Designing With Light: How Bumble Bee Blinds Partnered With Chip Wade to Bring Comfort and Control to a Glass-Forward Mountain Retreat

Perched above the trees and carved into the hillside, Chip Wade’s mountain property is more than a getaway; it is a live-in design lab where architecture, engineering, and everyday living all meet. With soaring A-frame structures, dramatic walls of glass, and playful bridges connecting elevated spaces, the home demands window treatments that can keep pace with both performance and beauty. That is where the collaboration with Bumble Bee Blinds began.

As a designer, builder, and television personality, Chip has spent his career helping homeowners unlock the full potential of their spaces. For his own project, every choice had to earn its place. The partnership with Bumble Bee Blinds was built on a shared belief that comfort, control, and visual impact should work together rather than compete.

The Vision: Architecture That Lives in Constant Conversation With Light

From the first sketches, this mountain retreat was conceived as a series of volumes that open toward the view. Floor-to-ceiling windows frame the forest canopy, circular windows punctuate the gables, and tall arched openings pull the eye up toward the sky. Natural light is a permanent presence, shifting from soft morning glow to bright midday sun and finally settling into a warm evening atmosphere.

That level of exposure is stunning but demanding. Glare, heat gain, privacy, and reflection all have to be managed without interrupting the lines of the architecture. Any solution had to support the drama of the glass, not hide it. Bumble Bee Blinds came alongside Chip to translate those design priorities into a cohesive light-control strategy.

The Challenge: High-Performance Light Control in a Complex Envelope

The property’s unique geometry presented several technical challenges. There are towering triangular expanses of glass in the main living spaces, small round windows tucked into dormers, and traditional casement and picture windows framing wooded views. Each opening faces a different direction, which means changing sun angles and intensity throughout the day.

In a home that sits elevated above the ground on a structural framework, exposure to wind, temperature shifts, and seasonal changes is amplified. Interior comfort depends heavily on how daylight and solar heat are managed. The window treatments had to help stabilize the environment while still allowing the architecture to feel light, open, and connected to the landscape.

• Reduce glare without sacrificing the view.
• Support thermal comfort across large and small openings.
• Protect interiors, finishes, and artwork from UV exposure.
• Preserve the character of custom window shapes and frames.

Design Priorities Shared by Chip Wade and Bumble Bee Blinds

From the start, the collaboration centred around a simple but demanding question: how can window treatments behave like an integrated part of the architecture rather than an afterthought? The answer lay in pairing Chip’s structural and aesthetic insights with Bumble Bee Blinds’ expertise in tailored solutions for complex spaces.

1. Respect the architecture. Shades, blinds, and shutters should follow the lines of the building, echoing the geometry rather than fighting against it.
2. Enhance the experience. Light control should make it easier to live, relax, and entertain in every room, from bright lofts to quiet reading nooks.
3. Deliver long-term performance. Materials and mechanisms must stand up to daily use and the unique demands of an elevated mountain environment.

Translating a Vision Into Rooms That Work Day and Night

In the main glass-fronted living areas, the focus was on managing expansive views without creating a barrier between the interior and the forest outside. Sleek, low-profile treatments were selected to sit neatly within the window frames, offering flexible control over brightness and privacy while keeping sightlines open. When raised, they virtually disappear, allowing the dramatic architecture to take centre stage.

In more intimate spaces, such as the lofts, bedrooms, and connecting walkways, the priorities shift toward softness and rest. Here, the window treatments help create pockets of calm where the family can recharge. Custom solutions for circular and arched windows maintain the character of each opening, following the curves and angles that give the home its storybook charm.

Design Details That Celebrate Craftsmanship

The collaboration extended beyond pure function into the realm of interior storytelling. Deep navy cabinetry, patterned ceilings, and sculptural lighting fixtures all play a role in setting the tone of the home. The selected window treatments were chosen to complement these elements with subtle texture and colour that work with the palette rather than competing with it.

During the day, the treatments help balance daylight so that finishes, artwork, and furniture can be appreciated without harsh contrast or washout. In the evening, they contribute to the glow of the interior, helping define cosy corners and gathering spaces while maintaining a sense of privacy in a home that sits high above the ground.

A Shared Commitment to Thoughtful, Livable Design

For Bumble Bee Blinds, partnering with Chip Wade on a property of this complexity is an opportunity to demonstrate what is possible when design and performance pull in the same direction. For Chip, it is another way to show homeowners that the details they choose, including window treatments, can dramatically affect how a space feels and functions.

Together, they created an environment where light is not only welcomed but guided. The result is a mountain retreat that feels open yet comfortable, dramatic yet deeply livable — a place where architecture, engineering, and carefully considered window treatments work together to create a home that truly inspires.