Hi Candice. I would consider motorized shades for your windows. Wanting something you can see our of at all times is definitely what is going to limit your options here. As far as Softening the space and helping reduce noise I would first consider a larger rug for the family room space. In your case since your two chairs recline and which have a prominent profile view would look best sitting on top of a rug. It is perfectly acceptable for all your furniture to sit atop an area rug and I think your space is the "perfect storm" for such an application. It will soften the look of the leather against your flooring and help cut down the "volume" of the space. For the window treatments them selves I would keep it simple. Long drapery panels on the outside of each bank of windows that carry down from the top windows all the way to the floor. Will the shades also be on the dining area windows? If not I would do a roman shade on those in the same fabric as your family rooms ones. It they will then I would do the same drapery treatment. I would do a warm textured white like a heavy linen or basket weave fabric for these. Keep it light but with texture.

Very poor mock up but Ill post it so your understand the placement I am describing. I would keep doors and window above it blank and just dress family room bank of windows and bank of dining windows.

Smith and Noble have battery operated remote control solar shades. I would start with those. The have a good selection of materials and subtle patterns. A designer will come to your home and assist you. They have iPad to show you different looks. Very helpful. Mid-range price points. I put them recently in a home with similar issues.

Here is photo of their great room.

Battery operated lasts about a month for those batteries. Then you’re on a big giant ladder to replace those batteries, behind the header, at the top of the window. There are no circumstances where a two story anything should ever have anything but direct wire. Yes, it adds to the expense. Beats owning a 24’ extension ladder that you climb once a month.

And it should have the windows changed out as the line of first defense. Better to spend 80K in new window infrastructure than 80K on 10 year temporary treatment options. The windows will always be there. They need to be triple pane argon.

Our battery remote operated solar shades from Smith & Noble have tubes for the batteries that are on the sides of the windows, not in the headers. Yes the batteries have to be changed out every few months, but not every month. We have the black ones and they work very well.

They must have improved these because my clients can ‘recharge’ them with plug in recharging system.

For the life of me I can’t imagine why ???

But since you have to live with this huge mistake have the motorized shades on the top at least hard wired! You can add drapery panels and just disregard the window placement. Unless you add something soft to the wall somewhere you will have acoustic problems! The view from the top windows is the ceiling of your veranda! Yes, I’m sure you can see a view from the bridge but you are steps from the veranda. Add the drapes and cover the mistake.

I drew this a bit more carefully. If you did custom semi-Sheers it could soften this wall up and hide the misaligned windows.

What does the exterior look like? Any chance you can add something outside that could help?

You could do exterior motorized shades too. My cousin has a similar west-facing view and those seem very effective. And what about awning-style shutters for the exterior? Like they have in the Bahamas. PS -I love your daughter’s art-I was going to comment on that first too! I would love to have her do something similar for me! How do we get in touch?

Here’s a picture of the awning shutters...none of that helps with the sound, but I think the larger rug and drapes may help.

Yes, thanks how do we get in touch with your daughter?

Solar shades and floor to ceiling drapes and area rugs will all help with this really big mistake by your architect. No to the bahama type shutters unless you really don’t care about the view you already have a large roof over what I presume is a deck.

following...

Well, I am feeling pretty demoralized here. I had no idea my architect screwed the window design up so much! It could have been an easy fix earlier, but too late now. I will add it to the bewildering list of incompetent professionals who have worked on this house.

So, moving forward, I will do motorized uppers and have already been in contact with a blind company who swears they have a 3-5 year battery. In addition, I will do full length draperies as suggested but I never thought to place them where both lynartist and Design Interior South recommend. I thought that maybe the wall needs to be framed by them somehow. I do not want to chop up the wall more than it already is.

AND THEN what about the dining room? Those windows will have solar shades. Same fabric as the drapes, different?

hemina, please message me and I will send you the contact info for my daughter and her artwork. cubby14, I sent you a message with the info. Thanks to you both for your interest.

Candice I would do the same fabric along that entire back wall since when you stand back and view the space you are seeing the entirety of the wall. Two fabrics will chop it up visually. BTW take heart, everyone on here likes to act as if they have the perfect design sense. Tear people down for what they do have, not stick to the question on hand etc. I hope I didn't make you feel demoralized and If I contributed to that I apologize. I have never in my years been to any home custom or otherwise where there are things that you find don't work as you thought they would and you wish you could have done better. This is why there are people in this industry to come up with solutions for others to help them create a functioning and beautiful space. Coulda woulda shoulda. enjoy YOUR home and take steps to make it function better for you, as you are. Cheers!

We had motorized retractable solar shades mounted on the exterior of our house along 2 walls of windows. They are electric and wi-fi connected. Also have sensors to retract if it gets too windy. Like you, we wanted to enjoy our river view without the sun damage! In our case, I didn't want anything on the interior, so the exterior shades were the perfect solution. Good luck and enjoy your view!

@candice_powell12: I can’t figure out how to message you privately :) hopefully this is it??

hemina, click on the photo of me and the lamb to the left of this post and it should take you to my HOUZZ page where you should see a link that says "message" to the right of the photo, under my name. Click it and hopefully you can leave a private message.

Beautiful home. I would treat the windows in the right red square only. Not the left square where the double doors exit to the patio. I see the symmetry of the windows in you modern home and what your architect did. Beautiful design. Treat your dining room to coordinate whatever you do on the right area. I see modern window treatments with your home design. Best of luck.

Just a bit of personal experience with transparent solar shades: black does lend a better view, but they really darken the room.

