apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have Solar Shades in my living room (where I wanted to keep the view but cut the glare) and more private roller shades in my bedroom, both from the Shade Store. You can't beat them for quality and customer service. If you have a nice view I'd go for the Solar Shades. It's a very clean look.

Length may be a problem, as Smith Noble's dimensions for custom Roman shades top out at 108" (9'), while The Shade Store goes only to 120" (10'). The issue may be something about weight or construction method, as fabric certainly can be cut longer.

If you're thinking of something that opens by going up (so the mechanical method would have you pulling down on a rope), look into blinds that have a remote control.

Beautiful windows -- I like Maxwell's suggestion for white roman shades -- you can get them "top down" if privacy is a concern. I just wanted to add my two cents regarding sourcing your window treatments. I am in a battle with Smith Noble over window treatments I ordered from them about two months ago. I would not recommend them at all - their customer service is terrible.

PS - I can't wait to hear Patrick's take on "length is never the problem". Even that one didn't get past me.

I think the problem, if you will, is the fact that they're vertical.

How about Hunter Douglas Silhouette blinds?
http://www.hunterdouglas.com/hdg_photo_gallery.jsp?page=&i=&p=1&r=5&s=5

You need the Hunter Douglas Luminette, not the Silhouette.
They act as vertical blinds but have a privacy sheer that you can't get with any others. I didn't want to spend so much but after having them installed, it was well worth it.

Thank you all for your help! As suggested above, Smith Noble won't do any window treatments this size (so robyn, I have no choice but to heed your warning!), and the Shade Store, while maxing out at 108" for shades, said they'd check with their production people on what could be done in a longer length. She thought they could maybe do the solar shade. I too love the idea of a roman shade, if I can get them, but maybe they'll roll up to an 8" ball?! And, I was toying with the idea of an off white/linen color, but Maxwell says white, so white it is.

Thanks for the Hunter Douglas tips, I think they're beautiful on the site, and it's good to know, icenet333, that you like yours. Just because I know my mother will ask, do they get very dirty?

Alexa

See, now I hate to cover windows... I want to see out and I want light to come in.

My suggestion is to leave the top half of the windows bare (don't I see a break in the panes?) and cover the bottom half with sheers for privacy.

I don't think there's anything wrong with the blinds you have now. If they're dirty, take them down and scrub them with Clorox Spray. If they're not the color you like, paint them. From your photo, they look fine to me...

They have a loft, though, so they'd want the top half of the windows to shut out light when they're sleeping...

This is why I can't quite bring myself to love the current style of lofts. It is such a small step from "look at the great light! look at the great views!" to "my bedroom is a public venue!"

Alexa,

I have had my Liminettes for a few months now and dirt has not been a problem even with snow white.

Ha, Robyn. But very often length *is* a problem.

Were it me, Solar Shades, and stationary side panels of a Weimeramer-colored velvet on the far left, perhaps even wrapping to the wall side a bit. Definitely go with a company that offers motorized shades.

Were it me, and money, privacy issues, and sun control not issues, I'd do metal chainmail curtains. Still with the stationary side panels.

I do have to say, though, this is one instance where I really am not hating the verticals.

Perhaps...

www.shimmerscreen.com

That's kind of pretty in a New York State Theater kind of way, which I love.

I have a friend with similiar loft windows, and a decidedly modern decorating style. She did curtains (two layers, in fact) and although I was afraid it would end up looking fussy or like too much material, it turned out great. She did white sheers under a simple, dupioni silk top curtain. I can't say for sure that her windows are quite as tall as yours, but they're pretty dang high and I think she got long enough curtains at BB&B!

Also, check out this past post on DIY rice paper rolling shades. Maybe too much of a DIY given the height of your windows but in case you hit a dead end or are far more industrious than I would even be! http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/how-to/how-to-make-rice-paper-roller-shades-guest-post-006780

Just my opinion... I think the vertical pattern or striping detracts. It directs one's focus to a particular location of the room - the bottom of the blinds - and, for example, it dwarves the wonderful door (to the patio?). Maybe a horizontal blind would do a similar thing... I don't know.

Another idea is fabric. Billowing fabric.

Oy, this is harder than I thought. Hunter Douglas said they won't make any of their products in our length, and the Shade Store said they can't "condone" a roller shade that length, because they'd likely buckle or sag in the middle. I think we'll have to do drapery -- perhaps a sheer backed with a privacy liner. Since it looks like I'll have to go this route, any suggestions for a tailor/ drape maker? Maybe it would be cheaper? As much as I'd love to make them myself, one has to recongnize one's limitations (and I have problems taking up a hem)

Thanks, all ---

I always go for fabric. Old-fashioned perhaps, but nice, curtains.

re: the shade store. i also have 15' windows in my loft, and they made me solar shades without a problem last winter. give them a call - they can go longer than 120".

