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Home Decorating

Wide Windows and Top Down, Bottom Up Shades

13 years ago

I have two triple windows in my four season room. They are nine feet wide and I want to put cellular shades on them. Has anyone used the top down/botum up shades on windows this wide? If so, do they work well? The brand I was looking at is Next Day Blinds, if that makes a difference.

Comments (7)

brenda_md
Original Author
13 years ago
Just bumping this message up as I know it was Labor Day weekend and people were busy. I would really love to know if anyone has used this type of shade on wider windows and it if worked well enough to consider purchasing.
emagineer
13 years ago
I loved the idea, but they only lasted for little over a year. The strings used on the blind portion broke on most of them. Look for quality and perhaps a warranty, perhaps reviews. I'd do it again, but after the cost am a bit leary.
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Oh, my windows aren't as high as yours so that makes a big difference. Cordless is great but not if it means you'll fall out the window while straining to reach the top. My upstairs room has the BU only feature since the window is higher in that room & the top is unreachable and also I couldn't imagine a situation when I would need the top down. The downstairs room needed the TD/BU, for privacy and light control options, but I can reach the top of the window so it isn't a problem. And if I can reach the top then I'm sure all my guests can also. Wasn't there a recent post about power controlled window coverings for high, hard to reach spaces? It was a beautiful room with sky high windows and a lovely fireplace. Realistically, how often will you have to adjust the top? Frequent changes might make the cost of power control worthwhile. Infrequent might make using a pole, and finding a place to store it, tolerable. Or maybe someone else will have a better solution for you.
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Simple answer on why I asked it twice - a mistake. I'd like to say "because it's a really good question", but really I wasn't seeing my original post so thought I'd try again. I do appreciate the responses!
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I'd be weary, even if they're a good brand like Hunter Douglas. we have two different brands of cellular blinds. one cordless, one with a single loop cord. they each had totally different problems. the cordless ones were fine at first but went slightly slack on one side, making them crooked. the corded ones are not slack at all, but the strings seem off balance so they're also crooked. The reps told us there is no way to fix them. I can fix old school mini blinds by pulling different strings, but when it comes to these newer shades, the string winding mechanisms are contained inside the header and I couldn't find a way to access them. granted my brand was cheaper, so maybe Hunter Douglas will not do that. but be sure to ask your rep what to do if they go crooked. will they fix them? (if they say that they can't be fixed but they'll replace them, run away. do you want to ask for new sets of replacement blinds every couple of years, and then toss the old ones in the landfill?) as far as cordless -- I wouldn't recommend that for really wide shades. it's easier for one hand to go up higher and make them crooked, and then you have to stand there and adjust. imagine how annoying that would be on super wide shades. the loop cord is easier to operate.
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@suedonim75 I was wondering too about @Angel 18432 comment about her doubt anyone would open the window for ventilation because the window is in a porch or lanai. Actually, the roof in the photo is a second story deck. Perhaps @Angel 18432 was expressing doubt about guests opening the wiindow for ventilation because of security concerns, given that the window is located on the ground floor level.
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susanka
13 years ago
We have top down bottom up, but not that wide. However, I'd recommend Hunter Douglas. We bought HD through Direct Buy, and on one of our large windows HD replaced a mechanism with no whining and not even any postage after 3 years (of my misuse, DH says; he says I don't pull on the cord the "right" way.) HD has a lifetime guarantee which they honor.
mzdee
13 years ago
O.K. I went the cheapie route and got mine at JC Penny's. Not that wide though.
I use them in my bathroom and I love love love those blinds. They are beautiful and incredibly functional. I'm in the process of hanging some in my family room now.
Good luck on getting the width that you want. If you do, I'm sure that you'll love them.
brenda_md
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks everyone for your input. Your comments give me enough thought for pause as to whether it would really be wise to purchase this option for such a wide window. The idea of its function would be nice, but I guess not necessary. I will have an honest talk with the store about this when I go to purchase.
WendyB 5A/MA
13 years ago
The manufacturer will have a maximum width that they will make which may very well be less than 9'.

When I was getting my wood blinds for my 5' window, I think I just came in under the wire for max width. Otherwise, I would have had to get 3 separate sections.

Cell shades don't weigh so much, so that helps, but I suspect 9' may not be available.

The mechanism -- top-down-bottom-up or just bottom-up -- may limit your choices as well at that width. I think my 5' limit was also because I wanted cordless.
justme48
13 years ago
WARNING:
Cell shades don't weigh much, but the bottom rails have weights in them (Bali) so beware. Our windows are 48w x 72h, the blinds were very hard to lift open, and the mechanism failed to operate correctly from day one. JCPenney gave us a hard time, but finally agreed to a complete refund.

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