J Geiger Reinvents Luxury Home Shading for a New Audience
A longstanding addition to ultra high-end architectural residences, J Geiger has cemented its status as a leader in luxury home shading for nearly a decade. With window valances and unsightly fascia an all-too-common practice in home shading, a clear need existed for an aesthetically pleasing alternative, the impetuous for J Geiger’s founding. Almost ten years later, J Geiger has again innovated to tap an unmet need, launching Inception Shades to bridge the gap between design and budget.
Inception Shades offer a "J Geiger look" that has been streamlined for more common conditions, like single and double windows. "For typical conditions, there is no roller shade that is better looking or easier to implement," says J Geiger Founder, James Geiger.
The newly-launched Inception Shades are available in two initial models, 2ten and 3eight. 2ten shades are entirely wire-free, controlled by a rechargeable motor, which can last up to a year on a single charge. 3eight is available in larger shade sizes and can be wired for power or powered wirelessly. Additionally, 3eight can integrate a coupler bracket for double "coupled" windows, making this model adaptable for custom configurations.
The goal of Inception Shades was to preserve the clean and minimal J Geiger aesthetic, while simplifying and expediting the installation process. This vision was realized through the creation of Inception 3eight and 2ten shades (2ten pictured here), which "can be installed in about 1/60th of the time of a traditional J Geiger shade," says Geiger.
In launching Inception Shades, J Geiger has stayed true to the sleek, fascia-free aesthetic they are known for. "Minimalist design with a functioning form has always been what defined us," shares J Geiger Founder and Media System Designer James Geiger. "Other shade systems used fascia and bracket covers to hide their ugly parts," he explains. "This method of hiding isn’t specific to the shade industry. Car manufacturers used hubcaps to hide ugly wheels for decades, while most cars now have attractive solid rims." Removing the need to cover unsightly components, J Geiger chose instead to focus on elevating the look of functional hardware, a principle that was carried over to Inception Shades without compromise.
Inception Shades’ initial offerings, 2ten and 3eight, are named after the thickness of the shade bands. 2ten, an entirely wire-free option, has a band that is only two tenths of an inch thick, while 3eight’s three eighths of an inch shade band allows room to run a power wire between the brackets. A coupler bracket for double windows can be integrated with 3eight shades, allowing simultaneous control of two shades from the same motor.
Although bringing expertly-crafted shades to a wider audience was contemplated over the years, the challenges in implementation were significant. J Geiger’s signature shades, designed for very complex window systems and built entirely on site, require technical expertise and exacting precision. Furthermore, the high cost and historically limited options for motors was a notable barrier to entry. "As motor technology improved, especially with rechargeable motors, the viability, and my interest, of expanding into a wider market became obvious and very exciting," reflects Geiger.
Inception Shades are designed to be mounted to a wall or window trim, with a ceiling-mount option coming soon. For homes with intricate or ornate window trim, Inception Shades can easily be mounted to the wall above the trim, with the shade fabric rolled forward instead of back, "waterfall" style.
Simplifying and streamlining the delivery and installation process, Inception Shades are shipped directly from the factory to the consumer as a complete functioning system, ready to operate as soon as they are mounted. "The ease of installation and our new shipping method allows us to scale production and manufacture efficiently on a production line…so we were able to preserve our design aesthetic while lowering the price point significantly," says Geiger.
Inception Shades are intentionally agnostic, designed to integrate universally with various home automation systems such as Alexa and Google Home.
Both models of Inception Shades are available in a plethora of fabric options to accommodate varying privacy needs and light filtering preferences. Silver or black aluminum hardware is an effortlessly modern complement to any interior space. Both 2ten and 3eight can be easily synced with home automation systems including Alexa and Google Home. Inception Shades arrive fully assembled, programmed and ready to use out of the box. With a patented quick-lock mounting plate and just a few screws, the exceptionally simple installation process takes mere minutes. "The ease of installation and time savings is unparalleled," emphasizes Geiger.
Breaking down barriers in accessibility, the launch of Inception Shades challenges the idea that design-driven and cost-conscious can’t go hand in hand. "Inception Shades offer the premium look of J Geiger Systems, but in a simpler, more accessible format," underscores Geiger. Taking an already innovative product, and adapting it for wider use, Inception Shades thoughtfully democratizes luxury window shading for all homes.
Signature J Geiger shades, shown in this spectacular Beverly Hills residence, were expertly adapted in the creation of Inception Shades.
Learn more about the luxury shading systems that inspired Inception at jgeigershading.com.
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