We have top down Roman shades in our bathroom and closet.
That is true in general with big box store products, a lot of what you see sold there by the likes of Anderson Windows, Pella, Kohler and other products are made to the storeās specifications and are not the same quality as you would get at a supplier a lot of the time. It is why they offer them cheaper than you would get quoted at a supplier.
I got top down/bottom up blinds from Home Depot for our bathroom. Love it - the top half is open letting in light into the bathroom. Got them for our bedroom after and they work well.
Ordered the same for our guest bedroom - well, not quite the same. I think the name/model had changed some, but I figured they should be ok. Brand was the same. The blinds were ok for about a year or so - room isnāt used much so the blinds were not pulled up and down daily like in our bedroom. Suddenly, this past year, all three blinds in that room exploded at different times - exploded! The spring and the casing is apparently flimsy and I found that when I looked at reviews for those blinds after the fact. Argh.
2 Likes
Is there some sort of warranty??
We got shades through Costco last year. Wound up being half the price of several other companies. Still expensive, though ā we had to replace shades weād installed when we first bought the house and had major sticker shock! Costco has periodic sales ā we managed to snag the 20% off plus a 20% Costco shop card. Put top-down/bottom up in our new bay window in the kitchen. Has worked very well.
6 Likes
I did call the place Costco uses for blinds/shades. We did a phone consult - she told me to figure about 500-800$ per window. And that the best way to do this was to get about 9-10 windows done at a time for the best rebates.
I donāt think I can convince H to do it for those prices 
2 Likes
Thatās a lot of money for blinds.
Yup. Unfortunately, quality blinds are expensive. The price/window size is not a constant. Larger/unusual window blinds and certain fabrics cost a small fortune!
We got shades for five bedroom windows and three for a bay window. The bay and one bedroom window were top-down/bottom up. This was last year. Was less than the $500-800 range you mentioned. The big sale was in April, with 20% discounts instead of 10%. It was still a lot more than weād spent in 1998 ā $600 for the same five BR windows.
Also got a quote from Three Day Blinds (used to be Next Day). That one was really outrageous! I didnāt find Loweās/HD to be any cheaper.
We postponed upgrades/repairs for a long time due to college expenses, unwillingness to spend $$ and inertia. Weāve been paying for it now with price increases in the past couple of years.
2 Likes
Well, I still havenāt hit the āorderā button on shades - weāre making do with a variety of window coverings at the moment. However, I think most of my big purchases, other than the shades, are done. Thank you to everyone who posted about their shades and included photos!
I ordered a new sofa to go in front of one of the big windows and it is more difficult to see into the living room. Plenty of light still comes in. My sideboard was delivered today and I am thrilled with how it looks. The girls even got Orvis dog beds so they wonāt get on the new sofa! Christmas trees are up but not yet decorated. Slowly but surely getting there.
3 Likes
Iād love to see this tubā¦but I canāt get this link to work on my iPad.
My mother left me an inherited IRA (long enough ago that I donāt have to liquidate in 10 years). Every year in the week of her birthday, I get a small checkā¦I think this year will be about $1600. I want to use it toward new living room furnitureā¦a more casual look living room as itās my little sitting room.
Soā¦Iāll be shopping for a couch, end tables and new rugā¦everything else is fine. Ohā¦and maybe a chair with an ottoman!
We have not gotten any new furniture in about 20 years.
6 Likes
Be prepared for some sticker shock! We bought some new pieces a few years ago and were shocked at how expensive everything was, even stuff not well made
4 Likes
I have also been saving for this redecorating project. I know itās not going to be a bargainā¦and I donāt care!
3 Likes
I donāt know what happened, but I canāt get my old links to work either. Try this: MTI Solutions Tubs | MTI Baths
Under MTI Solutions tubs I chose the Andrea 5, model 95, soaking tub. This might get to it: https://mtibaths.com/products/tubs/mti-solutions/95?view=view-detail&drainLocation=end&shape=rect
The backrest angle is very comfortable and the water depth below the overflow drain is deeper than most tubs.
We also have their Kalia tub, which is a deep soaking tub, but I donāt see our model on the website now. Itās about 40" square and designed for sitting upright. We have a tankless gas water heater that enables us to fill it without running out of hot water.
2 Likes
I made it home from my trip and my husband has completed my Christmas present of the bar and new flooring in our family room.
Cabinets are from IKEA. Existing wine fridge now looks built in, and a smaller fridge for vermouths, syrups, etc. in the middle. Quartz countertop cut-to-size from a remnant by a local fabricator.
Flooring is engineered hardwood to go with the real hardwoods in the rest of the main floor.
He did all of the work himself. Retired engineers for the win!
24 Likes
Looks fabulous, @zeebamom. Big props to your DH and merry Christmas to you!
5 Likes
Not sure if this is appropriate for your home but we love natural light and I recently put in 4" or 4.5" plantation shutters with the invisible rod on the front and sides of my home, they let in total light when open all the way and there is no blocking any sunlight like most plantation shutters do.
Regarding the nosy neighbors - we only have woods behind our home so we do not block the view at all, but added motorized blinds - they are wonderful! I can sit on my sofa and click the blinds rise and click they lower in any of many combinations - with 6 windows I did the shades in pairs of 2 and used a neutral dark greige that is still semi-see thru. No one could see in but you can sort of see out with light outside behind it.
1 Like
I do have plantation blinds on my kitchen windows which I do like. I am happy to report that the curious neighbors seem to have been cured of their desire to āspyā - one morning I was up very early - the lights were still off - but I noticed them literally in our yard. I quickly turned on the outdoor lights - they havenāt been back.
12 Likes
Thatās very odd. Glad theyāve stopped.