[eigig]

I bought a courtyard villa in July and just came back to TV from the frozen north. I am definitely replacing the vertical blinds on the three patio sliders. I am toying with the idea of using pinch pleated curtains on either a traverse rod or rings on a decorative pole type rod.

I have a few questions about the type of curtain to get:
Do I need room darkening? Thermal? I do not really need the privacy cause it is a courtyard villa but at least lined would be nice for the effect of privacy I guess. I know there can be sun damage to furniture also to consider.

Also, any suggestions about where to purchase them and a good person to hang the rods?

I am doing plantation shutters to all the windows but am shying away from shutters to the doors cause I like the softness of curtains on such a large space -- but I am still thinking that through.
Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
thanks in advance

[jnieman]

If you don't need the privacy I'm all for the lighter weight curtains (unlined). I had room darkening curtains in my bedroom and it was very dark even when the curtains were pulled to the sides. You can find some nice ones at Walmart for not too much money. I bought a really nice pair with the larger holes and put up a rod that went through the curtains and they look great. The room is much lighter now.

I looked it up. They are called Grommet curtains. Here's a link https://www.walmart.com/ip/Somerset-...-of-2/35669847

[VApeople]

When our house was built last year, my wife did not like vertical blinds so we told our designer to leave them out. We got a $600 credit.

We went to Shutters, Blinds & Designs in Umatilla and bought adowraps, which are vertical blinds covered with a thin curtain-like material. When they are open, they look like sheer curtains, and when they are closed they give us complete privacy. They are beautiful.

Their website is Shutters Blinds and Designs - Southwest & Central Florida 1-800-208-0149

[slipcovers]

You would need a Sun resistant fabric, otherwise they would rot and fade quickly in Florida.

Richmond Solarium is reasonably priced and makes up nice. Go online to "fabric dot com" They will send a sample. This fabric does not need to be lined. They have many other indoor/outdoor fabrics, no tax and free shipping.

If you want ready made, try amazon.

[eigig]

Many thanks to all for the suggestions. The sheers sound lovely and I may investigate such an option further.

I will investigate the sun resistant fabrics. Do I need thermal as well as sun resistant?
How about room darkening? I guess I thought that room darkening is sun resistant -- that was obviously wrong.

I was out today in Bed Bath and Beyond but did not know about sun resistant.

Plow and Hearth has a good selection of UV resistant curtains

Outdoor Curtains | Outdoor Blinds | Plow & Hearth