LUXURY OUTDOOR LIVING FOR YOUR HOME

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PREMIER SHADE

As the golden light of evening settles across Northern Indiana lakes and backyards, families naturally drift outdoors — gathering on porches, relaxing beside the lake and lingering on patios long after dinner. Yet even the most thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces can become difficult to enjoy during intense sun, gusty winds, insect issues or unpredictable weather. Richard Fishburn loves helping people change that.

Through Premier Shade, Richard and his wife, Brittany, are helping homeowners throughout Northern Indiana and Northwest Ohio transform patios, porches, pergolas, docks, garages and outdoor gathering areas into inviting extensions of the home. Their motorized retractable awnings and retractable shade screens provide comfort, elegance, privacy and protection while creating spaces families can truly enjoy.

“What I enjoy most,” Richard says, “is seeing the spaces transform and be able to be utilized.”

That transformation often begins with a simple conversation.

Richard explains that the consultation process is intentionally relaxed and pressure-free. He spends time learning how homeowners hope to use their space before ever discussing products or pricing.

A striped navy blue and white motorized retractable awning extended over a backyard concrete patio. The awning is mounted to a house with blue vinyl siding above a glass sliding door. The patio features wicker chairs with cushions, potted flowers, a covered grill, and a green lawn that stretches toward a lake in the background under a clear blue sky. — Retractable patio awning over a backyard deck by the lake.

“The design process is relatively straightforward,” Richard says. “I spend a few minutes getting to know the customer, asking how they intend to use the space. This helps me understand if one of our products is going to be the right fit for them.”

After evaluating mounting areas, dimensions and obstacles, Richard walks customers through frame colors, fabrics and design options while preparing pricing on-site. He says his goal is to provide accurate pricing before leaving the home so customers can comfortably ask questions face-to-face.

For many homeowners, the response after installation is immediate.

“It is usually some variation of, ‘WOW!’” Richard says.

Richard shares that many customers initially feel unsure of where to begin, especially if they have never explored outdoor shade systems before or have had unpleasant experiences in the past while exploring various projects.

“For this reason, and others, we don’t do pressure,” he says.

Some homeowners are not ready or are leery of having an on-site design consultation. In that case, they can simply start by sending a few photos of their outdoor space through email, allowing Richard to begin discussing ideas and possibilities before ever stepping onto the property.

“We truly enjoy walking through the possibilities with each customer,” he says.

Premier Shade may be a newer business name, but Richard is far from new to the industry. He has spent 13 years in the shade business and more than 16 years working in design-related fields. What began as experience in the industry gradually became a vision for creating a company centered around exceptional customer service, honest communication and high-quality products without inflated costs.

The company operates using a mobile business model rather than a large storefront. Richard says this helps minimize unnecessary overhead expenses and allows Premier Shade to pass savings directly to customers while still delivering what he describes as a “white-glove” experience.

Premier Shade serves a remarkably large territory throughout Northern Indiana and Northwest Ohio, including communities from South Bend to Kokomo, Fort Wayne to Fremont and many lake communities in between. Richard says efficiency and communication are what make that broad service area possible.

“We try to schedule design consultations while we are already in the area so we are not forced to rush the process to get to the next appointment,” he says.

That same careful scheduling also allows the company to complete multiple installations in one region while minimizing fuel costs and maximizing time with customers.

Communication remains one of the company’s strongest priorities.

“While we are in the shade business, we are also in the people business,” Richard says. “Word of mouth is the best and worst advertisement.”

A three-ring binder open to a fabric sample page showing a striped pattern in navy blue, beige, and white. A label in the upper right reads "NAVY/TAUPE ERAD-S". Two smaller color chips are attached to the ring mechanism over the page, including a tan chip labeled "BEIGE" and a dark navy chip. — Striped fabric pattern and color swatches for custom awnings.

He explains that customers are usually very understanding when changes or delays are communicated clearly. Problems arise, he says, when companies fail to keep homeowners informed.

