Hide and chic

With its bespoke, crafted solutions and radical service, Sorrento Shutters is bringing a timeless elegance to homes across the Bay.

Kane Burton-Brown still remembers the moment shutters first caught his eye. He was walking down a quiet street in London during his OE, when he noticed the sleek look of his neighbour’s bay window. The clean lines and the way the light was filtered made him stop. There was something different about it. Then he realised: it was the shutters.

“I remember thinking, ‘I really like that,’” he says. “It was the first time I’d properly noticed shutters and thought, ‘One day, I want those in my own home.’ After that, I started seeing them everywhere. They just stood out. They’re beautiful, they’re aesthetic and elegant, and they're very practical in terms of functionality in dealing with light control and privacy.”

It was this random observation that opened his eyes to the window treatments industry and led him to almost a decade helping people achieve that same mix of sophistication and utility that shutters offer. Eventually, this path led Kane to start Sorrento Shutters last year, a company he’s built on his belief in beautiful craftsmanship and genuine service.

“I wanted to bring something to the market where I was comfortable and felt good about what I had to offer,” he explains. “For me, that was the best high-quality shutters and blinds that I could find paired with what I call ‘radical service’.”

With a smile he admits that, “people are kind of funny with that word radical,” but Sorrento is built on the idea that providing excellent service is radical in our current environment, where downsizing and cost cutting tends to affect the customer experience.

“It’s actually hard to find good service. And I believe good service starts with listening.”

After communicating their vision, Kane assists people through the process to achieve it, helping them with things like colour selection and material of the shutters.

“We do guide them because most people just know they love shutters. They’ve seen shutters in their friend’s home or in a neighbour’s home and they know that they’ve loved the look, so we help them navigate all the options,” he says. “The process is clear and friendly and designed to keep clients in the loop so that they have a clear idea of exactly what’s on offer and exactly what they’re buying. By the time we’ve left, you will know exactly what we can offer you and you will know exactly what it will cost.”

You also know that you’ll be getting the highest quality product and craftsmanship. All of their work is bespoke.

“All of our products are custom-made to fit flawlessly. That's part of the elegance of it. Everything just fits beautifully. It’s designed to get that perfect end result.”

But shutters offer more than a striking elegance. They open up spaces, improve comfort, and don’t take up all the wall space, unlike curtains, with Kane saying that “they make a room feel larger, and create that luxury designer effect.”

There are also the remarkable insulation benefits and reduction of condensation, with Kane quoting a 50 percent improvement over blinds. It’s a massive difference, and one he says comes up all the time in the company’s client feedback. This impact is something he’s also noticed in his own home.

“The first thing we did was put shutters in because it was a great way of making the house look a lot smarter instantly. We were going to get double-glazing, but we thought we'd see how it goes with the shutters first. And boy... we will double-glaze the house one day, but that's gone way down the list now.”

Even the name speaks to the thought and care that Kane brings, with Sorrento Shutters being chosen because it sounded timeless and memorable, which matches his view of shutters.

“It had a nice ring to it,” he says, noting that durability and elegance were the qualities he wanted people to associate with the brand from the very first word.

After almost a decade in the game, Kane says he finds the work immensely satisfying.

“I love going into people’s homes, meeting new people and helping them bring their vision to life,” he smiles. “But it’s easy to feel that way when you’re looking after your customers and they love your work.”

SORRENTOSHUTTERS.CO.NZ

Pull back the curtain

At the helm of Guthrie Bowron Tauranga, Margaret Gill knows interiors. Here, she shares an insider’s guide to window coverings.

Window coverings have a major influence on a room’s functionality and ambience — a fact that’s both exciting and makes knowing what to choose a little daunting. The following insider info might help you decide what’s best for you.

Your first consideration? Function. Living spaces may need a sun filter treatment to manage glare during the day. Bedrooms benefit from blackout curtains to aid sleep. Window treatments will also offer additional insulation if your home is lacking in that department. 

Will curtains or blinds be best? Curtains visually soften the hard edges of a room, while providing warmth and privacy. Roman blinds provide a streamlined look for the minimalists among us, and are ideal for high or small windows. 

What size are your windows and how much wall space is there on either side? The answers may lead you to floor-to-ceiling curtains for spacious rooms, while blinds will be great for small, narrow or awkwardly placed panes. 

Keep roller blinds, venetian blinds, vertical blinds, honeycomb blinds and shutters on your radar too. All have their advantages and limitations, depending on your home’s unique requirements and the look you love.

Enjoy using your window treatments to express your creativity. Whether
you gravitate towards soothing neutrals, energising bright hues or statement-making bold patterns, there’s such a wide range of fabrics available that you can take your pick when it comes to style, colour and texture. Most curtain fabrics can also be used for roman blinds, allowing you to maintain a consistent scheme throughout the house. Then tie it together with other soft furnishings such as cushions, throws, bedding and upholstered furniture. Or make a feature out of an exceptionally special textile. For example, a printed velvet, intricate jacquard or highly textured boucle.

The secret to your success lies in talking to an experienced curtain and blind consultant at the beginning of your decorating project. At Guthrie Bowron Tauranga, you’ll find all the latest collections from UK textile brand ILIV, as well as top-notch New Zealand suppliers. Are you ready to get started? 

GUTHRIEBOWRON.co.nz