How do you make your hallway windows opaque?
We are building an urban villa. We have a single floor-to-ceiling window next to the front door and 2 floor-to-ceiling windows on the floor above.
The two windows on the top floor are hard to reach: one is in the stairwell and the other is next to a small gallery.
Now our question.
On the one hand, we'd like to be able to look outside, but we don't want to be able to see the entire floor and hallway when the lights are on inside. Because there are no blinds on the windows.
There are blinds that are opaque from the outside, but you can see them from the inside with no problem. But because the windows are hanging "in the air," we can't reach them. It's hard to reach them and we think it looks a little modest.
Does that leave us with the only solution – to order windows not made of clear glass? Maybe you have a solution for us?
Answers
I don't know of any windows in the stairwell that have blinds on them.
However, I also don't know anyone who has a problem with the light from inside being seen through the windows outside in the dark.
Our diagonal neighbors across the street also have roller shutters on their stairwell window. They always close all the shutters in the evening.
We have a floor-to-ceiling window in the upstairs landing. Opaque during the day with a curtain, and in the evening with indirect lighting and roller shutters.
The way you describe the arrangement of the windows, are they ribbon windows?
Of course, I'm also wondering why the roller shutters would be planned there?
Do any of the builders here have shutters on the window next to the front door? Maybe there is only a 30 centimeter strip of light – how can a roller shutter go there? I don't know of a single window in the stairwell that has shutters on it.
However, I don't know of anyone who has had a problem with the light from inside being seen through the windows outside in the dark.
Or are they big panoramic windows? But they are intentionally planned so that the beautiful staircase can also be seen from outside.
I think you're too worried about violating the privacy of the windows facing the hallway or stairwell.
Perhaps you could just distract from the interior by simple means (ribbon with something hanging from it...shells or something) in front of the windows?
In general, you have the following options:
1. do nothing. Then you can look in and out.
2. satin/foiled glass. Either you can't see through or there are problems in the dark.
3. curtains/curtains. Looks silly or you can't see through them properly.
4. roller shutters. Open them when you want to look outside. Close them when you don't want anyone looking in.
Do you have this problem that you're afraid people will look at you? What do you do all day in the hallway and on the stairs?
We don't have a single curtain in our house. Some of the bathrooms/toilets are foil-covered (you don't have to do the whole paneling frosted and you have freedom of design). We do, however, have roller shutters on all the windows, but we only close them when we go to bed.
Why don't you cover the windows from the inside with film? You don't need to cover the entire window, just as much as is "right" for you (maybe just a few strips).
The films are also available in a mirror version, which allows for a little heat protection for the summer.
P.S. Why not just order windows with roller shutters? Or all windows without blinds, then it wouldn't look right.
Be careful with films on windows with modern triple glazing – depending on the orientation, the glazing can crack when heat builds up.
Our carpenter and window installer strongly advised us not to do this – if so, satin from the factory.
