Blindspace® S Series recess boxes
The standard pocket for concealed roller shades: a 4 x 4 inch box for most windows, a 5 x 5 inch box for the big glass, both with the patented safety hinge and skim-coat flanges that let the plaster run right up to the cover. Every size below is Blindspace's published figure for the system named.
The 4 x 4 and the 5 x 5
The S Series is Blindspace's standard concealment box for roller shades: an extruded aluminum head box, 100 x 100 mm or 130 x 130 mm in section, with skim-coat flanges along the edges and a hinged cover plate across the bottom. It is framed into the ceiling or the wall above the glass while the building is open, closed with the cover, plastered and painted with the room, and opened from below when the shade arrives.
Which of the two you need depends on the roll: a standard roller fits the S100x100 to about 110 inches wide, a large roller fits the S130x130 to about 157 inches. For a branded system the choice is more precise, because Blindspace has drawn each one: the Lutron R20 and R64 and the Crestron ARCH3 belong in the S100x100, the Lutron R100, R150 and their wide-diameter versions in the S130x130. The tables below are those drawings, row by row.
Side boxes (S100x50 and S130x50) carry side channels or guide wires down the jambs for blackout and zip shades, end caps close the ends of a box that stops short of a wall, chain guides let a manual shade's chain pass through the cover, and a 12-foot wall mount holds a shade without a head box where the ceiling cannot take one.
S Series at a glance
The cover decides the slot
The cover plate is the part of a recessed shade the room sees: a painted aluminum strip the width of the box minus the slot the fabric drops through. Blindspace names the cover on each drawing; the opening it leaves is fixed by the box size.
| Cover | S100x100 opening | S130x130 opening | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|
| C65, 65 mm (2.56 in) | 29 mm (1.14 in) | 59 mm (2.32 in) | The standard roller, Lutron R64 and Crestron ARCH3 drawings in the S100x100 |
| C75, 75 mm (2.95 in) | 19 mm (0.75 in) | 49 mm (1.93 in) | A narrower slot, where the fabric roll and hem bar allow it |
| C85, 85 mm (3.35 in) | - | 39 mm (1.54 in) | The Lutron R100, R150 and WIDR drawings in the S130x130 |
| C95, 95 mm (3.74 in) | closed | 29 mm (1.14 in) | Closes the S100x100 (future-proof); the large roller drawings in the S130x130 |
| C125, 125 mm (4.92 in) | - | closed | Future-proof S130x130: install the box now, open it for a shade later |
A closed cover is the future-proof configuration: the box is framed in and plastered with no shade, and the cover is swapped for a narrower one when the shade is installed.
What fits the S100x100
Every S100x100 configuration Blindspace has drawn for the systems we install, with the maximum shade width and drop from that drawing. Inch figures are the inch drawing's own where one exists; a tilde marks a conversion from the metric drawing.
| Shade or track system | Configuration | Max width | Max drop | Box (W x H) | Cover width | Side and hem bar boxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutron R20 - roller shade Lutron | Roller shade | 96 in (2,438 mm) | 94 in (2,400 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 60 mm | - |
| Lutron R64 - roller shadePopular Lutron | Roller shade | 96 in (2,438 mm) | 118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Lutron R64 - roller shades with Lutron TrackTrim Lutron | Roller shade, roller + drapery track | ~96 in (2,438 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Crestron ARCH3 - roller shade Crestron | Roller shade | 96 in (2,439 mm) | - | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Future-proof single roller shade generic roller, any brand | Roller shade | 110 in (2,800 mm) | 118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 85 mm | side 50 mm deep, 85 mm cover; hem bar 50 mm deep, 85 mm cover |
| Standard roller shadePopular generic roller, any brand | Roller shade | 110 in (2,800 mm) | 118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Chain operated standard roller shade generic roller, any brand | Roller shade | ~110 in (2,800 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Standard roller shades in corner - butted boxes with room-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 110 in (2,800 mm) | 118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Standard roller shades in corner - butted boxes with window-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 110 in (2,800 mm) | 118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Standard roller shades in corner - mitered boxes with room-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 110 in (2,800 mm) | 118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Standard roller shades in corner - mitered boxes with window-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 110 in (2,800 mm) | 118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Standard roller shade with TrackTrimPopular generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, roller + drapery track | ~110 in (2,800 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | 65 mm | - |
