Looks good so far. I can’t wait to see your reveal.

I love Roman shades but I guess that wouldn’t be a solution here.

Perhaps a simple bottom up shade in a textured linen look?

Top down, bottom up. We love ours!

Are you looking for all day coverage or just when you need it? I think a Roman shade is a great idea. Down when you need it. Up when you don't.

I love this type of print on a Roman.

A frosted window film would be perfect here. We put one on our back door and I love it. The one from amazon would be very pretty in your bathroom.

@eld6161 - what makes you think Roman shades won't be a good solution? I might go with a simple white, and instead of pattern a texture or something. I do like the possibility.

@Lisa T - will look into the top down bottom up. I'm assuming the window would be open most of the time - it gives me a cross-breeze from the bedroom windows - the window itself is pretty much open from May-October.

@Lisa Caudill Designs - as mentioned in the OP, I don't want anything that obstructs my views. Frosted window films do that by definition, I believe.

At night, with a light on, frosted will offer zero privacy. Your neighbors will see a perfect silhouette.

Carrie, only because you might have to keep lowering them for privacy? And you might feel it’s inconvenient.

Sorry I had skipped where you wanted to keep the view. My apologies first the miss.

I think a valance with top down bottom up shade would be great.

@Lisa T - Thanks. Truth is, my neighbors are rarely out on their balcony, but they are - once in a while. Mostly I don't like the film because I like to be able to look out the window (isn't that what windows are mostly for?)

@eld6161 - good point. I don't think it would bother me. But, I suppose, if it were open and I were naked in the middle of the night and my neighbors were partying on the balcony, well, I'd either have to put a robe on to go to the bathroom, or I'd have to walk up to the window in order to close it, hoping my partying neighbors & their friends didn't happen to look toward my window at just the right moment... I do have blinds (& curtain panels) on my bedroom windows that I close every night & open every morning.

@Lisa Caudill Designs Do you have a photo of such a setup? I'm having a hard time imagining what a balance with the top down shades would look like.

I would use a white shade, interior mounted, top down bottom up. It looks like you can have full light coming in at the top all the time and still retain your privacy.

Top down, bottom up Silhouette. Privacy with a view. · More Info

@calidesign - look at the photo of the balconies out the window - it's actually the *top* of the window that people could see in - not the bottom.

You might be better off with a plantation shutter if that's the case. You can see out, but can tilt it up or down depending on your privacy needs.

I like the look of plantation shutters, BUT I want to be able to open the window completely - I look out my windows A LOT, and that doesn't seem like a good option with PS. I can open the blinds themselves - but them I'm peeking through the slats, and if the door of the shutters are hinged, they either bang into my vanity or into the towel rack. Am I understanding them correctly?

I think that leaves Roman shades, blinds that can go all the way up, or maybe regular panels as best option. Does that sound right?

I love my plantation shutters, but you are right, it would not be an option. Years ago though, I recall bi-fold shutters, but in your case I don’t think it would work because it’s too close to the vanity, and it wouldn’t look good either.

We did something unusual for my youngest who lives in an apartment in the city. Her window looks right across a courtyard to a music school.

We put a blackout shade behind a venstain blind. She has so many options with this scenario.

What if you put a plain window shade behind the Roman? The Roman can stay up most of the time, and you can just pull the window shade down at night. For me, easier then the contraption of the Roman.

It is true that you never know who is looking and out on their deck at any hour. Certainly not saying they are doing it purposely, but, you want to assure your own privacy.

Personally, I never turn the bathroom light on in the middle of the night. We have a nightlight that throws off just enough light. Could this be an option?

When a home next door to a friend was being rebuilt to something bigger, she went to view the home to how see what views the new people would have looking into her rooms. I would never have thought to do that.

@eld6161 interesting ideas.

By "plain shade" do you mean a roller shade? What about regular, inexpensive blinds - would they serve the same purpose?

I do have a Roman shade on my living room window, which I open and close ever morning/night. The only pain of it is that the cord is on the back, so I have to fish around for it.

Since Roman shades tend to be pricey, if I were just going to leave it open all the time, am I better off just getting a valance? Are valances kind of dated? Clearly, I don't mind traditional finishes, but...

Good point about not turning on the light at night - it's not like I'd need a light to find or see anything I can't feel my way around pretty easily on those late night bathroom visits.

Yes, of course you can do a blind as well, my idea of a shade was that it is the easiest. Grab and pull, no thought in tugging at a cord left or right to lower or raise.

Yes, i think valances are dated. You could do a stationary Roman, that might be less exspensive, but give the same look.

If you like the window clear most of the time, use an interior mounted roller shade. You could look at solar shades that you could keep up, but when down they give you some privacy without blocking the light and view completely. It depends on how much privacy you really need. And a shade is easy to pull down in the dark instead of fumbling for a cord.

Drew McGukin Interiors - Chelsea Apartment · More Info

I have seen those in offices and I like the idea of them too.

But.....what do the neighbors see at night with a light on? Even just a silhouette would seem too personal for me.