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Windows Design Dilemma

Window treatments for urban duplex

last year

Going through divorce in crazy California real estate market and I've just gone all in a beautiful 1924 duplex on a busy street on Oakland. Both units are full of windows and I'm trying to figure out the best treatments to keep traffic noise to a minimum while letting light in. I was thinking large painted wooden shutters or classic linen curtains with sheers at first, but wondering what might be other ideas? Thanks!

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Comments (3)

kandrewspa
last year
Are you going to live in one and rent one out? Which one are you going to live in? Is either one of these pictures showing your furniture, or are these the listing pictures? Trying to get an idea of what your style is.
krayola thanked kandrewspa
Lyn Nielson
last year
if these photos reflect the style you're after,

I would do bamboo top down/bottom up shades on all the windows

and fabric panels to introduce the color/mood you're looking for.
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I have woven wood/bamboo shades through my house. Some are lined, most are not. I can definitely feel a temperature difference with them down. It isn't dramatic, but anything that keeps the sun from bearing down in your living room will help, and I lower them when it's really cold outside. I keep the unlined shades down more often since they aren't room darkening, I don't feel so closed in. I think they would look great with your decor. Mine are all outside mounted because of my double hung windows. I'll try to do a mockup for you to see if you would like them.
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I bought sun up/down cordless cellular shades from Bali through Costco; the bottom is black out and top is light filtering. I've had them about a month and am mostly satisfied. I'm in urban California, so light filtering and privacy are important. I have trouble sleeping if it's not very dark, so wanted the blackout option. They operate very easily. The light leakage around the shades is a bit worse than I'd expected. I think I could have lessened it by doing an outside mount (maybe less attractive), 3/8" shades which would fit deeper in the window, or adding drapes. Not sure how critical this is to you--it is pretty dark with the shades closed. I talked to a designer about Hunter Douglas and other brands. She quoted $2700 for the bedroom windows (including installation), while I ended up paying $770 at Costco (no installation, but I installed them very easily). HD has a great reputation and people seemed pleased with them, but the cost difference was just too large.
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Originally I thought Roman shades, but when I read "lightweight, whimsical sheers", I thought of Urban Outfitters, https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/shop/draped-shade-curtain?category=window-curtains-panels&color=004 and because all of their curtains are on the more whimsical side, I think you could pick any to use with a tension rod, because you don't have room for proper curtain rods, https://www.urbanoutfitters.com/window-curtains-panels
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I'm wondering if there's another idea I'm not considering. Are you open to painting the room (including the ceiling) a dramatic, dark color? In my first house, my husband and I painted our vaulted master bedroom a deep cool green (kept the trim white), and we *loved* it. We were pleasantly surprised at how much it darkened the room at night, something we hadn't even considered, but were thrilled with. I also really like curtains, and if it were me, I'd mount a single rod over the tallest window, extending it 8"-12" past each flanking window. Color would depend on the look you were after. Thoughts? :-)
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krayola
Original Author
last year
Hello and thank you... These are staging photos from house sale. Trying to decide which unit to live in now. The larger unit on top may be the one, but I dislike the dated drab look of the fireplace and trim. On a tight budget so am thinking paint and retile fireplace. Getting an estimate for top down/bottom up shades. I'm an artist and my furniture is very eclectic. Lots of paintings, found objects both antique and modern... all in storage at the moment. Would love any advice on windows and fireplace tile. Unfortunately the bigger unit (top) has clay tiles throughout dining room and kitchen and lighter red tint floors.

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