| Corner with butted boxes and butted drapery tracks generic roller, any brand | Drapery track, roller + drapery track, corner windows | ~110 in (2,800 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | - | - |
| Corner with butted boxes and curved drapery tracks generic roller, any brand | Drapery track, roller + drapery track, corner windows | ~110 in (2,800 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | - | - |
| Corner with mitered boxes and butted drapery tracks generic roller, any brand | Drapery track, roller + drapery track, corner windows | ~110 in (2,800 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | - | - |
| Corner with mitered boxes and curved drapery tracks generic roller, any brand | Drapery track, roller + drapery track, corner windows | ~110 in (2,800 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | - | - |
| Corner with mitered boxes and curved drapery tracks 300mm and 440mm generic roller, any brand | Drapery track, roller + drapery track, corner windows | ~110 in (2,800 mm) | ~118 in (3,000 mm) | 100 x 100 mm (3.94 x 3.94 in) | - | - |
Blindspace also draws the S100x100 for Benthin, Louvolite, ShadeTECH, Silent Gliss, Umbra, Unify Shading; those rows are in the drawing finder. The corner drawings pair two boxes, butted or mitered, with the cover opening to the room or to the window; the +TT drawings combine the box with a TrackTrim profile so a roller shade and a drapery share one slot.
What fits the S130x130
The large box: the whole Lutron R100 and R150 range, including the wide-diameter WIDR versions, the large standard roller to 157 inches, and the zip and corner configurations.
| Shade or track system | Configuration | Max width | Max drop | Box (W x H) | Cover width | Side and hem bar boxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lutron R100 - roller shadePopular Lutron | Roller shade | 120 in (3,048 mm) | 197 in (5,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 85 mm | - |
| Lutron R100 WIDR - roller shade Lutron | Roller shade | 173 in (4,400 mm) | 197 in (5,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 85 mm | - |
| Lutron R150 - roller shade Lutron | Roller shade | 120 in (3,048 mm) | 236 in (6,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 85 mm | - |
| Lutron R150 WIDR - roller shade Lutron | Roller shade | 173 in (4,400 mm) | 236 in (6,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 85 mm | - |
| Lutron R64 WIDR - roller shade Lutron | Roller shade | 144 in (3,657 mm) | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 85 mm | - |
| Future-proof single roller shade generic roller, any brand | Roller shade | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 115 mm | side 50 mm deep, 115 mm cover; hem bar 50 mm deep, 115 mm cover |
| Large roller shadePopular generic roller, any brand | Roller shade | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 95 mm | side 50 mm deep, 95 mm cover; hem bar 50 mm deep, 95 mm cover |
| Chain operated large roller shade generic roller, any brand | Roller shade | ~157 in (4,000 mm) | ~157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 95 mm | - |
| Dual with large roller shade and SHY 85 ZIP® 60 36 generic roller, any brand | Roller shade with zipped side channels, side-by-side | ~98 in (2,500 mm) | ~94 in (2,400 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 85 mm / 95 mm | side 130 mm deep, 85,95 mm cover; hem bar 130 mm deep, 85,95 mm cover |
| Large roller shades in corner - butted boxes with room-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 95 mm | - |
| Large roller shades in corner - butted boxes with window-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 95 mm | - |
| Large roller shades in corner - mitered boxes with room-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 95 mm | - |
| Large roller shades in corner - mitered boxes with window-side opening generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, free hanging / gravity, corner windows | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 95 mm | - |
| Large roller shade with TrackTrim generic roller, any brand | Roller shade, roller + drapery track | ~157 in (4,000 mm) | ~157 in (4,000 mm) | 130 x 130 mm (5.12 x 5.12 in) | 95 mm | - |
Also drawn for the S130x130 by Blindspace: Benthin, DIAZ, Louvolite, QMotion, SHY, ShadeTECH, Silent Gliss, Umbra, Unify Shading. See the drawing finder for every row.
