I think shutters would look great on these windows. You can block the light when you need to and you can leave them open most of the time when you want the view.

There is a film that can be applied to the windows that blocks the sun. I used it on an older home that we had. If applied correctly it doesn't bubble and you can wash without even knowing it's there. It would work if you are interested in keeping the same look. I like the plantation looking blinds...you still have a nice view when they are open and close when the sun is shining through.

Outdoor awnings? - Would probably shade great - but not an in expensive option. Maybe window valances with recessed mini-blinds? If the valance just barely hung down a few inches from the top, you could pull them open all the way to the top and they would be hidden by the valance. You dont have to have cheap plastic ones any more - they have faux wood & aluminum ones (many color choices) now which are much easier to clean than the old vinyl ones and they dont break! Then you could close them fully at night time for privacy.

Roman shades are an all or nothing thing. You might feel like you're in a cave when they are down...and what a shame to lose that view. Wood blinds give you the best of both worlds and are much less costly than shutters...tho I do love shutters. Another option is solar shades. They now have many materials which look more like a woven wood/reed material. The darker the material, the better the sun control. They do not however provide privacy. Many woven wood companies now have something called a "Dual Shade"...a woven wood shade which folds up and down like a roman shades but also has a roller shade behind it. Good Luck!

I love plantation shutters, but they do have to be opened and closed when opening and closing the windows - which you probably do a lot in this room. That can be a real problem depending upon where furniture is placed. I would go with wood 2" blinds. Blinds are the most versatile - they can be completely or partially raised, the slats can be adjusted and they can be totally closed for privacy and/or heat & light control. I think that they would also probably complement the feeling of the room and the woodsy views. They come in a lot of different price points these days (check out jcpenney.com - they often have them on sale) and some of the vinyl ones are nice looking. Good luck!

Solar Shades. Black allows the best view to exterior.

I totally agree that Solar Shades are the best invention! Perfect for daytime to let the light in but keep the heat and harmful rays out. Only drawback is they are useless for night/privacy. If that isn't a concern they're the answer. Can top with a decorative valance if it is too modern looking. They work well in all homes!

Great ideas everyone! Thank you! If I do the wood blinds with a valance or the solar shades with a valance, what do I do with that sliding door that is in between the windows??

Hi again Betsy: You can install blinds over sliding doors (sorry, I forgot you said you had these in here), but unless you really don't use them much, I don't think it's a real practical installation. I think that I would use drapery panels on these. A soft woven panel would be nice, or if you want something a bit heavier, I would go with a grommet-style curtain because these tend to be not as full, and therefore stack into a smaller space. I found a photo on Houzz of what I am talking about, but I don't know how to copy the photo to here - any help on that?

For obvious reasons, sliding doors cannot have something mounted directly on each door. They would have to be mounted either on the outermost door frame or on the wall. If all the other windows have inside mounted shades/blinds...an outside mounted version of the same thing on the slider will look weird. I agree with Vivien...panels are probably the most effective. You might even feel like adding sidepanels at the far ends of the other windows...to balance it all off and bring it all together. Does that make sense? It's been my professional experience that grommet panels do not close/open as fluidly as panels on rings. The spacing of the grommets needs to be generous. I would go with a nice rod with rings.

Question for finishing room, do you mean panels on all windows?? Or panels on the ends with the blinds and valances? Thanks, this is helping.

I would recommend top-down, bottom-up Roman shades inset into your window frames. A flat style shade would be the most minimal look. You can let light in from above even when you need some privacy. You can block the sun at whatever height you need. Pulled all the way up, they will only take up the top 6 or 8 inches of the windows.

You can achieve the same functionality with top-down, bottom-up honeycomb blinds, but I prefer the look of the Roman shades.

For your sliding doors you can either use drapery panels or vertical blinds. There are now vertical blinds that are quite nice looking -- not talking about those old vinyl slats that rattle in the breeze. You can see some nice ones on Hunter Douglas website, but they aren't the only ones who make them.

Betsy...I don't think you want panels on all the windows...too much fabric. Though I don't know the exact layout of the room, I think you can get by with panels on the far ends and also flanking the slider...perhaps one in the corners...depends on how much room you have there. Regarding the top down/bottom up shades...they do serve a great function. I just don't like the string which comes down from the top. Just a personal preferance. Lisa

Thanks lisa,

We applied the solar film to our sliding glass door for just this issue. I didn't want the kids tearing up shades running in and out to the pool all day! It was inexpensive at Home Depot and easy to apply, it has drastically reduced the heat from the sun and gives a mirrored appearance during the day from the outside for privacy. Good luck!

Just remember that the mirror effect only works during the day. It is totally transparent at night when it is darker outside and lighter inside. You did say you wanted privacy, so you need opaque blinds/drapes/shutters ... whatever, it just needs to be an opaque option and you do need something on all the windows if privacy is an issue. Just saying ...

I used solar panels floor to ceiling on tracks (attached to the ceiling) for 16' sliding doors that open from the center and look out a west view that reflects intense sunlight over water. Needed sunglasses before and lots of heat, even with film and/or insulated windows. Now we can see the view, no glare and the room has filtered sunlight. Used a bisque and have four panels on each side that slide back against the side walls with a simple wand. Love that I can get in and out of the sliding door by only opening one panel a few feet. And the heat reduction is very environmentally friendly here in Florida. Great solution if you have room for the panels to snug back to the walls. A friend has hers mounted above the sliding doors and they are raised and lowered via remote control....pricey!

Hello,
May I suggest using wooden blinds at windows...drapery panels at sliding doors - all in which would be pratical and cost effective with energy and your pockets. All around win-win situation. At least, thats what I have done. Wooden blinds are beautiful at my windows and once closed its a black out feature. Great for a good nap in the day and blacks the lamp post near my window at night. The drapery panels at my sliding door is open in the day and drawn at night. And must I say it is gorgeous. Hope I helped.

My husband refuses to even see a house that backs west in the sunbelt. I keep on telling him that solar shades will preserve the beautiful water view and stop the burning heat and light. Patti, do you have any pictures you can post so I can show my husband that this can work. He insists that if solar shades stop the heat that they also stop the view. What do people suggest to add to the solar shades to provide privacy?

Solar shades work well when they are down but still sacrifice your view. Window film is the answer to everything you are looking for, temperature and glare control without sacrificing the view.

We have helped clients with solar shades only to come back later and install film for better protection. Shades still allow unwanted heat into your home while window film stops it at the glass.

Lots of choices are available, you can see plenty of images on our profile page or contact a local window film professional.

What percentage of tint would you recommend for a west facing window in the Southwest? We have faux wood blinds on all the windows in the great room. However, there is an eyebrow window that has no window covering. We do have solar screens on all the windows including the eyebrow.

Also, do you think a Roman shade would work on an eyebrow window? What do you think of plantation shutters? Any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Pam