Why buy a house with huge windows - and then swathe them in blinds?

loopyloo I think you have nailed it.

I suspect people bought the houses with large windows because they look fantastic and are a status symbol then, when living in them realise in practice, they don't like looking at a great expanse of darkness at night

Also, when they start living in these houses, they feel exposed as if people can see in and are watching them all the time, even when this is clearly not the case.

Horreur

‘No telly’ quelle hotrdurs

Megs36

Also why buy a bungalow and then build an ‘upstairs’? A small estate of bungalows here is fast becoming a ‘housing ‘ estate.
??

It adds hundreds of thousands in certain areas.

Megs36

Also why buy a bungalow and then build an ‘upstairs’? A small estate of bungalows here is fast becoming a ‘housing ‘ estate.
??

It's for when the DC and DGC come to stay.

You can shove them and all their belongings upstairs!!

Also why buy a bungalow and then build an ‘upstairs’? A small estate of bungalows here is fast becoming a ‘housing ‘ estate.
??

I use ungers equipment, inside and out

bobbydog, dull day, ungers window (professional) cleaning liquid, karcher window vac and perhaps a window polishing cloth slung over a shoulder. For very high window, ungers lambswool on a handle attached to a long extension. Quick change to an ungers squeegee on same long pole. Catch the wet with the karcher vac. Windowcleaningwarehouse

I have the full kit, brought from my last house with large (reachable) windows. Excellent both there and here. I haven`t needed to employ a window cleaner for 14 years, since we moved from a managed development which included window cleaning

I get my windows cleaned inside too but they don't need to be done as often as outside. I hate it when the sun comes out and shows me that I've totally wasted my time.

A few days after we moved in September I came out of the en-suite to find a neighbour really peering into our bedroom. Fortunately, for both our sakes, I had clothes on!

I had some window film left over after seeing rather too much of our previous neighbour doing his ablutions, despite the frosted bathroom windows. I covered the bottom pains of the bedroom window to preserve my modesty. We are thinking about vertical blinds as they can be pulled right aside or angled to avoid the curious.

We also had a parade of other flat owners who decided to walk round the perimeter of our flat peering in the windows. I hope they admired the packing cases! It hasn’t been repeated but we presumably provided some interest for the bored retirees who make up the bulk of the residents.

I must admit I was freaked out some time ago when watching Crime-watch. A man, brought up by a cruel grandmother, spied upon an elderly lady for months watching her from a nearby footpath. Eventually he viciously attacked her. She survived but didn’t want to live alone after that.

We lived by a footpath and OH was away on a course. Up until then I naively thought that peeping Toms would target attractive young women.

For massive expanses of glass a window cleaner outside is obviously a necessity but what about the inside. I’ve tried every method going and still make a pigs ear of mine so it would be a nightmare for me. My lounge window is the bane of my life. I think I’ve done a good job until sun comes out. Ahhgg.

I think I must have self-cleaning windows on the outside. Mine was the first house built, more bells and whistles than the others. I only clean frames, cills are stone. When it rains, the glass dries clean

My windows are definitely not grand designs massive. My living room has three sets of windows. They all have plantation shutters or perfect -fit insulating blinds on the glass patio doors. The window on the west side has shutters that can be tilted bottom independently to top. I have the bottom ones tilted every day, anyone who drives up to my end of the close (not frequently) , to use the turning area, they always try to have a nose. The top shutters are fully open. No-one can see inside but I get light and can see outside

I cannot be doing without my solar shading, dread the intense sun in summer. Very insulated house, new so is a heat sink. I generally relax near the east patio doors and windows. No-one to overlook me but like many, I don`t like seeing the dark at night. My wooden plantation shutters have been an essential marvellous buy for me, insulating from heat or cold and for privacy

I suspect people bought the houses with large windows because they look fantastic and are a status symbol then, when living in them realise in practice, they don't like looking at a great expanse of darkness at night. And the house gets very hot in summer and cold in winter.

If I didn’t have a window cleaner the house would look dreadful. I have never acquired the technique of cleaning windows without leaving streaks. No problem when I lived in a cottage with manageable little windows but I couldn’t successfully do the floor to ceiling windows here.

I have a large window in my lounge and only close curtains in the evening to keep in the heat. I am not overlooked so don’t close in the summer.
I often think with houses that have floor to ceiling glass, all that window cleaning. I’m terrible at cleaning windows so mine would be streaks everywhere.

