.
How much do Vertishades cost compared to curtains?
Vertishades typically cost less than a combined curtain-and-sheer installation because they replace two systems with one. Less fabric, one track, simpler installation. Pricing depends on width, drop, and fabric choice. Duncan provides a detailed quote during the site visit.
Where can I get Vertishades installed?
Vertishades are available for Garden Route homes in Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, Sedgefield, George, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas. WhatsApp Duncan on 076 022 8410 to book a free consultation.
Explore more indoor blinds:
All Blinds · Zebra & Double Roller · Indoor Blinds SA · Vertical Blinds · Honeycomb Blinds · Venetian Blinds · Automation
Order Vertishades or book a consultation
Shop online with free nationwide delivery, or book a Garden Route consultation with Duncan for complex installs and large openings.
Custom Blinds® is a Garden Route window covering specialist established in 2010, serving Knysna, Plettenberg Bay, George, Sedgefield, Wilderness, Mossel Bay, and surrounding areas. Vertishades® sheer vertical blinds are available in Luxury and Opulence ranges with professional measurement and installation. We also supply roller blinds, honeycomb blinds, venetian blinds, and no-drill blinds nationally via shop.customblinds.co.za.
