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2025 Master Builders Victoria Best Custom Home Over $4M | Middle Park
The Promenade | Bespoke Motorised Blinds & Curtains
SOM Blinds designed, manufactured and installed motorised roller blinds, motorised curtains and external venetians for The Promenade, Seidler Group’s award-winning urban beach house in Melbourne’s inner city bayside suburb Middle Park.
The Promenade by Seidler, a striking contemporary residence overlooking Port Phillip Bay won multiple categories in the 2025 Master Builders Victoria Excellence in Housing Awards. The Urban Beach House was built and designed by the Seidler Group who were named Residential Master Builder of the Year and also won Best Custom Home Over $4 million.
Architect Luke Seidler has created an inner-city oasis with a design that celebrates natural light and expansive views. The extensive glazing required custom window furnishings to provide effective glare, solar and privacy control while remaining discreet within the architecture. Our solution incorporates our custom made SOM60 motorised roller blind system using Somfy motors, motorised sheer and blockout curtains, and an external venetian blind providing bathroom privacy while still allowing views across the bay.
ProjECT
The Promenade | Urban Beach House |Middle Park
SUBURB
Middle Park, Melbourne
BUILD TYPE
Residential Luxury Custom Build
BUILDER
Seidler Group
Architect
Luke Seidler
Photographer
Sharyn Cairns
Window Furnishing Brief
Consideration of sunlight, glare and privacy without unnecessarily compromising the outlook
SOLUTIONS
SOM60 motorised roller blinds
Motorised 100% linen sheer curtains
Motorised Blockout Curtains
Motorised External Venetian
AWARDS
2025 Master Builders Victoria | Master Builder of the Year – Residential | Best Custom Home Over $4 M
Custom Window Furnishing Considerations
The expansive areas of glazing required careful management of sunlight, glare and privacy without unnecessarily compromising the outlook. Different solutions were selected for different areas of the home, combining sunscreen and blockout dual motorised roller blinds, sheer and blockout motorised curtains and external shading using a motorised external aluminium venetian.
Just as importantly, the blinds and curtains needed to integrate cleanly with the architecture rather than appear as elements added at the end of construction.
Working with the project team during construction allowed the requirements for motorisation, concealment, fixing and electrical provision to be considered as part of the building process.
SOM60 Motorised Roller Blinds
Our exclusive SOM60 motorised roller blind system with Somfy motors was specified throughout the home, with fabrics selected according to the functional and aesthetic requirements of each space.
Dark sunscreen blinds were used to reduce glare and solar exposure while maintaining the home’s connection to its impressive outlook. The dark sunscreen improves outward visibility through the fabric, an important consideration in a home where the views are integral to the architecture.
Where complete privacy and room darkening were required, we selected a textured 100% blockout fabric. Its subtle woven appearance introduces softness and texture to the roller blinds, creating a more considered finish than a conventional flat blockout fabric.
The recessed dual motorised roller blinds are concealed within custom-designed pelmets, carefully detailed to accommodate the SOM60 system and allow the blinds to disappear discreetly from view when raised.
Motorised Curtains and Sheers
Motorised linen sheer curtains were introduced to provide a softer layer of privacy and light control within the interiors.
Sheer fabric from Zepel was chosen for its natural texture and relaxed drape, complementing the home’s refined material palette. The linen filters and softens natural light while maintaining a visual connection between the interior and exterior.
Combined with motorised curtain tracks, the sheers can be opened to reveal the expansive glazing or drawn when a softer level of privacy and light control is preferred.
Pairing motorised roller blinds with motorised curtains provides different levels of control throughout the day while maintaining a restrained window furnishing solution sympathetic to the architecture.
External Venetian Blinds
An external venetian blind provides another level of control where both privacy and maintaining the outlook were important in a street facing bathroom.
Unlike a window furnishing that is simply open or closed, the adjustable blades allow light, privacy and sightlines to be finely controlled. The blade angle can be adjusted throughout the day to provide greater privacy while still allowing water views to the bay.
It demonstrates an important part of our approach to custom window furnishings in Melbourne: selecting the right solution for each location rather than applying the same product throughout an entire home.
Planning Custom Window Furnishings for Melbourne New Homes and Renovations
On a project of this calibre, successful custom window furnishings depend on much more than the finished fabric.
Recess dimensions, fixing locations, electrical requirements, motorisation, curtain tracks and the finished position of each blind were all considered in relation to the architecture and construction.
Working with the project team allowed these details to be resolved as part of the building process, particularly the customised recessed pelmets required to discreetly conceal the SOM60 blinds when not in use.
This early coordination helps avoid compromises later and allows the finished window furnishings to become an integrated part of the architecture rather than an addition to it.
The Outcome
The completed window furnishings in The Promenade House provide flexible control of glare, sunlight and privacy throughout the home without compromising its connection to the surrounding landscape and Port Phillip Bay.
Black sunscreen blinds reduce glare while maintaining views, textured blockout blinds provide privacy and room darkening when required, motorised linen sheers introduce softness to the interiors, and the external venetian provides adjustable privacy and light control.
More importantly, the blinds, curtains, Somfy motorisation and architectural recesses work together as one considered window furnishing solution.
The Promenade demonstrates what can be achieved through early planning, bespoke manufacturing and close collaboration between SOM Blinds and the project team on an architecturally designed home.
PRODUCTS USED IN THIS PROJECT
custom design & Builder
INTERIORS
Photographer
RECOGNITION
Are you planning a new build or renovation in Melbourne
If you are planning a new home or major renovation, early consideration of your window furnishings can make a significant difference to the finished result. Our team here at SOM Blinds work with homeowners and their architects, builders, interior designers and automation specialists to help you decide on the ideal custom window furnishing solutions for your home. Solutions that integrate with your architecture from the outset. Contact our Melbourne showroom to make a time to visit our design studio to discuss your project.
Download our Window Furnishing Planning Guide to learn more.
If you’d like to discuss window furnishing options for your new home or renovation or perhaps you’d like to update your existing blinds and curtains to better suit your home and lifestyle call us on 03 98081807 to make a time to chat with one of our design team.