Need help with window treatments

11 years ago

I know, ultimately, it's a matter of preference, but would love to hear feedback on what Houzzers have learned from experience: top down/bottom up blinds, wood shutters, or Roman blinds...maintenance, durability, luxury-at-reasonable-cost? And does it matter if window treatments don't match from the outside (i.e., do they all have to be uniform)? Finally, how "unhomey" would it be NOT to have any window treatments on some (though I might have trouble convincing my very private husband to do this!)? Btw, we're not generally curtains people.

Here's info, in case it helps.
First floor: (on slope with front higher above ground than back)
4 windows facing east (front street, no neighbors, just foresty ravine)--Image 1 shows view from 1st floor doorway
2 windows facing north (in same room, near neighbor's yard)
2 windows facing west (backyard, neighbors at some distance and at higher level) + sliding double door (already hung curtains)

Second floor: (all bedrooms, front is 2 stories above ground, back is eye level with neighbors)
6 windows facing east (front, a pair in each of 3 rooms, incl master)
2 windows facing west (back, 1 in master bath)--Image 2 shows view from 2nd floor master bath

Would really like to splurge on Romans for master bed and bath but nervous about how unmatched treatments would look from outside.

Thoughts? Thanks!

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Comments (4)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
11 years ago
You can line your roman shades with a neutral lining that will make them all look the same from outside. As for wood shutters Ireally dislike them as I find they are heavy looking block way too much light and view.I would do the same drapes in the main floor as you have on the doors already upstairs roman shades in all the spaces but lined so that each room can have them that coordinate with te decor.
marjie1059
11 years ago
My personal opinion is always more light, please! I intensely dislike anything that prevents the light from coming in my house--including window treatments. But I hate passersby (we don't have neighbors on 3 sides, but the side with neighbors across the street is also very close to the road) being able to look in my house and see who is home and what we are doing (as the day dwindles and I insist that the windows facing the road get covered, even though the kids don't care).
Add to that my observance that window treatments are usually a distraction from the rest of the house. That is, they can look snazzy, but if you have, say, a great fireplace, then the window treatments compete with the fireplace. No window treatments helps give a clean, crisp look for way less $ (as in, zero $) than window treatments.
Add to that another observance that (I don't know where you live, so I don't know how much this means to you) north windows often need something in the winter to protect from cold and wind; west windows often need something in the summer to protect from afternoon sun; east BR windows may need something so people can sleep past 5:30 a.m.; and south windows (you don't have any?) need summer protection from sun and heat. (My house also does not have central air.)

You said you are not curtain people, really, but sheers may give the privacy and still let in a lot of light.
I also look at maintenance and cleaning. I'm just not into spending a lot of money upfront for things that will later require a bunch of time and/or money to maintain and keep clean.
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renaissance930
Original Author
11 years ago
Thanks for the suggestions! Hadn't really thought of sheers, but might be the best compromise for me and the husband. I like lots of light; he'd live in a cave if it meant privacy!

Reflections on weather and various-facing windows is also helpful. We're in southwestern PA so cold in the winter is definitely a consideration.

Re Roman shades and uniform backs...so you wouldn't go the route of having non-matched treatments throughout the house? Top-down, bottom-up shades for some rooms and Romans for others?

Thanks!
marjie1059
11 years ago
I have seen some very nice Roman shades, but I think they look bulky (clunky) and heavy and distracting. I thought long and hard about cellular shades, especially the top-down, bottom-up ones that would enable me to let lots of light in while maintaining some privacy. However, the room in which I teach Sunday School has them, and it's annoying to have to be meticulous about being exactly centered when trying to raise them. Otherwise, the shad is tilted and that won't work very well. (Maybe they were quite inexpensive--i.e., not well-made?) So I never have bought them. Honestly, for the two windows in my kitchen that are visible by passing motorists, I have tension rods, and I put them up every night and take them down every morning. Bad--they're not made to do that, so the rubber ends have come off and some long scratches are in my beautiful hand-stained cherry window trim now because the kids didn't realize they had to be super careful and couldn't just yank the rod out. Good--I can carry out the same effect as the cellulars going from either direction, so I can still see the sunsets while not putting our family on display.