Blinds/shades for sink window - xpost

8 years ago

When we first moved in to this house 21 yrs ago, we had to keep the aluminum
mini-blinds in the kitchen and FR down nearly all the time because we had no shade and
it got blisteringly hot in those rooms (FR faces south, kitchen faces south and west).
The blinds over the corner sink got splattered and messy; I hated cleaning them.21
years
later, we have new, energy efficient windows, lots of shade trees and a
deck overhead so the only time we close the blinds is when we need to
keep the glare off the TV. Hopefully, we won't be dealing with the mess
factor for the sink window blinds/shades any more, since they will
likely only be pulled down after dinner is over.

That
said, I'm leaning towards faux wood blinds for the sink windows and
real wood blinds for the FR (open plan so want them to match) because
they will be easier to clean than the honeycomb shades we're installing
in the other rooms (finally replacing the "temporary" cut-to-fit, vinyl blinds we installed in upstairs rooms; apparently temporary is 21 yrs, ha).

We
hit a minor snag in the order process. Apparently the color my ID and I
chose for the faux wood blinds, which is a great color match to the color we chose for the real wood blinds, isn't available with the ultraglide mechanism.
Another possible hiccup is that the ultraglide mechanism for both
kitchen window blinds may have to be on the right side, not right and
left as planned. That's the case for both FR blinds. It's not a big
problem for the FR windows but it would be a big problem for the kitchen
windows. It would put the control for the left window in the corner so
I'd have to stand on tippy toes or drag out my step stool to operate the
blinds. Hopefully, what is required for real wood blinds isn't required
for faux wood blinds but just in case it is, I'm considering going with
honeycomb shades in these rooms, too.What shade/blind do you have for your sink window? Any bits of wisdom for me?

TIA!x-posting in Kitchen forum.

Featured Answer

User

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I have cordless woven wood shades at the kitchen window and nearby keeping room windows. A few passes with the vacuum cleaner upholstery brush every now & then takes care of any dust.

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Comments (14)

jlc712
8 years ago
I don't like blinds in kitchens or bathrooms, because they just get too dirty, and I really hate trying to clean blinds :-)

I think I'd just do a simple curtain or tie-up fabric shade that you can throw in the wash occasionally.
lisa_a
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, jlc. I hate cleaning blinds, too, but we need blinds or shades to block the sun glare so we can watch TV. I'm in the PNW and in summer, it stays light until quite late in the evening.

I will have drapery panels for the FR and coordinating valances for the kitchen but neither will be functional nor can they be made so. I'm having a seamstress re-work my 16 yr old window treatments (still love the fabric). Unfortunately, I can't get more of the fabric.
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Many moons ago in an apartment I was renting, I hung lace curtains with roller shades behind them. I let the lace cover the windows completely - there was a wall full of narrow windows and I hung one panel on each window - there was some shirring across the top, but not much (which was good, since it didn't obscure the lace). I used the roller shades behind and only pulled them down at night - the rest of the time, they were rolled to the top and very unobtrusive. So in your case, I'd do the same thing - leave the lace all the way across the window (no need for a valance then) and put roller shades beneath. I'd vote roller shades over the blinds becuase: a) they look like they fit the style of the kitchen better b) they can roll up farther than faux wood blinds - usually teh blinds take a good bit of stacking room c) the horizontal lines of the blinds (if you leave them down but open for sun) will compete with and obscure the lace pattern. JMHO! Good luck!
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Are all of your windows included in the privacy issues? Do you have any public rooms that can do without window covers entirely and privacy still maintained?? I started with double layer of sheers/lined drapes in the the bedrooms. But then I got plantation shutters which are adjustable like blinds are, and there is no curtain in the house except for in the shower! We are in the middle of a remodel that will add 300 sq ft to our house, giving us a space about the size of yours at 1300 sq ft. Our addition across the back will have two glass doors and 7 glass windows. We won't have curtains or blinds or shutters on them at all. The rest of the house has all wood plantation shutters painted white. I am adding to the living room some elements for privacy though. My shutter man has some old shutters that I can get cheap from him (or from Restore for that matter they have some) to use as a screen divider to make a small entry at the front door to keep callers from having the long view through our newly opened up spaces. I was looking for some such shutter screen ready made and found one at Pier1imports for about $359 plus tax, comprised of 3 panels. For that much money, I can go shopping at the used Restore or used furnishings stores and pick up some old closet shutters, some old window exterior shutters, fixed louvers or adjustable, or even solid panel (although I want open and adjustable preferably) for a mere pittance. The shutter man here will put adjustable plantation shutters (4 panels) across the 60 inch wide cased opening between living room and dining room.) Why? Because our two bedroom house will use the living room as a guest room. We'll also put shutters between the single door leading to the sunporch. Mostly they will stand open and frame that 32 inch wide opening, making it more ornamental. But when a guest is in the living room to sleep, they come together and can be turned as required to make the room private. My DH will have his reading chair (now on order) in the living room, so closing off the doors for quiet reading may suit his fancy. Or, the can close off to keep solicitors from seeing beyond the front room. Of the options you mention, the bamboo roll up blinds I like, but they will need some curtains over them to privide the privacy. My choice would be also the white blinds with or without curtains. But curtains will not be required for privacy. Save your money and spend it instead on a good vacuum cleaner to dust the blinds! :)
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chispa
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I have Hunter Douglas duette shades on all my windows, plus valances or drapes depending on window location. My 2 windows over the sink have the duette shades and they are mostly kept in the raised position, except in the winter when the sun is lower in the sky. I have a good size kitchen, with a big exhaust fan and I'm not into messy/greasy/fried cooking, so I don't have a problem with the blinds or anything in the adjoining family room getting very dirty. I also don't have a problem with the duettes getting dirty in the bathroom, but I've always had windows and good fans in the bathrooms, that I force everyone in the house to use!
grapefruit1_ar
8 years ago
I abhor blinds/shades . I use them only in bathrooms at night. They are never seen during the day. I love natural light and the ability to see outside!

