What about the Enje roller blind from IKEA? It only takes up 2 1/8" at the top. Beautiful view btw.

Here is a link that might be useful: Enje

How about top down, bottom up shades? You'd have the "valance" part up top, but nothing blocking your view when retracted.

Thanks for taking a stab at this. dj, i didn't know about Ikea blinds...maybe I'll look to see if they can be installed bottom up. The price is great. Still hoping for a smaller diameter. (can you tell I don't really want to put wt on these windows? Dianalo, I have been researching top down bottom up shades, but the ones I've seen all seem to have plastic guide things on the sides of the window frames I guess where the cords are hidden), and a plastic header at the top which I want to avoid. Do you know of any that don't have a cord at all that I can just pull up manually, that could be only 18" high and not go all the way to the top of the window?

It is late so perhaps I am confused. You want a shade that is mounted at the bottom of the window that you can pull up to cover the bottom 18 inches of the windows? But you don't want cords, tracks or other hardware.

How do you propose that the shade would stay up?

If you are busy dressing and bathing, would you really care if the whole window were covered? You aren't likely to be staring out the window at that point, imo.

Why not mount shades on the ceiling in front of the window? They have ones that operate on remotes and ones that you can operate by hand instead of by cords. They fold up to a very narrow few inches, so that when raised they would actually sit above the window frame. You could create a wood valance to match the wood trim that would hide them when not in use, and just create a decorative accent above the windows.

The other thing to try would be to again ceiling mount the treatment, and do custom made roman shades in which the bottom 18 inches were solid fabric, and the rest of the shade was made from the clear decorator weight vinyl. It would allow you light and view on the upper part of the window, if you really need that.

I am sure others will add ideas. I hope you find what you want.

Recalling the previous thread, posters pretty much laid out the gamut of standard options to provide privacy for those windows.

Even if there are options for ultra small roller, cellular or roman shades, my guess is that the width of your windows would preclude their use.

You could replace the glass with smart glass that turns opaque. Truly, that is the only option that I can think of to give you what you want for those windows.

Here is a link that might be useful: smart glass

I can't remember why you didn't want cafe curtains. I know the pole needs support on the wide window but it looks like there are wood supports between the single windows where brackets could be placed. I saw a picture at one time of grommet style cafe curtains that would look good in your bathroom.

Your own mind seems to have great ideas - I can see why you don't want to cover the windows all the time and with your view you don't want to "notice" a blind, shutters, strings.

Your idea of them coming up from the bottom and then either using velcro (probably not strong enough) or maybe little rings on the side of the blind and then hooks on the side of the window frame for the rings to attach to sounds like a solution. You just need to find someone to make it happen.

You might run into problems because of the window hardware, it looks pretty big.

Thank you all, once again. Les, I always love your suggestions in every post you make. I NEVER would have thought of hanging something from the ceiling and doing a wood valance there. That might be the perfect solution. I know it sounds crazy, but I have NO window coverings anywhere in my house and feel like I live outside because of all of the windows. Having something hanging on the glass would block my view of the sky (yes, even the night sky) when on the loo, or in the tub, etc. even when I don't have them closed, but placing above the window is brilliant.
Sallymo, I actually DO want cafe curtains, but folks here said they thought they'd not look right in the room, (guess I wasn't confident about it, which is why I posted in the first place).
Graywings...if only I'd seen that glass before ordering the windows! It is EXACTLY the solution I am looking for, I think.
Jeannie, I didn't even think of little hooks...hmmm, that's another possibility.

I just love the creativity and attitude of possibilities here!

{{!gwi}}

Here's that picture I had on my mind. The more contemporary style of cafe curtains.

olychick, what is your goal with these window coverings? Maybe if you focus on the goal, and not "18 inches only, no plastic, no cords, top down/bottom up," the answer will become clearer.

My guess as to your goal is that most of the time, you want these windows to look as though there are no window coverings at all and some of the time, you want a bit of privacy but still want to be able to see out of as much of the window as possible.

What I'd do is refine your ultimate goal as much as possible, and then go and talk to as many different window covering specialists as you can. Tell them your goal and let them show you what solutions they can offer you. It's just that I think if you go in with lots of specifics, like only the bottom 18" covered, no visible hardware, etc., they'll get bogged down in that and may skip over a solution that you might really like. Present your problem to these people as a challenge and let them come up with solutions for you. Then chose the solution that works best for what you want.

What about a cordless top down bottom up shade?

Sallymo, thank you for that picture. I'd love to find a cafe with the grommets installed like that (not sure what you call them). The others tend to look too country for me. I'm going to do some looking around and see what I can find.

Camlan, you stated my goal perfectly! I live in a smallish town, so have looked at most of the window coverings at the big box stores (haven't been to jcp, tho) and visited the one decor (floor coverings and window coverings) store in my area - I was looking at a specific item they carried, but they said it wouldn't work for my windows and they were completely uninterested in trying to problem solve a possible solution. Maybe I'll look for an interior designer who has lots of window covering experience. thank you for your wise suggestion.

I started looking at shutters online yesterday and am thinking that may be an option, too. I found a few pics of wood ones that don't have the little pole in them to open/close the slats (again, not sure what it is called) and they are quite unobtrusive and good looking.