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Can DIY measured and installed blinds actually look good? My verdict!

November 22, 2021 4 Comments

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We recently got almost all new windows at home which left me needing to find new window coverings and fast! We had less than a week’s notice that the new windows were coming and we knew we wouldn’t be able to put our plantation shutters back on afterwards because they simply wouldn’t fit.

Our new roman blinds which we measured and installed ourselves
Roman blinds are a great way to let in maximum light in the daytime

Now I absolutely love the look of shutters and five years ago, when we first bought this house (which looked a lot different!), they were the perfect update and, frankly, a great way to disguise our crappy old windows). However, in time we came to realise that our house isn’t blessed with great natural light in the bedrooms and the living room (although we now have skylights, yay!) so we often had to have the lights on in the daytime. Shutters do block quite a lot of natural light so if it’s in short supply in your home, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend them. Looks wise alone? Love ’em!

The same blinds, shown half closed, in the boys’ shared bedroom. The blockout lining is very effective!
We love seeing the greenery out of the window now which was hidden by the previous shutters
Close-up of the blinds in Cotswold Soft Grey with blockout lining

So while I was sad we couldn’t reuse the shutters, it was also a blessing in disguise as it meant we could choose something else to let in not only more light but also the lovely garden and green hedge views we have from many rooms. I gave them away on Facebook Marketplace to some very grateful renovators so they haven’t gone to waste or landfill.

Now I am a big sheer curtains lover too but they weren’t going to work in our living room for several practical and layout reasons (it’s not always easy is it?!) and in our bedrooms we have huge wide windows with beds too close to them for curtains to work in them either. Onto my next favourite: roman blinds! I do genuinely think these are an underrated options these days! While I went for a safe grey for mine (because I have a lot of colour in my home already and I like to have fun with that on a neutral base), there are so many options to add colour and pattern which can make a big statement for not a lot of money.

I ordered lots of free fabric samples, even considering patterns for the boys’ rooms and a pale pink for the master bedroom! This really helps you narrow it down.

Once I decided on romans, I got a quote from a custom blind company which ran into several thousand dollars for just four windows, and having just paid for some rather big reno jobs (like a new driveway!) I decided to go with Tuiss Blinds Online (formerly just Blinds Online) instead. I’d used them before for the navy romans in my kitchen. I remembered the price was ridiculously good and I’ve had so many compliments on them since, many from people who hadn’t considered romans before. Another important factor was that the measuring was easy (I managed not to stuff it up) as was the install (you all know my long suffering husband isn’t the handiest!).

This do it yourself blinds option, combined with the great value, really does seem a bit too good to be true and I get it if you’re skeptical. But do you know what, it ain’t rocket science, and having now used them twice, I’m very confident to honestly recommend the process.

Tuiss Blinds Online also have an insane amount of fabrics to choose from (they also do S-fold and classic curtains, roller blinds, outdoor blinds, honeycomb blinds, plantation shutters and much more, by the way). Their designer textiles include William Morris in collaboration with the V&A, Clarissa Hulse, Emma Bridgewater, Scion, Sanderson Home and Harlequin Additions. But yeah, sorry but I went for a pale grey textured choice! Mine was called Cotswold Soft Grey (fitting for someone who grew up near The Cotswolds in England, no?!).

TUISS Blinds Online roman blinds in a customer’s home

You can order multiple fabric samples online for free which really helps, and they arrive in a few days.

Another example of Tuiss’ patterned fabrics

When it comes to measuring yourself, they give great step by step instructions on the site but there really is no trick to this. You then choose between blockout and light-filtering lining (same price) and recess or face-fitting (again, this is all explained in plain English). I went for blockout in the bedrooms and let me tell you, they do their job! I’m a light sleeper and the shutters didn’t block out as much light as these do, so that’s a welcome benefit too. I didn’t choose a blockout lining for the other rooms as it really wasn’t necessary when nobody sleeps in them. This also keeps down the ‘bulk’ of the fabric when the romans are pulled up (concertina-like).

Then you can choose a manual chain system or electric smart raise (for an extra $139 per blind). The latter is powered by an integrated rechargeable battery pack. While I loved the idea of it, I know what our family is like at losing remote controls (as well as how much my kids would try and play with the blinds!) so decided to keep it simple! Incidentally, the install process of the blinds is just the same either way.

