SOM Blinds: Motorised Window Furnishing Solutions

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03 9808 1807

experts | reliability | solutions | reputation

Awnings, curtains and blinds for builders, architects and homeowners

Are you looking for high-quality, customised motorised blinds or window furnishings for your home? Choose a company with an established reputation for providing 21 years of outstanding service, achieving consistently high reviews, and who can help you select the right products for your Melbourne home or renovation project.

Our Vision

Our vision is to transform spaces and elevate lifestyles. Through innovative window furnishing solutions, we redefine the way spaces are experienced through the interplay of light, design and practicality. Transform your lifestyle with our perfectly matched products.

Our Mission

At SOM Blinds, our mission is to seamlessly integrate style and functionality. Our superior products and personalised service enhance the aesthetics of homes while improving their liveability and energy efficiency to promote your comfort and well-being. From the initial consultation through to installation, your satisfaction is our priority.

Our Values

Excellence | Teamwork | Craftsmanship | Reliability

A family-owned and operated business: Our story

SOM Blinds is run by a husband and wife team, Bernie and Fiona Sombekke, with an experienced team of technicians, installers and our in-house interior design consultant. Our team has over 50 years of combined experience and enjoys delivering quality, long-lasting solutions.

Two decades ago, in the early days of home automation, Bernie was approached to come up with a solution to fill a gap in the market. There was a growing need for a motorised window furnishing supplier able to offer technical backup and support for clients interested in home automation. A friend in the home automation industry asked Bernie to help him develop a motorised blind system to enable him to be able to provide his clients with professional service, which he was struggling to get from other blind suppliers.

This all led to the development of our exclusive SOM Motorised Blind System, which allows us to deliver innovative solutions with greater flexibility and control to our clients. Over 21 years later, the team at SOM Blinds still provides solutions and the level of support expected—along with a wide range of motorised and manually-operated window furnishings.

We value and promote sustainability and energy efficiency in both how SOM Blinds is operated and the solutions we provide to our clients. We do this by keeping up with the latest advancements in eco-friendly window furnishing products from our fabric and hardware suppliers. Our manufacturing and installations operate with a goal of zero waste to landfill–we are almost there, too! We offer great solutions for clients, builders and architects who want to lower their environmental impact as well as increase their energy efficiency at home.

Awards and achievements

Monash Business Awards

2021 Monash Business of the Year

SOM Blinds was named Monash Business of the Year in 2021. These awards celebrate remarkable accomplishments and innovations, fostering a culture of business success and excellence.

Australian Small Business Champion Awards

2023 Small Business Awards Finalist

SOM Blinds was also a finalist for the Small Business Awards in 2023, a testament to our unwavering commitment to supplying our customers with superior products and services.

Memberships and certifications

Window Shading Association of Australia (WSAA)

SOM Blinds is a member of the Window Shading Association of Australia (WSAA). Our WSAA membership reflects our commitment to upholding the industry’s highest standards of quality and professionalism.

Somfy Expert Partners

SOMFY is a pioneer in connected home equipment. As registered SOMFY Expert Partners, SOM Blinds was selected by SOMFY to receive expert training due to our professional track record, capacity to meet unique requirements and ability to conduct high-quality installations.

Four key reasons to choose SOM Blinds

Does your project require customised or unique curtains and blinds?
At SOM Blinds, we love a challenge—our clients often contact us because they can’t find what they need elsewhere. But, of course, they choose us for other reasons too, including:

Experienced team

Our team can help you manage your project from design to installation. So whether you’re after customised curtains, motorised blinds or designer outdoor blinds, use our team’s knowledge to find the best window furnishing solutions for your project.

Highly recommended

Much of our work is generated by referrals from satisfied customers–the best marketing we could ever ask for! Instead of advertising, we focus on great customer service, often resulting in referrals to family, friends and other builders and architects. But don’t just take our word for it–read our many 5-star Google reviews and testimonials.

Client-oriented approach

We value and enjoy building our client relationships. We listen carefully to your needs and match them with the best options for you so your chosen window furnishings don’t just look like everyone else’s! We promise that they won’t just look great, but they will also function well and achieve the outcome you are looking for, whether light control, privacy, energy efficiency or purely decorative.

Face-to-face customer service

Our personalised approach with attention to detail is a genuine priority for us, and it’s what makes the difference—that’s why we choose not to sell online. Instead, we prefer to meet you, measure on-site and carefully select the right products the first time around. This approach minimises confusion, eliminates errors and prevents wasting time trying to figure it all out for yourself. Plus, we enjoy getting to know you, which can help us ensure we offer the most appropriate solutions for you and your family.

Why designers, architects and builders value working with SOM Blinds

We specialise in whole home fit-outs working with many of Melbourne’s premium home builders, interior designers and architects–some of whom we’ve worked with for decades. We can work with your builder, project manager and electrician to coordinate your installation and building requirements, and this will ensure all of your window furnishings are ready to be perfectly installed when you need them. This can eliminate wasted time refitting due to mistakes and mis-measures, such as wiring not being where it’s needed.

Working with SOM Blinds offers home builders and architects several advantages, including:

Large scale projects

We’ve got over 21 years of experience doing whole home and large-scale renovations in Melbourne’s luxury homes. We know the processes involved and the unique demands of large-scale projects–we deliver them on time and within budget. We’ve worked with most of the home automation systems on the market and are experts in knowing which motors work best with which system.

