What We Do
Shading That Disappears Into the Architecture
Motorized shading is the integration of electronically controlled window treatments. roller shades, solar screens, blackout rollers, and motorized drapery. into the control ecosystem of a luxury home. When done correctly, the hardware is invisible: shade tubes live in framed pockets above the window line, motors are whisper-quiet, and shades respond to a single keypad press or a scheduled scene. When done incorrectly, the result is a surface-mounted head rail that announces itself to every visitor in the room.
Restrepo Innovations specifies, supplies, and installs motorized shading systems for luxury residences in NJ, NY, and CT. We work directly with architects, interior designers, and general contractors to ensure shade pockets are framed correctly before drywall closes. because the window that looks right in a finished room was planned right at rough framing.
The Architectural Argument
Why Motorized Shades Belong in the Architectural Drawings
Most shading mistakes are not product failures. they are sequencing failures. When a homeowner or designer decides to add motorized shades after drywall is closed, the installer has one option: a surface-mounted head rail. That rail sits proud of the ceiling plane, a visible industrial bracket that breaks the clean line of every window it touches. In a home where the millwork cost more than most people's kitchens, a surface-mounted shade bracket is the detail that should never have happened.
Concealed shading requires coordination at framing. The GC builds a rough-opening pocket above each window, sized to the shade tube diameter and the fabric stack-up. Electrical rough-in provides a 120V circuit to each motor location. Low-voltage conduit routes the shade signal wire back to the control rack. None of this is complicated. but all of it must happen before insulation and drywall. Restrepo provides framing dimension sheets and rough-in specifications to the GC at the appropriate construction phase, ensuring the substrate is right before the finish work begins.
Specify at Drawings
Window-by-window shade schedule issued alongside the lighting plan. Pocket sizes, fabric weights, motor types.
Frame the Pockets
GC builds rough openings per our dimension sheets. Electrical and low-voltage rough-in runs in the same phase.
Install and Integrate
Shade tubes drop into pockets at trim-out. Programming integrates shades into lighting scenes and HVAC.
Our Method
The Restrepo Shading Approach
Rough Opening Pockets at Framing
Every shade installation we design includes a framing specification issued before the GC pours slabs or closes walls. Pocket depth is calculated from the fabric stack-up. how many layers of fabric roll onto the tube at full open position. Pocket height is sized to the motor housing. The result is a shade that, at full open, is entirely hidden above the window line. The window trim looks the same whether the shades are up or down.
Integration with Lighting Scenes
Shades are not standalone hardware at Restrepo. they are part of the room's scene library. The same button press that sets "Dinner" in the dining room dims the pendants to 35%, adjusts the under-cabinet accent lighting, and drops the solar shades to 60% to eliminate western glare without killing the view. See our lighting design service and our hybrid lighting control guide for how shading integrates with the full lighting system. All scene programming happens through Crestron or Lutron processors. one ecosystem, one interface.
Daylight Harvesting
On south- and west-facing facades, Restrepo programs daylight harvesting routines that automatically lower solar shades when interior light sensors detect direct sun penetration exceeding a set threshold. This reduces HVAC load in summer and prevents UV damage to furniture and artwork. When cloud cover drops the reading below threshold, shades return to the last manual position. The homeowner never thinks about it. It simply works.
Brand Ecosystem
Lutron Sivoia QS and Hunter Douglas
Lutron Sivoia QS. The Default Specification
Lutron Sivoia QS is Restrepo's default motorized shading platform for new construction projects. It operates on Lutron's proprietary Clear Connect RF protocol, the same signal layer that powers Lutron's lighting keypads and dimmers. The result is a single integrated ecosystem: one processor, one app, one installer. Sivoia QS motors are exceptionally quiet. at full travel, the shade tube generates less ambient noise than the HVAC fan it sits near. For homes where Lutron lighting control is already specified, adding Sivoia QS shading is a natural extension of the same platform rather than a second system to configure and maintain.
Sivoia QS covers the full range of shade types: roller shades, honeycomb shades, Roman shades, and motorized drapery tracks. The platform supports wired (RS-485 QSE-CI-NWK-E) and wireless configurations, with wired preferred for primary residences where reliability over years matters more than installation convenience.
Hunter Douglas PowerView. When Fabric Leads
When a design calls for Hunter Douglas fabric collections. specifically the Alustra Woven Textures series or certain architectural pleat styles that Lutron's fabric library does not match. Restrepo specifies Hunter Douglas PowerView motorization. PowerView integrates with Crestron via the PowerView Hub, allowing shade control through the same interface as all other home systems. It is a reliable platform with strong fabric depth. The trade-off relative to Sivoia QS is a two-hub architecture rather than a single Lutron processor handling both lighting and shading. For retrofit projects or fabric-forward interiors, Hunter Douglas is often the right answer.
