a photo from last summer: We have these, from Smith+Noble, with a blackout liner (these windows face due south). On the middle window we have the continuous loop and love that feature! I would've done it on the two flanking windows only they're too narrow to qualify for that feature (S+N only offers it for windows over a certain width). I don't think I have a photo, but in our penultimate house we had a window just a hair under 11' wide, and there we also had a Smith+Noble woven roman shade with blackout liner and continuous loop, and S+N was able to make it as one shade (not two or three on a header). But I just have to say I wish wish wish I'd found this site with all these incredible insights earlier, before I ever did any projects! Those cordless blinds sound fascinating ....

What you want to check out is the most open % dark sun shade. Most are going to be made by Phifer and be a Shearweave. The reason you want a dark color is that is absorbs the light so it reduces glare and allows for more visibility. A 5-10% black will allow the best visibility. And if the color matches, there is one color, whos name that eludes me right this second, that has a touch of brown in it that is actually the best for visibility.

I generally prefer minimal or no window coverings (except in the bedroom and my woman cave), but I live close to a street and neighbors, so I have flat panels on the lower half of my double living room windows. I love them! This is my second set. Someone might come up with a more elegant solution, but I wanted to be able to open mine on sunny days so I have them hanging from rings sewn into each upper corner, and when I open them I let them hang in folds on the outside (since there are 2 windows in each unit there is an outside.) I made mine, and this set I smartened up and lined them (just attaching the lining at the top.) The sun really fades! Kathy

As far as wovens, I posted the Overstock link the other day to these bamboo blinds. I first bought these in 2007 when we built a sunroom and I needed about 12....budget busting at the stores I visited! I've bought over 70...for 3 different homes. :) Think I like them? They are not a privacy blind (although they obscure) but there are white liners avail; I used them once on sev windows. I love them because they protect from the sun but allow you to still see outside a bit...not in detail but a general landscape type of view. Come in 3 diff lengths and increments are by the inch; that's one reason I love them...almost like custom with the sizing. They operate very well...even the extremely wide ones. There are also other similar shades; all are very highly rated. Happy to take a pix of mine if you'd like to see IRL. https://www.overstock.com/Home-Garden/Arlo-Blinds-Tuscan-Bamboo-Roman-Shade-with-54-Inch-Height/3705856/product.html?refccid=IUQ3N2MD7ULZ5MKDKMFW3KDNNE&searchidx=0&kwds=&rfmt=