apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

What do you mean by no curtains? I would use something like flat sheets (I think twin would be about the right size) and hang them with curtain clips from ikea (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20075947 ). You could do the same with fabric, but getting something big enough and hemming it to prevent unraveling would be tricky.

If its the look of curtains you want to minimize, flat curtain panels might be an option (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10135555 ) or you might be able to suspend plexiglass or a lighter plastic on a track. You would need to do something to make it non-transparent though.

Even though you said you don't want to...I feel like a curtain is the best way to go. You could shop around for fabric sales to save on cash, and if you can't sew, purchase some iron-on hem tape (like what Ikea curtains come with) to finish the edges. This also takes care of your privacy.

You could take down the verticals entirely and use a curtain rod - or if your verticals are the kind that have little clips that hold each piece individually, you can unclip each one, and use the clips to hold the curtain (then you can store the individual blind pieces under the bed, behind the couch - wherever you have space - so that when you move you can put them back).

That would be my solution.

As a side note - I wish there was a video of the "wind chime" in action!

Sheets hung with curtain rings? Or some Ikea fabric, maybe.

Have you considered static-cling privacy frosted window film?
However, with the size of the windows you quoted, it may be difficult to spend less than $100 for 100% coverage.
What about bamboo/matchstick blinds? Or maybe a combo of window film and matchstick blinds?

I have the same thing in my condo. I kept the veritical blinds, but got an umbra curtain rod ($25 at Target). The brackets snaps right on to of the veritical blind (so no need to drill holes in the wall). I do have flat linen curtain panels (2 pkg of curtains..2 panels each, also fron Target, total $50)on them, it gives me privacy but lets the light in. And since the veritical blinds are still there, I can get block out the light too (helps with keeping the apt cool in the summer). I suppose you can put up some bamboo blinds from a rod instead...

Oh I have a photo of it here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8433752@N02/1976919746/in/set-72157603099119842/

I'm so glad someone asked this question.. I have these too and HATE them.
thanks, gnomatic.. I think i'm going to look for those umbra brackets.

This is so cheap I hate to even mention it: double-sided tape and tissue paper. Buy a pretty tissue paper that you like and tape two sheets together with the printed sides out. Use tiny pieces of tape, but enough to get the job done ... on one edge only.

Starting from the bottom of the window, Petal (layer) the 2-piece sheets of tissue going up, attaching to the glass with another piece of double sided tape. Let the tissue overlap the layer below it by what ever length is necessary to look nice.

If you do it right, you can pick up a layer to peek out the window when needed, but have completely privacy. I have used variations on this technique on both large and small panes of glass.

When it is time to remove the tissue and tape, most of the time the tape will peel right off, but the ones that don't are easy to get off with a razor blade scraper.

Go slowly---be careful, and it will look ok. Pretty filtered light, but no insulation against temperature or sound. But cheap.

gnomatic, I love your solution, but I am not quite sure how the brackets snap right on to the blinds. Can you be more specific? Does the Umbra website (www.umbra.com) have the rod/bracket that you used?

I'll add to the "IKEA fabric for curtains with iron-on tape" chorus! You can get a almost transparent fabric if you'll keep them closed most of the time. Maybe replace the other curtains (what do they look like) with something bold so these will disappear more...

I was willing, and planning to drill a bracket into the wall to hold the rod to hide the vertical blinds. So it was a happy accident that the brackets of the Umbra rod (this one http://www.umbra.com/ustore/product/240586/c127/ball_drapery_rod.html) fitted just over the vertical blinds.
I chose the rod because it had a nickel finish, expandable to long enough for the freakishly large sliding door, simple design, and cheap.

The backets are shaped like a sideways 5. The top of the 5 is squarish, and it fitted perfectly over the top of the vertical blind box thingee that has the movement mechanism.

Fontessa, that is so genius! I've also done window decals (you know, just get a really large panel of that "frosted glass" sticker stuff), and the sheets with curtain clips as previously mentioned.

My personal feeling is that pretty much anything is better than vertical blinds.

I've used the super-cheap LILL curtains from IKEA in several applications. They come in a long length, are trimmed with scissors, and can be very translucent or give more privacy with more gathering or layers. These might not give you enough privacy though.

There is also a spray coating you can get at any hardware store that creates a frosted glass effect. I use Rustoleum Frosted Glass. It runs about $5 a can. This won't help with light control in the mornings, but it will help with privacy issues and allow you to leave the blinds open so the dog won't feel the need to run behind them.

thank y'all so much for all your comments. we are going to try the frosted glass spray (as long as it's removable) and also the super-budget-friendly tissue paper idea! we're all about resourcefulness. and...i do have a video of Fin doing the windchime. i'll have to post it on youtube and send a link. thanks again!

when i had a set of these in my last apartment, i opened them all the way, so they sat very close to the wall at one end. then, i used tab-top curtains that actually opened at the top, with buttons like these:
http://www.shopwildthings.com/tabtopcunali.html

there's no need to buy a curtain rod if these will fit around it. it worked really well, and because they're tab top, you can actually use several layers to get the desired thickness. i used one set of near-sheer tab tops, and a completely opaque set. when i needed the light, i'd pull back the opaque set. just make sure you get something that's colorfast. most of the time, those horrible vertical blinds actually do a good job of keeping the sun/heat/fading out.

If the vertical blinds are fairly sturdy - vinyl not cloth - move them to the outside.

This probably works better in Tucson than New York, but outdoor shades block hot sunlight before it gets into your house.