Blinds or Curtains on gable end windows?

9 years ago

The windows in my bedroom are across the whole wall as you will see in the photo. I am not sure whether or not to have blinds or curtains here. I like to have the room quite dark when sleeping so was thinking I would get black out blinds. My partner wants to get curtains but I don't want curtains to spoil the look of the windows and block out any of the view. Also from the outside looking in I don't want to see curtains. However I know that blinds will be very expensive for this, especially ones that fit into the window and don't hang down. Would be interested to hear any thoughts on this? Thanks.

Featured Answer

pollyannagal

9 years ago

What exactly are you looking to achieve with your window dressing? I'm guessing that privacy isn't too much of an issue because of the fab views you have; if they're new windows they won't be draughty; and you don't need to add interest to the windows - so I'm guessing the main issue is light control.

Why not think laterally and leave the window as is and try curtains around the bed? There are some great modern four poster beds available or depending on the size/shape of your room you could have a curtained/screened sleeping area that gives you a cozy dark sleeping zone and then opens up so you can soak up the view and light when you want.

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Comments (41)

minnie101
9 years ago
I agree with you on the blinds. Why don't you get local companies to quote? My mum had a quote today and I was amazed at how cheap they were probably half the price of one of the national companies I used previously
Jo DP
9 years ago
This is coming from a huge fan of curtains: Buy Blinds.
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ali270
9 years ago
I wouldn't want anything to detract from the beauty of the window or the view so blinds would be my choice . Blackouts would be functional and unobtrusive . I totally agree with your comment on seeing ( what would be yards of ) curtain from the outside .
Sue Cooper
9 years ago
What about shutters ? Then you can open them up for a great view in the day
simmorob
9 years ago
Had an almost identical issue with the same window, the only solution is vertical blinds and even then you can't pull them back fully so the best you can do is tilt them open.
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Midlands Renovation Construction Services Limited
9 years ago
Have you seen the glass which takes a current through it to black it out... something similar to this. http://www.smartglassinternational.com/products/black-smartglass/
PRO
Millar Howard Workshop
9 years ago
We did Curtains in a very similar situation and I think they work really well - http://www.mhworkshop.co.uk/projects/residential/cockadilly/
GardenFairyGodmother GFG
9 years ago
Wow your bedroom and house will be amazing once finished. I have seen pictures of rooms similar to yours and they had vertical blinds installed. It can look a bit "office" like but because the windows are so big , Roman, Venetian and roller blinds won't work. Also wooden plantation shutters would be too "heavy" looking over that expanse of glass.
jamesanddeirdre
9 years ago
We had this problem and bought a folding screen for privacy.
bruket
9 years ago
You could have roller blinds (shaped like each section of the window), fitted at the floor level and then pulled up with a cord through an eyelet fitted at the highest point of each section. At the lower section of the blind I used a bit of stick on velcro. Does this make sense? I made my blinds for a window just like yours. I used black out fabric.
Sam Hill
9 years ago
See the first thing in this:
http://houzz.com/ideabooks/35165841
I'd go for curtains.
ellietough
Original Author
9 years ago
Thanks so much for all the advice and comments! I love the curtains in the Cockadilly project but I don't think it would work for my room as it would take away from the view and looking into the room from outside, you would see the curtains. I'm going to speak to some blinds companies and maybe get them to come and give us a quote - as it might not be as bad as I think. I will also look into the black smart glass as that looks like a really good idea. Thanks again everyone. Ellie
bombel1972
9 years ago
not sure if i'm too late on this, but this reminds me of sarah beenry's double you house episode. here is the youtube link. it's 5 min, but about the 3 min mark, is exactly what you may want to view. though, you might not be keen on it, and i'm not sure about costs. hmm good luck.
stabmonkey
8 years ago
What did you go for and do you have a photo please?
Sue Cooper
8 years ago
I like the Smart Glass
ellietough
Original Author
8 years ago
Hi. We went for blinds because we had already purchased our windows so couldn't change them. We have blinds from Thomas Sanderson but they are not fitted yet. Cost around £3,400 so very expensive for one room but we were prepared for that. I will take photos once the blinds are fitted and let you see. John Lewis do a similar range and I've asked them to come and quote for the living room (the room below the bedroom). Will let you now how I get on :)
Tom Flanagan
8 years ago
Hi Ellie!
I see you've already made your choice so it might be a little late for our help on this - we're running a [Live Chat on window dressings this Friday at 3pm[(https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/houzz-live-chat-tips-for-dressing-your-windows-september-4th-3pm-dsvw-vd~3329526), where some of our pros will answer questions all about curtains, blinds and shutters! If you still need some help or have any further questions, we'd love to hear from you - simply leave a comment in the discussion and we'll do our best to answer it!
PRO
AG Interiors
8 years ago
shutters would look fab .....
PRO
Grants Bespoke Blinds and Shutters
8 years ago
These are the Pleated Blinds we did for the Gable End Window in the Channel 4 programme, Double Your House for Half the Money with Sarah Beeney; http://www.grantsblinds.com/blackout-blinds-for-bedrooms.
janegrayshon
8 years ago
Blinds are a good choice but Do you really need window coverings the view is amazing and you don't seem to be overlooked by any other properties
Sarah Freisenbruch
6 years ago
What did you end up doing?! I have almost the same windows and am struggling!!! Hope you reply...I'm desperate! We definitely want blinds....would love to see what you ended up doing and who you used. we have 2 bedrooms like this.
PRO
Make My Blinds
6 years ago
Wow! Your view is amazing - but like everyone is saying these are a bit of a pain to cover - especially yours above Sarah. Verticals are a good option, you would need a local firm to come and measure as it's a very specialised window, but rollers/roman just won't work unfortunately. At least with verticals you can spin them open to see the view and let the light in, and if you get them to stack where the main beams are they will be out of the way so you can see the view- the only trouble then is that the beams are hidden from view.
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Grand Design Blinds
6 years ago
I'd definitely recommend pleated blinds, these are the only fully retractable option that will expose the whole window whilst offering blackout quality when closed. We specialise in shaped blinds, so can suggest a variety of options if you need help!
Nikki
3 years ago
Hi I know this post was years ago but just wondering how you are getting on with your blinds? We have 2 gable end windows in our self build, as much as I love the look I wish we hadn’t done them as it’s so expensive for the blinds. We have been quoted £6,200!! Do you have photos?
PRO
AG Interiors
3 years ago
wow that sounds a lot - which company have you gone with ?

