apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have no advice on this one. I'm just here to gawk at the real estate.

What about delia shades, http://www.deliashades.com/second.html

I live in an apartment with very similar large windows facing east and south. My loft came with are very large/long vertical blinds that I'm not allowed to remove. They aren't too pretty and I imagine in your space they would stick out like a sore thumb. Make sure that whatever you choose you have a way to not only cut down on light but actually block it. I pretty much need to close my east facing blinds every day, unless it's raining, otherwise my entire apartment gets HOT and I imagine yours will be the same. I live in the city so merely opening the windows isn't really the best option (dirt, dust, pollution, noise).

PS. I forgot to mention... my vertical blinds hang from the ceiling on a track, so you might need your landlord to OK the installation (or possibly pay for it?).

So beautiful, i want to cry!! Love your place. Even empty.

Why is it window treatments stump so many people? This kind of question get sasked a lot.

Solar shades aren't hard to clean at all - They're made of fiberglass mesh which only requires occassional vaccuming or wiping off with soap & water.

The only reason they'd smell is if someone didn't bother to maintain them properly.

Solar shades are your best bet for your space - and I'd be consistent and use them on all the windows.

Tell us more about Your Loft.

What about using sailcloth and making your own curtains? It's not that difficult and it's DIY-tastic. I've also bought plain, California King-sized sheets and used blackout fabric on the back for some large, drafty windows. They hold up well over time. Love your space, btw!

first of all, drool. what a great space.

for solar screening on high end projects, a lot of times we use either a mechoshade roller shade or a lutron roller shade with a solarweave fabric. pretty pricey. if you want to do a cheaper version, try justblinds.com; their 'premium solarshade' isn't too bad (it's what i have in my own apartment). don't do the 'standard' version, it's crap. also, even with the premium, the pull chain for the non-spring loaded version is plastic, which isn't nice. i went with spring-loaded, which is fine if your windows aren't too high.

the inside mounting version is also the cleanest look. with roller shades, i think it's just awkward to have them stuck on the wall outside the window opening.

if you're looking to avoid an upcharge for extra wide panels, you could also divide each window into two shades, aligning the gap between them with the center jamb. you can still do inside mount by installing an angle bracket in the center of the window opening to receive the ends of the rollers.

anyway, that's what i would do.

I love curtains and had four (in two colors) hanging across my one 12 foot window. I'd use two layers so you can pull just one or both for different levels of light. The light one goes in back to reflect light back out.

hey everyone, thanks for the responses, fast and impressive! we aren't renting but buying so that's why we wanted to figure out a good solution that's got some staying power. plus, all the issues jick mentioned--dirt, noise, heat--are ones we're worried about. this place is about 1900 sf located in the south bronx so there's a lot of potential (we'll be coming back with more questions as we get around to finishing room construction, i'm sure!) but will also likely get really hot. the windows are new so while drafts shouldn't be much of a problem (i hope), we don't want to have the AC on constantly in the summertime. i think we're probably going to go with the solar shades as they seem like the best option...
and thanks sniplet for the detailed advice!

I've heard that JC Penney has some good inexpensive window shades options for large windows. The selection online is cheaper than in stores.

Great space, btw!

I also don't think that you need to just have one solution.

Use solar shades for light control and partial privacy, plus Roman shades for complete light blocking and energy efficiency, then stationary drapery panels for color/softness.

I agree with the earlier post about solar shades... they aren't too difficult to clean and are almost always the best option for large windows in lofts (with a desired clean and simple look). The only time these don't work as well is if you're on a lower floor and you need more privacy. In this instance something like roller shades work (cheaper option) but usually top down bottom up shades provide the greatest compromise in allowing light in and giving privacy. The link above provides more information on this type of shade. Whatever you pick, I'd go with something simple and elegant... nothing to "heavy." Justblinds has great custom window treatments that are pretty cheap as a previous poster pointed out. Whatever you do, good luck! The place looks like it has tons of potential.

BlindFINDER.com
"All you could ever want to know about window treatments"

Verosol silver (metal) backed blinds keep heat out in summer and heat in for winter. Brilliant. Not supposed to be cleaned - anti static - dust shakes off as you use them.

As so many people commented before, Solar Sun Shades are a great way to go for your loft.
They come in a translucency of 3%, 5% and 10%. A great way to cut out glare but are only limited suited for privacy.
One issue you will face is the size of your windows, as most Fabrics for Solar Shades come only up to 90" wide. you would have to use probably two shades on one window. Otherwise you will see a seam on your shades.
Take a look at this page Professionals in your area who can help you in finding the right product.