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Home Decorating

Need opinions...window shades or a better idea?

14 years ago

I put full plantation shutters in my home on all windows but these. I had the bright idea that the breakfast area would look cute with cafe shutters and a valance. It took nearly 2 years to get around to having the valance made and now I'm still not satisfied. In the summer months the sun pours through the upper windows. It hits the table and some of the cabinets. And I realize it's also probably fading the back of the valance. This morning as we had a late breakfast the sun was shining in DH's face. So today is the day the switch went on in my head to do something about it. The only solution I see is to put roller shades up that I can pull down to the top of the shutters. I'm hoping/assuming that I can get some attractive cloth ones? They wouldn't show when raised, but should I get colored ones? just cream? The other issue is that the window is too tall to just reach up and pull the shades up and down. I'd need a ring hanging down with maybe a short pole with a hook on the end to grab the ring.

So my question is, before I rush out and make a mistake, do any of you have any bright ideas or suggestions for what I can put up there to solve the problem? It crossed my mind that I could have shutters made for the upper windows, but I really do kind of like the look of the half shutters with valance and the sun is only a serious problem for a few months out of the year, and a couple of hours in the morning during those months. Thanks for any advice, opionions, or suggestions :-)

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Comments (8)

sharon_fl
14 years ago
I have pretty much the same setup as you..only I have SIX windows across the front of my LR. I have the shutters placed like you do, with dummy panels in between each window & on each end, with a valance across the top. Same sun issue as you so I purchased really nice smoke blue window shades from Penny's with a scalloped edge & narrow loop fringe. Love them & gives me the added protection,if needed.
Lyban zone 4
14 years ago
You could also try cellular pleated shades as they stack up so small when not in use. And I think quite attrative when down.
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Just to help clarify. Hopefully. The console table in front of the window IS the table that's in the close up picture. The round table is what the brass lamp is currently sitting on. Here's some room shots. That close up pic is why I didn't think it would look nice in front of the window...because it's all like big table, big lamp. Squirrel - IRL the cream shaded lamp is actually gold that's why I was asking. It does look more cream in these pics. Lol the hybrid lamp! The candle covers, I can't believe I'm admitting this but they're rolled up pieces of poster board! The size of the hole is larger than any candle sleeves I can find anywhere. I actually did buy some fat candles at michaels to stick in but it seemed if the cats even ran by the table fast they'd fall over. It was driving me crazy. The poster board was my alternative for now. (See why I should've bought that ebay lamp!) :) Bronwynsmom - I like those lamps. Part of my dilemma is if I don't use that brass lamp in the LR I don't know where else I could use it. And I really like it. Where do you put something that tall?
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barbie08075
14 years ago
You might want to give thought to having your glass professionally tinted with one of the new solar films for windows. It works well in my kitchen. That way you can keep your current blinds and valence (which is rather cute btw) and cut the glare of the sun and fading effects.
sallymo2015
14 years ago
I also think the tinting would be a great idea. We have a shop in town that tints car windows but does more residential homes than cars.
bronwynsmom
14 years ago
I solved the same problem in our bedroom with roller shades. We have a big bow window with shutters on the bottom half, and I have yet to decide what sort of drapery I want for the window. I ordered simple room-darkening roller shades with a beaded chain raising and lowering mechanism (the top of the window is almost nine feet off the floor) from Blinds.com. They were about $55 each (at 36" die and 48" long), and I am very happy with them. They are every bit as good as some I ordered for another job from Smith + Noble, and cost a third as much.
User
14 years ago
I'd go with a good quality room darkening or at least light filtering old fashioned window shade. The roll up kind. When not in use they will be hidden by the valance inside and virtually invisable from the outside.
Oakley
14 years ago
You can get darling cloth roller shades now and I think they'd be nice on your upper windows. Also, you can get them in "black out", where they have a lining which keeps the sun out.

I think roller shades are a clean look, and also very pretty. BUT...if you get a lot of dust, I'd get the vinyl ones. Cloth shades are hard to keep clean.
mimi_2006
Original Author
14 years ago
I never thought about the tinting but I'm going to read up on that process.

I still like the idea of roller shades and I see they are available in cloth/linen which would probably look good. Good point about the dust though oakleyok. Maybe if I raise and lower them enough it wouldn't build up.

Will look further at both these options, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something obvious here.

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