Venetian blinds built for salt air

A roller blind is open or closed by degrees; a venetian steers light direction. Tilt the slats up for glare-free daylight, down for privacy from a neighbouring terrace above, or closed flat for full dark. On a cliff where the sun swings from open water in the morning to a direct sunset later, that hour-by-hour control is the whole argument for venetians over a fixed fabric blind.

Aluminium — the coastal default

Powder-coated aluminium slats, in 25mm (crisp, the most popular width) or 50mm (bolder, fewer lines), are the moisture and salt-air champions of the range — they handle bathrooms, kitchens and this stretch of the Atlantic seaboard far better than fabric or untreated timber ever will. Even so, we’re honest that any hardware this close to the swell benefits from an occasional fresh-water wipe-down; nothing is entirely maintenance-free at sea level.

Timber, where it suits

50mm basswood or bamboo slats bring warmth to a study or a heritage-leaning interior further back from the spray line. They’re heavier than aluminium and want a sealed lacquer finish, so we talk through positioning honestly before recommending timber on any window that catches direct sea air.

The adjustability argument

Bantry Bay’s stacked terraces mean a fair number of windows face not just the ocean but the building next door — a venetian tilted for privacy from an overlooking balcony while still letting daylight in is a genuinely useful trick a plain roller can’t match.