Here’s something that happens not infrequently in my house: Sam spends the afternoon in his study or out of the house, and when he comes out/home he discovers that I have made some totally unexpected change to our decor or layout. I’ve learned over the years that he has very few strong opinions about interior design, so that has emboldened me to do pretty much whatever I want without getting his opinion first. And even when he is skeptical about something at first, usually he ends up liking it once he sees it or it grows on him over time. In short: I’m usually right. And I’m such a joy to live with.
Anyway, this phenomenon happened once again on a recent Saturday afternoon. Lately whenever I’m on our couch, I’ve been staring at our windows in dissatisfaction.
They’re nice windows, don’t get me wrong. But we don’t really see them, because we have them covered up with window treatments. We’re on the first floor and have close neighbors, so we have one layer of sheers that give us privacy, and then decorative panels on either end. And while I’ve always been a curtain person, they just started feeling wrong for our space — like too much frill and fabric for our style, and too much blocking of our view and window trim (which is kind of the only architectural element in our house).
So one afternoon I took it all down.
It’s impressive how much brighter and more open the space feels in person, and I love that we can actually enjoy our view out the picture windows. We’re on a hill, so in reality the front windows aren’t at street level and there’s not a privacy issue like I always thought there was.
The side window, however, is right next to our neighbors’ house and much closer to the level of the sidewalk, so we feel a bit more exposed without our curtain. I think that some sort of privacy shade might make sense for that window — something with a sleek profile that sits inside the window frame and still lets the light in when it’s closed, but also provides a little screening.
But then I can’t decide if the windows would look really unbalanced to have a shade on one of them and then nothing on the picture windows. Since we don’t need anything on the picture windows, though, I hate to spend money on shades because good quality privacy shades aren’t cheap (especially cordless ones, which are the only safe option for houses with young kids). I’m wondering about some sort of roman shade or simple valance that we could put on the picture window, sort of like Kim and Scott of Yellow Brick Home did in their bedroom:
Then we could do the same thing on the side window, and the roller shade apparatus would be hidden underneath it so that it looks like it has the same window treatments as the picture window.
But I’m not sure, this whole “no curtains” thing is new terrain for me! I’m liking it (and Sam quite likes it, if you were wondering!), but I don’t know what to do next. I’d love your advice…. Do you think curtain-less windows can ever look finished? What curtain alternatives — like roman shades or bamboo blinds — do you like? How do you deal with maintaining privacy while still letting in plenty of light?
I’ll end with some photos of our new naked windows that feature Murphy, since I know he’s the reason that at least 50% of you read this blog:
It looks great seeing those windows!! Personally, I love being able to see out of windows in the daytime, but at night, even if no one can see in, I like covering the window. Warmer in the winter and cozier all year. What about Roman shades? They’re not hard to make, and you have a close family member who loves to sew! Sailrite.com has FABULOUS step-by-step instructional videos for measuring and constructing, and beautiful home dec fabrics. Just Sew here in Middlebury also carries beautiful home dec fabrics.
Good thinking, I’ll add this to the idea list!
We used to have sheers on all of our windows but when I was pregnant, I could not stand the fabric (I think maybe it was the idea of them catching scent? who knows, pregnancy does weird things to your brain) so I took them down and ordered custom solar shades from blindster.com. We love not having the extra fabric, they are cordless, and they let a good amount of light in when they are drawn but shut easily and pretty much disappear into the frame of the window when open.
Yes! Solar shades are on my short list.
We have Hunter Douglas Duette honeycomb shades on many of our windows (and no curtains or drapes), and have been very pleased. When open, the “stack” is very thin, so you can hardly tell they’re there. Most of ours are remote control, but they offer other options. I think it is definitely best to have the same window treatment on every window within a room.
Awesome, I will have to look into these!
I live in the country set well back from the highway so privacy is not a big issue . When we moved in I made roller shades with a small valance for all the windows in our house , but found that I really liked ” naked ” windows so rarely have used the shades . I do feel that the same window treatment for windows in the same room is the best , and am thinking that a self raising blind and valance might be one way for you to go.
Ahhh, I would love the privacy of the countryside 🙂
An different approach would be to put a narrow shelf or table that you could make easily – the length of the windows and 10-12 inches wide – in front of each window. Then on the side window shelf put a line of tall plants that would screen the lower half of the window. I did this many years ago in my house and it works well. You also could put a few plants on the wide window shelf along with some decorative pieces from your travels, families, etc.
