Olá!
Most of the time on this blog, we talk about products — shades, shutters, motorization, what works where and why. But today is different. I’ll answer questions I get regularly. For instance, I love getting: “Roger, why should I buy from you?” So grab a cafézinho and have a sit. It will be worth your time.
Where do you serve?
Two markets. We were born in Boston — where the winters are brutal, the clients are picky, and the standards are high. We loved every minute of it. We then expanded to Greater Tampa Bay, serving from Tampa and St. Pete all the way down to Sarasota. Different climate, same obsession with getting it right. If you’re in either market, we can come to you. Yes, even to that neighborhood with the tricky parking.
How long have you been doing this?
Since 2006. In Brazilian years, that’s roughly forever. We cut our teeth in Boston — where clients don’t let you get away with anything — and we’ve stayed ahead of every industry shift since, especially in motorization and smart home technology. Experience isn’t just time. It’s knowing what not to do — and occasionally, what not to say to a client who bought the wrong shade online.
What do you actually do? What’s included?
Everything, from the first handshake to the last screw. Free in-home consultation, precise measurements, product selection, full installation, art hanging, and home automation — connecting your shades to Somfy, Hunter Douglas, or Lutron so they work with your smart home like a churrasco works with a cold beer. Perfectly. Without anyone having to Google anything.
Why not just order online or go to a big box store?
You can. Plenty of people do. Then they call us. Look — ordering window treatments online is a little like trying to buy shoes without knowing your size or seeing the shoe. It sounds simple until you’re holding something that clearly doesn’t fit and wondering where it all went wrong. Big box stores give you a catalog and a prayer. We give you 20 years of experience, a trained eye, and zero guessing. But hey — no pressure. Our schedule stays full either way.
Do you carry quality brands?
We work with six carefully selected vendors — Hunter Douglas, Somfy, Lutron, Mirage, Norman Window Fashions, and SunPro Products. We chose them the same way I’d choose a good pão de queijo: quality ingredients, no shortcuts, and definitely not from a gas station. We’re not locked into one brand. If something isn’t the right fit for your home, we’ll tell you. That kind of honesty is rarer than you’d think.
Do you do both interior and exterior?
Inside and out. Interior shades, motorized systems, and exterior solar shades for your patio or lanai. Here in Tampa Bay, the sun doesn’t mess around — and neither do we. A good exterior shade can change how your whole home feels in the afternoon. Trust me on this one. I live here too. Boston winters were enough sun deprivation for a lifetime.
Residential only, or do you work with businesses too?
Both. Homes, offices, retail spaces, hospitality — if it has windows, we’ve probably dressed something like it. The approach is always the same: listen first, recommend second, install third. In that order. Always. Revolutionary concept, apparently.
Do you offer financing?
We offer financing options so you don’t have to choose between doing it right and doing it now. Window treatments are an investment — in your comfort, your privacy, your home’s value. We want that to be accessible. Ask us during your consultation and we’ll find something that works. No awkward silences, we promise.
What makes your service feel different from day one?
The Brazilian accent and the booties. Every job, every time — our team walks in wearing shoe covers and uses moving blankets to protect your floors and furniture. In Boston, you always remove your shoes before entering someone’s home. It’s a sign of respect. We brought that spirit here. You invited us in. We act like it.
What do your clients say?
Over 800 five-star reviews across Boston and Tampa Bay — and I read every single one. Not because I have to. Because they remind me why we do this. Real clients, real homes, real trust. If you want to read a few, they’re not hard to find. Google us. We’ll be there. Right at the top. You’re welcome.
Shade School Drop-In: Did you know?
Motorized shades can reduce heat gain through your windows by up to 77%. In Florida, that’s not a luxury — that’s a very important conversation with your electric bill. Ask us about Somfy and Lutron integration at your next consultation. Your future self will thank you. Possibly in Portuguese.
We’re not the cheapest option out there, and we won’t pretend to be. We’re the option that shows up on time, measures twice, installs once, and leaves your home better than we found it. That’s the Shades In Place promise. It’s also just how I was raised.
When you’re ready — let’s talk. We’d love to see what your windows are working with.
Até logo,
Roger Magalhães
Shades In Place · Boston & Tampa Bay
Want to See Why People Buy From Shades In Place?
Because at the end of the day… we dress naked windows.
(With just a little Brazilian flair.)