The cellular shade is earning its time in the spotlight. It’s not hard to see why, with all the great options available. You can make your home look beautiful while also adding insulation, light control and convenient operation.
But not all cellular shades look or operate the same way. Hunter Douglas offers both traditional honeycomb shades and cellular roller shades, giving homeowners different ways to bring the insulating benefits of cellular construction to their windows. If you’re ready to explore what cellular shades have to offer, let’s take a closer look at two distinctive styles: Duette® Honeycomb Shades and Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades.
How Do Cellular Shades Work?
The secret behind cellular shades is their honeycomb construction. The cells create pockets of air at the window, helping reduce heat transfer between the glass and the interior of your home. For Nova Scotia homeowners dealing with cold winters, warm summer days and changing temperatures throughout the year, that added layer of insulation can make the space around your windows feel more comfortable.
The construction also gives cellular shades their distinctive soft, streamlined appearance. Fabrics are available in a range of colors, textures and opacities, allowing you to choose anything from softly filtered daylight to stronger room darkening.
Two Different Cellular Shade Styles
Both Duette and Sonnette use cellular construction to help insulate the window, but they create two very different looks. Duette features the familiar crisp pleats associated with honeycomb shades, while Sonnette combines cellular fabric with the smooth operation and clean profile of a roller shade. That difference makes it easier to choose a cellular shade based not only on performance, but also on the style and operation you want at the window.
Duette® Honeycomb Shades: Classic Pleated Design
The right window covering for your home should be both functional and visually stunning. Why settle for one when you can have both? Duette® Honeycomb Shades pair energy-efficient cellular construction with the unique, uniform pleats that define the classic honeycomb shade.
Duette offers extensive customization for different windows and lifestyles, with choices in fabrics, pleat sizes, light control and operating systems. Specialty options also make this collection particularly versatile for windows that need something beyond a standard horizontal shade.
Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades: A Softer Rolling Style
If you like the insulating qualities of cellular shades but prefer the clean operation of a roller shade, Sonnette offers another approach. Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades combine cellular fabric with simple rolling operation, creating a softly sculpted appearance at the window.
The look feels classic while still giving your home the insulation, light control and streamlined design you desire. A selection of fabric opacities lets you customize how much natural light enters the room.
Duette vs Sonnette: What’s the Difference?
The biggest difference comes down to design and operation. Both collections bring cellular construction to the window, but they do it in distinct ways.
| Feature | Duette® | Sonnette® |
|---|---|---|
| Shade Style | Pleated honeycomb shade | Cellular roller shade |
| Cellular Insulation | Yes | Yes |
| Light Filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Room Darkening Options | Yes | Yes |
| Motorization | Available | Available |
| Specialty Window Options | Extensive | More streamlined |
| Overall Look | Crisp, uniform pleats | Soft, rolling profile |
If you need extensive customization for specialty windows or want the classic pleated appearance of a honeycomb shade, Duette may be the better fit. If you prefer a clean roller-style operation with the soft look and insulating construction of cellular fabric, Sonnette offers a distinctive alternative.
Energy Efficiency for Nova Scotia Homes
One of the biggest reasons homeowners consider cellular shades is energy efficiency. Windows are a common source of heat transfer, and cellular shades add an insulating layer between the room and the glass. The pockets within the fabric help slow the movement of heat, supporting a more comfortable interior during both heating and cooling seasons.
Duette is particularly well known for its energy-efficient honeycomb construction, with different cellular configurations available depending on the fabric and design. Sonnette brings cellular construction to a rolling shade format for homeowners who prefer that style. If improving comfort and reducing heat transfer are major goals for your project, explore our guide to insulated and energy-efficient window treatments for additional options.
Light Filtering or Room Darkening?
Cellular shades can also change the atmosphere of a room through fabric opacity. Light-filtering fabrics soften bright sunlight and reduce glare while keeping the room feeling open and bright. Room-darkening fabrics provide stronger light control and privacy for bedrooms, media rooms and other spaces where less incoming light is preferred.
The right choice depends on the room and how you use it. Our guide to light filtering vs room darkening shades takes a closer look at the different levels of light control available.
Cellular Shades with Motorized Control
Technology is all about personalized control at your fingertips, and window coverings have evolved right along with it. Both cellular shade styles can offer convenient operating options, including motorized shades.
What’s not to love about controlling the schedule and timing of your shades? Open them to welcome natural light, close them when you want more privacy, or schedule adjustments around the way sunlight moves through your home. Motorization is especially convenient for large, tall or hard-to-reach windows.
More Ways to Customize Duette® Honeycomb Shades
Duette offers one of the most extensive ranges of cellular shade configurations. Beyond choosing fabric, color and opacity, the collection can be customized for different window types and light-control needs.
Options include vertical configurations for large expanses of glass, dual shade designs, TrackGlide™ for select tilt-turn windows, motorized and cordless operation, translucent ClearView® fabrics, LightLock™ for enhanced room darkening, and specialty shapes for arches and angles.
For complete details about fabrics, operating systems and specialty options, visit our Duette® Honeycomb Shades collection page.
Unique Features of Sonnette® Cellular Roller Shades
Sonnette takes a more streamlined approach. Its cellular fabric rolls smoothly into the headrail while still providing the soft dimension and insulating qualities that distinguish cellular shades.
Available options include light-filtering and room-darkening fabrics, cordless and motorized operation, dual shade configurations, and design features that can accommodate window cranks and handles. Sonnette can also be paired with Aura™ Illuminated Shades, which adds integrated illumination behind the shade to create adjustable ambient light when the shade is closed.
Which Cellular Shade Is Right for Your Home?
Choosing between Duette and Sonnette comes down to what you want your window coverings to do—and how you want them to look while doing it. Consider the style of the room, the amount of insulation you need, your preferred light control, the size and shape of the window, and whether convenient motorized operation is important to you.
From the moment you wake up until your head hits the pillow at night, Seeview has you covered. At least where windows are concerned. Our team at Gotcha Covered Seeview Blinds & Shutters can help you compare cellular shade fabrics, styles and features to find the best fit for your home. Contact us today to schedule your FREE in-home consultation and create a design plan for your space.