Plantation shutters

re my perfect fit blinds upstairs, I don`t usually need to push them higher than I can reach but I did buy a window pole with a hook at the end so I can push the blind up to the top and also pull them down. I keep that in my wardrobe for dull days when I want more light. There is a plastic loop on the blinds

After all this time the decorators have gone, and I have finally had someone in to measure up and quote for perfect fit thermal Duo blinds.

They are more expensive than I expected, but I'm probably going to go ahead, and get six blinds for a three sided bay (one each for top and bottom of each of the sides). Looking at Louisas photo above, however, mine has smaller (so higher) top windows - ie the bottom panes are bigger than the top ones. My question is - how do I operate the top ones? The chap who came round was talking about pushing the blinds up and down from top and bottom for pretty much infinite light/shade options. When he'd gone it occurred to me that I'd struggle to reach the top ones, and don't want to have to stand on a chair or something every time I want to adjust a blind.

I'm possibly missing something obvious here, but can anyone who has that type of tensioned blind please tell me how they operate them?

Some websites have the option to take a picture of your room, and you can then see what they look like in your window.
There are a few apps with that option, too.

We have cafe style ones with roman blinds above...had them around 5 years now

I have them in all of my rooms and I am very happy with them.They have been great at keeping the heat out over the last few days.
I have heavy curtains with them during the winter in my living room bay because I like the look when it is miserable outside.

I also have split openings in bay windows.

Definitely shop around for Quotes as they differ widely and don't be afraid to haggle!

I forgot to say that you can get different combinations of plantation shutters eg I have full shutters on my downstairs front windows but the top half can be manipulated independently of the bottom half. I needed full blinds as the sun can be intense. My neighbour has half blinds, which he regrets as his rooms get very hot, he faces south and the top halves of his windows are not protected

I came to a new build and did a lot of research on window blinds, not wanting curtains and needing to keep the blinding sun out, while retaining light and privacy. I settled on wooden plantation shutters, stained pale cream. All my windows were able to have them, except the two sets of french doors

They are super excellent and look lovely, as new still after 3 years and just needing a bust every so often, I use a microfibre glove maybe 4 times a year. For the french doors I chose perfect fit blinds with the hive inset, no holes are drilled for those and hive is insulating as well as sun reflective

There might be a bit of light leakage from shutters and I like dark in a bedroom, so all upstairs rooms have perfect fit blinds with hive underneath the plantation shutters. I would have exactly the same system again, it has been perfect especially during the past few days of intense heat.

In the past I have had venetian blinds and looked at duo blinds but there is not comparison however it does depend on budget.

Doodledog

Thanks, the photo is very helpful. Your room looks lovely. Are they duorol blinds?

I know what you mean about being 'in', Aveline. I'm avoiding grey paint for that reason, and shutters would be a lot more expensive to replace if they start to look dated. I'm not a huge follower of fashion, decor wise (far from it!) but I'm trying to update the look of the house, and don't want to end up on the tail end of a trend.

J52 Good point about shutters needing to be dusted too. I assume that painted wood would be easier to dust than thin metal though? The blinds we had back in the day would buckle under the pressure of a duster, so I had to find a way to support them from behind to give myself something to press against, if that makes sense.

This is one of those times when it would really help to be able to live with various options for a week or two to see how they work . On a large window any solution is an investment, as there are no inexpensive options.

These are my Venetian blinds the slats are faux wood ( real wood too heavy as they are very large) and they are about 3cms wide, so easy to clean.

I have them in a bathroom and downstairs loo.
Easy to clean, and they do keep the room cool in summer and warmer in winter.
Do shop around as they are not cheap especially for large windows.

Everyone's rooms look great - you're making it harder to choose .

I'm really grateful for the photos, as seeing things on websites is not the same as seeing them in real homes, and it's easier to judge what would work in my house. Thanks, all of you.

We have shutters on our bedroom window, with a black out blind behind. We've had our kitchen/dining room knocked into one large room and have a very large bay window which needs some kind of covering. I was considering shutters, but I've found they do block out a lot of light in the bedroom during the day so will be rethinking. I'm considering roller blinds with a faux curtain each side. I'll also take a look at some of the suggestions here.