No third-parties involved

Work directly with us from beginning to end—no time is wasted working with multiple contractors who aren’t accountable for errors. The person measuring will be the person installing, our team will understand and explain what’s needed to ensure your clients get the results they’re looking for, ready for move-in day. We aim to get it right the first time, every time.

Dedicated interior design specialist

Work directly with our in-house interior design consultant, who saves you time by anticipating and resolving challenges as they arise. We’re also happy to work with your interior design consultant. Our showroom is available for you and your clients to come and review plans even before construction commences, leaving the fun of selecting fabrics and colours until just before we need to start to manufacture.

Tailor-made solutions

Customisation, automation and meticulous installation are our specialities. We ensure that every blind and curtain is measured correctly and produced to our high standards before installation.

A wealth of experience

With decades of experience working closely with some of Melbourne’s most prestigious builders, our team understands the importance of processes, expectations and the lead times involved.

Diverse fabric range

We have a great working relationship with all of the major fabric houses, and they keep us up to date with the latest trends and new fabric releases. Our Burwood showroom’s extensive range of luxury and contemporary fabrics means we can help you and your clients find exactly the right look and feel for their homes. We source fabrics directly from wholesalers to save you the added burden of liaising with third parties.

Our five-step process for builders and architects:

Here’s what architects and builders can expect when working with SOM Blinds on new home builds or home improvement projects:

Step 1: Initial consultation and design brief

Here, we gain a clear understanding of your building or architectural requirements. Consultations can be held at our Burwood showroom, your office, out on-site, over the phone or via a Zoom meeting–whichever is most convenient for you.

Step 2: Feedback, advice and design proposal

After reviewing your brief, we will then provide a design proposal, offering suggestions and advice about the window furnishings we think will work best in the spaces you are creating for your clients. We also share solutions to specific challenges you may have based on your designs and plans.

Step 3: Finalise and approve your quote

We prepare an all-inclusive estimate based on your final product and preliminary fabric selections. Once you accept our proposal and we receive your deposit, one of our expert SOM Blinds installers will meet your team on-site to discuss the proposed installation requirements.

This is a time to discuss wiring, pelmets, proposed joinery, door and window openers, flyscreens, etc. Some products may require framing adjustments, e.g. large folding arm awnings or roof skylight blinds, and even heavy cinema curtains. This is ideally done before the first fix stage and before plastering. We can review our deposit terms for projects with a lead time of over four months.

Step 4: Interior design consultation

As the completion of your build approaches and we have confirmed your product selections, we will arrange for you and/or your client to meet with our in-house interior design consultant, or we’ll work with your designer to help finalise your fabric and colour choices. Our showroom has hundreds of fabric samples in all the latest colours, prints, designs, weights and textures. We’ve never been unable to find our clients a fabric they love!

Step 5: Installation of blinds and curtains

Once your project is ready, our team will install it just before your clients move into their new home–ideally to protect your window furnishings, which will happen after your final builder’s clean. We will work together with you and your electrician or automation specialist to ensure all of your client’s window furnishings are properly integrated and ready for when they move in. If comparing quotes, ensure you know who is responsible for connecting and programming of motorised products.

From the initial meeting to installation, you deal directly with our team–there are no contractors or third parties. We pride ourselves on excellent customer service with attention to detail that is second to none.

Why should homeowners choose SOM Blinds for a home improvement project?

If you own a home, there are many advantages to working with a specialised team like SOM Blinds for all your window furnishing needs:

Deal directly with an expert team

Everyone you’ll deal with is a valued member of our SOM Blinds team. We don’t use third parties and contract fitters, so you’ll work directly with our specialist team throughout your project, minimising miscommunication and wasted time.

Long-lasting, customised window furnishings

We manufacture all of our roller blinds in our factory in Burwood, Melbourne and use locally-based curtain workrooms to manufacture your curtains. We source some customised window furnishings internationally, including plantation shutters from the market leaders at Norman Australia and awnings produced by world-leading supplier, markilux as well as other locally manufactured external blinds and awnings.

Work with an interior design consultant

Our in-house interior design consultant is here to assist you with fabric choices, colours and advice about product options. This is a complimentary service we offer. We’re also happy to work with your consultants, architect, builder and interior designer, if you prefer, to help you select the perfect fabrics and window furnishing solutions for your home.

An extensive network of suppliers

Over two decades, we’ve worked out who the very best suppliers are. We only use suppliers whose products we trust and who align with our values and expectations, so we’re happy to recommend and supply their products to you.

A diverse selection of fabrics

Most of our clients are able to find their ideal fabric in our showroom, but if we don’t have exactly what you’re after, we can easily help you source your ideal fabric from one of our fantastic fabric suppliers’ extensive ranges.

Hassle-free experience

Our team’s extensive industry experience means we know what works and what doesn’t. We guide you through the selection process, only recommending products we’re confident will meet your home and family’s lifestyle needs.

All your needs under one roof

You don’t need to deal with multiple suppliers, as we handle everything from design to installation. We aim for all your window furnishings to be installed and ready for your new home or renovation before you move in.

Which areas in Melbourne does SOM Blinds service?

We service Melbourne and its surrounding suburbs, from Port Melbourne to Sandringham, including Carlton, Northcote, Brighton, Caulfield, Glen Iris, Malvern, Camberwell, Kew and Glen Waverley.

Our showroom is in Burwood, where we have an extensive range of fabric samples and window furnishing products on display. Contact SOM Blinds to request a design consultation or book an appointment to visit our Burwood showroom to review your plans and view our range in person.