M0nica

I understand the pracical issues, but if you swathe windows in heavy lace and net curtains etc all the time, you cannot see out and admire the view. That is the puzzle Plenty of these houses do not have curtains, and I am obviously not talking about curtains or window coverings you close at night and open in the morning or for short periods during the day.

It just puzzles me that someone should buy a house with huge windows and then cover them up so you cannot see out. Why not buy a house with smaller windows.

i would hate to live in a house with huge windows at the front, whether people can actually see in or not. I would rather have smaller windows, dispense with the drapes and enjoy the view.

Point taken.

But how many people who buy these houses with large windows actually do swathe them in heavy nets and drapes?

Purely anecdotal, but from what I have seen, blinds appear to be the choice of window covering - for obvious reasons.

I have never noticed what people do with their windows before now with any level of interest.

Out walking yesterday and had a look. Windows were as varied as the people I think, so I didn’t come to any conclusion at all???

BlueBelle

Depends where you live Nanna8 in working class areas like mine there’s still plenty of nets around in posher areas there wouldn’t be though

You don’t like the thought of a possum or fox looking in your windows that’s hilarious ???
“Hey mrs fox do you like that bit of silver on the table over there?” “Oh no dear not to my taste at all but the flowers look rather tasteful”

No they have beady little brown eyes and so do the possums though theirs are more bulbous. You don’t know what they’re thinking, they might have evil intents. Also they ambush all my fruits and vegetables and steal them and I don’t want any truck with thieving criminals and hooligans …

I agree that if they have ‘heavy lace and net’ curtains permanently over the big windows that is odd. Slatted blinds as we have can be raised, slanted to shield against sun and closed. Ours on the huge kitchen window in the front of the house are open during the day and give privacy whilst allowing us to see out and plenty of light to come in.

Although I feel naked from the protection of the trees in winter in summer I am protected from everyone’s prying eyes.

You might like this M0nica.
Little windows
Net curtains
Shutters
A few plants

I understand the pracical issues, but if you swathe windows in heavy lace and net curtains etc all the time, you cannot see out and admire the view. That is the puzzle Plenty of these houses do not have curtains, and I am obviously not talking about curtains or window coverings you close at night and open in the morning or for short periods during the day.

It just puzzles me that someone should buy a house with huge windows and then cover them up so you cannot see out. Why not buy a house with smaller windows.

i would hate to live in a house with huge windows at the front, whether people can actually see in or not. I would rather have smaller windows, dispense with the drapes and enjoy the view.

M0nica

Dickens I have absolutely nothing against privacy. Many people want it for all kinds of reasons, which I fully appreciate -or no reason at all, which i also appreciate. I have nothing against it and have never suggested otherwise

All I have done is asked , if people want privacy why do they buy houses with huge windows.

The above sentence limits my curiosity. There are no hidden meanings, no likes or dislikes. Just that 'why do people who want privacy buy houses with big windows?' or the other way round why do people who buy houses with big windows then block them up with heavy curtains or blinds that cut all the light out.

I asked a simple question, I am however becoming fascinated by the way my simple question is getting so many people so het up.

It's a simple question with a fairly simple answer.

Big windows afford a 'big' view onto the outside world which I would think many people enjoy.

But, for the practical reasons I and others have mentioned, and the not unreasonable need sometimes for privacy, they put up blinds or curtains. Because if they didn't, they'd bake in the heat of the summer sun and if they were close enough to be viewed by passers-by, might feel inhibited if they wanted to roam around the house all day in their PJs - or even bra and pants / boxer underpants, and not be on view like fish in a tank. And when it gets dark - you can't see out, but others can see in.

As I said, your home is your private space - and if people want a picture view on the world without the world having the same view of them, they buy a house with big windows and put up blinds (mostly) or curtains.

And most people want some privacy whether they have large or small windows. Further, it's not unusual for homeowners to keep blinds shut or curtains drawn if they are out all day - to prevent would-be burglars from knowing that the house is empty of people.

And I don't think anyone is "het up" - just puzzled by your apparent inability to understand these practical issues.

Dickens I have absolutely nothing against privacy. Many people want it for all kinds of reasons, which I fully appreciate -or no reason at all, which i also appreciate. I have nothing against it and have never suggested otherwise

All I have done is asked , if people want privacy why do they buy houses with huge windows.

The above sentence limits my curiosity. There are no hidden meanings, no likes or dislikes. Just that 'why do people who want privacy buy houses with big windows?' or the other way round why do people who buy houses with big windows then block them up with heavy curtains or blinds that cut all the light out.

I asked a simple question, I am however becoming fascinated by the way my simple question is getting so many people so het up.