Hi Sarah DIY can be a great option to stay within your budget and find an agreeable solution to your current dilemma. Window furnishings are generally one of the last jobs required after going through the process of building your house, which means the budget is always tight at this point after all the other 'extra expenses' Therefore you are now potentially starting to look at compromising on the quality that you originally wanted to finish your off your house. Window furnishing can have a fairly visual impact, as well as influencing how the room 'feels', on both the inside and outside of you rooms and home. In the first instance we need to define the difference between a DIY 'Ready Made / Ready to Hang Product' which is what you would purchase from somewhere such as Spotlight vs DIY "Custom Made" products. The difference in quality is significant, however the price points don't have to be. At iseekblinds, we offer genuine custom made blinds, made in Australia. If you visit our website, you can get an instant price online - It would be interesting to see the difference between what you have been quoted and what we can offer. We can turn Roller Blinds around within 3 weeks or sooner if requested and deliver nationally. Everything you need to know regarding measure and installation is on our website and we teach and guide you through the process to ensure you get it right. Please see some of our reviews to hear how our other customers have been surprised at just how easy the installation process has been and are over the moon in regards to the product quality they received. Get Your DIY On! I say. And please don't hesitate to contact me if I can be of any further assistance Cheers, Sally

I have translucent on stacker to alfresco, It's great as don't need it for privacy, just for reduced sunlight at times and if wanting air con to be more energy efficient. It is lightweight so you can have a large expansive without doing 2 or 3 blinds. I have double roller blinds i every other room. Blockout and sunfilter. Love them, and how you have choice to let light in, and blockout in our master bedroom during day for shift worker hubby. I have white as it was recommended to reflect most sunlight, not absorb it. Black looks great and is more transparent from the inside so if you get the 'sunlight screen' type you can see through very clearly, but people cant see in, until it gets dark, then you roll down your blockout blind for privacy at night. The 'white' sunfilter is not as see- through as the black from inside.

Hi Annb1997 I was also confused and intrigued about the two sided binds - so looked them up and found they differ from double rollers. A company called 'Blinds on the Net' supply them. They are called Zebra Blinds and this extract from their website explains how the operate "The cleverly designed Zebra Blind utilses a horizontal striped fabric with alternating Translucent or Block Out and Sheer stripes. Two layers of this fabric move independantly to create overlaping combinations or Translucent and Sheer or Block Out and Sheer. A simple but effective idea that allows high levels of light and privacy control with the one product."

Luxaflex Silhouette blinds would be a great option for you, you get complete privacy at night but have the option of privacy during the day as well while allowing full light. Unfortunately, they are also VERY expensive. Although you want to roll the blinds totally out of the way during the day have you considered the aspect of your rooms? Rooms facing East will have morning sun pouring in which can be very glary even in winter and of course rooms facing West will have all the hot afternoon sun making your rooms like ovens. Rooms facing North will have the sun in winter which of course is not at all unpleasant. As well you need to consider sun damage to your furniture and furnishings. Taking that into account, I think a normal block out roller blind would work well and maybe a double blind with mesh where sun might be a problem. There is a blind company I can highly recommend located on the Gold Coast but I'm not sure if they service Brisbane - No Bull Blinds. I had no trouble with their blinds at all and their service is excellent, nothing is too much trouble. You are getting close to Christmas now so you may find many companies are closing their books for pre-Christmas orders.