I would LOVE to make my own...but I am the least crafty person on earth! This is the ONLY project that has ever gotten me to consider buying a sewing machine...just because the cost of shades is so much...and because we have SO MANY windows in this old house. But other than photography (so maybe scrapbooking someday, if I'm bored), I have zero passion for the art of craftiness. I do love fabric and was hoping to do some really cool shades...just to make it look like I "meant" to do roller shades...not because they were just the cheapest I could find. I guess I don't really want the vinyl ones for that reason...I was hoping for fabric of some kind. That make-your-own roller shade thing sounds ideal...but how well do they work once you add the fabric onto the backing? Does it make it too "heavy" so they don't roll up too well? I kind of need something heavy duty enough to withstand three little kids running around--not that they ever mess with the blinds we have now...I would just hate the thought of them breaking something I either spent a ton of $$ on or a ton of time!! Great ideas, though...I'm going to try to figure it out soon!! Sarah

Each price was the ENTIRE cost for the motorized blind. When they go on sale, it’s usually 30-40% off the regular price. I was able to get 50% off because a few months prior I got a couple of rooms full of blinds and the woman who worked with me kindly took off another 10%. It was like $2400 for nine motorized blinds (including remote and installation). It doesn’t get much better than that as far as price goes. Go to Lowe’s and they will walk you through the entire process....and make sure to ask when they’re going on sale (which happens quite frequently).

I agree that you should get another estimate from a different dealer. I had one woman give me an estimate that seemed WAY too high. I told her I was going with another option due to the price, and only then did she come back with a much lower price, saying she had "made a mistake". I used a different installer instead, getting a price similar to the low price. Hunter Douglas are great quality, but I've used Graber also with good luck. You could ask for a discount based on the number of windows you have, which I think is reasonable, and see what they say. And I agree that you may want to choose blinds in each room depending on how much usage they will get and also the look you want if you don't want to spend that much. You might actually like the variety.

IMO none of those block light well enough to use in a bedroom unless they are installed way past the window frame I like a mix of shades and drapes in a bedroom if light blocking is the aim.