Expert Dealer Spotlight: Shades Within Reach Brings Motorized Luxury to 9900 West

For Shades Within Reach, a successful luxury window treatment project begins long before the shades are installed. It starts during planning, when the right conversations about framing, wiring, integration, design, and homeowner expectations can help turn a complex project into a seamless experience. 

That early involvement is at the center of the company’s work at 9900 West, a new luxury condominium development in South Florida featuring residences valued between approximately $3 million and $6 million. 

Through a close relationship with the developer and support from Somfy, Shades Within Reach has created a new approach to offering motorized window treatments in a high-end condominium building. Rather than waiting for individual homeowners to begin the process after closing, the company worked with the developer to create pre-negotiated, whole-home window treatment packages that buyers can select as an upgrade to their residence. 

As is common in the luxury condominium market, the new residences were not being sold with window treatments included. Buyers at this tier often want the freedom to select their own fabrics, finishes, and interior design elements. 

With assistance from Somfy, the company outfitted the model residence with motorized shades and drapery. Prospective buyers can now see the treatments in a completed interior and experience how motorization contributes to privacy, comfort, natural light control, and the overall design of the home. 

The model also gives the company a valuable opportunity to introduce residents to motorized window treatments before they begin making selections for their own units. 

Three Packages, One Streamlined Process 

Shades Within Reach created three pre-negotiated package levels for the development: 

• Motorized shades 

• Motorized shades with manual drapery 

• Motorized shades with motorized drapery 
   

Each package covers all applicable openings within the residence. 

To prepare the program, the Shades Within Reach team measured every unit in the 23-residence building and developed pricing for each floor plan. The developer can then offer the selected window treatment package as an upgrade during the condominium purchase process. 

Because the package can be incorporated into the overall purchase price, homeowners do not have to begin a separate window treatment project after moving into their new residence. They receive a solution that has already been measured, planned, and coordinated for the building. 

The program has already generated interest. At the time of the interview, three residences had selected packages through the developer and were moving into the material-selection and finalization stage. 

For buyers who want something beyond the standard options, Shades Within Reach also offers custom upgrades. Homeowners and their designers can select different fabrics, finishes, or higher-end materials while maintaining the technical foundation already established for the residence. This combination gives buyers a clear starting point without limiting their ability to personalize their home. 

Planning for Motorization from the Beginning 

One of the greatest advantages of working with a developer during construction is the ability to address technical requirements before walls, ceilings, and electrical systems are complete. 

Shades Within Reach advises the project team on framing requirements, including the size and depth of pockets for concealed shades and drapery. The company also provides guidance on electrical and low-voltage requirements, wire placement, available power, and control options. 

“We go over all the details in advance, so everybody knows exactly what we’re looking at,” explained Zion Ben Yishay the owner of Shades Within Reach. 

That advance planning helps reduce surprises later in the project. It also allows electricians, integrators, designers, and installers to understand their responsibilities before the residences are completed. 

When a third-party smart-home system is involved, Shades Within Reach participates in coordination meetings with the integration team. They ensure that the selected shading solution can connect appropriately with the integrator’s platform. 

For 9900 West, Control4 is the preferred home automation system for the building. Because the residences were not constructed with a dedicated low-voltage shading infrastructure, Shades Within Reach selected a 120V RTS approach that can provide reliable individual control while supporting connection to compatible smart-home systems. 

The company’s role is to bring the project to the point where the shades, Somfy controls, and integration interface are ready for the automation professional to complete the broader connection. 

Selecting the Right Somfy Solution 

The roller shades at 9900 West will primarily use Somfy Sonesse® RTS motors, selected to provide quiet performance and dependable control within the luxury residential environment. 

Motor selection can vary depending on the dimensions and weight of each treatment. While the standard solution is suitable for most of the openings, larger shades may require a higher-torque motor. 

Motorized drapery packages will also use Somfy RTS technology, creating a consistent control experience across both shades and drapes. 

Homeowners can operate their treatments with handheld remotes, and wall-mounted control options such as DecoFlex can be added where requested. Wall controls may also serve as a useful secondary control point in residences where remotes could be misplaced. 

By standardizing the packages around Somfy motorization, Shades Within Reach and the developer have created a repeatable solution that can be applied throughout the property while still accommodating the requirements of individual residences. 

Collaborating in the Luxury Design Market 

The model residence at 9900 West was designed by Steven G., a prominent South Florida designer known for high-end residential work. 

Although his firm often manages its own window treatments, the developer selected Shades Within Reach as the window treatment provider for this project. That relationship allows the company’s work to be presented alongside a highly regarded interior design program. 

Shades Within Reach has crossed paths with the designer on other luxury projects, including residences at Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale. These connections reflect the company’s growing presence among developers, designers, architects, and homeowners serving South Florida’s luxury market. 

A Model for Future Developments 

The opportunity at 9900 West extends beyond one building. 

The same developer is planning another property of approximately 50 residences nearby. Other developers are also bringing new luxury condominium projects to the surrounding Bal Harbour area. 

Shades Within Reach sees strong potential to reproduce the 9900 West model across these developments: become involved early, advise on the technical infrastructure, create pre-negotiated packages, coordinate with the project’s designers and integrators, and give buyers the opportunity to select a complete motorized solution through the developer. 

For developers and condominium associations, the approach offers another important benefit: exterior consistency. In a glass-fronted building, window treatments are visible from outside. Uncoordinated fabrics, colors, and opacity levels can disrupt the building’s architectural appearance. 

A preferred window treatment partner can help residents personalize their interiors while preserving a more cohesive appearance across the façade. 

For Shades Within Reach, this is an important part of the company’s continued expansion into high-end residential work. 

Whether the relationship begins with a developer during construction or later with a designer, architect, or homeowner, the company’s goal is to bring window treatments into the project at the right time and ensure that every detail has been considered. 

At 9900 West, that approach has produced more than a motorized shade package. It has created a repeatable model that brings together design freedom, early technical planning, smart-home compatibility, and the convenience expected in a modern luxury residence. 

Written by Jackie Hankard, Expert Program Manager at Somfy