First Floor Privacy
What’s the best solution for privacy plus light in a first floor apartment. We’re considering window film, top down bottom up roman shades, planters, etc. Any recs welcomed!
What’s the best solution for privacy plus light in a first floor apartment. We’re considering window film, top down bottom up roman shades, planters, etc. Any recs welcomed!
Also, for the best of both world in one shade, check out Smith + Noble OptiLight Shades. Its both a pleated shade and a sheer shade all in one. Brilliant actually. I want some for my garden windows!
I have the original shutters. You can keep the bottom closed while opening the top. You can pick up antique shutters at a salvage place or get reproductions.
YEs, tanner’s got the right idea. Duo fold cellular shades. Many decent sources on the web.
i’d go with sheers and White Frost Privacy Window Film
I LOVE top down cellular shades for privacy meets light. The cellular ones are the best, in my experience, because you can get a light color that lets a ton of light through (like linen white–which i prefer over plain white, btw, b/c on an overcast or blah day, the linen white still makes it feel like there’s a little sunshine outside), yet because they are essentially double layered, they let through zero visibility at the same time. I’ve had blinds.com and smith and noble ones, and found both to be of excellent quality. I’ve done rice paper film, too, and I like that a lot, but for a first floor apt, it still allows outsiders to see your movement (shadows, profiles), which just weirds me out, frankly. Another plus of cellular shades, btw, is their energy efficiency.
I recommend top-down/bottom-up shades. Hunter Douglass makes very nice shades, but they are pricey. You can get similar ones at BBB for a lot less.
People in my building have used some both of the suggestions you mentioned. The shades might be nicer since if you wanted a clear view out your window at any time you can raise or lower then.
Top Down Bottom Up shades are great for low-level apts. Hunter Douglas makes them in a cordless version, which work well.
Semi sheer cafe curtains plus a roller shade. Cafe curtains are the ones that are half way up the window. Depending on where the street level is relative to your windows, this will hopefully keep people from being able to easily gaze into your apt but will still give you light and a view of outside above the curtains. The roller shade or roman shade will give you the option of full privacy when you want it. Honeycomb shades will also work for the sheer option.