Q: What suggestions do you have for sliding doors? I have some new ones in a combination bedroom/ sitting room at the front of a house with a front deck which we will make semi private. We want it to be totally open with the doors open in the daytime but very private at night for modesty and security. The only thing out there seems to be vertical blinds and even with the softer vanes and sheer panels between it seems a very limited and tired choice. Any suggestions?
Gary D’Amora
Bellevue, WA
A: Hi, Gary. Thanks for the great question – several of my clients have wrestled with this issue recently. (And I agree about vertical blinds: I loathe them, even for offices.)
You didn’t send a picture (naughty, naughty – the one above is by photographer Justin Horrocks), but I’m going to make these recommendations with the assumption that your house is contemporary in style.
One solution is Hunter Douglas’s “Vertiglide” pleated shades. Oh, excuse me, that’s “vertical pleat system.” It’s a clean-lined solution, and you obstruct little to none of the view when they’re open. Hunter Douglas can be pricey, and it’s best to get a representative to do the measuring and installation for you, but the products come w/ a lifetime warranty (which I’ve had to use on occasion).
Vertiglide is available in Duette or Applause Honeycomb Shades (you’ve undoubtedly seen these in horizontal form). Essentially, the difference between them is that Duette is more expensive and has more pleat size, color, and transparency options. (Vertiglide is also available in something called Alustra, but I can’t tell you much about it because a) I haven’t worked with it, and b) its web page is one of those slow-moving slide shows with sappy soundtrack that I find abhorrent.)
Here’s a close-up of the Vertiglide “system:”
If you’d like a less expensive solution – and if you have wall space on either side of your sliding doors – you could consider panel track shades such as this one from YourBlinds. They’re like roller shades without the roll, and they’re simple, attractive (not this blue, but neutrals), and well-priced.
I say the bit about the wall space because unless you have some, part of your view will be obstructed at all times. They’re also not 100% private at night.
My final suggestion is drapes. Before you click away in disgust, I’m talking about MODERN drapes meeting these criteria:
– They’re made from a lightweight but not sheer material such as linen, with a cotton lining. This will allow light in when the drapes are closed during the day but will be totally private at night. This picture is of short curtains from a recent project and post, but this is the style and type of fabric I’m talking about.
– The drapes have no pleats. None. This keeps the look contemporary and gives you less fabric to bunch up at the sides when the drapes are open.
– Finally, a single bracket centered on the wall above the doors must be enough to support the drapery rod without buckling. That’s the only way we could push the drapes clear and not obstruct the view. If you have, say, three sets of doors in a row, I suggest treating each set separately and letting the drapes hang between them when they’re open. In that case, use a neutral fabric close to your wall color so the drapes don’t attract undue attention to themselves.
This is a more formal look than I evision for you (this is a heavy silk fabric from Manuel Canovas), but the drapes below have no pleats and a single bracket. The client and I had our reasons for installing this rod so high on the wall, but you could put yours on or just above the moulding for a more modest look.
I hope this is helpful, Gary. Let me know what you decide!