I installed top-down, bottom-up shades in my last bathroom, and they were great!

The only problem for us, was that the cleaning ladies could not figure out how to work them, and they always ended up cock-eyed... the shades, not the ladies... LOL!

Where did you get yours? The one at JCP I am looking at is on sale for $19.99 (reg $35.00). I wonder if they're cheapo?

I have them in my living room (installed by the previous owner) and they are great. It's nice to be able to drop the top a little bit, raise the bottom a little bit and let in some light without blasting the room (south-facing). It's nice for showing off the transoms too. Sorry, I can't help on price since I didn't buy them, but I know that custom ones like what we have would be in the hundreds of dollars per window here (Canada)....not sure what JCPenny is selling, but I would assume they are not custom?

They're great for blocking street or parking views. I think they look fine. Don't know about their convenience, though.

No, they are not custom. Thye ocme in odd inch widths (23, 25, 27, etc) I have to measure my window to make sure the 27" will fit. If it doesn't, then it doesn't matter I guess - LOL! If the window is the same as in my MBR, then it might not because I had to get the cut-to-fit faux wood blind at Lowes as 27" was too narrow.

Since the open both ways, is the hardware where the shade attaches on the sides of the window???

Friend of mine has some in her guest-room that I really like. She's had them at least 10 years and they seem to be holding up fine. (She lives about 200 miles away so I've clocked a number of nights in her guest room!) I've never asked her where she got them as I really don't need them in my current house but, as far as I can tell, they look very much like the ones shown on the JC Penney site.

I have had mine in my bedroom for 10 years and I still love them and they still look brand new. I do not have a valence, I have lined curtain panels.

I have them in both my office and my son's bedroom, and love them. Honestly they are almost always open at the top to let in the light, yet provide privacy since these room are on the street side of the house. However, the ones in my son's room are room darkening ones, and subsequently are heavier, so they buckle out if you lower them too much. The ones in the office are nicer. The ones I have are cellular so also have insulating properties which is a plus.

I had them in the last house and now this one : ) Used them in the bedroom for privacy but with sunlight. I purchased mine from HD and they were special order but still a good price.............I think they were Hunter Douglas but not sure. The ones in my newer home were purchased from a specialty blind store.
I would do it again in a heart beat. Luv em !

We have them on our first floor and in our bedroom. Our house is on a corner, where we get a lot of foot traffic and a fair amount of car traffic, so I like being able to have the light without feeling like we're exposed to the street.

Ours are from Smith & Noble. They were comparably priced to other custom blinds, and I was just neutral on the buying experience. I like the blinds, though.

Good luck!

Mary

The hardware is at the top, like a regular blind. When you lower the top down, there are strings that show, but it doesn't look bad and they are almost invisible.

I have them and love them also. I am in so. calif and I change them from top to bottom as the sun changes during the seasons. I have some from American Blinds and some from JC
Pennys. The first are the best quality but the Pennys ones are fine as long as you are not opening and closing them several times a day. I love having the versatility!

Not only do I have them, I also made my own top down/bottom up roman shades. I love being able to open the top and let in the light, but keep my privacy.

Well, I guess the JCP blind is out unless they can be trimmed on the ends. I measured the window, and the inside is 25 7/8" (maybe 15/16, I didn't have my reading glasses on). The 25" blind would be way too small leaving almost 1/2" on each side (1/4" is the standard, right?). I will see if they sell them in the stores and check if they can be trimmed. Otherwise, I guess it's either custom (big bucks!) or just get the Levolor cut to length 2" faux wood blinds from Lowes like I have everywhere else in the house.

I have them throughout my house and love them.

I got mine from iWindowShades.com.