I don't think GW is at all "anti-covered porch." I happen to dearly LOVE covered porches and have a covered wrap-around porch that that extends all the way across the front of my house and part-way down two sides. It also has a section that is 16 ft wide by 18 ft deep in one corner of the house. We spend a lot of time out there. I also have a second screened-in covered porch is 10 ft x 14 ft running between my detached garage and mudroom. Nevertheless I am one of the people who often warns that a particular room in a house design may be quite dark due to the covered porches. When I make such comments it is definitely NOT because I am "anti-covered porches." I am simply providing factual INFORMATION that the person who has posted a particular design may not be aware of. I love light-filled rooms and one can have them AND still have covered porches but you have to plan carefully to do it. In our house, every major room has windows on two sides. Thus, even with all my porches, most rooms have windows that aren't covered by a porch. And, there is hardly a point in any of the major rooms in my house where one would be further than 15 ft from a window nor is there a single spot (except for closets and two bathrooms) where you don't have a view straight out of a window. Additionally, in the one room (our office) where both windows open out to the covered porch, one window face a section of porch that is only 6 ft deep. So it still gets quite a bit of natural light. We also painted our walls with light colors and kept the ceiling a bright white in all rooms so that whatever light enters the room is reflected rather than absorbed. That way, even with all of our covered porches, our rooms tend to FEEL nice and bright with minimal amounts of artificial light. Still, I do have to be careful about where I place living plants to ensure that they will get enough light to grow and I have to turn them and move them around to keep them from getting "leggy." So, while I caution people about covered porches causing "dark rooms," it is definitely NOT because I'm against porches. I would never give mine up! Nor would I suggest that someone else who wants a covered porch shouldn't have one. I just want folks to know that there can be trade-offs and that they should plan for them.

I got sliding panels and shutters. I can still open the shutters if I recline the seats as shown andI I have no reason to open the shutters other than for occasional cleaning. The windows are rarely ever opened I like the way they look, but the verticals are a bit too sheer at night. There is not enough privacy. I went outside after dark and I could see inside more I would like with the panels closed. The same panels were installed on a bedroom slider so privacy is extra important there. . I'm looking for a solution. I'm going to talk to the installer on Monday to see if they have any ideas other than replacing the panels with "black out" panels. Maybe there is a way to put a separate roll down shade behind it that will add night privacy and still allow light filtering in the daytime?

Ha, Annie, now all I can picture is two blinking eyes up there! :) Faux68, I had thought about window tinting film, but I don't think it would really do enough to block out the early morning light that we need. linelle, it's because of folks like you that I know I don't want to permanently remove them--some folks would love these windows, I'm sure. Just not us, at 5am in the summer. :) Good to know about the light blocking ability of shutters, olychick, thanks! And I'd been wondering about opening them way up there, a pole makes sense, thanks Geoffrey. I think I'll look into the option of a more traditional window covering (shutters or blinds), since that seems like it'd look more stylish than a board or fabric piece that just covers it up, but those might be in the cards if the shutters/blinds would be a zillion dollars. Off to the custom blinds place for me...

I love the suggestions above. I would love suggestions for my situation too. My east facing bay window has a transom that is open. I actually love that the light wakes me up and do not like blackout curtains because I like a little light at night and to be awakened in the morning. The current drapes are below the transom and because the windows are straight at the top and not arched, it looks weird to me. However, functionally I like it. Any thoughts?