Silent Gliss SG 4960 Electrical Roller Blinds, SG 5600 Motorised Curtin Tracks , Blindspace , Bespoke Soft Furnishings Sandbanks Poole Doset
Project: Sandbanks Poole Dorset
Sector: Luxury penthouse
Date of install: 07/2024
Products: SG 4960 -SG5600- Blindspace
The Brief
Setting and client requirement
Sandbanks is one of the most valuable residential postcodes in the United Kingdom. It occupies a narrow peninsula between Poole Harbour and the sea. Properties here attract buyers who expect an exceptional standard of finish. This penthouse refurbishment was no exception.
The client’s brief was precise. They wanted a window treatment scheme with no visible hardware anywhere in the flat. Every blind had to sit completely concealed within the ceiling when raised. Moreover, all blinds needed motorised operation and integration with the flat’s existing smart control system.
Why we specified these systems
To meet the concealment requirement, we selected three systems that work together. First, we chose the Silent Gliss SG 4960 electrically operated roller blind for every principal window. The SG 4960 is a made-to-measure system with a compact 41mm aluminium barrel. It suits medium to large window spans and carries a maximum fabric weight of 5.5 kilograms. Second, for the principal living areas and master bedroom, we specified the Silent Gliss SG 5600 motorised curtain track. The SG 5600 is the flagship Silent Gliss electric track, rated to 65 kilograms per track and wave-compatible — the correct choice for floor-to-ceiling curtains across wide Sandbanks window spans. Third, we specified bespoke Blindspace ceiling cassettes to house both the SG 4960 roller blind barrels and the SG 5600 track motors within the ceiling void. The result is a penthouse in which no hardware is visible at any point.
The Silent Gliss SG 4960 — electric roller blind system
Why we chose the SG 4960
The SG 4960 is a medium to heavy duty electrically operated roller blind from the Silent Gliss range. We selected it for three reasons. First, its compact 41mm anodised aluminium barrel suits the shallow ceiling void available for the Blindspace cassettes. Second, it handles fabric widths up to 2,400mm as a single system and up to 4,800mm as a linked double — ideal for the wide panoramic windows of a Sandbanks penthouse. Third, it operates with a near-silent 24V DC motor. This level of quiet operation is particularly important in a bedroom or open-plan living area.
Fabric selection and light control
We specified the SG 4960 in two fabric types across the penthouse. In the principal bedroom and dressing area, we used a blackout fabric from the Silent Gliss Collection. This achieves complete light exclusion. In the living areas and study, however, we selected a solar screen fabric with a 3% openness factor. This provides excellent glare and heat management without blocking the view of Poole Harbour when the blind is partially raised.
Both fabric types are available in the three hardware finishes of the SG 4960: white RAL 9016, grey RAL 7035 and black RAL 9005. For this scheme, we used white throughout to complement the interior designer’s pale, neutral palette. Furthermore, we chose the square aluminium bottom bar — the SG 10770 — for its clean architectural profile.
Motor variants and control
All SG 4960 motors were wired to a 230V supply during the refurbishment first fix. The main contractor’s electrician pre-terminated all wiring to our specified positions before our installation team attended. On installation day, our team limit-set each motor and tested every blind through its full travel before commissioning the control system.
The Silent Gliss SG 5600 — motorised curtain track
Why the SG 5600 for this penthouse
The SG 5600 is the flagship motorised curtain track in the Silent Gliss electric range. On this Sandbanks penthouse, it was the only system capable of carrying the fully interlined wave curtains specified for the principal living areas and master bedroom. Rated to 65 kilograms of curtain weight per track, and running at 210mm per second via a brushless DC motor, the SG 5600 delivers near-silent curtain movement. Furthermore, its soft start and stop mechanism prevents fabric oscillation on opening and closing — a detail that is immediately perceptible in a high-end residential interior.
The principal living area glazing presented wide spans of floor-to-ceiling glass facing Poole Harbour. The SG 5600 handled each span with no deflection. In addition, we recessed the track profile into the ceiling void with — so, like the SG 4960 roller blind above it, the curtain track is completely invisible when the curtains are open.
Wave heading and control
We fitted each SG 5600 track with wave cord gliders at 80mm spacing, compatible with the wave heading we cord-set on every curtain. The track is also bendable to a minimum 250mm radius — useful for the curved bay window detail in the dining area, where a straight track behind the glazing would have left an unacceptable gap between the curtain and the glass.
We controlled the SG 5600 tracks via the Silent Gliss Move app and wall-mounted switches, grouping each track with the corresponding room’s SG 4960 roller blind. As a result, occupants can lower the roller blind and close the curtain in a single scene command. We also made wiring provision for future integration into a wider home automation platform, giving the client the option to upgrade without returning to first fix.
Blindspace concealment cassettes
What Blindspace does
Blindspace is a bespoke ceiling cassette system. It houses roller blind barrels, motors and wiring within the ceiling void, leaving no visible hardware in the room. When the blind is fully raised, the ceiling appears completely flat. No roller, bottom bar or mechanism of any kind remains visible. The window treatment simply disappears.
