Best curtains / blinds for really tall windows in CBD?

I have some odd requirements I'm hoping the brains trust can help with.

Here are the windows in question:



The picture doesn't do the windows justice. The ceiling is 3.7 metres high. So the problem is to pull the draw string up to raise the blinds, you need herculean strength.

Second problem - there is a building across the road, so a horizontal design is mandatory to allow the sunlight in but retain privacy.

So the two key requirements are: something that can be opened without considerable upper body strength, and can allow sunlight in. What options do I have?

Rail mounted, modern style timber louvres look good, but I don't know if they're designed for such tall windows. I'm not sure what other options are out there.

 

Plantation shutters where you can just angle the blades would be my suggestion and yes you could get them built to those windows. The design would need to be quite custom so that you'd have a panel that you can open so you can open your window too.

 

Yeah I think what I've got in my second photo are plantation shutters? I called them wooden louvres but I think plantation shutters is the right term?

 

Yup most people will call them plantation shutters

 

Electric roller blinds ? E.g .Somfy or similar

 

Roman blinds with a few "sections" can also be helpful.

 

Roller blinds can have an option of springs built in to help.

 

Plantation shutters can make a room darker because they are thicker than venetian blinds.

However, either venetian blinds or plantation shutters will let light in.

Another option is the ‘zebra’ blinds with alternating blockout and sheer stripes. The sheer sections provide privacy but let light in and can be adjusted for more or less light.

 

Remote controlled roller blinds!

 

But roller blinds don’t let in the sun and retain privacy at the same time.

 

Sure they do. Light filtering privacy for day and block out when needed. You can have two rollers on a single window.

You wouldn't be able to have the window open with the blind all the way down though.

 

Yeah I thought about this, just not sure if I want to blow that sort of cash on a rental. How often do these need to be maintained? If they're something I can set and forget for like 10 years then it might be worth checking out.

 

This is really intriguing. I don't know the "section" mechanism works, I'll have to investigate. The window in that picture is crazy tall like mine so it seems like that checkbox is ticked.

 

That's interesting, never heard of these zebra blinds, the concept is very similar to a venetian blind. I just looked it up and saw photos of zebra blinds that can transform into full block out blinds...I have no idea how this mechanism works, some magic going on there!