What we check before the box is ordered
The roll, not the motor
The motor sits in the tube in every system we install, so the box is sized by the fabric roll at full drop. We use Blindspace's figure for the system and check it against the shade maker's roll-up chart at the actual drop.
Cover orientation
The safety hinge can go on either side of the box, so the cover can open toward the room or toward the glass. On a corner, both boxes must open the same way.
Flanges to the finish
Skim-coat flanges on the sides that meet plaster, none on the side that sits in a frame. SS, SN or NN is decided at the drawing, not at delivery.
Wiring at the motor end
Power and the control bus come into the box at the motor end named on the drawing: QS link for Lutron, 120 V or 24 V for Somfy RTS, Cresnet for Crestron. Nothing is left to find after the drywall.
Side boxes for channels
Blackout and zip shades get the S100x50 or S130x50 side boxes from the same drawing, so the channels are plastered in like the head box and the fabric runs light-tight to the sill.
Splices on long runs
A run longer than the stock length is spliced with pins and plates at a point we choose, never at a motor end, so the cover reads as one line.
S Series: frequently asked
What is the difference between the S100x100 and the S130x130?
Size, and therefore the shade that fits. The S100x100 is a 100 x 100 mm box (4 x 4 inches) for standard rollers: Blindspace's product sheet says shades to about 2,400 mm (94 inches) wide, its drawing for a standard roller allows 2,800 x 3,000 mm (110 x 118 inches), and its Lutron R64 drawing 96 x 118 inches. The S130x130 is 130 x 130 mm (5 x 5 inches) for large rollers: up to about 4,000 x 4,000 mm (157 x 157 inches) for a standard large roller, and the whole Lutron R100 and R150 range including the wide-diameter versions.
Which cover do I need?
The cover width sets the slot the shade comes out of. On the S100x100 a 65 mm cover leaves a 29 mm opening and a 75 mm cover leaves 19 mm; a 95 mm cover closes the box completely, which is the future-proof configuration. On the S130x130 the 65 mm cover leaves 59 mm, 75 leaves 49, 85 leaves 39, 95 leaves 29, and the 125 mm cover closes it. Blindspace's drawing for each shade system names the cover; we order that one.
Does a Lutron roller shade fit the S100x100?
The Lutron R20 and R64 do, up to 96 inches wide, with drops of 94 and 118 inches respectively, behind a 60 or 65 mm cover. The R100, R150, and the WIDR versions of the R64, R100 and R150 move to the S130x130. Those are Blindspace's figures from its Lutron drawings; Lutron's own size limits for the shade still apply.
Does a Somfy motor change the box?
No. A Somfy Sonesse motor sits inside the tube of whichever roller system we build the shade on, so the box is chosen for the roller: a standard roller in the S100x100 (to about 110 inches wide), a large roller in the S130x130 (to about 157 inches). The side channels of a zip shade add side boxes.
What are the side boxes for?
The S100x50 and S130x50 side boxes carry a blackout shade's side channels or a guide wire down the sides of the window, so the channels are plastered in like the head box. Blindspace's drawings for configurations with side channels specify the head box, the side boxes and the hem bar box together; we order all of them from that drawing.
What are the flange codes SS, SN and NN?
Where the skim-coat flanges are. SS has a flange on both sides, for a box in the middle of a ceiling; SN (NS in the US catalog) has one, for a box against a wall or window head; NN has none, for a box that sits in a wood or metal frame. The flange is what lets the plaster be feathered over the box so only the hairline between ceiling and cover shows.
How long can a box be?
Blindspace supplies S Series boxes cut to the finished length, up to 6 meters (19 ft 8 in) in one piece, or in 3 and 6 meter stock lengths, and joins longer runs with splice pins and splice plates. A 10-meter wall of sliding glass still gets one continuous slot.
Size the pocket from the drawing
Tell us the glass and the shade system. We send the Blindspace drawing for the box, the cover and the side boxes, and a quote for the pocket, the shade and the installation. One free hour with our team routinely saves owners thousands in avoidable mistakes.