Zebra blinds motorized9/5/2023 ![]() Michael Brown / IDGĭouble-celled construction greatly increases these shades’ insulation value as well as their ability to block sunlight. This honeycomb-formed fabric, according to Graber, consists of three layers of metalized polyester film sealed between spunlace fabric. Based on Graber’s decision guide, echoed by ZebraBlinds, I opted for double-celled cellular shades using Graber’s Cocoon fabric. I also wanted a window treatment that would darken the room in the daytime, so we could use the room for its intended purpose on weekend days: To watch movies. The larger of the two windows in my home theater has a southern exposure, so the sun beats down on it incessantly, making the room uncomfortably warm in the summertime. They also offered helpful advice as I was installing the shades and incorporating them into my own smart home system. One of Graber’s dealers, ZebraBlinds, specializes in window treatments for smart homes, and they provided two Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Shades for this review (two so that I could test options for controlling them as a group). As you’ll learn from this review, if you want to get maximum benefit from them, you’ll need to have a Z-Wave-compatible smart home hub as well as a smart speaker. It’s also worth noting that Graber doesn’t offer any means of controlling the shades other than with a remote control. I found it to be a very educational and useful tool, but Graber doesn’t sell its product directly, and its website barely touches on how motorized shades operate or how they can be incorporated into a smart home system. Mounting the shade inside the window frame inevitably results in light leakage around the top and sides, but I didn’t want to cover up the window trim. Graber’s website has a handy decision guide that quizzes you about the shape of your windows, how much light you want to pass through the shades, the degree of privacy you want them to afford, if you want insulation as well as light control, and the color and type of material that will match your room’s décor and your personal design aesthetic. I had no idea that there were so many other decisions that I would need to consider. ![]() When I first considered outfitting my home theater with shades, I didn’t think much beyond the fact that I wanted to darken the room during the day, and that I wanted a motorized model, so I could incorporate them into my Vivint smart home system. ![]() And since they’re outfitted with Z-Wave radios, the shades can be incorporated into your smart home system, opened and closed on a schedule, and controlled with a voice command to Alexa or Google Assistant. ![]() With Graber Virtual Cord Motorized Shades covering your windows, you can control just how much sunlight comes into a room with a remote control. Everyone loves sunlight-except when you’re trying to watch a matinee in your home theater, or when it’s making your room unbearably warm in the summertime, or when you want to take a nap. ![]()
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