What I love about the website is that you get instant quotes by entering your width height and fabric choice etc, so you know exactly what you’re in for.

The four blinds for the living room and playroom came to just over $1,000 and blinds for our three huge (2.5m long) bedroom windows with blockout lining came to just over $1,200. This is so much cheaper than many other places and I’m thrilled with ours. That’s blinds for more than half the windows in our four-bedroom home for $2,200. Amazing, right?! And most people’s windows are smaller than our bedroom ones so that’s probably on the higher end of your average cost.

As for install, it honestly isn’t hard and Damian would back me up here! You literally need a drill and a screwdriver and you install brackets which the blinds then click into. The bedroom windows were a little trickier being so long, but the ‘normal’ sized windows were an absolute piece of cake!

We are thrilled with the look of our blinds and they fit just perfectly. They were, after all, made to measure!

Apart from shutters and Venetian blinds, the Christmas cutoff for all other products hasn’t happened yet so you still have time to order yours in time for the festive season. I’m still deciding what we will do in a few of our rooms as we are tossing up swapping playroom and office which will affect which room is the guest bedroom (it never ends here!) and the boys are currently enjoying sharing a bedroom having previously had one each (why did we move to a four-bedroom house in the burbs again?!). I like the fact I can just order the rest when I’m ready. They’re dispatched within 10-to-14 days for most of Australia.

The company has been around for 15 years (but much longer offline) and I’d encourage you to check out their online reviews which are excellent. This post isn’t sponsored although Tuiss did gift me the blinds. My views are 100% honest and like I say, I have used them before, independently, at my own cost. Delivery is free on orders over $499 with a few exceptions and there’s a free extended five-year warranty on everything.

If you have any questions or want to check on delivery times of certain products to your area of Australia, you can call customer service on 1300 761 179 or email [email protected] 

Get a free quote and browse the range online

Skylights have transformed our living room: here’s all the details
Never underestimate the importance of natural light. You should never buy a house with poor natural light because once you’re in, you can’t do anything about it. Only you can.…

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Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial Not many friends in life fall into the unofficial family category and they're a special gift. So ends three weeks with @danisteve81 who left her husband and son in the UK (I'm forever grateful they lent her to me!) to come and cheer me up and help me in the most practical ways after I spent Christmas and New Year in hospital. There were tears and I miss her so much already but how amazing to have had all that time together as adults. Such a rare treat and would never have happened without having been through something so challenging. Silver linings and all that. So many other friends have also been incredibly thoughtful and kind. There aren't many times I'd say this without cringing but I am 100% blessed!

I still cannot believe we have been friends since we were 12! 12! Are you still close with your childhood besties?
The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_ho The renovation of this 80s beach shack @camillo_house is a work of art and while almost every surface was updated, the decision to keep the original slate floor was genius if you ask us. 

Owner @clarehillier__ says: "With its purple, pink, red and brown tones, the slate was the starting point for our interior palette."

Come and check out the before and afters via link in bio now and read the reno story. It's a real beauty.

And you can book it for your next holiday too!

Blair Smith Architecture @kateshanasy

#slatefloor #slatefloors #80shouse #80sbeauty #camillohouse #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #jenbishop #realreno #holidayhousesofinstagram #morningtonpeninsulahomes #morningtonpeninsula #morningtonpeninsulasmallbusiness #blairgowrie #blairgowriebeach #airbnbstyle
Me and my boys 💗 Me and my boys 💗
Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for thr Just a couple of dorks who've been friends for three decades going out for a child-free dinner 💓😁
Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damia Excuse me while I die of a cute attack 🥰 @damianfrancis 

This doesn't happen often these days!
Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks Hello friends! Just thought I'd say hi. Two weeks since leaving hospital and I'm doing much better than I expected to be at this early stage. A long recovery road ahead but making progress in how much I can move my arm and although I drag myself through some days non-stop yawning, others I can go for a little walk or out for lunch before collapsing on the couch! I can now tie my own hair back and put on a real bra which is very exciting 🤣 Having my bestie here to help us with the boys, drive me places and just be brilliant positive company is the best thing I could have asked for not to mention the many Dinner Ladies vouchers from friends! Thanks for all your kind messages, cards, flowers, gifts and offers of help ❤️
I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping I definitely feel like a statistic now but hoping to raise some awareness off the back of my misfortune (and also very lucky escape).

