Graywind Motorized Light Filtering Shades Compatible with Alexa Google Rechargeable Remote Control Smart Blinds Automatic Window Shade with Valance for Home Office, Custom Size (Jacquard White)

I hardly ever leave reviews, but for this product, I wanted to make an exception. We purchased two 6-foot Graywind shades to cover the span of our four-panel sliding glass door. Each shad is approximately 6-feet wide and 8-feet long. I’ll admit that despite the great value, I was very reluctant to order a custom fitted product online, but in the end, I could not be more pleased.I followed the ordering process explicitly and Graywind even contacted me by email to confirm one of the measurements. I am glad they did, because I did not allow enough space for mounting the shade above the frame around the window. Once we finalized the measurements, Graywind emailed me the final specifications for my approval. The production and shipping time was fairly quick given they are coming from overseas. I believe our order took about 2 weeks to be custom built and delivered from the date we finalized the measurements. The product received was packed very well and the fit matched my measurements exactly.Installation was very easy and the instructions provided were fairly clear. I also watched the installation videos on the Amazon page for the product. I will note we installed our shades into a solid wood header above the window, so we did not use the anchors provided and also replaced with screws with something a bit heavier.Programming was also pretty easy. Since I did not have the recommended generation of Alexa devices, I added the shades to my Smarthings Hub, and then they were automatically added to Alexa. It’s nice to simply ask Alexa to open or close the shades or just open them a percentage (e.g. 50%).Again, I am very pleased with the product. They look great and function perfectly.

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First, the pre-order stage:I had a lot of questions regarding planning the sizes appropriately: This application was for a French Door - the complications were whether it would slide past the lever handle and also, I wanted to plan these by Fabric Width (rather than an inside-mount window frame type application)Zoe at Graywind was absolutely wonderful - prompt and assuring with her replies to my multiple e-mails.For other's reference, the 'overall' width is 1.06" (1-1/16") wider than the Fabric - so if like me, you are basing your requirement on the final width of fabric, add 1-1/16" to that for the overall order width.I had space of about 1-3/8" between the surround of the door panel (on which shade would be mounted) and the inside of the handle (which extended over the glass area) - Zoe again assured me that with a std roll (unrolling from back side of roller) the fabric would be about 0.4" from the frame - her info was spot on as it turns out and the shade, even with the Deluxe Weighted Bottom Rod, these comfortably pass behind the handle (check that out in the video). On the subject of Bottom Weighted Rod - definitely go for this! It's a bargain adder at only $5 and looks so much classier (I asked for the std rods to be included in the shipment just in case I had any issues with clearance - so was able to compare them directly)The final part of the pre-sales was in being able to secure ZF motors - even though Amazon Listing said out of stock Zoe confirmed they had just received a batch and could assure me I would be included if I ordered soon.From order date of 5/16, I received them in hand on 6/2 - just over 2 weeks! And another tip on the order in that regard - again, definitely select the expedited delivery - another incredible value at only $24 more.Packing was excellent - solid carton with dense foam spacers surrounding the actual shade inside.Installation was extremely simple - for each one, a couple of brackets to install and then simply click the shade into them. I was careful with alignment having three in a row on my French Door. I ensured that the brackets were all level with respect to each other. If you don't get them level, then they won't track perfectly vertically, so be critical with this.While at the planning/order stage, I selected the motors/charging ports to be at the left of the left shade, right of the right shade and the hinge side of the opening door (which also was the right side) - this means that when the charging cords are attached, they are in the most suitable locations. And one more tip - the charging cord adapter is about 6' long - but additional extensions of 6' more are only $2 ea! Another bargain adder! So I got a couple of those too. On the charger itself, when first plugged in to the shades, the LED shows red and turns green when fully charged. I charged all 4 of mine prior to hanging.Setting up and testing: The remote pairs easily and the manual accurately reflects the procedure for setting up the various options. I complicated the process by trying to set the limits however - I believe these (at least for top & bottom) are already preset and I simply made it more awkward (confusing) as I tried to teach these. In the end I just completely reset each motor and did the set-up from scratch. It went smoothly after that. One note, the remote does NOT come with a battery so be sure to get a CR2032 Coin Battery beforehand!Then onto Alexa - I had purchased a new Echo 4 with SmartHub for these. (another tip here - if you have on old dot - working or not - send it in under Amazon trade-up program - I got $5 for a non-working dot but more importantly also a 25% trade-up credit on the new Echo. With a flash sale, my discount and gift card, I was all in at $60 net for my new Echo!)The pairing was simple and quick. I set all three into Zigbee pairing mode and then asked Alexa to discover and it recognized all three within about 20 secs. I renamed them to a simple scheme.The next part was not so straight forward - it took me trying LOTS of commands with Alexa not recognizing (saying command not available for that device) before finally finding what worked - 'raise' and 'lower' is what worked. The suggested commands in the user guide did not! (i.e. open, close)And then another Alexa 'gotcha' - I put the three shades in a group so I could command all three to raise or lower together (you will see in the video that I have just commanded each individually at that stage) - trying to command the group proved impossible - I tried every word I could think might be appropriate (incl the raise and lower that worked for the individual shades) and NOTHING was recognized as an executable action.Ultimately I hit on a solution - I created custom routines with verbal command to lower all the shades with the custom verbal trigger command with actions including the lower for each shade added; then another routine with same process for raising. That did it! So a little more complex than just creating a group and telling the group what to do as suggested in the User Guide. I suspect that if using SmartThings instead of Alexa Hub directly, it may possible work with a group (I'm honestly not sure on that point however)I am definitely pleased with the quality and the appearance. I LOVE the semi-opaque material where you can still enjoy the view through them. I would definitely recommend to family and friends.

Nice looking shades. Easy to install. App works great. Nice not to have to continue to mess with the shades twice a day.

It went up easy and it works great!

The blinds are great quality and look even better. Their customer service is so helpful and so quick to respond to any questions I had. Will be purchasing more for my entire home.

The media could not be loaded. Somehow after the order was placed, I realized that they were the wrong color and openness. I wanted silver 3% openness. However, Zoe responded to my email and assured me that they would adjust the order. Not realizing they were coming from China, I was a bit concerned that they would be held up in shipment and potentially damaged, but WOW, they came in earlier than expected and I have to say the company has this packing thing down to perfection. Surprisingly all the blinds were marked for their specific location and the remotes already programed for each blind. Now that is detail!!!They all arrived on New Year’s Eve, and I installed them on New Year’s Day, first thing in the morning. What a great way to start the year. They are just WONDERFUL, fit perfectly and was easy to install. We recently purchased our retirement home and updating a little at a time to stretch out the available funds. After getting these five we are budgeting to do the entire home.The last thing I need to do I get these to work with Alexa. I upgraded my Echo Dot’s and purchased two echo dot 4th generation and they did not work, but again my mistake, Zoe emailed me promptly stating that I needed to get the ECHO with hub not the dot. Still waiting for Amazon to ship these to me so I can get them all voice activated.We had some guest over during the holidays and they all loved the blind’s and I had to send them all the link to Graywind. Hopefully, they will all upgrade their tired looking blinds to Graywind Solar.Thank you so much for your assistance and we look forward to our next purchase of beautiful Graywind Solar blinds to install in our forever home. Photo attached of the bedroom install before and after and the great room video.