The natural material for a homestead's original windows
50mm basswood slats, warm and architectural, for the deep-set sash and gable windows that run through every historic Cape Dutch core in the Winelands.
A timber venetian tilts to steer light rather than simply blocking it — glare-free daylight with the slats angled up, privacy from a neighbouring cottage with them angled down, full dark closed flat. On a homestead built around small-paned windows and thick walls, that adjustability suits the architecture better than a roller or a fixed panel.
Why timber, specifically, in the Winelands
Restored homesteads across Stellenbosch, Paarl, Franschhoek and Wellington keep their original sash and gable proportions — narrow reveals, visible frames, real materials throughout. A timber slat sits honestly in that context in a way an aluminium venetian or a bulky roller cassette doesn't; it reads as part of the window's own joinery rather than an add-on.
Fit and finish
- 50mm basswood slats in a range of stains and whitewash finishes to match existing homestead joinery.
- Made to measure for deep-set reveals, including angled gable tops where the frame isn't square.
- Motorised tilt available where a window is out of easy reach — over a stair landing or above a built-in cabinet.
Being honest about the limits
Keep timber out of a genuinely steamy room — a cellar-adjacent scullery or an ensuite with poor extraction will eventually mark the lacquer. An aluminium venetian is the better call there. Timber is also heavier than aluminium, so a very wide sash needs splitting or ladder-tape support rather than one continuous run.
Estate and heritage sign-off
Where a homestead sits under a heritage overlay or an estate architectural guideline, an internal timber blind is almost always the least contentious shading choice, since nothing changes on the facade. We'll flag it plainly if your window instead needs an exterior solution — external venetians or roller shutters — and what that means for approval.
What timber venetians cost
Guide figures, per square metre, installed. Basswood and bamboo in a 50 mm slat run roughly R1,600 to R2,600 per square metre with a wand or cord, and roughly R3,000 to R4,500 per square metre once the tilt is motorised. Slat width, lacquer finish and ladder tape are what move an opening up through that band, and a wide homestead window that has to be split into two blinds is quoted as two.
A narrow window carries a minimum charge, because the headrail, brackets and fitting time hardly shrink with the opening. Use the figures to plan a budget rather than to expect a price: every window is measured, priced on its own and confirmed in writing before a slat is cut.