Specification Details
Fabric and Hardware Selection
Fabric selection determines what a shade actually does. Solar screens are specified by openness factor. the percentage of the weave that is open air. A 1% openness fabric eliminates glare and nearly all UV while preserving an outward view. A 5% fabric reads lighter, lets in more daylight, and works well on north-facing windows where direct sun is rarely a problem. Restrepo specifies openness factor on a window-by-window basis based on orientation, interior use, and the homeowner's priorities for view versus privacy versus light control.
Bedrooms and media rooms receive room-darkening or blackout fabrics as standard. Room-darkening fabrics (RD) reduce light transmission to a very low percentage but allow minimal light bleed at the edges. True blackout fabrics, typically with an aluminum-laminate backing, are specified in combination with a side-channel hardware system that eliminates edge bleed entirely. essential for primary bedrooms, home theaters, and guest rooms where guests travel across time zones.
Shade tube diameter is selected based on fabric weight and window width. Wider windows and heavier fabrics require larger tube diameters to prevent deflection at the center of the tube. Restrepo's specifications include tube sizing calculations for every window in the project, preventing the "banana sag" that compromises both aesthetics and motor longevity.
System Integration
Shading, Lighting, and HVAC in One Scene
The most meaningful moment in a well-programmed home is the "Goodnight" button. One press closes every shade in the house to full blackout, dims the hallway night-light to 5%, sets the thermostat to sleep mode, and locks the rear doors. That button represents months of system design. and it works because shading was integrated into the control plan at the beginning, not bolted on at the end.
Restrepo programs shade scenes as part of the broader lighting and automation design. Standard scene library for a full shading project includes: Good Morning (shades open to 50% with bedroom lights at 20%), Dinner (solar shades to 60% in dining and living areas), Movie (blackout shades full close in media room, ambient lighting to 8%), Away (all shades to a randomized open position to simulate occupancy), and Goodnight. Additional scenes are programmed per room as the homeowner's habits require.
HVAC integration allows the shading processor to communicate shade position to the building management system. When exterior temperature exceeds a set threshold and solar load is high, the shade controller can signal the HVAC zone controller to reduce cooling setpoint in shade-closed zones, reducing energy consumption without occupant involvement. See our service contract plans for ongoing system monitoring and scene updates.
"One button. Every shade closes. The house is ready for sleep."
The "Goodnight" scene. shades, lighting, HVAC, and security in a single press.
Hardware Comparison
Concealed Pockets vs. Visible Head Rails
| Factor | Concealed Pocket | Surface-Mounted Head Rail |
|---|---|---|
| Visual impact when open | None. shade is hidden above the window line | Bracket and tube visible above the frame |
| Construction requirement | Rough opening pocket at framing phase | None. installs on finished wall |
| Retrofit-friendliness | Requires drywall work | Can be installed without construction |
| Architectural intent | Preserves clean window and ceiling lines | Compromises interior architecture |
| Best for | New construction, major renovation | Retrofit where drywall work is not feasible |
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
When should motorized shades be specified in a new build?
Motorized shades should appear in the architectural drawings before framing begins. Concealed pocket dimensions, rough opening sizes, and conduit routing for motor power and low-voltage signal must be coordinated with the general contractor at framing. not at trim-out. Shades added after drywall is closed almost always require surface-mounted head rails that compromise the architectural intent of the space.
What is the difference between Lutron Sivoia QS and Hunter Douglas PowerView?
Lutron Sivoia QS operates on Lutron's proprietary Clear Connect RF protocol and integrates natively with Lutron lighting controls, creating a reliable shading-and-lighting ecosystem with a single processor. Hunter Douglas PowerView uses its own hub and offers an exceptional range of fabric and pleat styles, making it the stronger choice when fabric selection is the primary driver. Both are reliable platforms; the right choice depends on whether lighting integration or fabric variety takes priority.
What is openness factor in shading fabrics?
Openness factor is the percentage of open weave in a solar screen fabric. A 1% openness fabric blocks 99% of light while still transmitting a view to the outside. A 5% fabric allows more daylight and view but provides less glare control. For primary living and dining rooms facing south or west, Restrepo typically specifies 1–3% openness for glare control with preserved views, and room-darkening or blackout fabrics for bedrooms and media rooms.
Can motorized shades integrate with a whole-home automation system?
Yes. Both Lutron Sivoia QS and Hunter Douglas PowerView integrate with Crestron whole-home automation. A single button press. such as a "Goodnight" scene. can simultaneously close all shades, dim the lighting to a low warm level, set the thermostat to sleep mode, and lock the doors. Shades can also respond to time-of-day schedules, occupancy sensors, or direct sunlight readings from a photocell to manage heat gain automatically.
Restrepo Group
Drapery, Roman shades, and motorized hardware land cleaner when the fabrication, installation, and control programming are coordinated as one scope. The Restrepo Group keeps that handoff inside one team.
See the GroupSpecify Shading at the Right Phase
Talk to Restrepo Innovations before the framing crew leaves. Call 201.405.2022 or schedule a consultation below. Elite Pro Crestron Dealer. HTA Luxury Certified.
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