Need window treatment advice

[Anonymous]

We just moved into a new house. The living and dining areas are pretty much completely open to one another. There are faux-wood blinds in the dining area but no window treatments at all in the living area. We really need something in the living area because the late afternoon sun beats right in. I'd really like to get those sheer horizontal shades (I think they're called illusions or something like that) but is that going to look wierd if they are sort of in the same room with the other blinds? The areas are kind of separate but only because of furniture, not because of walls. I don't like the faux-wood ones so I hate to buy more, but it would add another thousand dollars to do the dining room too, which I can't really afford.

To add to the quandary, there is a sliding glass door that is basically between the two rooms. What do I do with that?

Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

I think you might be talking about cellular or pleated shades. And, I think putting those in the living room would be fine even if they don't match the dining room blinds.

I can't quite envision the sliding glass door. Do you really need something on that? I recently saw roman shades on a sliding glass door (that exited to the outside) and I thought that was in intriging alternative to vertical blinds on sliding doors.

[Anonymous]

I think it is great that there is a sliding door separating the two areas. That makes it even more acceptable to put something different in the livingroom area. Obviously the sliding door couldn't have faux wood blinds on it, so you would deviate from the faux wood anyway. Definately do something different in the living room. I would suggest that you go to the Bali Blinds webiste (www.baliblinds.com) for ideas. There a lot of "Verticle Solutions" that are NOT the old tired verticle blinds. You'll be suprised to see what is out there. On the site is a free mobile app if that works for you or a virtual decorator called "My Decorator". Free swatches too. Available at JCPenneys and other places--watch for sales.