large picture window with no view

4 years ago

We have a beautiful picture window in our dining area. It was there to take advantage of the lovely bay view we had. Unfortunately, many years ago this view was taken from us by a house that built right next to us. When that happened, my parents put in plantation shutters. I like the look, but we are in desperate need of more natural lighting in this room. Since there is nothing to look at except the side of a house, are there any suggestions on window treatments that would allow more light (and still offer privacy)? Would newer shutters with wider louvers help?

Featured Answer

partim

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Can they plant something (a small tree or tall shrub) outside that would block the view of the neighbor's 2 windows? Then you could remove the blinds and hang curtains which you would leave open during the day. It would be helpful to see more of the room and the windows so we know whether it is casual, formal etc.

Or would semi-sheer cafe curtains suit the room? Maybe with drapes over them for the evening? You really only need privacy from the bottom half of the window.

Or even frosted film on the bottom portion. Then you could leave the plantation shutters to give you night time privacy, and open them during the day. The frosted film also comes in lots of different patterns, and is removable.

What color are the plantation shutters? On my screen they look orange.

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Comments (7)

jenwinston73
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks for the info. Tall shrubs would be great. But I don't know how to ask them to do that. Sorry the photo is not great. Our house is under construction and our dining and living rooms look much different than they ultimately will. We have furniture pushed up against the other windows and boxes stacked all around. So it would not do me any good to post those photos. But I can tell you this, it will be fairly casual. We will paint the walls white (now they are a mauve, which also makes the room seem darker). The lighting is kind of yellow which gives everything an orange tint. The shutters are actually white and we have them on 2 other windows in the living room adjacent to the dining room.
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R.D. London Studios
4 years ago
I would definitely keep the shutters. Consider painting your walls SW Alabaster. As suggested hopefully you can plant something in your zone that is tall and evergreen for a view outside. Sounds like addressing the lighting and making it LED bright white will help as well. Keep us posted as you progress, Best wishes!
wishiwereintheup
4 years ago
+1 to partim's suggestion. Growing up in the city on very narrow lots, without any room to plant shrubs, the standard answer was always sheers with shades to pull down in the evening when lights are on.
Snaggy
4 years ago
Net curtains
wdccruise
4 years ago
Why not just completely open the shutters during the day? I know we Americans love to cover our windows but do you think the neighbors will really care enough about what you are doing to spy on you?
jenwinston73
Original Author
4 years ago
@lawrence I think the way the current shutters are, it doesn’t work to keep them open. They would have to stick straight out when open and we have chairs right there. But I will try that. It’s just kind of an ugly view looking into the neighbor’s wall.