Venetian blinds for a Kuils River kitchen, or a Scottsville study

Aluminium where June and July do the most damage

Kuils River's wettest, coolest weeks land in June and July, when a shaded south-facing kitchen or bathroom holds condensation for longer than a north-facing room ever does. Fabric blinds are the wrong material for that job — aluminium venetians shrug off the damp, wipe clean, and hold their finish through a whole wet winter without warping or staining. 25mm slats give the crisp, closely-spaced look most Kuils River kitchens ask for; 50mm slats read bolder with fewer lines, which some buyers prefer on a wide window.

Timber for the rooms that want the natural-wood look

Scottsville and Highbury still carry plenty of 1980s character homes with a study or main bedroom that wants a warmer material than aluminium — 50mm basswood slats bring that without the upkeep of a full timber shutter. Keep timber out of steamy bathrooms; a good lacquer copes with normal humidity, not a daily hot shower's worth of steam.

The adjustability argument

A roller 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 upstairs window, close flat for dark. On streets in Zevenwacht and Klein Zevenwacht where homes sit closer to a common boundary or a shared view line, that hour-by-hour control matters more than it does on a large, well-spaced Scottsville stand.

• Aluminium slats, 25mm or 50mm, for kitchens and bathrooms
• Timber 50mm slats for studies and main bedrooms wanting a natural material
• Tilt for daylight, close for privacy, at any blind height
• Wand, cord or motorised tilt control

What a venetian costs, by material

The material sets the band, and both are per square metre installed. Aluminium slats, 25 mm or 50 mm, come to R1,000 to R1,500 on a wand or cord and R2,500 to R3,600 motorised. Timber runs R1,600 to R2,600 manual and R3,000 to R4,500 motorised, wide slats and stained finishes sitting near the top of both.

Small windows are charged at a minimum, because a bathroom pane still needs its own headrail, brackets and fitting visit. Treat the bands as planning only — the number per window follows the free measure and comes to you in writing.