@newsouthwaleshealth have just put out this warning about a rise in serious bacterial infections. iGAS (invasive group A streptococcus) is what caused my necrotising fasciitis and sepsis.

Apparently there's similar happening in VIC too.

It's extremely rare but very serious nonetheless so please have a read and be aware of symptoms. I've linked to the article from a button via my link in bio.

#interiorsaddict #jenbishop #necrotisingfasciitis #groupastrep #groupastreptococcus #sepsis
While new technologies continue to shape the inter While new technologies continue to shape the interior design scene, one that has been getting a fair bit of traction of late is marble-look porcelain. A cheaper alternative to natural stone, the latest printed porcelain tile technology makes it difficult to distinguish from the real thing.

Founded by husband and wife duo Anton and Rita Bourtsev, Sydney’s @kaolintiles has a unique offering in this space with over 100 different marble-look tile designs in small and large formats.

More via link in bio now.

#porcelain #porcelaintile #porcelaintiles #largeformattiles #largeformattile #marblelooktiles #bathroomtrends2023 #interiorsaddict #theinteriorsaddict #heartyourhome #realrenovations #goldsink #brasssink #jenbishop #kaolin #kaolintiles #interiorsblog #interiorsblogger
Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I Promise this is the last wretched hospital photo I'll post and I hope to be home and with my lippie back on by Monday. You know it's serious when I'm lipstick free, right?!

This was about a week ago in intensive care. And although my arm is still bloody sore I'm now on a normal ward and no longer attached to any drips, drains or a catheter. I've come a long way.

This has been the most physical and mental challenge of my life but I'm through the worst. I kept my arm. The doctors saved my life.

I cannot say it enough times. If you're worried about your health, don't hang around. Things can change so quickly. 

A huge thanks to my amazing husband @damianfrancis We've had the hardest year yet and our marriage has never been stronger, even if my rings did get cut off my finger in hospital 😜

As great of a job as he is doing at home with the kids, I cannot wait to get home now. Countdown is on to a new year and a fresh start.

And I can't say enough just how overwhelmingly grateful I am to all the medical professionals involved in my care, from the @healthdirectaus nurse who sent me to Emergency to the exceptional surgeons, doctors, nurses and support staff.

Happy New Year, everyone. Remember you never know what's around the corner and this is not a dress rehearsal!

And huge thank you for all your kindness here. Has been amazing while stuck in bed.

Xxx

For those who missed it, I was unlucky enough to get necrotising fasciitis. You'll have to Google it.
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About Jen Bishop

Jen Bishop is our owner and publisher and an experienced journalist and editor. Interiors Addict has been her full-time job for more than 8 years. She is married to Damian and mum to Sebastian and Charlie.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. AvatarAlison says

    February 12, 2022 at 3:50 pm

    I am in the market for several sets of curtains and some blinds. Seeing Jen’s review I thought I would give Blinds On Line a try by ordering one simple roller blind as a trial. I am so glad I did because the service has been appalling so no further orders from me. I expected the blind last week but it did not turn up. The blind has supposedly been made however the shipping time keeps blowing out with the current anticipated shipping date 25 February. Surely somebody can call a courier and send it?

    Reply
  2. AvatarGot Omnia says

    April 5, 2022 at 4:48 pm

    I love articles on topics like this.

    Reply
  3. AvatarSofie says

    June 22, 2022 at 9:28 am

    Thank you so much for publishing this article. As someone who lives in employment supplied accomodation for many years at a time but also enjoys making a space my own this option provides a more cost effective alternative to make windows more beautiful. You have given me the confidence to try a process I thought might be fraught with mishaps but sounds more straight forward!
    Your blinds look beautiful!

    Reply
    • AvatarJen Bishop says

      June 22, 2022 at 9:42 am

      Thanks so much Sofie! I’m glad this gives you the confidence to try this yourself!

      Reply

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