Background information

As a newly qualified architectural student Katy was involved in super-insulated homes built in the 1980’s, when working for Feilden Clegg Design. In some properties roller blinds were velcroed to window frames, and she has been searching for a better version of this idea ever since.  As a Conservation Officer in the 90’s & a Conservation Architects’ Assistant in the 00’s she worked on many old buildings with sash windows. As these are protected from change, a non-invasive solution to heat loss is needed. The idea of a magnetised edge led to some prototype blinds and thermal testing in late 2010 and by February 2011 the business was ready.

After a period of time during 2010 struggling to import alternative blinds from the US she now makes the thermal blinds in Somerset. The workshop is a converted school toilet building, fondly known as The LoobyLoo.

Fitting blinds in historic properties

Conservation Areas & Listed Buildings

The UK has a glorious range of beautiful and protected old buildings, many of which are difficult to heat. The target for C02 reductions in the UK are ambitious and organizations such as the National Trust are beginning to identify a strategy to deal with heat loss & energy efficiency in their buildings.

Listing currently protects 500,000 or so buildings. Many of these have windows which cannot be altered and thermal blinds may be a good solution to some of the heat loss and thermal comfort issues. Continue reading