Figure Eight Island & Masonboro Sound: Real fixes for odd-shaped, floor-to-ceiling windows on the ICW

Yes, we can tame those huge glass walls, arches, and tricky triangles that look straight out over the water. On the ICW side of Figure Eight (Beach Road North/South, Comber Road) and along Masonboro Sound Road and Trails End, what works is simple: coastal-tough motorized solar shades for the big spans, composite plantation shutters or specialty honeycombs for arches and angles, and quiet, low-profile hardware that won’t corrode. We at Strickland’s Home measure, fabricate, and install with our in-house team—and we’re used to ARC/HOA submissions on the island and the logistics of that bridge and security gate.

Why ICW-facing glass here is trickier than most

• Afternoon glare: West-facing ICW windows on Figure Eight get hammered after 2 PM. Masonboro Sound homes often get harsh midday bounce off the water.
• Salt air and humidity: Bare steel and cheap chains pit and rust fast. Fabrics can stain if they trap salt and pollen.
• Spring realities: March brings pine pollen that turns every screen fabric yellow and makes tracks gritty—right as you’re prepping for Azalea Festival visitors.
• ARC/HOA: Figure Eight’s ARC typically prefers neutral, consistent exterior-facing colors. We supply spec sheets and samples they accept.
• Hurricane season ahead: Interior treatments aren’t storm protection, but headrail choices and mounts matter when you also rely on impact glass or exterior shutters.

What actually survives salt air out here

• Motorized screen shades with powder-coated aluminum brackets and stainless fasteners. We favor 3%–5% openness for glare control and view, with sealed headboxes/fascia to keep out salt and pollen.
• Composite shutters for shapes: Hunter Douglas Palm Beach Polysatin won’t warp or peel. Great for arches, eyebrows, and triangles.
• Specialty-shape honeycombs: Duette Architella for angled/arched clerestories where you want insulation and a clean, fitted look.
• Vertical sheers for sliders: Luminette or Vertiglide systems ride smoothly and don’t corrode like old-school metal tracks.
• Automation that lasts: Hardwired motors where possible (salt air is tough on batteries). If we do batteries, we place power supplies where you can reach them and spec marine-grade connections.

We’re a longtime Hunter Douglas dealer and we curate coastal-safe hardware and fabrics. If it rusts in a year, we don’t use it.

Our field notes from last month

Our installers were out on Beach Road North on Figure Eight in late February setting 12-foot motorized screen shades (3% charcoal/gray) across a glass wall that faces straight over the ICW. We templated two triangular clerestories above the main spans and fitted Duette specialty shapes so the homeowners kept their view without that brutal late-day glare. A few days later on Masonboro Sound Road near Trails End, we added Palm Beach Polysatin sunburst shutters in an eyebrow window over a slider and matched the backing to a neutral white the owners’ ARC had asked about. Both jobs included a fresh-water rinse of exterior-facing glass and a pollen-safe cleanup—because March.

Solutions that work, by window type

• Floor-to-ceiling glass facing the ICW
  • Designer Screen Shades (3%–5% openness). For Figure Eight’s west-facing rooms, 3% is the sweet spot. East or north exposures along Masonboro Sound often do fine with 5%.
  • Dual shades: Pair a 3% solar with a room-darkening roller for movie nights or guest rooms. Low-profile, 4–5 inch fascia hides both rolls cleanly.
  • Side channels: In bedrooms or media rooms, slim channels tame light “halo” without looking commercial.
• Arches, eyebrows, and trapezoids
  • Composite plantation shutters shaped to fit. Hidden tilt and adjustable louvers let you cut glare but keep the marsh view. See our coastal-tough plantation shutters.
  • Duette specialty shapes in light-filtering or room-darkening. These are tight-fitted—no sag, no flutter in sea breezes.
• Corner glass-to-glass and high clerestories
  • Motorized shades with compact headboxes mounted to steel or engineered blocking. We laser-measure and aim for minimal stack to keep that “all glass” look.
  • For fixed clerestories you rarely touch, we can set a light-diffusing cellular insert that looks built-in.
• Sliders to decks and docks
  • Luminette Privacy Sheers or Duette Vertiglide that stack tightly off the opening and glide smoothly even on humid days. Great for traffic to the dock without fuss.

