[AMT]

I have an apppointment with Shades Blinds coming to my house tomorrow morning. At the moment the living room is bare and I hate it, but not sure whether to go for vertical blinds there and in the adjacent kitchen - cheaper - or splash a bit more on horizontals.

Don't know which other room to put them in as it's 3 rooms for £75 or more. I have nets in the bathroom and good curtains in my bedroom.

Anything I should be aware of before they come out to see me? Apparently they want a 40% deposit.

[gdjman68wasdigi]

Originally Posted by AMT

I have an apppointment with Shades Blinds coming to my house tomorrow morning. At the moment the living room is bare and I hate it, but not sure whether to go for vertical blinds there and in the adjacent kitchen - cheaper - or splash a bit more on horizontals.

Don't know which other room to put them in as it's 3 rooms for £75 or more. I have nets in the bathroom and good curtains in my bedroom.

Anything I should be aware of before they come out to see me? Apparently they want a 40% deposit.

get verticals all round, clean, look good.


nets....eeee

get rid of them


edit, regarding deposit, just get a quote, shop around...

your not obliged there and then

[AMT]

Thanks.

I like verticals, but I'm worried cos the odd time I see some that are mishapen and cheap looking. I asked the shop girl and she said this was cos of pets or kids - I have none - but I'm worried I could end up with crappy cheap ones. My mate also says they're dated, though I don't really agree with this.

I probably would prefer venetians although they are talking about £100 for one room! Problem is I can't be bothered fitting them myself. Is it difficult?

[gdjman68wasdigi]

Originally Posted by AMT

Thanks.

I like verticals, but I'm worried cos the odd time I see some that are mishapen and cheap looking. I asked the shop girl and she said this was cos of pets or kids - I have none - but I'm worried I could end up with crappy cheap ones. My mate also says they're dated, though I don't really agree with this.

I probably would prefer venetians although they are talking about £100 for one room! Problem is I can't be bothered fitting them myself. Is it difficult?

venetians get dirty, verticals are nice, get good quality ones..

[bornslippy]

Originally Posted by AMT

I probably would prefer venetians although they are talking about £100 for one room! Problem is I can't be bothered fitting them myself. Is it difficult?

I've got venetians. The vertical ones remind me too much of an office look.

I wasted a bit of time and money trying to cut and fit myself before replacing with tailor-made ones. Although its not difficult, you wont get as good a finish as with purpose-made ones that are fitted by the supplier.

Cost-wise, the real saving comes if you buy off-the-shelf blinds and cut your own to size. If you are ordering ones that are made-to-measure the extra cost of also having them fitted is not that much difference and well worth the extra in my view

[munta]

I recently fitted blinds to my house. I wasn't sure what to go for and did consider vertical blinds. in the end I went for black out roller blinds from John Lewis. These turned out to be the cheapest method and are dead easy to fit. I used a high speed circular saw (in a jig) to cut them to size. Cut and fitted within 10 minutes a piece. Made to measure will cost a fortune in comparison.

[technologist]

If you are near Ikea perhaps look at their "panel blinds" - These are fabric about 600mm wide and they can run on a triple track ... very easy to DIY and do not invade the room like vertical tend to .. and easy to move out of way of you need to (e.g. if you open patio doors) .

[Beau_Soir]

Originally Posted by bornslippy

I've got venetians. The vertical ones remind me too much of an office look.

Agree with this, they don't look homely at all and the ones I've seen also look cheap.

I like victorian shutters, but if you don't want those I think venetians or roller blinds are your best bet.

[Alcdrew]

I have bought from these people before made to measure blinds, they are very easy to fit then. http://www.conceptblindsdirect.co.uk/

[KidMoe]

Originally Posted by AMT

Thanks.

I like verticals, but I'm worried cos the odd time I see some that are mishapen and cheap looking. I asked the shop girl and she said this was cos of pets or kids - I have none - but I'm worried I could end up with crappy cheap ones. My mate also says they're dated, though I don't really agree with this.

I probably would prefer venetians although they are talking about £100 for one room! Problem is I can't be bothered fitting them myself. Is it difficult?

