Key Takeaways
- The same motorized louver mechanism can be dressed in a custom trim package to read as transitional or classic rather than modern.
- Non-structural “dummy posts” were added purely to give this homeowner the look of posts in the back of the structure they wanted.
- Louvers can be closed by section — shade over one part of the patio, open sun over another, controlled from the same remote.
- Rain sensors close the louvers automatically mid-party, and trim details were matched to trim that already existed on the house.
Not every custom pergola project is about a totally new architectural style — sometimes it's about making a modern, motorized system disappear into a home's existing look. In this walkthrough, Dana Shaw takes viewers through a recently completed project in Purchase, NY, focused specifically on the custom trim, column details, and control features that make a system feel built for the house rather than added onto it.
Modern Hardware, Transitional Look
As Dana explains at the start of the walkthrough: “these modern systems can look transitional, we can match any architecture to customer desires.” The Azenco R-Blade™'s motorized louver mechanism is inherently a modern piece of hardware, but the trim, columns, and finish details wrapped around it are fully customizable. In this project, Dana describes putting what he calls a custom trim package on the structure, built to the exact specification the homeowner wanted so the finished system reads as transitional rather than modern — despite housing the same motorized louvers underneath.
Dummy Posts: Solving for Look Without Adding Structure
One detail Dana calls out specifically is a set of what he refers to as dummy posts: “these are actually dummy posts just to give the customer the look of posts in the back that they wanted — we created these just to give it that look and feel that they really were looking for.” These are non-structural additions, built purely to satisfy a visual preference for symmetry or column placement that the structural design didn't otherwise require. It's a good example of how custom trim work goes beyond finish colors — sometimes it means adding elements with no engineering role at all, purely so the finished structure looks the way the homeowner pictured it.
Sectional Control: Sun on One Side, Shade on the Other
Dana demonstrates the remote control on camera, opening and closing sections independently: “if you want some shade, close one section, leave the other section open — maybe someone wants to sit in the shade, maybe someone wants to sit in the sun. In this particular instance I can close up that one section and leave this section open, totally versatile.” On a multi-bay system, this section-by-section control means the structure doesn't have to be all-open or all-closed — different parts of a patio can serve different preferences at the same time.
Weatherproofing a Party: The Rain Sensor in Action
Dana also walks through what happens if weather turns mid-gathering: “imagine you're having a party and it starts to rain — well don't worry, there's rain sensors, these things are automatically closed to keep you dry, all your cushions will stay dry, you don't have to go running and putting them into storage bins.” That automatic response is one of the most practical arguments for a motorized system over a fixed roof or manual awning — the structure reacts to weather in real time, without anyone needing to be paying attention to the sky.
Airflow and Heat: Fans and Bromic Heaters
The project also includes high-airflow fans and Bromic 6000-watt heaters, extending comfortable use of the space through both hot afternoons and cooler evenings. Dana shows a second seating area on the same patio built around a fire table, where the group can sit outside after dark once the temperature drops — the same principle of designing for use across a full range of conditions, not just peak summer daylight.
Matching Existing Trim, Down to the Detail
The trim on the finished pergola was matched to trim that already existed on the house prior to installation — the homeowner wanted the new structure to visually continue what was already there rather than introduce a new style. As Dana summarizes: “whether it's a 10-inch column, a 12-inch column, squares, crown, modern, transitional, it doesn't matter — what Breslow does is handcraft the perfect custom motorized high-tech pergola system to do everything you want it to do.”
You can see more of this Purchase, NY project in our portfolio, and browse more custom trim, column, and architectural style options in our custom styles gallery. If you're designing around an existing home's architecture, start with a custom pergola consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a modern louvered pergola be made to look transitional or classic?
Yes. As shown in this Purchase, NY project, Breslow builds the same motorized louver mechanism into a custom trim package designed around each home's existing architecture, so a system that is mechanically modern reads as transitional or classic depending on the trim, columns, and details applied.
What are dummy posts on a pergola, and why would I want them?
Dummy posts are non-structural columns added purely for visual symmetry or style — in this project, they gave the homeowner the look of posts in the back of the structure that they wanted, without those posts bearing structural load.
Can different sections of a louvered roof be opened or closed independently?
Yes, on a multi-section system the louvers can be controlled by section — one area closed for shade while another stays open for sun, controlled from the same remote.
Do the louvers really close automatically if it starts raining during a party?
Yes — rain sensors trigger the Azenco R-Blade™'s louvers to close automatically, so cushions and furniture stay dry without anyone needing to run outside mid-event.