topic Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments? in Home

Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

wismiss — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 02:30:21 GMT

I am thinking of making a top-down, bottom-up shade or blind part of the living room's picture window treatment. Does anyone have these? What are the pros and cons of them? Is there a brand that is better than others?

Thanks for your help.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

151949 — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 02:56:43 GMT

We had these in our previous camper. We had that camper 12 years and over time the strings that operated the blinds were breaking one after another. My DH was able to fix them but it was very tedious and difficult to repair them.I don't know anything about the cost of them because they came included with the camper.

I did like the neat, clean modern look of them. In a camper they put a fabric covered wood valance over them to complete the look.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

JinPA — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 03:00:35 GMT

We have them in our downstairs windows and love them. Love being able to adjust them bottom up, top down depending on what the weather is, time of day, etc. Bali brand, purchased from big box store.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

Nightowlz — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 03:58:05 GMT

I have some cellular shades top down bottom up & some just bottom up. I needed some that went up & down so I'm able to adjust them with the sun. I love them. I did notice my newer ones were not as heavy duty as some I have had for a while which would be my only con since I have not had any problems with them. Pros for me would be I prefer these or Roman shades over curtains & sheers. All I do is vacuum them off every once in a while.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

Caffeina — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 09:56:30 GMT

I have a cordless cellular in the bathroom. It's nice to be able to pull it down from the top and have privacy at the same time. I bought it online from Blinds Chalet, and hung it myself. The quality as good as any name brand, but for a lot less. Keep in mind that if the top of the blind is higher than you can comfortably reach, you'll need a cord.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

tobes — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 17:54:26 GMT

have hunter douglas shades that pull from the top and from the bottom. have had no trouble with them - they are the energy efficient type and I was able to get credit for these on my income tax.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

Kachina624 — Sun, 06 Sep 2015 21:51:10 GMT

You're going to make them? Seems as though that would be a complicated and difficult do-it-yourself project, especially for a large window. Do you have instructions?

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

Mom2Dogs — Wed, 09 Sep 2015 23:19:45 GMT

I have a couple of the bottom up top down blinds. I especially like the one that faces the street and is near my front door.....we raise and lower it often and it has been on the window for years. I think the strings are better quality than years past. We have had the cellulars blinds for a lot of years and have had strings break, we always sent them back to be repaired but lately the strings have not been breaking. We purchased from Blinds dot com...great customer service.

Are you making your own blinds?? Seem like a huge job, at least to me. I can tackle a curtain but have never made a blind that can be moved up and down!

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

ValuSkr — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 15:20:09 GMT

I have cellular top-down bottom-up on six windows, of which four are actually double windows (approx 70" wide x 60" high). I bought Hunter Douglas because of the lifetime warranty, though HD are considerably more expensive. Have had them five - seven years. I like them BUT:

1) The cords do break - especially on the large 70" x 60" shades - and I wouldn't dare try to repair them myself. So far, repairs have been covered under warranty. I should note my shades don't get a lot of up-and-down action and don't get a lot of sun (my condo is mostly shaded). So it's a mystery why the cords break so much.

2) But to get them to an authorized service center, you have to take them to the dealer where you bought them, and they will ship them. They can charge whatever they want for their trouble - there is no written policy. At different times, they've told me it was (a) a flat $50 no matter how many shades I was returning, (b) $50 per shade, and even (c) $100 per shade. I balked at the last and they backed off, but it seems they invent the charges on the fly.

3) Alternatively, you can take them to an authorized service center yourself - if you're lucky enough to live near one (and there aren't many for HD) - or ship them yourself. Shipping costs would be high, especially considering insurance.

Bottom line is that I've liked them but have been disappointed by cords breaking. I would buy HD again only if I lived near a service center. Once my existing shades run out of warranty, I'll replace them with a less expensive brand rather than repairing. Then, when cords break, I would just replace the shade. Much less expensive in the long run.

If you do buy HD, watch out for the "lifetime" warranty. It is now limited, so read the fine print. As I recall, it doesn't cover normal wear & tear, which covers a whole host of things including cords. Also, make them write into the purchase contract how much it will cost every time you return them for warranty repair. A "lifetime warranty" isn't much good if they're going to charge $100 or more every time a cord breaks even during the warranty period.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

riley1 — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 01:24:38 GMT

I have them in most rooms - both corded and non-corded. I agree some of the cords broke but were able to be fixed. Are you making the blinds or a Roman Shade? I've done a regular Roman Shade but would even know how to do the blinds.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

AuntG — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 10:59:31 GMT

The concept sounds great but I've never actually seen them. I give a lot of credit to the OP who was thinking of making them herself. I can't even untangle the cords on my regular shades so one of them hangs slightly crooked.

Re: Anyone have top-down, bottom-up window treatments?

ValuSkr — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 20:47:53 GMT

Is there a Martha Stewart site that shows how to make top-down bottom-up shades?