Silent Gliss SG 5600, SG 3840, SG 6130 & Shy Skylight Tracks with Bespoke Soft Furnishings- Canford Cliffs Poole Dorset
Project: Luxury residential development
Location: Canford Cliffs Poole Dorset
Sector: Commercial Residential
Date of install: 2022
Products: SG 5600 SG3840 SG6130
The Brief
Canford Cliffs sits between Branksome Chine and Sandbanks, occupying one of the most desirable residential positions on the Dorset coast. A luxury development in this setting presented one of the most technically demanding curtain track specifications we have encountered: four different Silent Gliss systems required across the same building, each addressing a distinct architectural challenge, all working together as a single coherent interior.
The principal living areas required a heavy-duty motorised solution capable of carrying fully interlined floor-to-ceiling curtains across wide spans — the Silent Gliss SG 5600 electric curtain track, the flagship of the Silent Gliss motorised range, was specified throughout. The building’s bay windows and curved glazed bays called for a track system that could be bent to follow the geometry of each opening — the Silent Gliss SG 3840 cord-operated curved track, bent in-house to the required radius, was the correct solution. Dressing rooms, studies and ancillary spaces needed a discreet, low-profile ceiling track that could disappear into the ceiling plane — the SG 6130 contract ceiling track was specified for these areas. And the building’s significant roof-light glazing — required a tensioned track system designed specifically for inclined glass: the Silent Gliss Shy skylight track system.
Alongside all four track systems, a full suite of bespoke hand-made soft furnishings was specified and produced in our workroom: fully interlined curtains for every room, all made to the interior designer’s brief and co-ordinated across the development to create a resolved interior from ground floor to roof.
The four Silent Gliss systems — specified and installed
SG 5600 — motorised electric curtain track — Silent Gliss flagship electric track — principal rooms
We selected the Silent Gliss SG 5600 for every principal room — the living areas, dining room and master bedrooms. In these spaces, the scale of the windows and the weight of the fully interlined curtains demand a motorised system with genuine heavy-duty capability. The SG 5600 carries up to 65 kilograms of curtain weight per track. It operates at 210mm per second via a brushless DC motor. Moreover, it produces near-silent curtain movement with a progressive soft start and stop, which prevents fabric oscillation on opening and closing.
Where ceiling void depth allowed, we installed each track within a recessed fixing profile. This eliminates the track profile from the room entirely. As a result, the curtain appears to emerge directly from the ceiling plane when drawn. On the ground floor elevations facing the garden and sea, we also programmed intermediate stop positions into each track. These allow the curtains to open to a privacy position that frames the view without exposing the interior.
We wired all SG 5600 tracks to a 230V supply during first fix. The M&E contractor installed these provisions before our team attended for track installation. We then carried out limit-setting and commissioning on installation day. In addition, we made wiring provisions for future smart home integration, so the client can upgrade to a wider automation platform at any point without returning to first fix.
The building’s bay windows and curved glazed bays created a challenge that a straight track cannot solve. Curtains must follow the line of the glass. They need to draw back cleanly without gathering at the bay corners or hanging at an angle. For all bay and curved windows, we therefore specified the Silent Gliss SG 3840 cord-operated curtain track — an aluminium track we can bend in-house to any required radius, so it follows the geometry of each opening exactly.
We bent each SG 3840 track to the measured radius of its specific opening using the Silent Gliss bending tool. We carried this out at our premises before delivery. During the site survey, we recorded every bay angle and radius so we could bend each track accurately off-site. This preparation eliminated the common problem of tracks arriving on site that do not match the actual bay geometry. On a development of this quality, that kind of mismatch would be unacceptable.
We fitted the SG 3840 tracks with wave cord gliders. As a result, the interlined bay window curtains stack cleanly into the bay returns on opening. This maximises the daylight aperture when the curtains are drawn back. We used ceiling-fix brackets throughout. On returns where ceiling void depth was insufficient, we used wall-fix brackets instead.