“We try to treat everyone how we would want to be treated,” Richard says.

That philosophy seems to resonate with customers. One online reviewer, John D., shared, “Premier Shade transformed our outdoor space beautifully! Their expertise and service are unmatched.”

Premier Shade offers several types of motorized retractable awnings and shade screens, with hundreds of fabric colors and weave options available. Their retractable awnings include integrated LED lighting built directly into the arms of the awning, allowing homeowners to continue enjoying outdoor areas well after sunset. The systems also include protective cases that shield awning fabric from weather and UV exposure when retracted.

Many of the features offered by Premier Shade are considered upgrades elsewhere but come standard through their manufacturer partnerships. Richard partners with respected American companies including Marygrove Awnings and SunPro Products to provide products made in the United States.

The company’s retractable screens are equally versatile. Homeowners can use them for shade, privacy, insect protection and wind reduction. Richard notes that the heavy-duty bottom bars and self-adjusting track systems can withstand wind ratings up to 75 mph.

Richard says one of the features customers often end up appreciating most is the ability to customize exactly how much shade or screening they want throughout the day.

“For screens and awnings alike, they don’t have to be all the way extended or retracted,” Richard says. “You can lower a screen to keep the sun out of your eyes, but still maintain your view!”

The growing popularity of outdoor living spaces has helped increase interest in products like these. Richard says television renovation shows and design magazines have shifted the way people think about their patios and porches.

“There has been an increasing emphasis on luxury outdoor living,” he says. “Home remodeling programs and magazines are emphasizing the remodeling and revitalization of outdoor living spaces as an extension of the interior of the home.”

Premier Shade products help create that seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living. A shaded patio suddenly becomes a comfortable dining space. A breezy porch transforms into an outdoor room. A lakeside seating area becomes usable throughout much more of the day.

“Our retractable awnings provide shade overhead during the day and then light up the area at night with our integrated lights so that a homeowner has essentially doubled their investment,” Richard says.

The company also offers maintenance and winterization services to help homeowners protect that investment long-term. Services include cleaning awning fabric, removing and storing valances during winter months, reinstalling them in spring, and replacing batteries in wind sensors and remotes.

“We offer premier products and want them to last as long as possible,” Richard says.

Throughout the company’s growth, Richard says Brittany has played a vital role behind the scenes.

“Brittany has been my biggest supporter,” he says. “Premier Shade would not be possible without her help.”

Two large grey motorized retractable shades lowered to enclose a modern covered patio structure attached to a house. The lower portion of the patio wall features a decorative grey faux stone veneer panel. In the foreground, a paved stone walkway runs alongside a graveled landscaping bed containing a small young tree. — Custom grey motorized retractable exterior screens installed on a covered patio, providing wind, insect, and sun protection while complementing the grey stone veneer architecture.

Her bookkeeping and accounting background, combined with her organizational skills, have helped streamline operations and maintain efficiency. Richard says customers who call Premier Shade will speak directly with either him or Brittany.

That personal connection matters deeply to the Fishburn family.

Richard says he never takes lightly the trust customers place in Premier Shade when inviting the company into their homes and outdoor living spaces.

“Our approach is to treat everyone’s home as if it were our own, or better.”

Perhaps that welcoming approach is part of why Premier Shade continues to grow primarily through referrals and word of mouth. Families are not simply purchasing awnings or screens. They are creating gathering places where children splash nearby after dinner, friends linger long after sunset, and outdoor spaces remain inviting through changing sun, wind and weather conditions.

Richard says he hopes customers remember not only the finished space, but also the sense of partnership and enjoyment shared throughout the process of creating it together.

“I want them to know they have been a blessing to our business and family,” he says, “and that they are now part of the Premier Shade family.”

As evening settles across the lakes and neighborhoods of Northern Indiana, those transformed spaces often become the places where families naturally gather — sharing meals outdoors, enjoying quiet conversations, watching the sunset or simply lingering a little longer in comfort. For Richard Fishburn, helping create those moments is what Premier Shade is truly about.