Beat the Summer Sun with Automated Shades
Enjoy Spectacular Views Without The Glare, Heat, and Constant Adjustments
Living 40 floors above Chicago's streets comes with extraordinary rewards—Lake Michigan views stretching endlessly to the east, and the city's architectural marvels everywhere you look. But those floor-to-ceiling windows that sealed the deal on your high-rise home can become your biggest challenge when August’s relentless sun turns your living space into a greenhouse. By 2 PM, you're squinting at your laptop screen, ratcheting the temperature down on your thermostat, and contemplating keeping those blinds closed all summer. Automated shading offers an elegant solution, working in concert with your daily rhythm to maintain comfort while preserving those spectacular views that define high-rise living.
The Summer Challenge in a High-Rise
High above the lakeshore, your expansive windows become both a blessing and a curse during the intense summer months. Morning coffee feels perfect as gentle eastern light fills your space, but by afternoon, those same windows channel blazing heat that overwhelms even robust HVAC systems. West-facing units catch the worst of it—the late-day sun that makes evening relaxation nearly impossible without drawing every shade. The lake's surface acts like a mirror, bouncing additional glare that makes working from your home office a constant battle against screen reflection. You end up choosing between sweltering in bright light or living in artificial twilight, missing those sweeping city and water views you pay a premium to enjoy. Your energy bills climb while your furniture and artwork fade from UV exposure.
Automated Shades - Your Personal Butler Solution
Automated shades work like a personal assistant who never takes a day off, constantly adjusting your environment without you lifting a finger. Your morning routine becomes effortless—shades gradually rise with the sunrise, filling your space with natural light as you sip coffee and check messages. Throughout your workday, the system responds to changing sun angles, preventing glare on your laptop screen while maintaining your connection to the outdoors.
When you're hosting dinner parties, shades automatically create the perfect ambiance, lowering just enough to make conversation comfortable while preserving those twinkling city lights. Movie nights become theater-quality experiences as blackout shades eliminate every trace of outside light. The beauty lies in the uncomplicated ease. Integrated with home automation systems like Savant, your shades coordinate with lighting and climate control to create perfectly orchestrated environments. Voice commands, smartphone apps, or preset schedules handle everything, so you never interrupt conversations to manually adjust anything.
Shade Styles That Fit Your Life
Lutron's huge range of automated shading options means there’s a perfect match for your lifestyle and aesthetic. Roller shades offer sleek minimalism that complements modern high-rise architecture—clean lines that virtually disappear when raised, available in everything from sheer fabrics that filter harsh light to complete blackout materials. The sophisticated Palladiom collection takes luxury to the next level with carbon fiber tubes and hand-finished aluminum brackets designed to be showcased, not hidden. Roman shades bring soft elegance to bedrooms and living areas, combining the warmth of fabric with precise motorized control. For complete privacy and home theater experiences, motorized drapery tracks provide full coverage with whisper-quiet operation.
Wire-free and battery-powered options work beautifully for retrofit situations where running new wiring isn't practical. Each style offers scores of fabric choices—from translucent weaves that preserve views while reducing glare, to room-darkening materials that ensure perfect sleep, to solar screens that protect furnishings while maintaining your connection to the stunning skyline.
Summer in your high-rise should mean enjoying the spectacular views in cool comfort, not choosing between sweltering heat and closed blinds. Automated shading delivers that perfect balance, working behind the scenes to keep you comfortable while preserving everything that makes high-rise living extraordinary. Ready to beat the summer sun? Contact Barrett's Technology Solutions to discover how automated shading can transform your space into the perfect urban retreat.
