Rae Top Down Bottom Up Woven Wood Shade Cordless Series C Review (2026): An Owner-Backed Verdict Take

The Judge.me verified buyers on Rae Series C land on the same line of feedback: the cordless top down bottom up mechanism does exactly what the configurator promises, the colour and weave match the swatch kit they ordered first, and the shade arrives sized to spec. The honest counterweight runs equally consistently through the catalog notes on every Rae natural woven shade: unlined bodies cast subtle shadows under direct sun, untreated edges may show minor fraying over years without the optional binding, and the made-to-order build is final sale once produced.

Rae Series C is the cordless TDBU dual-operation entry in the Two Pages Rae natural woven shades line, base from $164.99/shade across 15 calibrated C01 to C15 colorways with weight spanning 350 to 1000 gsm. For the full landscape of Two Pages natural woven shade collections beyond this Series C TDBU configuration, the bamboo and woven wood shades guide maps the complete Rae and Lay lineup.

Real customer installs

Real rooms photographed by verified Two Pages buyers

Verified

6 verified customer photosSourced from verified reviews on Judge.me

Quick Verdict

Cutting to it: Rae Series C TDBU earns 4.4 out of 5. The cordless dual-operation mechanism is the standout, the 15-colorway palette is the widest gsm-graduated range in the Rae lineup, and the configurator handles drops to 94 inches without leaving the kenaf-heavy weave. The honest pull-backs are the same three the catalog discloses: unlined casts shadows on the lighter colorways, untreated edges may fray over years without the binding add-on, and the build is final sale once produced.

If you want cordless TDBU dual operation at the natural woven tier with a kenaf-heavy body and a wide colorway palette, this is the cleanest answer in the Rae line. The rest of this review unpacks the specs, the drape, the real configurator outputs, and where Series C stops being the right call.

Specs Deep-Dive: TDBU Mechanics, 15 Colorways, 350 to 1000 gsm

Material Composition: Ramie, Kenaf, Bamboo Blends per Colorway

Series C is not a single-fibre body. The catalog lists ramie, kenaf and bamboo across the C01 to C15 palette in varying ratios, with two pure-fibre outliers: C04 Gold Leaf is 100% kenaf at 780 gsm, and C05 Onion is 100% ramie at 810 gsm. The rest of the palette runs blends, with kenaf-dominant compositions across most of the mid-tier colorways. For the broader context on the Forest Stewardship Council framework on bamboo and natural fibres, the certified-sustainable supply of these fibres has been the standard reference for natural woven shade catalogs at this tier since 2020. Where Series C lands inside the Rae family is the kenaf-heavy entry: heavier than Series Z (100% pure bamboo) and Series M (ramie + jute), distinct from Series D (jute-dominant) and Series P (smart motorized). Within the Rae Series C TDBU configurator, the colorway choice ends up driving both the visual read and the natural shading behavior under daylight.

Spec	Value (Rae Series C TDBU Cordless default config)
Material	Ramie + kenaf + bamboo blends per colorway (range 350 to 1000 gsm)
Construction	Handwoven, tightly knit, hand-finished per shade
Lift System	Cordless top down bottom up (dual operation, child and pet safe)
Size Range	Width 20 to 94 inches; Length 8 to 94 inches
Headrail	Aluminum alloy, 2″h × 1 1/2″d, full shade width
Bracket	Outside mount 1 1/8″d; Inside mount 1 5/8″d (matching side covers on outside-mount)
Liner Options	Unlined / Privacy Beige White 50 to 75% shading / Blackout White 96 to 100% shading
Edge Binding	Optional add-on to reduce fraying and enhance durability
Available Colors (Series C)	15: C01 Brownish Green to C15 Seabrook (catalog hero Milk Tea C02)
Sold	Per shade (individually)
Lead Time	10 to 12 business days
Care	Dust gently, spot clean only, avoid water saturation
Base Price	from $164.99/shade
Return Policy	Made-to-order, final sale once produced (Rae C Series swatches kit refundable separately)

15 Colorways and gsm by C-Number

The palette is built in tiers, and the gsm climbs as you move from the lighter ramie blends toward the heavier kenaf-dominant tones. C01 Brownish Green and C14 Ivory sit at the airy end (350 and 380 gsm). C02 Milk Tea, C03 Greenwood and the 480 to 500 gsm cluster (C07 to C09, C11 to C13, C15) form the mid-body. The heavy end runs to 1000 gsm at C06 Smoke White, with C04 Gold Leaf, C05 Onion and C10 Grass Yellow filling the dense 780 to 900 gsm slot. The lighter colorways read airier and let more daylight glow through unlined. The heavy tier reads denser, with a stronger natural shadow even unlined.

