Motorised or Manual Blinds? Why the New Luxaflex DuoMotion™ Gives You Both

Until relatively recently, that sounded like a straightforward either/or decision.

Choose a manual blind and you operate it yourself.

Choose motorisation and you gain the convenience of a remote control, app or smart-home automation.

The new Luxaflex® DuoMotion™ takes a rather different approach.

It gives you both.

Why would you want both?

Because sometimes automation is extremely useful.

And sometimes you’re already standing beside the window and simply want to move the blind.

DuoMotion’s upper profile is motorised and can be controlled through Luxaflex PowerView® automation, an app or remote control.

Yet the same profile can also be repositioned manually by hand.

The lower profile remains manually adjustable too.

It’s a good example of technology adapting to people rather than expecting people to change the way they live.

What does top-down bottom-up mean?

DuoMotion is also a top-down bottom-up system.

That means the blind doesn’t simply have to rise from the bottom of the window.

Instead, the fabric can be positioned across different areas of the glass.

For many London homes, that’s particularly useful for privacy.

Think about a ground-floor living room on a busy street.

You may want to screen the lower section of the window from passers-by but still allow daylight through the top.

With a conventional blind, the choice can sometimes feel like privacy or daylight.

Top-down bottom-up positioning gives you much greater flexibility.

PowerView® makes it automatic

The motorised side of DuoMotion uses Luxaflex PowerView®.

As well as controlling the shade from an app or remote, you can create automated schedules.

The blind can operate at particular times or according to local sunrise and sunset.

You can also create your own scenes — perhaps one for Morning, another for Privacy and another for the evening.

For windows that are adjusted several times throughout the day, automation can become surprisingly useful.

Designed for tilt-and-turn windows too

Another interesting aspect of DuoMotion is its suitability for tilt-and-turn windows.

Traditional blinds don’t always work comfortably with these windows because the window opens into the room.

DuoMotion uses a tensioned system which keeps the shade against the window when it is opened or tilted.

The cords run along the sides of the blind, leaving the front clear and allowing the window handle to operate freely.

What are the fabric choices?

DuoMotion is available with:

• 25mm Luxaflex Duette® shades
• 20mm Luxaflex Plissé shades

Hardware is available in six colours and the system can accommodate windows up to 230cm high.

That allows the technology itself to remain fairly unobtrusive while the colour and texture of the fabric can be selected around the room.

Where might DuoMotion work particularly well?

We can see it making sense in:

• street-facing rooms where daytime privacy matters
• modern apartments
• bedrooms
• home offices
• tilt-and-turn windows
• tall windows
• rooms where blinds are adjusted repeatedly during the day
• homes already using smart technology

But, as with any window furnishing, it isn’t automatically the right answer simply because it’s new.

Come and talk to us

At Abbotts Interiors on Roman Road in Bow, we look at the window, the room and how you actually intend to use the blind before recommending a particular system.

DuoMotion™ is an interesting addition to the Luxaflex range because it combines automation, manual control, flexible privacy and elegant Duette® or Plissé fabrics in one system.

If you’re considering motorised blinds in Bow, East London or elsewhere across London, visit our showroom and we can talk you through DuoMotion™, PowerView® and the other options available.