Silent Gliss SG 4960 Electric Roller Blinds, Blindspace Concealment Boxes & Bespoke Soft Furnishings — Sandbanks Penthouse, Poole, Dorset
Project: Luxury penthouse refurbishment
Location: Sandbanks Poole
Sector:
Private residential
Date of install: 2020
Products: Silent Gliss SG 4960-Blindspace boxes
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. Finally, the scheme required a full set of bespoke hand-made soft furnishings — curtains, pelmets, cushions and an upholstered headboard — to complete the interior.
Why we specified these systems
To meet the concealment requirement, we selected two 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, we specified bespoke Blindspace ceiling cassettes to house every SG 4960 barrel and motor within the ceiling void. The result is a room in which no hardware is visible at any point — regardless of whether the blinds are raised or lowered.
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
We fitted the principal living area blinds with the Series 50 Smart motor. This connects to the Silent Gliss Smart Gateway for app control via the Silent Gliss Move app. As a result, the client can operate every blind individually or as a grouped scene from their smartphone. We also fitted Somfy wall switches in each room for direct local control. In the bedrooms, we used the Series 40 motor with radio remote control. This provides quiet, reliable operation without the need for a network connection in every room.
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, we limit-set each motor and tested every blind through its full travel before commissioning the control system.
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. There is no visible roller, no bottom bar and no mechanism of any kind. 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 work with the ceiling as an uninterrupted plane — which, in a contemporary penthouse interior, is a significant design benefit.
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. We attended site during the design phase 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.
We communicated all three sets of information 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, we achieved a flush, clean ceiling line at every window without cutting into finished surfaces.
Cassette dimensions and fabric management
We manufactured each Blindspace cassette to bespoke dimensions for this project. The cassette depth accommodated the SG 4960 barrel, the wound fabric and the motor housing at maximum fabric drop. This is important. If the cassette is too shallow, the fabric catches the cassette lip on the way down. We calculated the correct depth at the specification stage and confirmed it with the carpenter before cutting.
The cassette opening — the slot through which the fabric drops from the ceiling — was set to the interior designer’s preferred reveal width. A narrow reveal produces a more refined ceiling detail. We also lined the interior of each cassette with a simple painted finish to match the ceiling. As a result, on the rare occasions that the blind drops to its lowest position, the visible cassette interior is 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 was 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 across the entire flat. We selected all fabrics in close collaboration with the interior designer. Our aim was 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. We used a Belgian linen blend for these, fully interlined with bump interlining and finished with a sateen lining. The weight gives the curtains the architectural presence that floor-to-ceiling glazing in a penthouse demands. We cord-set the wave heading at 80mm spacing and fitted it to a Silent Gliss SG 3900 cord-operated track on the window reveals behind the Blindspace cassette. As a result, the roller blind and the curtain layer operate independently.
Master bedroom: In the master bedroom, we made a single pair of wave curtains in a heavier woven fabric, blackout-lined. These work alongside the SG 4960 blackout roller blind on the same window — providing a secondary fabric layer for both acoustic softness and an additional barrier to early morning light. We cord-set these at the same 80mm wave spacing for visual consistency with the rest of the flat.
Installation and programme
Pre-installation survey and co-ordination
We surveyed the penthouse at the start of the refurbishment programme. We confirmed the ceiling void depth at each window, the wiring routes for all SG 4960 motors and the cassette positions for the Blindspace installation. We then communicated all dimensions and wiring requirements to the main contractor in a single co-ordination document. This allowed the carpenter and electrician to build all provisions into the structure before boarding. As a result, we avoided any cutting into finished surfaces during our installation.
Blind installation and commissioning
We installed the SG 4960 blinds after the main contractor had completed the ceiling boarding and first coat of decoration. At this stage, the Blindspace cassettes were already formed and the wiring was pre-terminated at each position. Our team hung each blind, set the motor limits and tested the full travel. We then commissioned the Silent Gliss Smart Gateway and registered all Series 50 motors. We also paired all radio handsets to the Series 40 motors in the bedrooms.
We completed motor commissioning and system testing in a single day. Consequently, we handed the flat back to the main contractor the same evening for final decoration. This phasing avoided any programme delays and kept the refurbishment on schedule.
Final fix and soft furnishings installation
We returned after decoration was complete to install the curtain tracks, hang and dress the curtains, and fit all soft furnishings. Our dressers completed the wave setting on every curtain, adjusted the pelmet heights and positioned all cushions and accessories. We finished with a full operational demonstration for the client — covering the Move app, remote handsets and wall switch control for every blind.
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 | Warwick Fabrics blackout and dim-out — bespoke measured |
| Blindspace cassette | Bespoke ceiling box | All windows — full concealment of roller blind barrel and motor | 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 | Belgian linen blend · bump interlined · sateen lined | Manual draw · motorised option available | Designer fabric — 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
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. 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. There is no visible hardware of any kind. To achieve this, we must 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 — we cannot retrofit a Blindspace cassette into a finished ceiling without cutting, which compromises the finish.
Can the Silent Gliss SG 4960 be integrated with a smart home system?
Yes. We fitted the SG 4960 with the Series 50 Smart motor on this Sandbanks project. This connects to the Silent Gliss Smart Gateway for control via the Silent Gliss 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, we also offer the Series 40 motor for radio remote control without a network hub, and the Series 20 mains motor for 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, we use a linked double system — two motors connecting through a linking bracket — which extends the maximum to 4,800mm. Both systems use the same 41mm anodised aluminium barrel. The maximum fabric weight is 5.5 kilograms, including the bottom bar. We confirm all size limits and motor specifications during the site survey before ordering.
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, 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. We make and install the soft furnishings as part of the same project. As a result, 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. We also work closely with main contractors on phased residential refurbishments and new-build developments across Dorset and the South Coast. Furthermore, we attend pre-contract meetings, provide wiring schedules and Blindspace integration details, and offer a named project contact from design stage through to handover. Trade accounts are available for contractors and developers with regular project requirements.