Blackout screens in a shared vacation home guarantee a good night’s sleep

On Finland’s south coast, architect Jani Lahti (Plusarchitects / Plus Arkkitehdit) replaced two small houses with one shared summer place: a central living area with private entrances, baths, and bedroom wings at either end—much like the setup many U.S. second homes use to balance together time and privacy. To keep the bedrooms truly dark through Finland’s long summer light, Dekosol fitted floor-to-ceiling windows with wind-resistant Renson Fixscreen 100 Slim using blackout fabric. The pockets for the headbox and side guides were planned from the start, so the look stays clean, and the windproof, heat-blocking performance is just as useful on bright U.S. coasts or in sun-belt climates.

The Isosaari brothers fell head over heels for the style of the buildings created by wood construction firm Honkatalot. Since many of the firm's projects were designed by Jani Lahti, they turned to Plusarchitects for their plans.

Shared duplex-style home

“At the site, two existing homes made way for the new home for the two brothers,” the architect explains. “We rebuilt on the original footprint to minimize impact on the surrounding nature. The living room, dining room, and kitchen are centrally located; to either side are private entrances, bathrooms, and bedrooms for each brother. Each family has its own area, yet they can come together when they want.

“I always design with as much respect as possible for the landscape. Because of the natural slope, we set the main living areas slightly lower so the house appears less imposing. We used natural materials, wood and stone, so the building blends into its surroundings.”

Screens on floor-to-ceiling frameless windows

Renson screens were installed in both bedrooms. "We used Fixscreen 100 Slim exterior screens with blackout fabric, essential for a good night’s sleep during summer, when the sun barely sets,” says Lahti. “The floor-to-ceiling frameless bedroom windows required us to plan for screen integration during the design phase. We always allow for this so the client can decide later whether to add screens; adding them after the fact is much more difficult if no space was reserved.”

“Most Renson screen fabrics we sell are black (charcoal),” adds Maria Sillman of Dekosol. “We usually match the headbox and side guides to those colors for a consistent look. That approach worked beautifully here, especially with the headbox at ceiling height. It was also important to select the right model so the headbox remains easily accessible from the exterior for maintenance.”

“When I visited the house, I couldn’t even tell which windows had screens,” the architect notes. “That’s the best proof we chose the right solution, and why I specify Renson in all my projects. It also helps that Dekosol is happy to advise clients on exact screen specifications.”

Finland & sun protection

“Here in Finland, sun protection is often a cost-benefit calculation,” says Lahti. “Special glazing combined with a heat pump can sometimes reduce the need for shading. Exterior sun protection isn’t yet standard because of our extreme weather, so people tend to be cautious.”

“Interior shades are still more common,” Sillman adds. “That’s partly due to misconceptions about how shading works in our climate and about cost. Exterior shading has a slightly higher initial price because side guides are needed for wind resistance, but the investment is quickly recouped through energy savings. By stopping the sun before it hits the glass, you save significantly on cooling. With today’s larger windows, and climate change, effective shading has become essential. Interior shades can also be hard to keep smooth and taut without side guides. That’s another advantage for exterior screens. It’s an ‘aha’ moment for customers who choose Renson, and they’re extremely satisfied afterward.”

Darkness during Finnish summers

Markus Isosaari, one of the two owners, is equally pleased: “We wanted completely dark bedrooms for quality sleep during the Finnish summer when the ‘midnight sun’ barely sets. Renson came highly recommended for its quality. After a year of use, the performance and functionality are exactly what we expected. Dekosol guided us expertly through selection, the structural prep followed the instructions, and installation went smoothly. The result looks great—the screens and mechanisms are perfectly integrated.”