@candice_powell12 - I can't see a message link, but I've changed my settings to allow anyone to message me. I started following you, but that doesn't seem to allow me to message you. Thanks!!

Motorizied Solar Shades!

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No reason not to have curtains on first floor, but cause second story walkway room is there, with horizontal and upper door it might seem 'busy'... I doubt personally I'd like curtains all the way up...

Is there an outdoor ceiling covering?

everdebz,

Yes, on the second floor the roof extends the entire 12 feet over the deck, if that is what you are asking. But on which windows would you run the curtains? That seems to be the "big question."

Jodie White Designs, I appreciate your kind comments and suggestions. Would a cornice or lambrequin in the dining area be too bulky even if I covered it in the same fabric as the living?

Design Interior South, thanks for the reminder about the rug. It was originally purchased for another room but I found the design worked better in the living area. You are right, it IS too small for the larger space and I am working on correcting that right now.

Hey there Candice. Have you considered tinting the windows? Great solution for heat costs and glare. Can I see a photo of the kitchen area and adjacent spaces. You are not wanting to cover the window permanently so I feel the motorized shades would do best for the upper windows as difficult to reach and match the other windows. If you are not using a Interior Designer Smith and Noble has a fantastic selection of options to meet your needs. I do think a more modern feel of window treatments compliments the space. Do you like color? The dining area could be a simple white panel with trim on the edge in a contrasting color with lucite rods or brass to the ceiling for height. Framing the windows for softness as shade/roller blind to control the sun exposure.

I think if you were wanting to take the lambrequin approach a modern fabric and style could work in the dining room windows. If you hire a designer to do this you will be happier with the outcome.

When addressing design their are so many things to consider. LOL

Candice-probably the biggest question is what is your budget? Window treatments of most any kind are expensive. Check your window warranty to make sure window “film” does not void your warranty.

Flo Mangan, I already have windows that have some kind of a film on them because when you are outside, it reflects your image and you can't see in. I have had interior solar shade bids (including remote uppers) anywhere from $4100 to $7300 with bids for the outside deck from $1400 to $4500. I know it will cost me.

The only unknown at this point is where and what kind of soft window treatments I am going to put inside to get rid of the echo in here. Drapes on exactly which windows since they are not symmetrical? A cornice or lambrequin in the dining area, or maybe drapes, same fabric or different? Jodie White Designs, I love color but I also think a large geometric design could work. I have checked out the Smith and Noble designs and don't see anything that speaks to me like this window does:

I just wish I knew where to find this fabric. I think it would be perfect! Thank you so much everyone for your input and advice. It is most welcome and appreciated!

Porch. Extend the highest roof to create an outdoor living porch to block the midday sun and then you can also add roll up shades to the porch to block the late setting sun.

... and/or extend the upstairs floor over most if not all of the living room area and swap out the largest upstairs fixed window(s) for a window with a screen so you can open it and let out the heat.

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Is there window trim around the windows? I don't see any, I feel the windows need to be trimmed and then blinds will look better

Jackie Hogue, I have wood sills but no trim for a cleaner more modern look. Take a look at this HOUZZ article:

[houzz=https://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/23508691/list/design-workshop-10-surprising-twists-on-window-trim w=300]

I think they look really good without trim, esp with the black frames! modern style shades or curtains will look fine with this.

We also have two story windows facing west. I used the Shade Store for motorized solar shades with rechargeable solar batteries. Have to say those shades go up and down often and have yet to replace batteries. I don't even notice the solar strip or battery case on the top. They also made my drapes floor to ceiling height and they look fabulous! Nothing cheap though, although I think the solar battery remote options have come down in price some since our purchase 4 years ago.

Post a pic @Kate!

suezbell, As I have previously stated, I do have a roof that extends 12 feet for an outdoor living porch upstairs and I have purchased black solar shades for that area. I chose the same color as the inside because I wanted continuity of color when they are pulled down at sunset.

I do not know if I have read your suggestion correctly to "extend the upstairs floor over most if not all of the living room area and swap out the largest upstairs fixed window(s) for a window with a screen," but we have just finished construction and I have no desire to eliminate the open feel of this beautiful space.

Why would I???

I doubt you'd want texture like this room's windows seem to have [what it is idk] - seems upper has a stationery covering:

everdebz, Now that is an interesting photo! Thanks for sending that!

For your large windows, we recommend roller shades. If you don't have power to the units, you can opt for lithium battery motors that last between 6 to 9 months before they need to recharge like a smart phone...plug and play. You can operate the shades via phone, iPad or 15 channel RC...up to you. We offer over 700 interesting fabrics to meet your needs...

For your large windows, we recommend roller shades. If you don't have power to the units, you can opt for lithium battery motors that last between 6 to 9 months before they need to recharge like a smart phone...plug and play. You can operate the shades via phone, ipdad or 15 channel RC...up to you. We offer over 700 interesting fabrics to meet your needs...

Remove the upper windows entirely, infill wall

Here’s that fabric https://www.kellywearstler.com/viewallwallpaperfabric/channels-fabric/GWF3101.html?start=63&cgid=viewallwallpaperfabric#start=64

I strongly doubt the suggestion of getting rid of the windows in a new house will be followed...

Corrections are made to new buildings all of the time, mostly during construction, some afterwards to 'adjust' bad design assumptions. Removing the windows and infilling the wall may be the least expensive alternative and would allow a backdrop for some art work or other wall feature. It's just an option to consider. Either way, it's the homeowner's call to make.

Rather than completely eliminating the upper windows consider making them high and shorter. Say 18” high and a width that visually works with lower windows. Less expensive solar shades but still brings in some light. No art that high is advisable.