I love shutters and this particular make always last really well

Where are you based ?
PRO
Grand Design Blinds
3 years ago
Unfortunately shaped blinds are much more time consuming to manufacture than rectangular ones, not to mention the extra time it takes to measure and install them. We generally find that motorised shaped blinds will cost around the same or slightly more than the windows themselves - but then again they are made by hand without the same economies of scale as glazing manufacturing. I would always say that cheaper options are available, but they will have drawbacks in terms of how easy they are to operate, the level of shading or darkening they offer, and the degree to which they will retract away from the window and leave the glazing as clear as possible.

vimeo.com/gdblinds
Nikki
3 years ago
We are based in Kent, had 3 quotes. Also had a quote for shutters which was £7,500!
PRO
AG Interiors
3 years ago
I much prefer shutters to shaped blinds for gable end windows as shown below - they are neat, smart and look great inside and outside …..

But these were done in 2014 - the price then was approximately £3000 I'm afraid but they looked wonderful …..
Nikki
3 years ago
I have 2 gable ends, what was I thinking lol
PRO
AG Interiors
3 years ago
I'm sure the views make it worth it .....
Nikki
3 years ago
Who did your shutters?
PRO
Sara Slade Interiors
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Voile curtains could look very smart here.
Nikki
3 years ago
I don’t understand how a wave system could work on gable ends. Do you have an example
Kim Down
3 years ago
We have just built an extension with a gable end window in the bedroom. I'm just wondering if you had roller blinds that you pulled up from the floor how would you then retract them? Does anyone know? We're wondering if we should just wear eye masks to bed and forget about the whole dilemma! Whatever we do is going to cost quite a bit by the sound of it!
PRO
Sara Slade Interiors
3 years ago
Anything pulled from the bottom to too will have guide cords, if it be a roller or a pleated blind. Have a look at these below-
PRO
Sara Slade Interiors
3 years ago
However if you wanted a Roman blind then you can do this but there will be a permanent section that is covered which is simply for dress reasons before the bar is fitted for the square section of the blind to fall down
j_thompson300
3 years ago
We have an external Louvres We needed protection from sun on west facing triangular window. They are really great and comparable to blinds. You can’t retract but it add to the build.
Kim Down
3 years ago
Thank you! We're having a look at Duette blinds. They look very close to what we'd like to achieve.
ellietough
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Nikki, we went with Thomas Sanderson blinds and originally went with the manual version but they didnt work very well so they upgraded our blinds for free to the battery operated version and they are great. Not 'blackout' as advertised but still pretty good. We paid around £4000 I think but if we were to have paid for the battery blinds it would have been £7500. Wish there was a better option but they seemed to be our only choice that would ensure our view was unobstructed and the room was dark. Hope that helps!
alisonandrob
2 years ago
We have a large gable end window and went for blackout blinds from Appeal. There are 7 blinds on the window. They work ok but I find it frustrating that they do not really blackout as light comes in along the edges, especially in the summer. I’m thinking of getting curtains to help blackout the room but the cost is putting me off.