Why not use solar shades and forget the up and down all the time. I find 10% does good job but still allows the view and I usually mix them with drapes in rooms where night time privacy is needed. You can get them motorized for sure but I find the only time i want to not have mine is if we have cloudy weather for a few days.

Patricia, that would be an option except for the privacy issue. You'll note the windows are way high for drapes-the view line is from street through upper windows to upstairs bedrooms, and that's not at all the style we have. We really want the motorized blinds and are now seeking reliability and information along those lines. Perhaps you have some good ideas there?

How could you possibly stand on the street and see in those windows go out and try to see what you can actually see from the street

Patricia, have done so numerous times, thanks. We've lived here over a decade, and have a very precise knowledge of these sightlines. How to deal with them has come up even more lately as a tree providing a screen function is slated for removal.

Lutron has motorized shades that can be solar powered (no need for A/C) but can be pricey based on size needed. We used for high windows.

Ginger, thanks for the lead. We are squeamish about solar on those north facing windows and were hoping for some feedback on rechargeable. The type you can plug in through a wand, maybe, a couple times a year. So far, kind of quiet in that regard. 😉

Commenting here in the hopes that someone will recommend a reliable rechargeable battery-powered system. Sifting through local companies, too, but I need some guidance on who out there builds robust systems (high, wide windows). Thank you!

@Ginger - I have windows that are angled at the top like yours. What type of shade did you install, and do your shades roll up completely, or do they cover part of the window when retracted?

Not Ginger, but we finally gave in and got the Lutrons. The doghouse window is just cut straight across ,which is not what you need, it appears. We do like the shades ,but not famcy for us.

@Tricia, ours are Lutron roller shades that roll from the bottom up, cut to fit to cover the entire window when they are “up”. If you can See the picture, there is a white housing that runs along the bottom of the windows that the shades store in when they are ”down”.

Thank you both; very helpful info!

@Julie they were custom priced by size and 6k+ for the two windows.