insights
insights
The kitchen makes more steam, airborne grease and heat than any other room. The window above the hob is a different problem from the one across the diner.
| Performance | Splash zone | General kitchen | Kitchen-diner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium venetian | Excellent | Excellent | Good |
| Plaswood venetian | Excellent | Excellent | Excellent |
| Translucent roller | Adequate | Excellent | Excellent |
| Blockout roller | Adequate | Good | Excellent |
| Honeycomb | Not recommended | Away from the sink | Excellent |
| Aluwood venetian | Good | Good | Excellent |
| Real timber venetian | Not recommended | Not recommended | Dry zones only |
Three dots excellent. No dots poor or not recommended.
“Kitchens are the hardest room to get right. The blind is wiped down every week, splashed from the sink, and hit by reflected heat from the splashback tiles in summer. Aluminium venetians handle all of that. Plaswood is a close second where the client wants a timber look. Whatever you do, don’t put real wood above the hob.”Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings
Two venetians. The metal one, and the one that looks like wood.
Alu
Aluminium venetian
Plas
Plaswood venetian
Want a thinner, more convincing grain? Aluwood venetians have the same waterproof aluminium core.
South African windows face the opposite way to the northern hemisphere. North takes sun most of the day; west takes the hottest afternoon.
Direct sun most of the day, warm year round. Honeycomb for heat, or a sheer sunscreen roller. Motorisation is worth considering for daily use.
HoneycombThe full force of afternoon heat. A sheer sunscreen roller reflects it back through the glass, or aluminium venetians tilted to send it upward.
Sunscreen rollerMorning sun only, a gentler load. Sheer sunscreen roller or aluminium venetian.
Roller or venetianIndirect light, minimal sun. Any material works; choose on looks and moisture resistance.
Your choice04 What to avoid
Real timber venetians absorb steam and grease through the lacquer, bow from moisture cycling and take on cooking odours that never clean out; above a sink or hob they typically need replacing within three to five years. Woven natural-fibre and bamboo roll-up blinds share the problem. Low-cost imported aluminium venetians tend to fail at the headrail within 18 to 24 months as UV makes the plastic fittings brittle.
HardwareCustom Blinds Shutters & Awnings sources venetian hardware from BlindQuip, South Africa’s largest venetian manufacturer.
Made to measure, supply only, free nationwide delivery. Shop figures, April 2026.
| Performance | Small 0.6 x 0.9m | Bedroom 1.2 x 1.5m | Large 1.8 x 1.8m |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium venetian 25mm | From R550 | From R957 | From R1,498 |
| Aluminium venetian 50mm | From R727 | From R1,510 | From R2,386 |
| Roller, sheer or blockout | From R726 | From R1,677 | From R2,748 |
| Plaswood venetian 50mm | From R1,043 | From R2,435 | From R3,991 |
| Honeycomb, single cell | From R1,300 | From R3,290 | From R5,522 |
Dots show relative cost within each size. The shop prices your exact measurements.
Width and drop in millimetres. Inside the recess above a sink, or over the frame. How to measure
Aluminium or plaswood venetian, sheer or blockout roller, honeycomb. Your sizes, instant price.
Free delivery anywhere in South Africa, made to measure in about 5 to 7 working days plus courier transit. Custom Fit Guarantee on every order.
An aluminium venetian. The slats are waterproof, cannot absorb moisture or odours, and clean with a damp cloth. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings supplies 25mm aluminium venetians from R550 with free nationwide delivery and the Custom Fit Guarantee.
Yes, away from the splash zone. A sheer sunscreen roller softens light, blocks UV and wipes clean; Shade Master mould-resistant fabric suits coastal and humid kitchens. Directly above the sink, a venetian with wipeable slats is more practical.
Excellent away from the splash zone, especially on north- and west-facing windows where heat is the problem. Not recommended directly above a sink or hob, where moisture can get into the cells.
A honeycomb blind for heat reduction, or a sheer sunscreen roller if you want the view and a lighter budget.
Aluminium and plaswood venetians, slat by slat with a damp cloth, and roller blinds, which wipe down in under a minute.
Content reviewed by the Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings team. Visit the online shop for current pricing.
Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings | South Africa’s trusted blinds, shutters and awnings specialists since 2010.