Smith and Noble are terrible! Not to rant off topic...but I bought a roller shade, I measured properly and the the damn thing was not wide enough. Customer no-service said tough. I had to wedge a shim in to hang it. I have almost 3/4 inch gap on either side.

Maybe you should try commercial sources instead of residential -- there just has to be somewhere in NYC to get this done without you having to compromise on what you want (I am sure you will be paying a pretty penny for them)

If you want to make your own Roman Shades, here is an excellent source of instructions and supplies:
terrelldesigns.com

Roman Shades are expensive to have custom made but not difficult to make yourself.

The owner of terrelldesigns is knowledgeable and helpful and can probably advise you on the length issue. The site has a place you can just key in your window measurements and it immediately calculates everything you need, and how much of it.

On the color issue, I love my white Roman shades (Warm Window style) but will never choose white again. They show any spec and the dust. I made another shade in gray and cream stripe and think it will show soil less.

Any shade needs to be vacuumed regularly. Whatever you choose, I hope you love it!

When my best friend needed curtains, and his window was entirely too tall for anything ready-made, and custom was too expensive, I did this:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/artycurtis/56190787/in/set-1216852/

Billowy, modern, and very inexpensive.

Do the shoji screens give you enough privacy? if so, do you have to have any coverings on the windows at all?

We do need some covering as there's a building across the street with windows facing ours. Some of our view is open, but not all. I don't think we need full black out coverage.

Thanks for the advice about making our own shades, and the DIY inspiration.

What do you guys think about doing sheer drapes (maybe a linen with a privacy liner) and connecting the two windows with one long, curved bar -- we could put one panel on the left, one on the right and one in the middle, between the two windows. It could soften them a bit?

And, Sara, I'm intrigued... Shade Store said no way to my size windows -- are yours about as wide as mine, too (64")? and you haven't had any trouble?

Again, thanks everyone for the thoughtful, and very helpful advice!

hey AMS - iiinteresting. my windows are 74" x 144" (so, not actually 15', but close!) and it wasn't a problem. maybe they've become more restrictive since last november? when i called, i basically asked if they had any products at all that would work for windows of that size. i ended up with solar shades (5% open) in gray. other than the massive headache involved with hanging them (mostly because we needed to find a ladder that tall), they've been terrific.

what'd they tell you when you spoke with them?

Mine are 180" long (maybe that 35" makes all the difference?), and the nice woman I talked to when I called went back and talked to the people who actually do the production. They told her they couldn't recommend shades in that size (of any sort) because they could bow or sag in the middle. She recommended drapes. I don't see why, during installation, they couldn't anchor the shades in the middle, but I didn't have that thought unitl I hung up the phone.

hmmm. frustrating. i suppose you could try to get them to think of another creative solution for you (anchoring in the middle, etc.)... you could also try rosebrand.com. they do a lot of huge theatrical curtains, and they might be able to help you come up with a solution that isn't too billowy or overwhelming, maybe using a hospital track up at the top.

good luck - and please do let us know what you come up with! i'm veeeery sympathetic because i spent a whole lot of time brainstorming about the same problem.

I am not sure if you will be able to get bamboo blinds to cover your window from ceiling to floor or if you can have one custom made.

since these are really large, i'd go for one of the solar ones w/ a remote control.

What about white ripplefold sheers OVER simple white drapery with blackout lining. The sheers would open right to left to allow access to the patio without having to open the sheers all the way and the white blackout curtain would sit all the way to the left (or right - wherever there is enough room) and would only be deployed at night right before bed. Allowing the sheers to be the front face means you can go cheaper on the blackout curtain element (because its not featured - it basically hides behind your nice sheers...) and keeps everything light and airy.

Ripplefold curtains are not at all like the frou frou heavy drapery most people use. There is no valance or pullback ties, decorative pleating, or bar. They sit on track on the ceiling. The ripplefold tape keeps the rounded "pleats" (shaped like a neverending line of the letter s) uniform in size and spacing. They are very clean simple and architectural - very appropriate for your contemporary space. For an even cleaner look, some people have the track recessed into the ceiling.

Drapery of any kind is insanely expensive. Think of the most outrageous price for drapes, double it, then double it again. Its probably still not enough. Get a quote, but prepare yourself for some serious sticker shock.

Hi Richardinla,
Could you recommend a store that sells ripple-fold tracks? I've been looking around to do sheer/blackout just like you have described for my windows and they are expensive! Were you able to find double track for both sheer and blackout? I do have a lot of floor to ceiling windows and would love to hear where you found yours.


Thanks a lot.