I love this idea Ann! But alas the cats would make quick work of any plants — Murphy, especially, loves to eat plants and knock things off shelves, which makes for quite a combination 🙂
Murphy seems to be lovin’ it so you are stuck now! Bottom up shades have been perfect for privacy issues in our home….
Yes, bottom up shades seem so handy!
I used self adhesive window film on a kitchen window when I lived in a rental apartment. I found it was a cheap, non-permanent and (at least for me) aesthetically pleasing option. I also like the idea of putting plants on the window shelf but that might be hard to execute with a cat in the house (depends on the cat of course).
Hmmm, I had not considered window film! Very intriguing.
My husband also comes home to constant changes in decor. Sometimes he doesn’t even notice. Were having the same dilemma in our home right now. I feel like the curtains are just adding clutter. Unfortunately, our windows are large and oddly shaped so we would have to do custom and it’s not a priority financial right now! I’d say for yor space though, if privacy isn’t an issue, to leave them open. I like the idea of plants in front of it too.
It’s definitely tough with oddly shaped windows! We’ll have to solve the side window at least since privacy is definitely an issue there, but not necessarily the picture window.
I have also done the inexpensive film on a window (ground floor bathroom) as a temporary fix to see if I liked it,it worked and so I wouldn’t have to get other window treatments. Twenty years later it’s still working. On our first floor we have the Hunter Douglas cordless honeycombs (grandchildren 😉 that I love. Plants are always a viable option as long as they can’t be knocked over or grabbed by tiny fingers. Good luck. I know you will come up with something truly remarkable.
Thanks for all the idea, Joan, and for your vote of confidence!
I live in Amsterdam, so I can see my neighbors’ interior, but I love the windows and the light too much to have any window covering or shade or whatever.
As long as I don’t use the rowing machine (don’t have one, that helps) in the nude in front of my window like one of my neighbors does, it should be fine.
Wow, what a bold neighbor! 🙂
We are in a similar quandary. I pulled all of our curtains down in a fit of minimalism and love how much light it has brought in BUT we have a massive picture window that could use some sort of privacy screen (being in an urban area and all.) The window has one large frame of glass in the middle and two small sliders on either side so I don’t have a clear solution.
Hmmm, I wonder if three solar shades (which you could get cut to length for each of the three panes) might work? Glad I’m not alone in this conundrum….
We also did the window film on a downstairs bathroom and love it! All the light, all the privacy, none of the window clutter. My neighbor likes it so much she did a clear but textured film on her windows for privacy.
Another vote for window film — I didn’t realize it was so popular!
I prefer them undressed as I really want as much light as possible coming into the room. Our neighbor’s houses are decently far apart and I can’t see into any of them unless I am making a particular effort. And honestly, I am far too boring to attract a following myself. Someone else mentioned bottom up blinds, which I think work really well for leaving the skies and tree tops, but I am not sure they have the cool designer look we all want. Still, it gives control over the lower half of the window which is what we really want to block.
I know, why are all the practical things not also the most trendy design-wise? Don’t we all just want functional homes?
I didn’t think I would, but I love the windows so much more without the curtains. It looks so bright and clean and really brings the room together! I agree that the window treatments were sort of going against the style of the rest of the room. Try the window film on the side window. And if you decide you need more, roman blinds on all of them would be nice. Even a roman blind on just the side window could work. I don’t think it would look that weird just to have one covered if you go with a minimalist sort of covering. And if it did look weird you could add them to the picture window later. Good for the budget to do it in stages anyway.
Thanks for the encouragement and ideas, Molly!
I bought window film with a magnolia pattern at Home Depot and covered the bottom part of my windows, then cut out the remaining film to have flowers climbing up the edges of the top part. I did that on all the windows because it looked odd otherwise. All the windows are different sizes but it’s no longer obvious. I also have drapes for each window to pull shut and hold in heat during the cold seasons, but I take them down for the warm seasons. At all times of the year, I have colourful light pouring through the magnolia pattern.
Wow, I bet that looks so cool! You’re so creative!
I am so NOT a curtain person, so I love the bare windows. I also vote for window film. Try it on the side window, and add it to the big window if it looks unbalanced.
Thanks Mary Anne!