Roll down blackout shades are pretty inexpensive. They don’t black out around the edges, so it won’t be as dark as it is in a hotel room with blackout drapes. If I were the OP I would definitely pull down the paper shade at night since apparently she has one. I’d consider swapping it out with a blackout shade if that is easy to do. I wouldn’t do more than that though.
Just view solving their light problem - real or imagined - as a random act of kindness.
I’m curious about the distance between your kitchen window and the neighbor’s bedroom window. I admit to visualizing it based on the type of neighborhood I live in, but perhaps your homes are much closer together.
Also, is the neighbor’s bedroom window on the same level as your kitchen window?
I still don’t see how it is your responsibility to get blackout curtains, but if the homes are very close together, I might understand how the light would bother the neighbor. It’s still their responsibility to make accommodations.
And for what it’s worth, I think the whole issue stems from problems they had with the former owners of your house.
One of my neighbors has dedicated her life to monitor the neighborhood. Someone in the county told me she’s been designated her own contact there to deal with her complaints. She’s called in her own neighbors more than everyone else combined. She came to me and wanted to see my permit for finishing my basement and putting in a shed, then called. She rides around a kayak around neighbors yards and counts trees and keeps notes and reports people. She’s made legal cases with neighbors over flag poles.
That’s a crazy neighbor people provoke because she’s so annoying.
Two notes in two years is nothing.
Vampires.
Don’t invite them in.
LOL
@eyemamom - Ugh, the neighborhood monitor. We had one of those for years until she moved six months ago - she actually kept a file on each of her neighbors detailing their “transgressions”. At our annual 4th of July block party (which she tried to squash every year), one neighbor who had been a particular target of hers, passed around a sympathy card for everyone to sign and then mailed it to the city council of her new community. We are all thankful she moved before the water restrictions were put in place as she would have appointed herself neighborhood water monitor as well and reported anyone who used more than 1 drop of their allotment.
Yes, she definitely put the crazy in “crazy neighbor”. And some did provoke her thinking they could get her in trouble with the city. I only saw that work a couple of times…
@fireandrain - I’m sympathetic but I think you’ve got a ways to go before before you can call them truly crazy…And hopefully you’ll never get there 
Re: #63, #65
Don’t these types of petty dictators try to get onto the HOA boards of condominium and townhouse developments?
They always try but then may realize that being on the board does not give them more power, because there are usually enough sane board members to vote against their draconian ideas.
They should get curtains. I mean, I’d understand if they had to deal with obnoxiously loud music and parties every night, but these seem like the type of people to make a big deal out of nothing. Unless they sleep like 4 feet away from your living room and the windows to your living room are really big (even then normal people wouldn’t have a problem).
OP: would you consider just buying a plain white shade to go underneath your kitchen blinds. It may not work the same as a blackout shade, but may be just enough of a block for them to be satisfied. You can just roll the shade down at night time & leave the blinds up all the time. Someone said that’s a very easy, inexpensive fix.
If these folks are really irrational, once the light issue is “fixed” by the OP, they will find something else to complain about.
The OP has not been repeatedly asked about this. It has happened a few times. My bet is the light
has been on numerous times without comment…because the neighbors didn’t notice at all.
Exactly! So don’t buy the blinds or curtains.
I was out all day, just came home to see this still being discussed. I have lowered the shades in the kitchen. I’m not sure how far apart the houses are – I’m not good at estimating distances. The houses are close – this is not a suburban subdivision, but a city residential neighborhood. More than 4 feet. Maybe 8-10 feet? And the window in the kitchen is not a full window – it’s a half window, less than 3 feet high. I do need to figure out a window treatment, but I need to do curtains for many windows and this one hasn’t been a priority.
And yes, SyrAlum, things could be worse in the crazy department. But the title got people to read this!
Thanks for the distance info. It makes the neighbor’s complaint slightly less crazy,must it’s still their responsibility to take the necessary steps to alleviate he problem.
I admit to viewing the problem through the lens of my suburban development with distances up to 50 feet between homes.
I would just have to say “Seriously. Curtains or a shade will solve your problem. I can’t solve your problem because I am not going to stumble around in the dark in MY OWN KITCHEN”. I’d just keep repeating it.
So sorry for such a stupid situation.
Update — things are not getting better.
New note on the door about a week ago. Can we please turn off our backyard light, or get a motion detector light — which they will pay for.
The backyard light is mounted on the south side of our house and is directed west — away from their house. Her bedroom faces the east side of our house. Our light is no different than a street lamp. Our neighborhood has had a rash of break-ins this summer, my husband travels a lot — I like that light on for safety reasons. And a motion detector is not really what I want.
Last night, at 8:30, the daughter rang our bell while we ate dinner. My husband talked to her. Her requests: Turn off the backyard light, and don’t turn on the kitchen light after 11 pm. ?? 11 pm! The kitchen shades are down all the time now to accommodate them, so — as I suspected — they don’t block the light sufficiently.
I really do feel sorry for the daughter - her mother is probably driving her totally crazy. Trust me, I can empathize, and there’s a part of me that feels guilty. But I’m sorry, I can’t promise anyone that I’ll stop using a room in my own house after 11 pm!
Not to mention that my husband, who works crazy hours, woke the mother up when he turned the light on in his office — which is on the third floor, two stories higher than her bedroom. He has no intention of changing his habits.
This is really truly weird. I’m so sorry you have to deal with this!
Leaving outside lights on in areas where break-ins have occurred is a no-brainer. Everyone in our neighborhood is encouraged to leave outside lights on - a porch light, garage light, motion lights.
I almost feel like you need a mediator - a go between or something! Do you have a neighborhood block watch? Is there a block watch leader that might consult with police on this issue - or be willing to have a sit down with the neighbor (to make them realize that their requests are unreasonable!)
This sounds like a nightmare.
Now they are adding to the list of demands. It will never cease. You’re going to have to ignore them.
I suppose they still haven’t added curtains to their windows?
As much as I hate to say it, I think you’re mistake was pulling the window shades down in the kitchen. Since you have complied to their initial complaint, they are upping the ante.
Tell hubby to stop answering the door when they come over.
I’m curious to know how your husband responded to her during their conversation.