Cordless TDBU Lift System Mechanics

The TDBU mechanism puts two independent rails on a single body. A top rail that drops from the headrail, a bottom rail that rises from the sill, both cordless, both child and pet safe per the U.S. CPSC window covering safety guidance. The lift mechanism is integrated inside the 2-inch aluminum headrail, with the tension friction calibrated to hold the rails at any intermediate position. You push or pull either rail with one hand. There is no cord loop, no chain, no wand.

Sizing, Mounting and Headrail Dimensions

Series C TDBU runs from 20 to 94 inches wide and 8 to 94 inches long, which covers everything from a narrow bathroom transom to a wide living room window with a tall drop. All mounting hardware is included. The 2-inch aluminum headrail sits at 1 1/2 inch depth, so inside-mount frames need at least that much depth clearance, and outside-mount installs ship with matching side covers by default at no additional cost. The bracket depth runs 1 1/8 inches outside-mount and 1 5/8 inches inside-mount, with the difference accounting for the deeper inside-mount tension fit.

Liner Tiers and Shading Rates

Three configurable liner tiers sit behind the natural woven body. Unlined keeps the full daylight pass at roughly 35% natural shading, but the unlined tier casts subtle shadows under direct sun, more visible on the 350 to 415 gsm light colorways. Privacy liner in Beige White lands at 50 to 75% shading, the standard pick for bedrooms that still want soft morning light through the kenaf weave. Blackout liner in White goes to 96 to 100% shading, with the backing sitting behind both top and bottom rails on the TDBU mechanism, so the dual operation stays functional at full extension.

Drape & Finish: How the Kenaf Weave Reads on TDBU Operation

Kenaf Weave Handfeel and Hand-Finishing

The kenaf weave on Series C reads as horizontal handwoven lines with a subtle warm matte. The hand-finish per shade is visible at the bottom rail and at the side hems, where the woven body locks against the aluminum hardware. The mid-tier 415 to 550 gsm colorways carry the most balanced read between density and translucency. The lighter end (C01, C14, C02, C03) keeps the natural daylight glow through the unlined tier. The heavy end (C06, C10, C04, C05) reads almost like a textile blackout under direct sun even without the liner, but the catalog flags the subtle shadow casting still applies at small percentages.

TDBU Operation Visual Rhythm: Top, Bottom, Both

The three useful TDBU configurations each change the room. Top down drops the upper rail to let in upper natural light while the bottom stays covered for street-side privacy. Bottom up rises the lower rail for an unobstructed view while the top stays covered for overhead privacy. Both at mid-window leaves a layered privacy band that filters direct sightlines from the street while keeping daylight at the top and the bottom of the frame.

Where the Weave Reads Best

Series C lands cleanest in three room types. Coastal and organic-modern living rooms with rattan, oak or olive-green accents where the kenaf-heavy weave reinforces the natural fibre palette. Bedrooms running the privacy or blackout liner for sleep-grade light control behind the body, where TDBU gives you the choice to drop the top in the morning before fully retracting. Urban street-facing rooms where the layered privacy band at mid-window matters more than full retract.

Pricing by Configuration: What the Configurator Actually Returns

Cordless TDBU Base Tier and Liner Upcharges

The $164.99/shade base is the smallest cordless TDBU unlined config. Three typical configurator outputs map the tier ladder. A small bathroom window at 24″ × 36″ unlined returns approximately $189. A standard bedroom window at 36″ × 60″ with privacy liner lands around $239. A wider living room window at 72″ × 84″ with blackout liner runs around $329. The order is made-to-order, with the final price always depending on width, drop and liner choice.

EARTH20 Promo and Free Shipping Threshold

Code EARTH20 applies 20% off natural woven shades and stacks on the Series C configurator output. Free shipping kicks in at $300 cart value, which a two-shade bedroom-tier order clears comfortably. Lead time stays at 10 to 12 business days from order confirmation, with the made-to-order final-sale policy applying once the production cycle starts. The Rae C Series swatch kit ordering is the recommended first step, and that kit stays refundable separately, so the swatch verification stays risk-free.

When to Skip Series C and Pick a Sibling

Where it stops being the right call: if you want a 100% pure single-fibre body with no blends, Series Z in pure bamboo is the answer at $89.99 entry. If you want a smart motorized shade with app-controlled lift, Series P Smart Motorized is the route. If your window is below the 20-inch minimum width or you need a roller mechanism rather than woven flat-fold, the Rae Roller Woven Wood line covers that format instead.

Pros & Cons

Across the cordless TDBU mechanism, the 15-colorway palette and the three liner tiers, Series C lands as a balanced kenaf-heavy entry. The pros and cons cluster cleanly into mechanical strengths versus natural-fibre disclosures.

