Thanks sweeby, I appreciate your helpful response!

We have 3 windows with bamboo type shades.

1. Can you easily see the dust on the darker colors?
No

2. The color I like is kind of a mesh material, but my husband thinks the mesh textures are dust collectors, do you agree? I'm thinking I should choose a different texture that is easy to dust with a swiffer duster.

I think they are pretty easy to dust but I may have broader style

3. I live in a dry climate, will the shades get dry and brittle over time? They are expensive to begin with and I don't want to have to replace them.

I don't think so

4. We have really strong sunsets, do I go with a light filtering liner or a blackout liner?

Depends on how much light control you need. alot depends on the type of shade too. Our bathroom shade is woven more densely and hardly lets any light in. THe other 2 shades are more loosely woven and let more light in. All of them are unlined.

5. Are you happy with your woven shades??? Any pros and/or cons? Do you have any other recommendations?

I love mine! I agree that if you're going to be opening and closing them frequently then spend a bit more and get a good quality shade.

Thanks in advance!

I got a medium stained wood from Just Blinds - Didn't get the most expensive, but got the custom sizes. I got the ones for the bedrooms with privacy liners, but like the filtered light for the other areas. No regrets.

i have 2 different types of dark woven woods and neither particularly show dust... easy to vacuum, but i do that infrequently!

i love the sheerness of woven woods- being able to see through them alittle is part of their beauty, imo- i would not want them lined.
i have some in the bedroom and also hung panels there for privacy and to totally block light.
there are lots of levels of 'sheerness' depending on the woven wood style that's chosen.

Thank you for your responses!!

I looked into Levolor woven shades. I called Levolor, gave them my dimensions and asked how much the shades would stack at the top of the window with the shades pulled all the way up. The full stack at the top would be 12 inches. I can only do an outside mount 4 inches above the window because of soffit lighting. So 8 inches would be obstructed at the top of the window. We have beautiful views and we don't want to take away from that sooooo woven shades are now out :(

I looked around Houzz and did a search on windows with views. Most pics didn't have any window coverings. I think I am going to end up with cordless cellulars since when they are all the way up there is just a slight subtle stack at the top (inside mount). They will mostly be all the way up anyway. I just would put some down during the sunset and at night. Just kills me to pay so much for cellulars because they are so boring :(

If you have any other suggestions please let me know. Thanks!