See my post on pretty much the same topic just the other day. Maybe there is some info to help you. I decided against anything in a Roman shade style because of the large stack height. I don't want to lose my open feel. The roller shades I'm looking at have a 3" cassette which I can live with. The only other option to leave the windows completely visible is curtains hung wide enough that when open the windows are bare. But that's not always the best look either.

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5656645/analysis-paralysis-window-shades-and-transoms#23850195

Hi Becky, Begin by ascessing your limitations. What is the depth of the window and where are the mechanisms for locking and and opening/closing the window. Will the window still function properly with and inside mount treatment? Different products will have varying depth requirements. Next, ask what purpose the product will serve. You mentioned privacy, but is blackout needed? Both roller and roman shades offer blackout liners, but is there a need for energy efficiency? Are the windows double pane? Next, what is your budget? Fabric is always going to be a higher price point. If you send me a photo, I’d be happy to give you my feedback.

Roller Shades and Roman Shades are great product choices but also 2 products that look and function differently. There are quite a few options in both lines of products so it depends on what you are looking for design wise and potentially where they are being mounted. If you are looking for a brand or company to help, I would visit the Hunter Douglas website, type in your zip code, and look for a showroom in your area where you actually go look at them in person and check out all the options. They are a great manufacturer!

@Tammy, I have two different types of windows. The first floor (master bedroom) has double hung windows, so the locking mechanism is in the middle of the window. The 2nd floor (kid's bedrooms) has casement windows with the crank/locking mechanism at the bottom. The are the type where the crank folds up on itself. The depth of the casement windows is approx. 2.5". The depth of the double hung windows is approx. 2". There is window trim around each window that adds another 3/4". I don't need blackout liners. I do better in the mornings if the light filters through to help wake me. :) All windows are double pane. I haven't set a budget yet. This is our forever home, so I want to do it right even if that means doing it in phases to spread out the costs. Again, we aren't in a subdivision, so I'm not hurting the curb appeal by not having the same blinds in all the windows from day 1. I'm attaching a photo of one of the windows and would love your feedback. Please ignore the "dirt" in the view. We still need to do landscaping. The majority of our views are mountain views, but we are still unpacking and this window had less boxes piled in front of it.

@DLM, thanks for the link. You have a good point about the stack height of the roman shades. I hadn't really thought about that. Roman shades were appealing because I can make them myself, but I don't want to lose my views. BTW, I love your windows and paint color.

@two blind guys, you're right, I need to go to a show room. Unfortunately, they are over an hour away and my next several weekends will be spent unpacking, so I'm trying to do some of my research online first. I'll definitely go to a show room before I make the final decision. Until then it is temporary paper shades!

Haha! Becky we still have temporary paper shades up in our guest bedrooms and we just passed the 2 year mark from move in! Like you everything has to come in stages, front landscaping last summer, hoping for back yard this summer, maybe new sofas in the fall..... It's a process.

Hey There: In your case we do suggest roller shades for the windows and panel blinds for any sliding door or folding door. You can use the same fabric for both styles which keeps it cohesive throughout the house. Furthermore, you don't loose the open feel in the home with bulky roman shades or any other valance style shades. Check us out at www.PleatedBlindsStore.com or give us a call at 619.665.9446

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Yes, I'm old, but I use these on a tension rod within the window frame with a more opaque fabric.

Gracie, where did you find those curtains?

JCPENNEY has woven shades that are priced reasonably and would be good short term (1-3 years) solution. Watch the really cheap ones. They are poorest quality. Woven shades stack up slimmer too. So many options.

@Flo, what are "woven shades"? Are you talking about woven bamboo?

But don’t be surprised. No matter what you do window treatments are costly. Do it once with best quality you can afford.

I know! This is why I've always used 2" blinds in the past. They're not cheap, but they're waaay less expensive than other options. With this house, I don't need immediate privacy, so I'm willing to spend more and do them in phases.

Roller shades are just way too modern for your home.

Hmmm. I had not considered this. I assumed roller shades were neutral and could work with any style home.

Have you considered white wooden shutters?

I love the look of wooden shutters, but I want to maintain my view and keep my window treatments open the majority of the time. I assumed shutters would be a PITA to leave open, no?

