Recommendations for Plantation shutters and Roller Blinds in Sydney?

[Julie-Ann]

I love roman blinds but the only concern is when they are half way or fully up the sun is going to beat down on the carpets. You almost want those Luxaflex blinds that can come half way down from the top.
My other observation is - a lot of my neighbours have these and they seem to be mostly down in summer. Which makes the houses seem very dark

[Di]

Thank you, J-A. You make a good point. I feel like beating my head against a wall over choosing window coverings that won't cost the earth and still look good.

[Julie-Ann]

I think we need to go through a process of elimination to find something for you.
So Plantation shutters are out.
Roman blinds wont protect the carpet.
Roller blinds behind a pelmet will work if you did day/night roller blinds.
Timber blinds will work.
There are alternative with Luxaflex but they are not cheap.
And the other option that is affordable is metal blinds with sheers in front. The blinds control the light but the sheers hide the blinds.

Do any of these work for you?

[Eli]

What about white/cream timber look blinds, we had these on our period home bedroom window. They gave us privacy at night (on five acres as if....think there as still a lot of townie in me at that stage, lol), but during the afternoon I would pull them up once the sun was past the room.

We had huge problems with the windows in the original part of the house as a lot of the panes were right up against the inside of the frame IYKWIM.

Not a good picture, sorry.

[Di]

Thank you for trying to help me.

I'd like to keep things consistent but am happy to have different window coverings for upstairs (2 beds & bathroom) which is carpeted (not the bathroom!) compared to downstairs.

The problem is that there are no reveals so a double roller system is going to protrude from the wall some 12cm in all and not really be effective as light could still stream in the side.

I'm not keen on curtains as I barely have time to clean my house let alone take down the curtains of 20+ windows and wash them, etc.

I did not think it would be that hard to make a decision but there are so many variables to consider.

Hubby mentioned that he knows the owner of a well known Blinds place here in Sydney so we may well be able to get a very good price once I decide exactly what we need.

J-A, are you thinking the honeycomb blinds?

[Di]

Eli, that is the problem we have here - there is no reveal or recess to hang blinds from.

[Julie-Ann]

Yes the honeycomb are an option. Luxaflex have some other options that others don't make.
Personally I don't like just blinds. I find it so harsh. I like the soft texture of some fabric. And I like the extra layer in the room. You could always get the sheers or drapes cleaned by the dry cleaner. Plus I would think Roman blinds would get just as dusty. And any horizontal blind gets dusty very easily. Just my thoughts.

[Di]

I appreciate your advice very much, J-A.

Would it be too much trouble if I photographed the said windows/rooms and stated the orientation and then we worked through them?

I am keen to get something arranged for upstairs ASAP however the other windows/doors downstairs can wait. Hopefully in the meantime, a money tree will sprout in the barren backyard

[Julie-Ann]

Of course Di - that's what we are here for.

[Di]

Thanks again, J-A, for your help and anyone else who'd like to offer some advice, please.

I feel very silly doing this to be honest, but I want to make the right choice, I am just feeling decision-overloaded. I can't see the trees for the forest, so to speak. There are no reveals so all tracks, etc will be mounted on the wall or architrave.

I've taken photos of the windows and sliders and will break them into upstairs and downstairs. They are real "lived in "shots; nothing here is staged, believe me.

Downstairs, panning the room in a clockwise direction:

The triple slider door which is our back/side entry door from the driveway/garage and looks straight into our open plan kitchen/living area. Privacy is needed for night time, not so much during the day.


From the kitchen to outside


Past the slider, along the same wall, are these windows and fireplace. They look out to the garage (south facing) so privacy is not a concern. The architrave was cut around the pelmet, an interesting detail to considering for window coverings.


Double set of sliders out to alfresco/entertaining area/yard (privacy not an issue but they face mainly west but do get some shelter:


Large windows facing north/NW (privacy not a major concern):