Blinds Plus in Baltimore: Custom Motorization for Historic Row Houses
Blinds Plus operates a small showroom in Canton focused on motorized window treatments and custom installations, with particular expertise fitting the oddly sized windows common in Baltimore's 19th-century row houses.
What Blinds Plus actually is
Blinds Plus is an independent retailer and installation service specializing in motorized roller shades, cellular shades, and vertical blinds. The shop maintains a physical display in Canton where customers can see fabric samples and motor options in person before ordering. Unlike big-box chains that ship pre-made units, Blinds Plus manufactures most custom orders on-site or through regional partners, which means the business can accommodate non-standard window dimensions that are the rule rather than the exception in Baltimore neighborhoods built before 1920.
Services and pricing
Motorized cellular shades (the most popular upgrade for Baltimore homes) start at $180 per window for a basic single-cell shade with a battery-powered motor; adding a rechargeable lithium battery pack costs an extra $40 to $60 per window. Motorized roller shades begin at $150. Manual options (no motor) run $60 to $100 per window depending on fabric weight and lining. Installation labor runs $25 to $35 per window for standard sizes and $50 to $75 per window for custom dimensions or difficult access. A typical three-window living room motorized installation totals $750 to $950 including hardware and labor. Shades Plus offers free in-home measurement for orders exceeding $500. Verification note: motorized-shade pricing fluctuates with motor availability; call ahead to confirm current rates.
How it compares to other Baltimore options
The Home Depot and Lowe's stock mass-produced blinds and shades in standard widths only, priced lower at entry level ($40 to $100 per window) but unsuitable for the irregular openings that define many Federal Hill and Canton row houses. Installation through box stores typically requires the window opening to conform to their stock sizes. Blind Man in Hampden offers a mid-market alternative: custom fabrication with a smaller selection of motorized options (mainly battery-powered motors) and a slightly wider price range ($100 to $250 per window before installation). Choose Blinds Plus if your windows deviate significantly from standard dimensions, if you want motorization with a hardwired power source, or if you prefer dealing with a local shop. Choose Home Depot or Lowe's if your windows are standard size and motorization is not a priority. Choose Blind Man if you want local service and are comfortable with battery-only motors.
Who it suits and who it does not suit
Blinds Plus suits homeowners renovating or upgrading older Baltimore properties, anyone seeking motorized shades for hard-to-reach windows (cathedral ceilings, high transom windows), and customers who want to see samples and discuss custom options face-to-face rather than through an online calculator. It does not suit renters looking for temporary solutions or anyone with a tight timeline, since custom fabrication typically requires two to four weeks. The motorized options are less practical for windows smaller than 24 inches wide (the cost per square foot becomes prohibitive).
What the first visit involves
Schedule a free in-home measurement if your order qualifies ($500+); otherwise, visit the showroom with your window dimensions. At the showroom, staff walk through fabric opacity levels (room-darkening vs. sheer), motor types (battery-powered vs. hardwired), and control options (remote, smart home integration, or hardwired wall switch). Motorized shades integrate with Apple Home and Amazon Alexa, though setup requires a separate hub ($100 to $150). Once you select fabric and motor type, Blinds Plus generates a fabrication timeline and installation schedule. Most customers wait 3 to 4 weeks from order to installation.
Hours, parking, and logistics
Blinds Plus is located on the 2900 block of Flemington Avenue in Canton, with street parking available on Flemington and a dedicated lot entrance accessible from Toone Street. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., closed Sunday and Monday. The showroom is small (roughly 800 square feet) and best visited by appointment to ensure a staff member is available for consultation; walk-ins may experience wait times during peak hours (Saturday mornings).
Blinds Plus has built a focused reputation in Baltimore by solving a specific problem: fitting motorized shades into the geometric challenges of a 200-year-old housing stock. For homeowners unwilling to settle for manual treatments in hard-to-reach windows or unable to fit standard products into non-standard openings, the shop's willingness to custom-fabricate and install locally justifies the price premium over national competitors.
