Custom Shade Solutions Creates a Sun-Smart Outdoor Retreat in Central Oregon

When you’re surrounded by the natural beauty of Oregon’s high desert, the outdoors becomes an extension of your home. But for one Central Oregon homeowner, the breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains came with an unavoidable challenge: intense afternoon sun exposure.

Enter Custom Shade Solutions, a trusted expert in exterior retractable screens. With decades of experience in sun control and screen installation, they knew the perfect combination of design, performance, and durability would transform this patio into a comfortable, usable retreat year-round.

Meet Custom Shade Solutions

Based in Central Oregon, Custom Shade Solutions specializes in high-quality exterior retractable screens that stand up to the region’s unique climate. Their journey began in the early 2000s in Arizona, where they worked alongside Tucson Rolling Shutters and Screens.

Years of manufacturing, installing, and collaborating with dealers nationwide gave them unmatched expertise in interior and exterior shading. In 2023, they launched Custom Shade Solutions to bring that knowledge back home to Oregon, offering tailored shading solutions for homeowners across the region.

The Challenge: Shade Without Sacrifice

The homeowners wanted to tame the harsh afternoon sun on their main patio without losing the sweeping mountain view.

However, there was one unique obstacle: stone veneer at the base of the patio columns.

Most installers would choose between limited options:

• A rail-guided screen that stops at the top of the stone, leaving lower gaps exposed.
• Or a cable-guided screen that covers top-to-bottom but leaves gaps on each side and lacks wind resilience.

Neither option met the homeowners’ expectations.

The Creative Solution

Instead of compromising, Custom Shade Solutions engineered a third option that required thinking beyond the usual parameters.  

This innovative approach delivered:
✔️ Complete sun coverage
✔️ Superior wind resilience
✔️ A clean, custom-fitted installation

And while it required extra stonework, the homeowners agreed it was worth it for a solution that combined performance, aesthetics, and durability.

The Fabric: Natté™ 5%

To complement the warm earth tones of the home’s exterior, the homeowners chose Mermet Natté™ 5% in Charcoal/Cocoa.

This premium exterior shading fabric offers:

• Excellent UV protection
• Superior thermal comfort
• Outstanding view-through so the Cascade Mountains remained in sight

A Patio That Inspired More

The result was so impressive that the project didn’t stop with the patio.

After seeing the performance of the Solution Screens and Mermet fabric firsthand, the homeowners added:

• A screen on the guest patio
• Additional shades for all west-facing windows
• A retractable screen over the sliding door leading to the hot tub

They’ve already scheduled another installation for the front of their home.

“A homeowner that returns time and time again speaks volumes about quality and performance.”

Why Custom Shade Solutions Chooses Mermet

Having worked with Mermet fabrics in Arizona’s harsh desert climate, Custom Shade Solutions knows firsthand that durability matters.

Ready to Upgrade Your Outdoor Living Space?

This project is a testament to the expertise and problem-solving approach of Custom Shade Solutions, who consistently deliver thoughtful, high-quality installations. By pairing their craftsmanship with Tucson Rolling Shutters and Screens' retractable products and Mermet's fabric, they're setting the standard for elevated interior and exterior shading.

Learn more about Custom Shade Solutions:

*Photography by Chris Healam