Why blackout? IMO go nice moroized solar shades they control the heat and UV let you keep the view I like 10% in a dark color either bronze or charcola to make the best of the view and if nightime privacy is an issue I use drapes for that. I have always had good luck with Steves blinds

Thanks, Patricia! We have an open concept kitchen/living area where we spend basically all waking hours. It's got about a 120-degree curved wall of floor-to-ceiling windows on the second story above a busy city intersection with lots of pedestrian foot traffic in addition to a bus stop and vehicles (so we definitely need privacy at night, and the modern style and full-wall arrangement of the windows precludes drapes). There's also a very bright streetlight directly outside at window level. We've had light filtering shades the past 8 years and they're inadequate to dim that light at night (we sleep with our bedroom door onto the living area open for ventilation and to hear the small kids from their room), or to cut the glare from direct sun onto the TV in the mornings, or to cut the heat we get (we often run A/C in the dead of winter b/c it's like a greenhouse in there!).

But can you explain to me how solar shades differ from light filtering? And what % solar shades I should try? Maybe I'm missing something about the need for blackouts. It sure would be nice to be able to enjoy the view in the mornings, before the sun goes over the top of our building and off our windows.

When I had custom blinds made, the sales lady who came to my home actually advised against motorized ones...she said that within 4 years they would all be dead.

Thanks, lucky! The existing motors have lasted about 10 years with heavy use, and definitely need them given the number, height and spread of windows in the room. But the concern about durability is definitely part of my calculus in considering premium manufacturers like hunter douglas. Just not sure it’s quite worth paying double what Bali or others would cost.