Silhouette® Versus Pirouette® – A Hunter Douglas Showdown
By Kirstin Sundgaard, Certified Hunter Douglas Consultant
The world of window coverings in the last ten years has evolved into a very complicated and overwhelming daunting task to those seeking new blinds or shades for their home.
Whether it is a new home build or a renovation there are many things to consider when choosing the jewellery for your home – the window coverings. It is often overlooked in the final budget. However, if you are doing a custom build or renovation, it is one of the last additions to your new space that can change the overall feel of your home.
Hunter Douglas Canada, the leader in the Canadian market of window coverings offers many solutions for the modern-day homeowner. From Parkland ® Wood blinds to Palm Beach® Shutters to Room Darkening Duette® shades you will find the right product for your functional needs, style and budget. Two of my favourite shades, the Silhouette® and the Pirouette® are going to take main stage today – let’s have a closer look at their differences.
Silhouette® by Hunter Douglas
The Silhouette®, the original product in the sheer line up has two layers of sheer fabric with a Signature “s-vane” nestled inside for the ultimate diffusion of light. You can tilt the vanes downward to play with privacy and tame the harsh rays of sunlight. Once fully lowered, it can completely close to block the outside world from looking in.
When in the lowered tilted open position, you can also protect your home from the harsh rays of the suns UV – up to 88% depending on the fabric. If you are looking for more room dimming qualities from your shades consider the Silhouette Duolite® which has an independent room dimming roller shade nestled within the same headrail housing.
This is perfect for those wanting more light control in a bedroom. The silhouette is offered in 2”, 3” or 4” vanes with a huge variety of textures like silk, solids and linens and color ranges from Whites to Blues to Neutrals.
If you are desiring a product with a good view through to the outside the ClearView® Shadings are made with a very unique Black sheer to the glass which maximize your view. With Canada’s new safety regulations and the new exclusion of top-down bottom-up options the Clearview Silhouette is a good consideration for those wanting to maintain some view to the outside.
Introducing the Silhouette® Halo™
This spring Hunter Douglas has also introduced another innovative product line within the Silhouette category – the Silhouette® Halo™. The unique dual-layered fabric vanes will rotate up or down (Silhouette only rotates down). This gives you the ultimate in privacy and light control – play with the light rays coming in up, down or across. With many colours and textures, it will be a tough decision between the two products.
Pirouette® by Hunter Douglas
For those consumers looking for a more modern, unique window covering to play with light and privacy, check out the Hunter Douglas Pirouette®.
These horizontal vanes are attached by an Invisi-Lift™ feature to one layer of sheer to the back and will bubble open to provide diffused light control and view to the outside. Instead of the slender S-Shaped vane of the Silhouette® the Pirouette® “expands” to allow your view and collapses for privacy with a thicker horizontal vane.
If you are looking for a more modern dramatic statement from your window coverings the Pirouette® may be the perfect solution. And, if you are looking for more room dimming qualities the Pirouette® is offered in a room dimming opacity in each of the fabric textures and colors.
UltraGlide® Operating System
Both the Silhouette® and the Pirouette® are offered in a similar line-up of operating systems – both are housed on a tube and leave a minimal footprint in your window when rolled up. The standard system is unique Ultraglide® wand, which eliminates the corded system that is no longer Canadian compliant.
The wand can be ordered at the appropriate size for your ease of use and we will teach you how to use it on the installation. The Silhouette® is offered in the LiteRise® system, a cordless system which will provide a clean look without the added cost of motorization.
SoftTouch® Motorization
One step up from the Ultraglide system is SoftTouch® motorization. With just the touch of a wand the shades will go up or down automatically or stop where you would like them to with another touch of the wand.
PowerView® Automation
And for those wishing for full motorization there is the PowerView® automation. With the option to work from Bluetooth on your devices and to operate remotely it is the ultimate in technology.
Both these products require specific measuring consideration – wanting to learn more and see these Hunter Douglas Canada products in your home? Feel free to reach out to Kirstin for a complimentary consultation!