This level of concealment matters most on a penthouse scheme with large, architect-designed windows. In a property of this quality, even a standard fascia box or cassette housing reads as a compromise. The Blindspace system eliminates that compromise entirely. Furthermore, it allows the interior designer to treat the ceiling as an uninterrupted plane — a significant design benefit in any contemporary penthouse interior.
How we co-ordinated the installation
Blindspace cassettes must integrate into the ceiling structure during the refurbishment. This is the most critical co-ordination point on any concealment installation. Early in the design phase, our team attended site to confirm three things: the ceiling void depth available at each window, the correct cassette dimensions for the SG 4960 barrel and motor, and the wiring route from the cassette to the nearest consumer unit.
All three sets of information went to the main contractor before the ceiling was boarded. As a result, the carpenter built each cassette position to our specification. The electrician also chased wiring to the correct locations before plastering. Nothing required retrofitting. Consequently, every window received a flush, clean ceiling line without cutting into any finished surface.
Cassette dimensions and fabric management
Each Blindspace cassette was manufactured to bespoke dimensions for this project. The depth accommodated the SG 4960 barrel, the wound fabric and the motor housing at maximum fabric drop — this sizing is critical. A cassette that is too shallow causes the fabric to catch the lip on the way down. To prevent this, our team calculated the correct depth at the specification stage and confirmed it with the carpenter before any cutting began.
The cassette opening — the slot through which the fabric drops — was set to the interior designer’s preferred reveal width. A narrow reveal produces a more refined ceiling detail. Additionally, we lined the interior of each cassette with a painted finish matching the ceiling. As a result, on the rare occasions that the blind sits at its lowest position, the visible cassette interior remains clean and resolved.
Bespoke soft furnishings
Design approach
Every soft furnishing in the penthouse came from our workroom. We made each piece to the interior designer’s brief and delivered it pre-pressed to site. The brief called for soft furnishings that complemented the precision of the Silent Gliss hardware. Nothing approximate. Nothing adjusted on site. Each piece had to be ready to hang and dress without remedial work.
The palette ran consistently across the entire flat. In collaboration with the interior designer, we selected all fabrics to achieve coherence from room to room — a scheme that reads as one considered interior rather than a collection of separate decisions.
Wave curtains
Principal living areas: We made floor-to-ceiling wave curtains for the principal living area and dining space in a Belgian linen blend, fully interlined with bump interlining and finished with a sateen lining. The weight gives the curtains the architectural presence that floor-to-ceiling glazing demands. We cord-set the wave heading at 80mm spacing to match the SG 5600 wave gliders — so the roller blind and the motorised curtain layer operate as separate, independently controlled elements within the same Blindspace cassette.
Installation and programme
Pre-installation survey and co-ordination
At the start of the refurbishment programme, our team surveyed the penthouse in full. The survey confirmed the ceiling void depth at each window for both the SG 4960 roller blind barrels and the SG 5600 curtain track motors, the wiring routes for all motorised systems, and the cassette positions for the Blindspace installation. All dimensions and wiring requirements then went to the main contractor in a single co-ordination document. This allowed the carpenter and electrician to build every provision into the structure before boarding began. As a result, our installation team avoided cutting into any finished surface.
Blind installation and commissioning
The SG 4960 roller blinds and SG 5600 curtain tracks went in after the main contractor completed the ceiling boarding and first coat of decoration. By that stage, the Blindspace cassettes were already formed and the wiring pre-terminated at each position. Our team hung each roller blind, set the motor limits and tested the full travel. Next, we installed the SG 5600 tracks, fitted the wave cord gliders and limit-set the curtain motors. We then commissioned the Silent Gliss Smart Gateway and registered all motorised systems. Radio handsets were paired to the Series 40 motors in the bedrooms.
Motor commissioning and system testing took a single day. Consequently, the flat went back to the main contractor the same evening for final decoration. This phasing prevented any programme delays and kept the refurbishment on schedule.
Final fix and soft furnishings installation
Once decoration was complete, our team returned to install the curtain tracks, hang the curtains and fit all soft furnishings. The dressers set the wave on every curtain, adjusted pelmet heights and positioned all cushions and accessories. To close the programme, we provided a full operational demonstration for the client — covering the Move app, remote handsets and wall switch control for every blind in the flat.