What Buyers Actually Say

Recurring Praise: TDBU Operation, Swatch Match, Install Fit

Trustpilot reviewers across the Two Pages catalog land at Trustpilot 4.5/5 across 5,000+ owner reviews, and Judge.me verified buyers on the Series C product page hit the same notes. The recurring praise themes are consistent. The shade arrives sized to the configurator dimensions. The colour and weave texture match the swatch kit ordered first. The cordless TDBU operates smoothly out of the box.

Owners particularly call out the side-cover default on outside-mount, the install fit with the included hardware, and the headrail finish at the top of the woven body. The lighter colorways read airier in the room than the swatch suggests under store light. The heavier kenaf colorways read denser and warmer than the swatch in the room.

Recurring Criticism: Shadow Casting, Edge Fraying, Final Sale

The recurring criticism themes are the ones the catalog flags upfront. Unlined bodies cast subtle shadows under direct sun, more visible on the lighter colorways. Untreated edges may show minor fraying over the years if the optional binding add-on is not selected at order. The made-to-order build is final sale once produced, with the swatch kit being the only refundable pre-purchase step. None of these surprise owners who read the configurator notes first.

FAQ

What does top down bottom up actually mean on the Rae Series C cordless shade?

TDBU means the shade has two independent rails on a single body: a top rail that can lower from the headrail, and a bottom rail that can raise from the sill. The cordless lift on Series C lets you slide either rail with a simple push or pull, in three useful configurations: top down for upper natural light with bottom-side privacy, bottom up for an unobstructed view with overhead privacy, or both at mid-window for a layered privacy band that filters direct sightlines while keeping daylight at top and bottom of the frame.

Is Rae Series C 100% bamboo or a blend?

Series C is a blend that varies by colorway, not single-fibre. The catalog lists ramie, kenaf and bamboo across the C01 to C15 palette: 90% ramie + 10% bamboo for C01 and C06, 50% ramie + 40% kenaf + 10% bamboo for C02 and C03, 100% kenaf for C04 Gold Leaf, 100% ramie for C05 Onion, and kenaf-dominant blends across most of the rest. The fully single-fibre alternative in the Rae line is Series Z at 100% pure bamboo.

How much does a typical Series C TDBU shade cost?

Base price is from $164.99/shade for the smallest cordless TDBU unlined config. A typical 36″ × 60″ bedroom config with privacy liner returns around $239, a 24″ × 36″ small bathroom config around $189, and a 72″ × 84″ wide living room shade with blackout liner around $329. Code EARTH20 applies 20% off natural woven shades. Free shipping unlocks above $300 cart value.

Can I get blackout liner on a TDBU Series C shade?

Yes. The configurator offers three liner tiers on Series C TDBU: unlined (light filtering only, subtle shadow casting on lighter colorways), privacy liner in Beige White (50 to 75% shading rate), and blackout liner in White (96 to 100% shading rate). The blackout liner sits behind both top and bottom rails on the TDBU mechanism, so the dual operation stays functional with full light blockage when both rails are at full extension.

What are the maximum dimensions and headrail size on Series C TDBU?

Width ranges from 20 to 94 inches and length from 8 to 94 inches, with all hardware included. The headrail measures 2 inches high by 1 1/2 inches deep in aluminum alloy, full shade width. Bracket depth is 1 5/8 inches inside-mount and 1 1/8 inches outside-mount. Matching side covers are included by default on outside-mount orders.

What is the lead time on a custom Series C order and can I return it?

10 to 12 business days from order confirmation, before shipping. All 15 C01 to C15 colorways are standard inventory, with stock varying batch to batch. The order is made-to-order and final sale once produced. The recommended workflow is to order the Rae Natural Woven Shade Swatches Kit C Series first to confirm colour, kenaf weave texture and how the body reads against your room daylight before locking the configurator.

Which Version to Buy

This fabric is sold in 10 versions, with starting prices from $89.99 to $164.99 per panel. The table below is the short way to place yourself.

Same cloth throughout, so ignore the fabric line and choose on the heading and the mechanism instead.

Starting prices are the published per-panel entry point on the brand catalogue and rise with width, length, lining and heading. Owner ratings are the brand product page aggregates at the time of writing.

Final Verdict

Here’s where I land after all this: Rae Series C TDBU earns 4.4 out of 5 as the right call for owners who want a cordless top down bottom up shade on a kenaf-heavy natural woven body, with a 15-colorway palette graduated from 350 to 1000 gsm, a configurator that handles widths and drops to 94 inches, and a blackout liner option at 96 to 100% shading available behind the same dual-operation mechanism. The honest pull-backs are the ones the catalog flags upfront: subtle shadow casting at the unlined tier on the lighter colorways, edge fraying risk over years without the binding add-on, and made-to-order final-sale once produced (the swatch kit being the only refundable first step). If your room calls for layered privacy and natural warmth at the window without going to a single-fibre Series Z or a motorized Series P, this is the one I’d pick.