When picturing tropical beach resorts, visions of white sands and palm trees, sparkling seas and swimming pools fringed with rows of creamy sun umbrellas comes to mind. Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts in Tahiti epitomises that tropical dream. Beautiful sandy beaches and gleaming swimming pools nestle between luminous blue seas and palm trees, with rows of stunning Shade7 Off White umbrellas adding much-needed shade with luxurious style.
Shade7 outdoor umbrellas are extremely strong and durable, designed and engineered to last in challenging coastal conditions, offering beautiful, effective shade for years. So in the event of a resort refresh such as the recent updates to Le Bora Bora in Tahiti, where the umbrellas shading the resort are Shade7 umbrellas, typically only the canopies might be replaced. Changing umbrella canopies can completely transform an outdoor space.
As part of Le Bora Bora’s refresh program, new Shade7 Off White canopies replace the existing Shade7 umbrella canopies across the resort. The result is gorgeous picture-postcard scenes where holiday guests linger and will return to often. Off White has proven itself year after year to create a luxurious holiday ambience for resort guests.
Thanks to the inspiration of Off White umbrellas seen across resorts in the Pacific and French Polynesia, Shade7’s second most popular residential umbrella canopy colour is Off White. Shade7’s most popular canopy colour is Charcoal.
The light and dark threads woven together in Charcoal make this an extremely versatile colour, catching the changing light over the day to blend harmoniously with its surroundings. The light and dark threads are also extremely forgiving of dust and dirt. Charcoal canvas is also opaque, casting a dense shade that is most welcome in the height of summer. Despite these benefits, some Shade7 customers can’t resist the attractions of Off White to create an outdoor space ‘like a resort’ with their Shade7 umbrella at home.
With these two very contrasting hues being so popular, something frequently asked of Shade7’s team is whether light or dark colours are cooler when it comes to shade. The answer is mixed. With light coloured canopies., although light bounces off a pale surface, very pale colours are somewhat translucent in direct light, so more light will fall through it than does through a dark canopy, along with more heat, resulting in a lighter, potentially warmer shadow than might be found beneath a dark canopy.
Dark colours cast a dense shadow which is particularly welcome on hot days. Dark colours hold heat , therefore letting less heat through onto the person seated beneath the umbrella. However, close to the underside of the canopy a greater heat will be felt than from a light canopy. If the space is enclosed and no cool air is circulating, the space beneath the dark umbrella could become warmer than desired. In coastal locations where moving air is cooled by the sea, these points are moot, and canopy colours are chosen for ambience and colour scheme. Blue is another popular option for resorts, tying relaxation areas in with the surrounding ocean colours and vibe. With the denser shadow cast by darker blues, the result can be a cool and atmospheric shady oasis.
Both pale and dark coloured canopies in Shade7’s premium acrylic canvas range carry the highest UV rating of UPF80. However, a dense shadow offers a more complete protection from UV rays, so for those with sensitive skin, or light-sensitive eyes, a dark canopy could be the ideal choice.
Despite the traditional preference of Off White at many resorts, resorts such as InterContinental in Fiji favour the stylish and low maintenance Charcoal canvas for their canopies. Others such as Raddison Blu favour a dramatic stripe or splash of colour.
Whilst there is no ‘wrong’ answer for the best canopy colour for umbrellas, there are benefits to both pale and dark colours that are worth weighing against each location. To discuss the options for your commercial or residential project, contact the friendly team, or view the colour range in person at the spacious Shade7 showroom at 1096 Great South Road, Mt Wellington 1060.