Specification summary
Full specification of systems, products and soft furnishings supplied and installed at this Sandbanks penthouse, Poole.
| System | Model | Application | Key specification | Control | Soft furnishing |
| Electric roller blind | Silent Gliss SG 4960 | All principal windows — floor-to-ceiling glazing throughout | Medium to large spans · 24V DC motor · max 2,400mm single · max 4,800mm double | Silent Gliss Move app · remote handset · wall switch | Blackout and dim-out fabrics — bespoke measured |
| Motorised curtain track | Silent Gliss SG 5600 | Principal living areas and master bedroom — motorised wave curtain track | 65kg max load · 210mm/s · wave compatible · recessed within Blindspace cassette | Silent Gliss Move app · wall switch · BMS-ready | Wave curtains — fully interlined, 80mm spacing |
| Blindspace cassette | Bespoke ceiling box | All windows — full concealment of SG 4960 barrel, SG 5600 track and motors | Custom-depth headbox · flush ceiling finish · co-ordinated with M&E first fix | — | — |
| Wave curtains | Bespoke made — 80mm wave | Principal living areas and master bedroom on SG 5600 track | Belgian linen blend · bump interlined · sateen lined · blackout lining in bedroom | Motorised via SG 5600 | Hand-made and pre-pressed |
| Fabric-covered pelmets | Bespoke made | Living areas and master bedroom | Interlined · returns made to stack depth | — | Co-ordinating fabric from same palette |
| Additional soft furnishings | Bespoke made | Throughout all rooms | Scatter cushions · window seat · upholstered headboard | — | Designer fabrics throughout |
Frequently asked questions
Specification and local supply
Do you install Silent Gliss SG 4960 electric roller blinds in Sandbanks and Poole?
Yes. We are an authorised Silent Gliss dealer based in Poole. We supply, install and commission the Silent Gliss SG 4960 electric roller blind throughout Sandbanks, Poole, Bournemouth, Canford Cliffs, Christchurch and the wider Dorset and South Coast area. In addition, we work with interior designers, architects, main contractors and private clients on luxury residential and commercial projects. Contact our team to discuss your project.
What is a Blindspace box and how does it work with the SG 4960?
A Blindspace box is a bespoke ceiling cassette. We build it into the ceiling void to house the SG 4960 roller blind barrel, motor and wiring completely out of sight. When the blind is raised, the ceiling appears flat and uninterrupted — no visible hardware of any kind remains. To achieve this, we confirm the cassette dimensions, ceiling void depth and wiring routes during the refurbishment design stage. We then communicate these to the main contractor before ceiling boarding begins. Early appointment is essential; retrofitting a Blindspace cassette into a finished ceiling requires cutting and compromises the finish.
Smart home integration and sizing
What is the Silent Gliss SG 5600 and why was it specified on this project?
The Silent Gliss SG 5600 is the flagship motorised curtain track in the Silent Gliss electric range. It carries up to 65 kilograms of curtain weight per track and operates at 210mm per second via a brushless DC motor. It is wave-compatible, can be bent to a minimum 250mm radius for curved applications, and integrates with smart home and BMS systems via the Silent Gliss Move app, remote handsets and third-party control systems. On this Sandbanks penthouse, we specified the SG 5600 for the principal living areas and master bedroom because the scale of the glazing and the weight of the fully interlined wave curtains exceeded the capacity of lighter-duty motorised tracks. We supply, specify and install the SG 5600 across Poole, Sandbanks, Canford Cliffs, Bournemouth and Dorset.
Can the Silent Gliss SG 4960 be integrated with a smart home system?
Yes. On this Sandbanks project, we fitted the SG 4960 with the Series 50 Smart motor, which connects to the Silent Gliss Smart Gateway for control via the Move app on iPhone, Android or tablet. For projects using KNX, Crestron, Savant or Control4, we advise on the appropriate motor variant and driver before ordering. In addition, the Series 40 motor offers radio remote control without a network hub, and the Series 20 mains motor suits projects requiring simple switch operation.
What is the maximum width for a single Silent Gliss SG 4960 roller blind?
The SG 4960 operates as a single system up to 2,400mm wide. Beyond that width, a linked double system — two motors connecting through a linking bracket — extends the maximum to 4,800mm. Both systems share the same 41mm anodised aluminium barrel. The maximum fabric weight is 5.5 kilograms, including the bottom bar. Our team confirms all size limits and motor specifications during the site survey before we place any order.
Soft furnishings and project support
Do you supply bespoke soft furnishings alongside Silent Gliss roller blinds?
Yes. Our workroom produces bespoke curtains, pelmets, cushions and upholstered pieces alongside our Silent Gliss installations. On this Sandbanks penthouse, for example, we made floor-to-ceiling wave curtains, fabric-covered pelmets, an upholstered headboard and scatter cushions — all in fabrics from the interior designer’s specification. Because we make and install the soft furnishings as part of the same project, every element of the window treatment scheme is co-ordinated from a single supplier. This simplifies procurement for interior designers and main contractors significantly.
Do you work with architects and main contractors on specification projects in Dorset?
Yes. We provide full specification support for architects and interior designers, including Silent Gliss NBS specification text, BIM objects via the National BIM Library, technical data sheets and CPD on request. Furthermore, we work closely with main contractors on phased residential refurbishments and new-build developments across Dorset and the South Coast. Our team attends pre-contract meetings, provides wiring schedules and Blindspace integration details, and offers a named project contact from design stage through to handover. Trade accounts are available for contractors and developers with regular project requirements.