When the owners of a brand-new home in The Gables started collecting quotes for window furnishings, the numbers were a shock. Sheer curtains across the living areas and blockout blinds in every bedroom came back at around $7,500 from other Sydney companies. Monalisa Blinds measured, made and installed the whole house for $2,990 – custom made, professionally fitted, with the same quality fabrics and hardware.
Here is exactly what was installed, why we chose it, and how we keep prices this low for new builds across the Hills District and north-west Sydney.
The brief: a new build with bare windows and a real budget
Like most new homes handed over in The Gables, Box Hill and Riverstone, this one came with nothing on the windows – large glass sliders across the open-plan living and kitchen, and a mix of tall, square and wide windows through the bedrooms. The owners wanted privacy from day one, a soft, modern look in the living areas, and proper darkness in the bedrooms, without paying builder-upgrade prices.
What we installed for $2,990
S-Fold sheer curtains in the living and kitchen areas
Across the open-plan living, dining and kitchen we installed white S-Fold sheer curtains on slimline ceiling-mounted tracks. S-Fold (also called wave fold) hangs in soft, even ripples and glides smoothly on the track, so the full-height glass doors still open freely. The sheer fabric filters the strong western afternoon light this side of the Hills gets while keeping the room bright, and gives privacy from the street and neighbours during the day. Mounting the track to the ceiling rather than the architrave makes the ceilings feel taller and hides the track completely.
Blockout roller blinds in every bedroom
The bedrooms received blockout roller blinds in a textured white fabric that matches the sheers. Each blind was custom cut to the exact window opening and fitted inside the reveal so it sits flush with the frame – including the narrow feature windows, the wide master-bedroom window and a row of three matching windows in the kids’ room. Blockout fabric stops light and adds a layer of insulation, which matters in a new estate where trees haven’t grown yet and summer afternoons are hot.
Sheers and blinds working together
Where a bedroom sits off the living area, the sheer curtain and roller blind meet cleanly in the corner. Using the same white tones for both products keeps the whole home consistent and lets the owners add colour later with furniture and rugs.
Why the other quotes were $7,500
We see this every week with new builds. The higher quotes usually come from one or more of these:
- Showroom and franchise overheads. Big-brand blind companies carry retail leases, sales commissions and national marketing, and it all ends up on your invoice.
- Builder and developer upgrade packages. Window furnishings added through a builder are often marked up 60–100% over a direct supplier.
- Premium-brand fabric names. Many “designer” sheer and blockout fabrics are made in the same mills as the standard ranges; you pay for the label.
- Bundled extras you didn’t ask for. Motorisation, pelmets and double-track systems are great when you want them, but they should be an option, not a default.
Monalisa Blinds is a family-run, direct-to-customer business based in Gables. We measure and install ourselves, source fabrics and components directly, and don’t run a showroom. That is the whole reason a complete home comes in at $2,990 instead of $7,500 – not thinner fabric or lighter hardware.
What “complete window furnishing solution” means for a new build
For a new home we typically recommend a simple, layered approach:
- Sheer curtains (S-Fold or pencil pleat) in living, dining and kitchen areas for softness and daytime privacy.
- Blockout curtains or blockout roller blinds in bedrooms, media rooms and nurseries.
- Plantation shutters for street-facing front rooms and bathrooms where you want a permanent, easy-clean finish.
- Zebra blinds or honeycomb blinds for studies and north-facing rooms that need adjustable light control.
Every product is made to measure, and we can do the whole house in one visit so you are not living with bare windows for weeks after handover.
Free measure and quote in The Gables and surrounding suburbs
If you have just settled on a new build in The Gables, Box Hill, Riverstone, Schofields, Marsden Park, Rouse Hill or anywhere in the Hills District, we will come out, measure every window and give you a fixed price on the spot – no obligation. Bring your builder’s quote with you; we are happy to price against it.
Book your free measure and quote or call us on 02 5017 1234. You can also browse more finished homes in our gallery.
Frequently asked questions
How much do blinds and curtains cost for a whole new house in Sydney?
For a typical 4-bedroom new build, a combination of sheer curtains in the living areas and blockout roller blinds in the bedrooms usually costs between $2,500 and $4,500 with Monalisa Blinds, depending on window sizes and fabric choice. The same package is commonly quoted at $6,000–$9,000 by showroom-based companies and builder upgrade programs.
Are cheaper blinds lower quality?
Not when the saving comes from lower overheads rather than cheaper components. We use the same blockout and sheer fabrics, aluminium tubes, chain controls and S-Fold tracks as the major brands. Every product is custom made to your measurements and installed by our own team, and it’s backed by our workmanship guarantee.
How long does installation take after handover?
Once measured, custom blinds and curtains are usually ready within two to four weeks, and a full home like this one is installed in a single visit.
Do you service other new estates in north-west Sydney?
Yes. We cover The Gables, Box Hill, Riverstone, Schofields, Marsden Park, Rouse Hill, Kellyville, Tallawong, Nirimba Fields and the wider Hills District and Blacktown areas. See our full list of service areas.