Not every room in a luxury development needs a motorised track. In the dressing rooms, studies and secondary spaces, the interior designer needed a clean, discreet ceiling-mounted track. It had to be effectively invisible when fitted. It did not need to carry heavy fabric or motor loads. For these areas, we specified the SG 6130 contract ceiling curtain track.
The SG 6130 is a low-profile aluminium section. We fix it directly to the ceiling with minimal visible hardware. Its strength-to-depth ratio makes it the right choice for lightweight to medium-weight curtains where ceiling void depth does not allow for the deeper fixing profile of a heavier system. On this project, we used it extensively in the dressing rooms — where fabrics are typically sheers or lightweight linings rather than the fully interlined cloths of the principal rooms. We also used it in the studies, where a discreet cord-operated track was preferred.
Matching the system to the application also makes sound specification sense from a cost perspective. Applying the SG 5600 throughout regardless of need would over-specify the installation. Furthermore, it would increase cost without adding any quality or performance benefit. Instead, specifying the right system for each space is what distinguishes a professional curtain track specification from a one-size-fits-all approach.
Bespoke soft furnishings
Interlined curtains — principal rooms: We made the principal room curtains fully interlined in bump interlining with a sateen lining. This produces the weighty, architectural hang that floor-to-ceiling curtains need to read well in a large room. We cord-set the wave heading at 80mm spacing for the SG 5600 and SG 3840 tracks. We also calculated the fabric quantity specifically for a wave heading, rather than allowing the excess associated with pinch pleat or eyelet styles. Furthermore, we used blackout lining in all master bedroom curtains.
Lined curtains — ancillary rooms: For the dressing rooms and studies on the SG 6130 tracks, we made curtains in a lighter-weight lining only. This is appropriate for the lighter fabrics in these spaces and for the lighter-duty track. We used heading tape rather than wave cord-set heading. As a result, the curtains can be removed for cleaning without any modification to the track.
Installation and programme
Pre-installation planning
A development requiring four different Silent Gliss track systems demands careful planning before a single fixing goes in. Our team attended site during the design phase. We surveyed every window opening, confirmed ceiling void depths for the SG 5600 recessed fixings, measured bay radii for the SG 3840 bending, confirmed the Shy skylight incline angles and frame dimensions, and agreed the fixing strategy for the SG 6130 ceiling tracks in the ancillary rooms. We took every measurement before ordering. As a result, we eliminated the site returns and specification amendments that occur when tracks are ordered from drawings alone.
Off-site preparation and installation
We bent the SG 3840 curved tracks off-site to the measured bay radii and delivered them pre-bent. This requires the correct Silent Gliss bending tooling to achieve a consistent, smooth radius without distorting the track profile. We test-fitted each bay track before delivery and adjusted where necessary. Similarly, we pre-assembled the SG 5600 motorised tracks with their motors and limit-set them in our workshop. This significantly reduced commissioning time on site.
The Shy skylight tracks required close co-ordination with the roof glazing contractor. The Shy fixing brackets attach to the glazing frame. Consequently, the frame must be in its final position before we can install the track. Moreover, we set the fabric tension with the glazing at its operating temperature. This ensures the tension remains correct across the full range of thermal expansion the frame experiences seasonally.
Specification summary
Full specification of Silent Gliss systems and soft furnishings supplied and installed at this Canford Cliffs, Poole development.
