Transcendental Translucence … in Roller Shades?

Reminiscent of traditional Japanese architecture, the Zen Roller is an innovation in the roller shade product category.

The Zen Roller is reminiscent of Shoji screens, which in Japanese architecture function as room or window dividers; these traditional screens are made from a wood or bamboo lattice lined with thin, translucent paper made from delicate materials such as papyrus or rice paper.

The Shade Store found inspiration in the Shoji screens to create a new category of roller shades, sourcing a fibrous material that invokes the same organic texture and translucent effect, but is highly durable, allowing the Zen Roller shade to accommodate daily use in residential and commercial settings.

“I discovered the concept for this product traveling in Europe, and was astonished that nothing like it was available in the United States,” says Ian Gibbs, co founder and chief creative officer of The Shade Store. “For the past few years, we’ve worked tirelessly with our production team to create a shade that achieves the same artistic, modern aesthetic but remains highly functional for everyday life.”

The design features panels of textured, light filtering material joined by thin strips of material that can be customized with either a satin nickel or wood finish to match other decor elements or finishes within a room. The Zen Roller is available in four materials with 11 colorways total, reflecting a variety of natural colors, earth tones, and cool grays and blues.

The Zen Roller can also be customized with motorization, allowing for state-of-the-art programmability across iOS, Android and smart home devices.

“We are proud to offer this innovative product to the U.S. market for the first time, expanding our popular roller shade category to include a unique, new offering for our customers,” Gibbs says.