Want to soften acoustics in those hard-surface great rooms? Layer with side panels from our custom drapery workroom. We pick salt-air-friendly linings and keep projection tight so panels don’t “sail” when you crack the doors.

ARC/HOA approvals and on-island logistics

• Submittals: We prep a simple packet—fabric swatch, openness %, exterior-facing color, headbox drawings, and photos. Figure Eight’s ARC has appreciated neutral white/linen backings that read consistent from the water.
• Vendor access: We coordinate gate passes and delivery windows, and we’re mindful of bridge traffic and parking near dune walkovers and docks.
• Tall glass: If we need a lift for 18–20 foot installs, we plan it around landscaping crews and quiet hours. We protect floors and sills, especially around salt-stressed metals.

Local pricing and March lead times

• Motorized screen shades for large spans: typically $1,800–$4,000 per opening (width, height, motor type, and fabric drive this).
• Dual roller systems: typically +$600–$1,200 over single shade.
• Palm Beach Polysatin specialty-shape shutters: typically $750–$1,400 per opening depending on size and louver.
• Duette specialty shapes: typically $500–$1,200 per unit.
• Luminette/Vertiglide for sliders: typically $1,800–$3,500 per door.

Measured, ordered, and installed by our in-house team. March timelines: measure this week, ARC (if needed) usually 2–4 weeks, fabrication 3–5 weeks. That gets most projects wrapped before Memorial Day and ahead of the June storm watch.

Care during pollen and salt season

• Monthly fresh-water wipe on headboxes and endcaps; microfiber on shade fabrics. Skip harsh cleaners.
• Vacuum with a soft brush after heavy pollen weeks. A quick compressed-air puff along side channels keeps motors happy.
• Before hurricane threats: run motorized shades up, lock louvers closed on shutters, and make sure exterior panels (if you have them) have clear access.

If you’re pairing windows with storage projects during a spring refresh, our closet and garage teams can work in the same visit. See our custom closets and custom garages—handy when you’re staging for festival guests.

Watch: Strickland’s Blinds, Shades & Shutters

Want a quick look at the shutters, shades, and blinds we install up and down the coast? This short video from our team says it better than we can in print.

If you’d rather talk it through in person, reach out to schedule a free in-home consultation or stop by our showroom on Oleander Drive.

Figure Eight & Masonboro Sound FAQs

Will my Figure Eight ARC sign off on screen shades you can see from the water?
Usually yes, if the exterior-facing color is neutral and the hardware is clean-lined. We bring fabrics in whites/linens/soft grays and provide spec sheets and elevations that ARC reviewers expect. We’ll label visible backs, fascia, and openness % so there are no surprises.

What won’t rust out here? Do chains and brackets really hold up on the ICW?
Go motorized where you can and use powder-coated aluminum with stainless fasteners. If you want a manual control, pick stainless or resin bead chains—never plain steel. For shapes, Palm Beach Polysatin shutters don’t warp or peel, and Duette cells don’t have exposed metal to corrode.

We get blasted by late-day glare off the ICW. What openness do I need to see boats but cut heat?
For west-facing glass on Figure Eight, 3% openness is our go-to. It knocks down the glare and heat while keeping the view. Along Masonboro Sound with more east or north light, 5% often balances view and comfort. We’ll mock up both on-site at the worst time of day so you can compare.

We’ve served the Cape Fear coast for decades from our showroom at 5422 Oleander Drive. When you’re ready, schedule a free on-site consultation. Our in-house team handles measuring, ARC paperwork help, and installation—no subcontractors. Call us at (910) 762-0944, and if you’re reading from our North Myrtle Beach service area, reach our team at (843) 249-3865. Or stop by the Oleander Drive showroom to see fabrics and motors in person.