Good quality shutters are incredibly expensive. I put a set of sheers and a set of block-out curtains up when we first got our place - the sheers provided a little bit of privacy during the day, the block-outs made it cozy at night and helped block the westerly sun hitting in the afternoons. The only thing you find with sheers is that you have to have to wash them - they go a little grey. Depending upon where you live, make sure that your curtains are an inch off the floor - we live on a main road with all the dirt and grime that comes with it and it just keeps your curtains looking that bit better longer.

Ah...the bed curtain! I've wanted a four poster for years. As a little girl living on Nauru Island where my Father was head engineer in the phosphate mines...Mum and I were shipped up when, after WWII, all was sanitised and there were two "European settlements"...pre fab cottages available for the families. I loved island life..running around in the nuddy with a whole little gang of 2-5 yr olds of chocolate and vanilla kids...delicious! Unfortunately the giant mozzies found the vanilla kids to be quite delicious too and I'd come out in these horrible bolis. Dad mad me a square double sized four poster bed...painted dark blue and Mum, who was obliged to sew all our clothes...(no shops on Nauru) made a canopy of mosquito netting to cover the top and enclose the sides of my bed...the netting would tuck in under the mattress all the way round...and I became a moth in a crysalis for the night. The idea of the square bed was to allow me to stretch and roll and never be near the edge..sadly.it didn't work! My mozzie bites became infected, I endured penecillin injections in mozzie season and, during te day I wore nylon neck to knee PJs from then onmwards. Have no idea what Mum was thinking, such sweltering remedies against the mossies...cocooned at night by heavy cotton netting and totally covered by day in the hottest/latest fabric available. Life became miserable./ We moved back to Melbourne...and life went on. No mre fairytales...until I bought a 1924 old timber cottage in a very cold climate....wishe I had that 4 poster. Instead, since the VJ board ceiling shed fine dust on me during the night, I sewed a canopy to drape the whole ceiling in Arabian Mights style...it works as a dust catcher...and I fear, as a spider haven as well....bit its lovely with all the coloured lights above it and the mirror ball central light holding it up ibn the middle so it drapes from all four corners. DUST did I say? Yes, unfortunately it requires a lot of spraying and laundering ...but its worth it to me! LOVE my "Ceiling Curtain". The best feature is that it hides the dark VJ's on the ceiling...lucky its a 10ft 6inch high one...until I can get it plastered....and then insulated. I would do it all over again even in a brand new home. Its lovely and at the same time contributes to the practical aesthetics and the necessary "make do's" of having a limite budget. Soon though, soon, I'll be colouring the world!

I am a big fan for plantation shutters you will be excited you did! You will make your money back & ease of re sale as people want them .Otherwise... If not With your kitchen get a professional in and get a tint on your window you can see out but they cannot see in until night then a simple blind will suffice. Lounge rm attach to ceiling!!.. to floor sheer curtains with a good colour curtain behind going the whole width of the wall.. bedroom a Roman blind... take advantage of your floor boards and do it properly the first time and save money!

You're lucky to have those tracks, they would of been custom made. Depends on your budget really. If not much- cut down what you have and hem them. If more $$- I'd speak to a curtain maker. Remove the pelmet and have a 2nd track attached to the one you have for a sheer curtain (to hide/soften your bars but keep the view and light). I'd then use the existing track to get some nice block-out curtains made to close of a night. With well made pinch-pleat curtains you won't need the pelmet.