| System | Silent Gliss model | Application on this project | Key spec data | Control method | Soft furnishing |
| Motorised curtain track | SG 5600 | Principal living areas — heavy-duty electric track with recessed ceiling fix | 65kg max load · 210mm/s · bendable · wave compatible · BMS/motorisation ready | Silent Gliss Move app · remote · wall switch · smart home integration | Interlined wave curtains — bespoke made |
| Cord operated curved track | SG 3840 | Bay windows and curved elevations — bent to radius on site | Aluminium · bent in-house · light to medium weight · wave compatible | Cord operation — baton draw option | Interlined curtains to match — bespoke made |
| Contract ceiling curtain track | SG 6130 | Dressing rooms, studies and ancillary spaces requiring a discreet ceiling track | Ceiling fix · lightweight to medium weight · cord or hand operation | Hand or cord operated | Lined curtains — bespoke made |
| Shy skylight / sloped glazing track | Silent Gliss Shy | Roof lights and sloped glazing throughout — tensioned to slope | Tensioned system · operates on inclined glass up to 60° · manual or motorised | Remote / wall switch (motorised variant) | Blackout and solar fabrics — bespoke measured |
| Bespoke soft furnishings | Made to measure | All rooms — curtains, pelmets, cushions, upholstery | Fully interlined · hand-finished · pre-pressed delivery | Manual draw | Designer fabrics throughout |
What is the Silent Gliss SG 5600 and when is it specified?
The Silent Gliss SG 5600 is the flagship motorised curtain track in the Silent Gliss electric range. It carries curtain loads of up to 65 kilograms per track and operates at 210mm per second via a brushless DC motor. You can fix it to the ceiling, wall or recess it into a ceiling void using the dedicated recessed fixing profile. It is wave-compatible and can bend to a minimum 250mm radius for curved applications. Furthermore, it integrates with smart home and BMS systems via the Silent Gliss Move app, remote handsets and third-party control systems. We recommend the SG 5600 for principal rooms with floor-to-ceiling interlined curtains across wide spans. We supply, specify and install the SG 5600 across Dorset and the South Coast, including Poole, Canford Cliffs, Bournemouth, Sandbanks and Christchurch.
Can Silent Gliss curtain tracks be bent for bay windows and curved glazing?
Yes. The Silent Gliss SG 3840 cord-operated curtain track bends to any radius required for bay windows, curved glazed bays and non-linear window openings. We bend each track in-house using the Silent Gliss bending tool before delivery. This produces a smooth, consistent curve that follows the geometry of the window opening exactly. During the site survey, we measure each bay and calculate the required bend radius. We then bend the track off-site before installation. This process eliminates the fitting problems that occur when tracks are bent approximately on site or when a straight track is used as a compromise. The SG 3840 is also wave-compatible and accommodates both cord and wave glider operation.
What is the SG 6130 and where is it appropriate to specify it?
The Silent Gliss SG 6130 is a low-profile contract ceiling curtain track for lightweight to medium-weight curtains. It fixes to the ceiling with small, unobtrusive brackets and operates by hand draw or cord. It is the appropriate specification for dressing rooms, studies, secondary bedrooms and ancillary spaces where the window and curtain weight do not require the heavier SG 5600 or a motorised system. In short, we use the SG 6130 in ancillary spaces and the SG 5600 in principal rooms — matching system to application rather than applying one system throughout regardless of requirement.
Do you supply all four Silent Gliss track systems — SG 5600, SG 3840, SG 6130 and Shy — from a single supplier?
Yes. As an authorised Silent Gliss dealer, we supply the full Silent Gliss curtain track range from a single point of supply and installation. This includes the SG 5600 motorised, SG 3840 curved, SG 6130 ceiling track and the Shy skylight system. This matters on complex residential projects where multiple systems are required. Specifically, it eliminates the co-ordination issues, liability questions and programme complications that arise when different contractors supply and install different systems. We carry out full site surveys, supply all systems to specification, install and commission every track, and produce and install all bespoke soft furnishings. As a result, we manage the entire window treatment scheme from design stage through to handover.
Do you install Silent Gliss curtain tracks at Canford Cliffs and across Poole and Dorset?
Yes. We are an authorised Silent Gliss dealer based in Poole. We serve Canford Cliffs, Sandbanks, Bournemouth, Christchurch, Wareham, Swanage and the wider Dorset and South Coast area. We work with architects, interior designers, main contractors and private residential clients on projects of all scales. Our team provides free site surveys, full specification support — including NBS specification text and BIM objects for architects — and professional installation and commissioning of all Silent Gliss systems. Contact us to discuss your project.