We have 7 windows in the kitchen....all with curtains.
lisa_a
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, chispa, good to know you have Duette honeycomb shades and are happy with them. We have a very good vent hood now and I'm getting the family in the habit of using it when they cook so it's really only sink mess that might be a problem. We'll see what I learn on Monday.

I realize that there are people like you, grapefruit, who hate blinds/shades and I'm glad you found a solution that works for you - that's always a good thing - but as I stated above, I can't get working draperies for these windows and I need window coverings to block sun glare from the TV.

I hope to hear from those of you who have shades/blinds at their kitchen windows. I'd especially like to know what you have and their pros and cons. Thank you!
lisa_a
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, CindyMac! I had forgotten about that type of shade. The ease of cleaning is a plus for sure. I'll add that to my list of types of shades to consider.
sixkeys
8 years ago
What about wooden shutters? Those would be easy to clean. (by the way, this is rebecca with the pental quartz counters....I changed my screen name when the website merge happened)
lisa_a thanked sixkeys
My3dogs ME zone 5A
8 years ago
When I did a minor kitchen facelift in February, I had Graber wooden blinds made for my 6.5' triple window over the kitchen sink. I couldn't get faux wood in a color that I wanted, and the wooden came in one that matched my trim very well.

I usually keep them in the position you see, but when I have blinding sun glaring off snow in the winter, they're dropped more. They haven't been hit with water and are a breeze to keep clean. I love them. I had a choice of where to put the string to raise and lower them and chose the right side, and then left for the wand that opens and closes them.
lisa_a thanked My3dogs ME zone 5A
lisa_a
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi Rebecca/sixkeys! So nice to see you again. Did you ever do a kitchen reveal? I'd hate to have missed it. (I'm nearly done with my kitchen. I haven't forgotten my promise to let you come see it when I'm done since you let me come visit your kitchen.)

If I had enough room to swing the wooden shutters clear of the window, that would be a great idea. But there's only an inch of wall between window molding and upper cab, which has a glass side. I'd hate to cover that up. But that may be an idea for somewhere else in my house, thanks.

Thanks, My3dogs! Thanks for including a pic, that is so helpful. Nice kitchen! I love your cab color and the fabric shade. Good to hear that you haven't had a problem having wood shades over the sink. That is good info to have.
sixkeys
8 years ago
Hi Lisa! Sorry to say that I haven't yet. I got really burnt out on the whole remodeling thing, I just got back into Gardenweb recently since I need to redecorate. I should post, but I also am a little shy because there were some things about the kitchen esthetically that I like but don't love so it is hard to put it on display. Anywho, I hope your kitchen is amazing!!!
lisa_a
Original Author
8 years ago
We are our own worst critics so I'll bet that we'll only see gorgeous when you reveal your kitchen. It was looking so good when I saw it and it wasn't even done yet.

We had a few headaches with our remodel and one of them is a regret (cab company fault, not anything I did) but all in all, I'm really happy with my kitchen. It looks great and it functions so much better than it did.
Amber
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I love vinyl roller shades! These are what I'm considering..

http://www.stevesblindsandwallpaper.com/Blinds/CollectionDetail.aspx?mfgId=6&prodId=80&styleId=97&collectionId=5089&shopby=QuickSearch&width=18&height=30
lisa_a
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks, Amber. Unfortunately, I don't think those would work for me since I wouldn't be able to reach the ones over the counter in order pull them down, not without climbing on to the counter.

Blinds/shades for sink window - xpost

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