Shades / Blinds

[moreace01]

We moved in to a mid-century modern ranch not too long ago and need to put up some window coverings on a few windows for privacy purposes only as the windows face the street. We do not need any sun protection as these are North/West facing windows.

I'm kind of torn about what to do - but leaning towards roller shades because they are the most streamlined. It pains me A LOT to drill into the woodwork, but I don't really see another option other than drapes and I think that wouldn't be the style we are going for.  


Anything we choose, there are a billion fabric options and I don't know how to choose - do I match the wood window trim? Do I go lighter or darker? Would a darker gray be weird? I'm kind of at a loss. 

Looking for any advice - particularly from anyone who has unpainted woodwork with shades or blinds - what color fabric did you go with? 

[deadwing]

No advice, but those windows are gorgeous!

[momin2013]

I assume you're going to do coverings just on the mid/lower portions?

I would do fabric/linen roller shades because it would give you a nice streamlined, minimalist look. I'd match the wall colour as closely as possible. Our window trim is painted white, but we matched the wall colour and I think it looks great.

[lessel]

Feb 17, 2023 10:54:59 GMT -5 momin2013 said:

I would do fabric/linen roller shades because it would give you a nice streamlined, minimalist look. I'd match the wall colour as closely as possible. 

This. We did this in the kitchen window of our MCM house. For bedrooms we used bamboo shades (wood tones matched the trim and tongue-and-groove pine ceilings) that were lined for room darkening/privacy.

And definitely don't cover the clerestory windows. They're gorgeous!

[moreace01]

Thanks all! Ultimately we don't want to use anything, but you can see right into our bedroom from the street so...yeah.

We are likely going with fabric roller shades. I was unsure about color because I thought being closer to the wood be the right way to go, but going closer to the shade on the wall makes more sense. We aren't going to do white because I think it's too stark.

And there's no way we are covering the top windows.

[heygrey]

Those windows are gorgeous! I would do a natural linen look fabric. Not white, but a lighter tone. I wouldn’t do grey. It needs a warmer tone to coordinate with the warm wood tones of the trim and floor.

[spinnaker5]

No advice: I love MCM architecture, just coming in to say your place looks gorgeous. Congratulations, and please post before/afters as you settle in!

[SusanBAnthony]

Gorgeous!

Our house is 1952, more mid century modest than modern. All original woodwork and I shared your concern about drilling into it but what else can you do?

We did accordion shades with no string. Not the most modern but we live in MN and wanted the insulating properties. We have blackout bottom up top down ones for the bedrooms that face the street. I haven't done the living and dining room but plan to do the same but not blackout there. I figured plain white (it's really slightly off white) will be the most likely to still match ok over the years. I also wasn't super worried about color because we keep them open most of the hours we are awake.

I like the clean look of just the shade in the window with no curtain rod or curtains.

Puts look like this but we got them from.jc penney www.selectblinds.com/cellular-shades/cordless-top-down-bottom-up-light-filtering-shades.html?ColorId=9003

[mrsukyankee]

What about sheer curtains - that's what most British houses use for privacy. They weigh next to nothing, so you can use a thin bit of wire to hang them on.

[moreace01]

Ok so we talked to someone from shade store - they wouldn't come to our house and that made me nervous, and were really $$$ so we ended up not going with them (also I didn't like the pulls - it didn't seem very smooth). Instead, we went with some hunter douglas shades. We picked a fabric that isn't quite white and has some additional threads in it (I'm having trouble with words...) so it's got a little warmth but doesn't lean yellow. Should come in like...6 weeks or so. We have some furniture arriving in the next month so I'm just hoping it all comes together.

SusanBAnthony, we are in CHI so hear you on the insulation. We talked about honeycomb for a minute - and may need to do that in an area off of the bedroom because it isn't insulated very well and is just really cold. We also may lean mid century modest too - that window is probably the most MCM part of the house. We are dealing with some...interesting non-period appropriate renovations that have been done over the years. Lol.

[rubytue]

I just want to chine in (after the decision was made), because we have a mid century ranch. Unfortunately no celestory windows, which makes me sad. But, lots of deep walnut trim. We moved here in June 2021, and the only windows with anything are two bedrooms (and that’s just curtains, nothing particularly period). I kind of want bamboo shades in the sunroom, but yet here we are. 😂 The back of our house is almost all windows, and there are houses and common area people walk through back there.

[stemmie]

It's a gorgeous space.

I have a friend who has a MCM- modest rancher. She also has stained wood trim and has the custom blinds the open top and bottom in a sheer. They aren't "authentic" to the era but do have the same unfussy vibe. I'd only do the lower window- inside the frame- if it's just privacy.

Another friend with a similar era house has pinch pleat panels on hers. I don't like them. The previous owner had planted some pines to obscure the windows from the street but they made the room dark so she pulled them out. She's on a fairly busy street in Philly so privacy is needed. When the drapes are closed it's like being in a box.

Friends of my parents had a similar house when I was growing up. They had shoji screens they open when they wanted privacy.