Venetian blinds built for salt air

A roller blind is open or closed by degrees; a venetian steers light direction — tilt up for glare-free daylight, tilt down for privacy from a neighbour’s deck above, close flat for full dark. On a hillside where houses are stacked one above the other and the sun swings hard across the bay through the afternoon, that adjustability earns its keep.

Aluminium — the coastal default

25mm slats give a crisp, contemporary line and are the most popular choice; 50mm slats read bolder with fewer visible lines, which suits a wider pane. Powder-coated aluminium is the moisture and salt champion of the range — it handles bathroom and kitchen steam and sea spray far better than fabric or timber ever will, though even marine-grade coatings want an occasional fresh-water rinse this close to the swell.

Timber, if the room calls for it

Basswood or bamboo slats bring genuine warmth to a study or a more traditional room, but they belong away from steamy bathrooms and away from direct salt exposure — a good pairing for an interior room rather than the boulder-facing lounge.

Where they win in Llandudno

• Hillside privacy — tilt down to block a sightline from the house above without losing the light entirely, useful on a terraced street where decks stack up the slope.
• Hour-by-hour sun — re-tilt through the day as the sun tracks from the ridge over the water toward the horizon, rather than committing to one setting.
• Wet rooms — bathrooms and kitchens where fabric blinds eventually fail to salt-laden humidity.

Motorised tilt is available on the premium lines, which is worth considering on any run too wide or too high to reach by hand.