Faux Wood Blinds (Inside Mount Dilemma)

6 years ago

So I was looking into having 2 in. Faux Wood blinds installed throughout my house but I'm getting conflicting information on whether I have enough depth to facilitate an inside mount.

I have a ranch-style home built in the 1950's. The walls are plaster and I believe the windows are from Wallside. I have about 1 - 3/4 inches depth from the quarter-round molding (that's around sides and top of each window) to the face of the wall.

The bracket depth for the blinds are 1 - 1/8 inches and it states 3 - 1/2 inches of depth is needed for the valance of the blind to be flush to wall.

Of course I would prefer the blinds be flush with the wall but according to the depth requirements I listed above, it seems that the valance and the 2" slats of the blinds will protrude past the wall about a couple inches.

Not a deal breaker as I was told many people still opt for an inside mount even if the blinds aren't flush and that it still looks nicer than an outside mount. However, I'm getting conflicting information on whether the window in my living room has enough depth as it only has 1 inch between the quarter-round and the face of the wall.

One sales person (who also installs) said 1 inch will be fine. But the second sales person (who doesn't do the install) said that because of the size of my living room window (118" x 76") that blinds with 2" slats will be rather heavy and doesn't feel there's sufficient depth to mount the brackets securely enough to ensure the blinds are mounted safely.

I know the easy answer is to go with an outside mount for my living room window. But perhaps there's a better solution?

Please see the pictures below that shows the window in my living room and note how the quarter-round molding impedes the total depth down to 1 inch. And if anyone has an opinion or suggestion on how to securely do an inside mount in this case, I would really appreciate hearing your recommendation.

Featured Answer

Jeffrey Allen
Original Author

6 years ago

last modified: 6 years ago

Thanks for the suggestion on removing the quarter-round. Would be good to gain an extra inch of depth if the gap isn't too big.

But what about the two pieces of trim that's behind the quarter-round (see third photo) and runs vertically between the window panes? Just leave it?

And if there are large gaps or if one side has a larger gap than the other, are there other ways to hide the gap besides caulk and quarter round?

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Comments (10)

PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
6 years ago
I hate wood blinds so I am not much help I have a 50s ranch and use solar shades for light and heat control but I get to enjoy my view and at night for privacy I have drapes I just find wood blinds or shutters make my space feel dark and I hate not seeing out my windows
Jeffrey Allen thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
Jeffrey Allen
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for your comment. I'm not totally sold on wood blinds. But whatever type of window treatments I go with, the preference is to have them mounted inside the window frame.

I wonder if it would be practical and worthwhile to have the quarter round molding (that I've shown in the photos above) removed from the inside of the window frame to gain more depth? The depth would go from 1 to 2 inches, so I would gain would gain an inch. Just not sure what to do about the gap that the quarter-round is obviously hiding.
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suedonim75
6 years ago
I would remove a piece of the quarter round to see what kind of gap you are dealing with. It’s not hard to do.

If the gap isn’t too big, it might be possible to fill it in with caulk.
Jeffrey Allen thanked suedonim75
Jeffrey Allen
Original Author
6 years ago
Removing the quarter round molding seems like a solution to gaining more depth. But after looking at it more closely (see pic # 3) the vertical molding between the panes actually butts up against the quarter round at the top. So there would be a gap at the top where the quarter round was removed. However I believe the gap would probably be well hidden by the headrail.

I haven't done it yet but it kind of seems like removing the quarter round could open up a can of worms/problems. Be just my luck something would get damaged and I'd end up calling a window installer for repair.

And here's another thing, if we did go with the 2 in. faux wood blinds, even with the added inch of depth gained by removing the quarter round, they still won't be flush and with the window opening. And it looks like most of the blinds have a minim inside depth requirement of 3/4 of an inch. So now I'm thinking what's the point of removing the quarter round?
wacokid
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Removing the quarter round will not be easy and like you said, could cause damage. Faux Wood blinds will be so heavy you will have to have someone pull the string and another person lift the blinds to get them up. There is not enough room anyway, even with the quarter round removed. Curtains or the cellular blinds would be easier.
Jeffrey Allen thanked wacokid
Jeffrey Allen
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Actually from some of the mounting instructions I've been reading, there is enough room. According to this Window FAQ from Blinds.com 3/4 of an inch is the minimum inside mount depth and I have a full inch without removing the quarter round. They just won't be fully recessed.

But you're correct that the weight may be an issue and was the main concern of one of the sales agents I had to my house. They said that because there's only an inch of depth that there'd only be enough for one or two screws in each bracket (on the blinds they sell) and with the window being so large, the blinds will have a lot of weight and thus might not be secure.

But I seen several photos online of wood blinds covering large windows and I don't understand how if they're so heavy, why folks still have them. I like the look of faux wood blinds a lot better than cellular but if weight is an issue maybe that's the way to go?
wacokid
6 years ago
Your trim and windows are really nice, I would find a way to show them off without covering them up with blinds, curtains, etc. Good luck...
PRO
Kimber Feece, A Smith & Noble In-Home Designer
6 years ago
You do have enough room to mount but you will need returns on the headrail because they will protrude even if you remove the 1/4 round.
PRO
Wow Great Place
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I suggest you do 2 or 3 blinds in a window that size. (Split where the windows split), because one big blind at 118x76 is far too big to warranty. It is 62 square feet, which many blind companies won’t even manufacture. you can request one continuous valance to cover the headrails, but I definitely would not recommend doing one giant blind in a faux wood. You’d be better with a Silhouette or a Duette (cellular shade) as they can be made for a window that size.