You are in for a bit of a shock if you think you will get even a single decent made to measure blind for under £100. If you are on a budget the best option would be ready-made, assuming you have relatively standard windows. Fitting is not difficult, you just need to measure up properly and ensure you use the right types of fitting for your walls.

Nice blinds are expensive, especially ones cut to size.

[Ella Nut]

I think verticals are a little dated now but each to their own so I would go for venetians.

I'm probably going to be in a minority of one here.... but I've always quite liked net. Or at least modern variations of them including simple voiles. They give a room a cosy feel, whilst at the same time letting in light and providing privacy. I wouldn't have it in a bathroom though.

[AMT]

Originally Posted by KidMoe

You are in for a bit of a shock if you think you will get even a single decent made to measure blind for under £100. If you are on a budget the best option would be ready-made, assuming you have relatively standard windows. Fitting is not difficult, you just need to measure up properly and ensure you use the right types of fitting for your walls.

Nice blinds are expensive, especially ones cut to size.

Actually today I was quoted £88 for two rooms having venetian blinds so ner! Think I might go with that.

Are metal venetians ok?

[tigragirl]

We got venetian blinds fitted maybe just over 5 years ago. I have a love hate relationship with them. I love the tilt adjustments and the fact that I can close the blinds and don't need to pull the curtains but they are a monster to keep clean.. ...of course as soon as you clean the blinds you have to finish off by cleaning the windows too so it becomes a long job. we paid just under £1000 for a bay window, box room window, landing window, 2 kitchen windows one large bedroom window and 1 back room window. I tell you each time I clean the beggers I wish I still had nets, then when I have done the horrible job I stand back and think, they look good. You do have to watch how you go when cleaning the metal ones because they do bend if you are rough, I have a clue of bends but luckily not where they can be seen easily.

[AMT]

Thanks!

Anyone else got any preference?

I still don't know which to get!

[LostFool]

I have metallic horizontal blinds on all of my downstairs windows. I really like them and hardly ever close the curtains on those windows.

Made to measure blinds are really cheap to buy online and are very easy (even for a DIY dunce like me) to fit.

Whatever you do, don't get net curtains

[Andrue]

I think horizontal blinds look dated. Like something out of the 70s. Probably because we had them on our family home in the 70s. I had vertical blinds fitted here a couple of years ago. Wasn't very expensive at all. They are 'plastic cloth' and I think they do a great job. I often leave them half turned. That way I can see out just fine but I know that people can't really see in.

As for net curtains..no. Never. They darken the room and always seem so pretentious

[Ella Nut]

Originally Posted by Andrue

I think horizontal blinds look dated. Like something out of the 70s. Probably because we had them on our family home in the 70s. I had vertical blinds fitted here a couple of years ago. Wasn't very expensive at all. They are 'plastic cloth' and I think they do a great job. I often leave them half turned. That way I can see out just fine but I know that people can't really see in.

As for net curtains..no. Never. They darken the room and always seem so pretentious

How bizarre.

[LostFool]

Originally Posted by Andrue

I think horizontal blinds look dated. Like something out of the 70s. Probably because we had them on our family home in the 70s. I had vertical blinds fitted here a couple of years ago. Wasn't very expensive at all. They are 'plastic cloth' and I think they do a great job. I often leave them half turned. That way I can see out just fine but I know that people can't really see in.

As for net curtains..no. Never. They darken the room and always seem so pretentious

I grew up in a house wit net curtains so horizontal blinds are the height of modernity for me.

Net curtains are ghastly but "pretentious" isn't a word I'd use. More like "prehistoric". Every time I see net curtains I presume the occupants must be at least 70.

[jsmith99]

Originally Posted by munta

............. I used a high speed circular saw (in a jig) to cut them to size. Cut and fitted within 10 minutes a piece. Made to measure will cost a fortune in comparison.

There are people who just happen to own circular saws (and jigs, whatever they may be), and people who not only don't own them, but wouldn't have the faintest idea what to do with them. I'm in the latter category - I don't even understand rawlplugs, every time I've tried to use one in the past, I've ended up with a massive hole in the wall, and a pile of brick dust on the floor. Hence we need to get people in for the simplest job.