Does anyone have opinions on solar shades? I'm considering those for my living room & media room since both have large picture windows with mountain views.

Hmm, solar shades and cellulars may be a bit modern, but I've never thought of roller shades as modern. They've been around a long time. I think the fabric or material used, could make them more traditional or modern tho.

"I assumed shutters would be a PITA to leave open, no?"

Hi Becky, I'm not sure what you mean since there's no problem leaving them open. We have plantation shutters throughout our house. The 4 1/2" slats let in a lot of light. I love how they look and the ease of keeping them clean (unlike any type of fabric). I know shutters aren't for everyone, and, yes, they're not inexpensive.

I'm not sure what you mean since there's no problem leaving them open. We have plantation shutters throughout our house. The 4 1/2" slats let in a lot of light. I love how they look and the ease of keeping them clean (unlike any type of fabric). I know shutters aren't for everyone, and, yes, they're not inexpensive.

I have limited wall space around a lot of my windows, so it would be a pain to try to keep them open. Since I'm on a lot of acreage, I'm looking for window treatments that will remain open the majority of the time and not have the slats obstructing the view. In my previous home (postage stamp size lot) I dreamed of plantation shutters since the majority of the time they would have been closed for privacy.

@ JD, my house is farmhouse style, but the window/door trim we chose is a craftsman style (except it is painted trim, not stained.) I assume you're opinion would be the same? The roller shades would be too modern for a farmhouse, no?

@ Flo, thank you for the examples. I really like the woven wood shades in the photos, but my husband hates those. If I use those in one room, will I need to use them in all rooms on the same elevation? I'm sure he would let me put them in one room without much push back. It might be a different story if I try to use them in the all the rooms. :)

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Yes Becky, I still would prefer Roman shades or the bamboo shades. I think they are less modern looking and would fit better. I suppose if you really wanted roller shades, they make some in a grassweave material that would kinda work (not my first choice obviously lol).

Becky - don't know if you remember my room and link from up-thread but I've continued to follow your situation and thought I'd give you an update on mine since we have similar large, private settings and goals for views. Much as I love roman shades whether fabric or some kind of woven wood/bamboo, I just didn't want to cover up that much glass with the stack height. We did a test run with a textured roller shade on 2 windows in our living room. That way if we hated them it wasn't an investment in every window and we'd keep looking. Here's what we have, a roller shade behind a cassette.

You can see the texture, it's not room darkening but offers excellent light/glare control and privacy.

When they're open, they are very unobtrusive and leave the glass bare.

The cassettes aren't invisible but if you match your wood they will disappear as much as anything can. Mine are in between my wall and my wood color so they have a bit of warmth to them.

We are probably going to use these throughout the house where we need light control. Some of those windows may get additional decoration with curtains, and that's an opportunity to add some pattern and color. Personally, I don't think these have a modern look or really any definitive style look because I chose a neutral to basically disappear. If you chose a wood tone or a color of course they will be a focal point and that to me is where the clean lined modern look comes in. But as a first layer with curtains or even on their own matched to your wood, IMO they can work with any home or decorating style. Hope that helps. It's a tough decision and a lot of money, that's for sure!

@DLM2000, I like those shades. Do you mind sharing the brand/color?

@Flo, my husband is funny (in a weird way). LOL. I don't think he has ever used shades like that, but he associates the look with wicker. He hates wicker, so anything that reminds him of it is not an option in his mind. He is the same way with furniture. He will buy the ugliest piece of furniture in the store because it is made of oak and "oak is quality". Drives me crazy! He has gotten a little better since we got married, although I think that has more to do with him being wiser about which battles to pick with me. :)

Becky - that is so funny. God Bless his little heart! lol You have to pick your battles, right?

We are having a really hard time deciding between the plane lines on the left or textured on the right. Privacy isn’t a huge deal to us as there is no one that can see in bias we just hate the cheesy blinds for the sliding door came with and don’t want to have to close up the whole window when the sun is setting and beaming me in the eyes from the kitchen LOL IIf anyone could chime in their pros and cons to each. ould be so greatly appreciative!!! Thank you !!!

*plain on the left and textured on the right.

@Becky, It’s a definite advantage that you know how to make Roman Shades. I’m making some for our house.

i like the idea of installing them higher so they don’t block the view. I’ll post pix after I finish