Part 1 : Custom Drapery
IN THIS LESSON
How Lutron and Somfy Systems Work — and Why It Matters in New York City
Motorized drapery and shades have become a standard expectation in high-end residential projects across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Westchester and New Jersey, not a luxury add-on. But when it comes time to specify a system, two names dominate the conversation in the luxury workroom world: Lutron and Somfy. Both are excellent. They are not interchangeable.
Choosing the wrong one for a project can mean a costly retrofit, a frustrated client, or an automation system that never quite delivers on its promise. Here is what you need to know before you specify.
Lutron: Clear Connect RF Technology
Lutron's motorized window treatment platform — RadioRA 3 for whole-home integration, paired with the Palladiom track system for drapery — operates on its proprietary Clear Connect radio frequency protocol at approximately 434 MHz. This sub-GHz band deliberately sidesteps the crowded 2.4 GHz spectrum occupied by Wi-Fi routers, Bluetooth devices, and smart home hubs.
In a pre-war Upper West Side co-op where a dozen apartments stack vertically and every unit has multiple Wi-Fi access points, this matters. Lutron's older single-channel RadioRA system actually had documented interference issues specific to New York City — a city so wirelessly dense it was the one exception Lutron acknowledged in North America. The company answered that challenge directly with Clear Connect Type X, introduced in RadioRA 3, which supports multiple RF channels and was engineered specifically for multi-dwelling unit (MDU) environments. The system doesn't just broadcast a command — it uses two-way communication, confirming that the motor received and executed the signal. If the drape didn't move, the system knows.
Somfy: RTS and IO-Homecontrol
Somfy, whose Glydea Ultra is the industry workhorse for motorized drapery tracks, operates on RTS (Radio Technology Somfy) — a one-way protocol at 433.42 MHz. The motor receives the command, but it does not report back. For the vast majority of installations, this works flawlessly. Somfy's track hardware is robust, its motors are quiet, and the Glydea Ultra handles drapery loads up to 66 lbs, accommodating even heavy interlined panels with ease.
Somfy's newer IO-homecontrol protocol does offer two-way communication and broader integration capability, and it is worth specifying on projects where that functionality is needed.
Smart Home Integration: The NYC High-Rise Reality
This is where the specification decision often becomes clear.
Luxury residential buildings in Manhattan — particularly new construction on the West Side, Tribeca, and the Hudson Yards corridor — are increasingly delivered with Control4, Crestron, or Savant automation infrastructure already in place. Residents expect lighting, climate, shading, and drapery to operate as one unified system.
Lutron integrates natively and deeply with all three platforms. The two-way communication means the control system always knows the actual position of every shade and drapery panel. A "Good Morning" scene can open the bedroom sheers, raise the living room shades to 40%, and draw back the dining room drapery — and the status of each is confirmed in real time on the touchpanel.
Somfy RTS integrates with these platforms as well, but as a one-way device. The control system can send commands, but cannot reliably confirm execution or read current position. For projects with sophisticated automation requirements, this gap becomes apparent during commissioning and in day-to-day use.
If your client's apartment has a Crestron system managed by a building-approved AV integrator, Lutron is almost always the right specification. If the project is standalone motorization — a weekend home, a rental unit, or a client who simply wants a remote and an app — Somfy performs beautifully at a significantly lower cost.
Hardware and Integration Considerations
Both systems require track-mounted drapery rather than rod-and-ring construction, which affects the fabrication approach.
Lutron's Palladiom track is a slim, recessed-profile system designed to disappear into a ceiling pocket or mount cleanly at the fascia. The track is available in custom lengths and integrates with Lutron's broader ecosystem of keypads and sensors. It is a premium product with a premium lead time — plan for 8–12 weeks from specification to installation-ready.
Somfy's Glydea Ultra is the more widely available option and is stocked or quickly sourced by most NYC drapery workrooms, including The Integrated Workroom. Lead times are typically shorter, compatibility with a wide range of drapery heading styles is excellent, and field adjustments during installation are straightforward.
In both cases, drapery must be fabricated to the track — fullness, carrier count, and stack-back clearance all need to be coordinated between the client, the workroom and the installer before fabric is cut.
A Practical Decision Framework
Both Specify Lutron RadioRA 3 / Palladiom when:
The project includes a whole-home Control4, Crestron, or Savant system
The client expects scene-based automation (lighting and drapery operating together)
Confirmed two-way feedback and position reporting are required
The budget supports a premium specification and extended lead time
Specify Somfy Glydea Ultra when:
The project is standalone motorization without deep automation integration
Budget is a meaningful constraint
Speed to installation matters
The client primarily wants app, remote, or voice control (Alexa, Google Home, HomeKit)
Consider Somfy IO-homecontrol when:
Two-way communication is desired but a full Lutron ecosystem is not warranted
The project involves a mix of shades and drapery across different brands
The Bottom Line for NYC Designers
In a city where wireless interference, dense stacking of apartments, and sophisticated automation systems are all part of the everyday specification environment, the choice between Lutron and Somfy is a meaningful one. Lutron's RadioRA 3 with Clear Connect Type X was engineered to solve the exact RF challenges that New York City presents. Somfy remains the reliable, practical choice for projects where that level of integration isn't required.
Neither system is right for every project. The right answer starts with understanding the automation ecosystem the client already has — or wants — and working backward from there.
Ready to specify motorized drapery for your next New York City project? The Integrated Workroom works with both Lutron and Somfy systems and can help you navigate track selection, fabrication requirements, and coordination with your AV integrator from the very first conversation. Reach out to start the conversation.