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Another window ... blinds open and closed

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I have done a few photos of my duorol blinds for you Doodledog, though it is a dull day today so they're not at their best. It is one blind, not two, and the mesh bits kind of roll round to come together or open up.

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DD2 has plantation shutters throughout her new house - except the kitchen. It means she has no need for curtains, so the rooms are less ‘dressed’ which she prefers.

Thanks. I've googled them and they've gone on the To Be Considered list . They look less obtrusive than the zebra ones, and I like the look of yours being flush to the window. Plus I could keep my curtains, which I still like.

I have a friend who is constantly decorating and changing the look of her rooms. Her house always looks lovely, but I don't think I could cope with the stress!

Doodledog I think they are are called duolight.
We have been very pleased with them, when up you wouldn’t even know they were there
We had them fitted by a local professional company.
I feel plantation shutters are a bit of a fad and very expensive!

Thanks, the photo is very helpful. Your room looks lovely. Are they duorol blinds?

I know what you mean about being 'in', Aveline. I'm avoiding grey paint for that reason, and shutters would be a lot more expensive to replace if they start to look dated. I'm not a huge follower of fashion, decor wise (far from it!) but I'm trying to update the look of the house, and don't want to end up on the tail end of a trend.

J52 Good point about shutters needing to be dusted too. I assume that painted wood would be easier to dust than thin metal though? The blinds we had back in the day would buckle under the pressure of a duster, so I had to find a way to support them from behind to give myself something to press against, if that makes sense.

This is one of those times when it would really help to be able to live with various options for a week or two to see how they work . On a large window any solution is an investment, as there are no inexpensive options.

This is our solution on a large bay window in our Victorian home.
These fine blinds are fitted flush into the window frame so look neat, I have photographed them with one open to give you a better idea.

Can I add I have NO issues with blocked light at all. With my set up.

I have them in my bay, cafe style. Just the bottom half also curtains. I love them. Do them before or after decorating. Privacy is fabulous, sunshine can be kept filtered as you require. I also have them in two other windows in the kitchen and dining room. These are full windows. I honestly love them and would recommend them.
The bay ones took some working out as they are roadside lounge. And yes perfect for all your requirements, light and
Privacy but curtains to keep the room looking cosier so that depends on your sense of style,

They're very 'in' just now. Probably fine for use in the plantations but they block light which I'm not happy with. I suspect they'll go out if fashion in the same way swags and tails went.
Check out duoral blinds they sound VG.

Re: the dust. We did put Venetian blinds up at all our windows. They have slats that are the same size as the plantation shutters. I use the brush tool on the hoover to dust them, as I would if they were the Plantation style.
At first we did have curtains as well, on the bay. The brass track was expensive, difficult to put up, as we’re the ceiling to floor curtains. After a while I didn’t like the arrangement and asked DH to remove them. He wasn’t best pleased ?.

My daughter has then just on the front rooms of their house. Downstairs they have a large window and they just have the shutters. Looks lovely and keeps the sun and heat out but let's a cool breeze in with the window open. Has them in the boys rooms but also has blackout curtains so that they get to sleep and don't wake up to early with the light . Hers are white and look lovely. A neighbour has them in pale blue but look odd as they don't go with the style and colour of the front door and paintwork.

J52

We looked at plantation blinds for our large bay window. They were unsuitable because of the style if bay. The windows go up to the ceiling and the bay has a return corner on each side, so fixing the frame work was very difficult, unless the frame was over the actual glass.
It might be a good idea to get a company to come and look at your window to let you know what is possible.

Yes, I think that's what we'd have to do. My window isn't quite up to the ceiling, but it is high on the wall. I'm not at home just now, so can't look at it, and can't remember whether there are corners to deal with. I've seen photos of them in what look to be very similar windows to mine, but I wasn't really looking out for things like that. Thanks for the heads up.

My son has plantation shutters on south facing windows and he is sure they have helped insulate his house against the heat outside.