insights
insights
“Kitchens are the hardest room to get right. The blind has to handle heat, moisture, grease, and constant cleaning. We always recommend aluminium or plaswood venetians for above the sink, and translucent rollers everywhere else. That combination works in every kitchen I have fitted.”Duncan Kane Founder, Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings
More moisture, grease and heat than any other room, and in South Africa, more UV. Fabric absorbs it and yellows. The material decides whether the blind lasts two years or ten.
Without warping or staining. Aluminium, plaswood and roller fabric do; curtains, timber venetians and bamboo generally do not.
A damp cloth and nothing more, weekly near the hob.
Light and privacy set through the day as the sun moves across the splashback.
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 | Good | Excellent |
| Timber venetian | Not recommended | Limited | Dry zones only |
Three dots excellent. No dots poor or not recommended.
Slats that cannot absorb moisture, grease or odours, and a tilt that puts the light where you want it.
25mm
Smaller kitchen windows
50mm
Larger windows and kitchen-diners
Away from the hob and sink, a roller is excellent: translucent fabric softens light without the glare off steel and tile, and wipes clean.
Within 300mm of the hobGrease settles on fabric over time. In that position an aluminium or plaswood venetian is the better long-term choice. Everywhere else, rollers win on looks and simplicity, and a sheer keeps the garden view with the window open.
05 Tiled surrounds
No-drill spring-tension brackets clip inside the recess without screws or adhesive, so a tiled window surround stays intact and a rental lease stays honoured. Available on roller blinds and 25mm aluminium venetians from the online shop, for windows up to 2,000mm wide and 2,500mm drop, fitted in under five minutes with no tools. Same fabric, same hardware, same operation as a screwed bracket.
Custom Fit GuaranteeToo big because of the sizes supplied, cut down free and returned. Too small, remade at a reduced price.
Weekly near the hob, every two to four weeks elsewhere.
Damp microfibre slat by slat. For grease, a little dish soap in warm water, then dry. Five minutes for a standard window.
A soft damp cloth. Stubborn marks with a fabric-safe spray on the cloth, never soaked, so the mechanism stays dry.
Vacuum on low with the brush attachment, never a damp cloth: moisture gets trapped in the cells. Keep it in the dining zone.
Width and drop in millimetres. Inside the recess above the sink, or over the frame. How to measure
Aluminium or plaswood venetian, translucent or blockout roller, no-drill if you need it. Instant price.
Free delivery to every South African address, made to measure in about 5 to 7 working days plus courier transit. Garden Route kitchens can add measuring and installation by Duncan and the team.
An aluminium venetian above the sink and hob, and a translucent roller everywhere else. Plaswood venetians give a timber look with waterproof slats. Custom Blinds Shutters & Awnings makes all three to measure with free nationwide delivery.
An aluminium venetian. Metal slats cannot absorb moisture, grease or odours, resist UV and wipe clean. Expect ten years and more of daily use.
Only in dry zones away from the sink and hob. Near moisture, timber slats warp, swell and grow mould. For a timber look in wet areas, choose plaswood or aluwood venetians.
They handle light splashes and steam, but within about 300mm of a busy hob or sink grease settles on the fabric. Use a venetian there and rollers for the other windows.
Yes. No-drill spring-tension brackets clip inside the recess, which suits tiled surrounds and rentals. Available on roller blinds and 25mm aluminium venetians from the online shop, up to 2,000mm wide.
Weekly near the hob or sink, every two to four weeks elsewhere. A damp cloth is usually enough.
Yes. Roller and honeycomb blinds take Somfy and MotionBlinds motors, useful above countertops where a chain is awkward to reach.
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.