Norman SmartDrape
Norman SmartDrape, the modern replacement for vertical blinds
Soft fabric vanes that cover a sliding door like drapery, slide open like a vertical blind and let you walk straight through. We bring the fabrics to your home in Clemmons so you can see them at your own door.
Norman SmartDrape: a sheer fabric runs between the vanes, so you see out through the sheer when they are rotated open.
Try it
Rotate the vanes, then slide them aside
- Drag the first slider to rotate the vanes open. The sheer between them softens the view and the light.
- Rotate them closed and the vanes overlap for privacy.
- Pick left stack, right stack or traveling center, then drag the second slider to gather the fabric.
- Pick center opening to try the motorized version with open, stop and close buttons.
- Tap Side by side to compare light filtering and room darkening vanes.
Why homeowners replace vertical blinds with SmartDrape
- It looks like drapery. Fabric vanes fall in soft folds instead of flat plastic slats.
- You can walk through it. Step out to the deck without opening the shade or tangling a chain.
- It is quiet. No slats clacking when the door opens or the air comes on.
- It is cordless. A slim wand or a motor moves it, and it is Best for Kids certified.
- The light is softer. Light filtering fabric glows instead of throwing hard stripes across the room.
Side by side
SmartDrape vs. vertical blinds
| Norman SmartDrape | Vertical blinds | |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Soft fabric vanes | Hard vinyl or PVC slats |
| Look | Hangs and folds like drapery | Flat slats with visible gaps |
| Getting to the door | Walk through the vanes, open or closed | Draw the blind open first |
| Sound | Quiet fabric | Slats clack together |
| Cords and chains | Cordless wand or motor | Often pull cords and bottom chains |
| Light control | Rotate vanes, light filtering or room darkening | Rotate slats |
| Warranty | Norman limited lifetime warranty | Varies by maker |
Light control
Light filtering or room darkening vanes
Tap through the fabrics. The right one depends on the room and the direction the window faces.
Glows and stays private
Light filtering
Daylight passes through the fabric vanes and fills the room with soft light, while the view in from outside stays blurred.
- Living and dining rooms
- Doors that face the yard
- The most popular SmartDrape fabrics
Blocks most of the light
Room darkening
Opaque vanes block the view and most of the daylight. Some light still shows between vanes and at the edges, as with any vertical shade.
- Bedrooms with a door outside
- Media rooms
- Doors that face a neighbor
How it moves
Wand or motorized
Every shade can be moved by hand or by a motor. You can mix them from room to room.
One slim wand
Control wand
A slim wand hangs at the edge of the shade. Twist it to rotate the vanes and use it to draw the fabric across the door. There are no cords and no bottom chain.
- Best for Kids certified
- Nothing to charge
- Standard on SmartDrape
Remote, app, voice and schedules
Smart Motorization
Norman Smart Motorization opens, closes and rotates SmartDrape from a remote, the Norman app or a voice assistant, and can run it on a schedule with the other shades in the room. Motorization also unlocks the center opening, where the fabric parts in the middle and stacks at both sides.
- Center opening available
- Groups with roller shades
- Rechargeable or hardwired
Photos
SmartDrape in real homes
Swipe through recent installs.
Open it all the way for the view
Slide SmartDrape to the side and the vanes gather into a slim stack that clears the glass. In this dining room the whole wall of doors opens to the deck, and the fabric sits out of the way against the wall.
Close it in the evening and the same wall becomes a soft backdrop that still lets you step outside.
What you can choose
Options to choose from
Designer fabric collection
Plains, linens, stripes and textured weaves in whites, ivories, grays and warm neutrals.
Ways to stack
Stack left, stack right or a traveling center stack. Add Norman Smart Motorization and SmartDrape can also open from the center and stack at both sides.
Made to your opening
Each SmartDrape is built to the width and height we measure, for sliding doors, French doors and walls of windows.
Where SmartDrape works best
- Sliding glass doors and multi-panel patio doors
- Wide windows and walls of glass
- Glass entry doors and side lights
- Any opening where old vertical blinds are yellowed, noisy or missing slats
If you are also covering nearby windows, we can match SmartDrape fabric to roller shades so the room reads as one design.
The process
How it works
Three visits at most, and usually two.
We come to you
We bring the samples, so you can hold fabrics and finishes up to your own walls, trim and furniture. We measure every window while we are there. The visit is free.
You get a written quote
A clear price for each window, for exactly what you picked. Change it, trim it or take your time with it.
We install
Your order is built to our measurements and installed by our own team. We haul away the old blinds.
Answers
SmartDrape questions
What is Norman SmartDrape?
Norman SmartDrape is a vertical shade made of soft fabric vanes that hang individually from a slim track. It looks like drapery, slides open like a vertical blind, and lets you walk through the vanes without opening the shade.
What is the best alternative to vertical blinds for a sliding glass door?
For most sliding doors we recommend Norman SmartDrape. It covers the same wide opening and slides the same direction as the door, but it uses soft fabric vanes instead of hard vinyl slats, so it looks like drapery, moves quietly and has no cords or chains.
Can you walk through SmartDrape when it is closed?
Yes. Each fabric vane hangs on its own, so you, your kids and your pets can step through to the door without drawing the shade open. The vanes fall back into place behind you.
Does SmartDrape give privacy and block light?
Yes. Rotate the vanes closed for privacy, or angle them to let light in. Fabrics come in light filtering, which glows with daylight, and room darkening, which blocks most of the light.
Is SmartDrape safe for children and pets?
SmartDrape is cordless and carries the Best for Kids certification. There are no dangling cords or bottom chains for a child or pet to get caught in.
Which way does SmartDrape open?
You choose when you order: stack left, stack right or a traveling center stack. With Norman Smart Motorization you can also have a center opening, where the fabric parts in the middle and stacks at both sides. We match the stack to the way your door slides so the fabric clears the opening.
Can SmartDrape be motorized?
Yes. SmartDrape works with a simple control wand or with Norman Smart Motorization, which adds app control, voice control and automated schedules.
How do you clean SmartDrape?
Dust the vanes regularly or vacuum gently with a soft brush attachment. We can recommend the right method for the fabric you choose.
How much does SmartDrape cost in Clemmons?
Price depends on the width and height of the opening, the fabric and whether you add motorization. We measure your door during the free in-home visit and give you a written price.
Service area
SmartDrape near you
We install in Clemmons and these nearby towns.
Ready to replace your vertical blinds?
Book a free in-home consultation. We bring the samples, measure your windows and help you choose what suits your home. There is no charge and no pressure to buy.