For years I have argued and disagreed with my husband regarding putting blinds on our front windows:
How could I ever consider covering up this beautiful view?:
Well, after seeing how the sun has damaged my furniture,rugs and wood floors in the last couple years, I guess I did have to reconsider my original position on my no-blind rule. So we agreed to research to see what was available that would work functionally to keep out the strong sun as well as helping to insulate in the summer and winter. Looking aesthetically pleasing was so important to me. I did not want to cover up any part of the windows and I did not want my view outdoors being affected.
My husband and I shopped around and we decided to work with a local company Budget Blinds. I have used them in the past and have been very pleased. They are always professional and competitively priced with a large inventory and colors to choose from. Plus, they really know their window treatments!
At our consultation with Budget Blinds, he came out to our home and measured and showed us different options that would work well with our windows.
We decided on the cellular/honeycomb shades for their light filtering abilities and their insulation properties. I was sold on them because they can be stacked high on the window and you could hardly tell they were there. Function and beauty!
There were many colors to choose from. As much as I love color, I knew that I wanted them practically invisible so I chose a color as close of a match to my existing trim as I could:
And in only two weeks later, they were custom made and installed!
I really like them! The top windows had to be motorized(another remote control!). They are keeping out the sun when necessary which was important. And look, you can hardly see them when they are closed!:
What do you think? I have design plans to someday hang window treatments in blue like this:
Love, love, love! Wouldn’t that look so nice? We also had shades put in the office area:
The sun was killing everything! Well, now we will not have that problem anymore!:
So my husband and I have finally come to an agreement- we love our new blinds and we are glad we had it done! Questions or comments?
If you need help with your window treatments, contact me today.
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Kelly Bernier Designs
Thanks Nichole! I will help you decorate anytime!
I love the photos on your blog! I just want to jump into every one of them. I’m with you on the wishing-for-no-shades-to-block-the-view thing….
One day, I’m going to pester you to style a writing shack for me
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Thank you Nicole!
Such a lovely outlook from your living room! One can only dream! I think you have done a marvelous job choosing the appropriate shades, well done
I too have a beautiful view that we do not want blocked. I ordered North Solar Screens for outside the windows…they block harmful sun and allow us to see outside at the same time. Many color options and can be raised & lowered as needed. Love, love, love um.
Kelly, I have the same “shade” anxiety waiting for me in our AZ home…floor to ceiling windows I don’t want to cover up…but yours really do disappear and so, you have help to convert me.
Linda, I was so worried about the sofa fading- I would throw a sheet over it when we left for more that a few days.Not anymore! yay
Thanks Debby!
love, love, love the shades…so subtle and contemporary! the blue drapes would be an awesome addition. Love your blog!
I think you made the perfect choice. I am not a fan of covering up windows either but hey…got to take care of that new beautiful sofa!
Yes, that is my new sofa Sheila! The two chairs that were in front of the window were so sun bleached it was unbelievable! Glad we made the puchase of shades.
I so hear you on not wanting to cover up that gorgeous view… but the sun is not your friend, not when it beats the life out of your furniture and floors!!! I think your blinds are awesome, especially the remote control feature
Your choice is perfect – they’re non-invasive, yet will take the sun to task! And didn’t you mention you were buying a new sofa? Is that it in the last photo? Definitely want to give it half a chance to live a long life!!!
Beautiful! Like you, I want as much sunshine as possible but still retain pretty views. As I was reading your post, right away I thought of an invisible film that’s applied to windows to keep out UV rays. But sometimes it looks kinda “bad” from the outside.
Then I thought of the same thing: cellular blinds! I love them on your windows! I’d like to get them someday too but for now (and probably quite awhile) we’ll make do with the wide-slat horizontal blinds
At least we can close off the hot summer sun of our west-facing house and avoid all that sunbleaching.
Love, love, love your room, your views and how you solved the blinds/no-blinds dilemma