I don't think plantation shutters will work and they will look decidedly odd. I'd invest in quality curtains hung to the floor which match your style. Maybe a heavy duty linen texture and make sure they are generous enough to be hung wide open to not obscure the windows.

I'd also affix the curtain rail a lot higher.

What really is the privacy issue. If you are changing or sleeping pull the curtains. Otherwise does it matter if people have a small glimpse into room. Def. NO to shutters in this stile house. Could put some shears that you could draw across but a crime to put anything blocking view of the stained glass and the garden behind. Perhaps some taller bushes at the street edge would be even better

Yep we have lovely high ceilings so definitely could hang curtains a lot higher and there is space on either side of the window

Yes go high and wide in a quality fabric. Get a professional in.

I would not use shutters. Your windows are stunning. As others have said, beautiful fabric drapery will be best, if anything at all. I love the beauty and simplicity of nothing else, but that is a personal opinion.

If you want to consider reducing winter heating and summer cooling costs, I would also recommend pelmets over the curtain rails, and heavy curtains to the floor. This will reduce heat loss through the windows, and around the side of the curtains. Heavy curtains installed this way will be more insulative than shutters. Close curtains at night in winter, and during the day on hot summer days.

I know they are out of favour these days , but I still like good quality natural wooden venetians , and if you 'angle' them they let in a lot of light , BUT they would hide some of the leadlight look and effect -- I guess it depends if you and your family have tired of that look or not .

While I suspect I'd go for curtains , I mentioned venetians because I feel they'd 'sort of' suit and be more practical , compared to plantation shutters .

A good quality Holland blind with scalloped base, under a sheer curtain on a rod , for when it’s up then people can’t look straight in when your starkers.

I would go with Roman Blinds in a light colour with some texture, eg linen type fabric. It would be in keeping with period features and still allow you visibility of your beautiful windows

Because the windows are so beautiful you could go with roman blinds as others have said (I would face fit them, not recess for them) but also raise the curtain rod much much higher (also already mentioned) and get some beautiful curtains pooling slightly on the ground. Having both a roman and curtains would really frame the window and bring focus to their detail when you enter the room :)

Whatever you decide I agree with others, I would not put plantation shutters in this room. Whatever you decide I would love to see an after picture :)

You could be talking about my bedroom. It's actually uncanny.

We're gradually renovating our 1920s bungalow. Our front bedroom faces south, straight onto the top of a T-Junction; so we have similar problems to you in that we need privacy, but our room is very lacking in natural light. (We haven't got around to redecorating the bedroom yet so I'm not responsible for the brown walls). Your stained glass is a bit prettier than mine, but the window structure looks almost identical.

The previous owners put installed plantation shutters. I hate them! My husband loves them! He's more stubborn than I am, so I'm probably stuck with them!
I've enclosed a picture so you can see how they look. Even when they're fully open like this, the amount of natural light coming in is noticeably reduced. You can pull the actual shutters open, but they're bulky and intrude into the room. I completely agree with the other posters that they just don't suit the style of the house.
When we moved in first, there was only shutters; no curtains and the whole window opening looked a bit small for the size and scale of the room. I put up some old curtains which are full length and hung them on quite a wide rod so the curtains can be pulled right to the edge of the frame, and the proportions are much more balanced now. I think that your window would probably be similar.
My husband would point out that the shutters and curtains together mean that the room can be made completely dark. (he works nights, and often sleeps during the day). The shutters kind of work for privacy during the day; but you have to angle them so they're mostly shut and then you end up turning the light on.

I think if I could start over I'd put in a discreet sheer roller blind in the same colour as the window frame, so I could pull it down when I needed daytime privacy, and leave it up when I just want the light. Then I'd have lovely full length blackout curtains to cut out the street lights.

My neighbours who had exactly the same issue got a stained glass artist to make some beautiful opaque leadlight windows, which are period appropriate and completely private. Then they hung curtains. It's an expensive way to go though, and it would be a crime to replace your windows.

I'm not sure there's an ideal solution to make a room that's already dark private, without losing more light. Thanks for opening the conversation though; I'd be interested in seeing your solution.

I have used Luxaflex or Hunter Douglas Silhoutte blinds. 2 shears with horizontal fabric ‘blades’ in between - terrible description!!
Advantage is during day can have fully open as pull up into a cassette above window to see stain glass or down with blades open like a shutter to let in light - can see out but difficult to see in then at night close blades for privacy. Has horizontal look like a shutter/ Venetian but much softer as is fabric with benefit of disappearing into the cassette.
Good luck

I have also got the Luxaflex Silhouette the MC Hamilton mentioned and they have a lovely look. We had to install thick curtains as the blinds did not make the room dark enough at night - we are on a hill and have 3 streetlights that shine in to the main bedroom at the front of the house.

Full length sheers ;)

Valerie it looks like you have a lovely garden through those windows. Have you stood out on the street and carefully scrutinised all the privacy issues? I sometimes think bedrooms can be open during the day and just need curtains at night. We're so into closing up our houses but often greenery from a hedge will give us enough privacy.
Any chance you could take some photos for us both from the street and from your front garden?

I was always a bit iffy about shutters for my bungalow, but everyone seems to have them down the street.
Some suggestions have backed up some of the issues I thought they might have for my bedroom.
Perhaps rooms other than bedrooms they might be lovely.

I have an Edwardian villa I restored 7 years ago and my master bedroom is on the street front as well and not that light. I have 2 bay windows in the house. I struggled with privacy too (I can can sit in m bed on Sunday morning with a coffee and see people walking their dogs!) and when I go to get changed I don't want to pull curtains and change in the dark. Also my lounge bay has gorgeous stained glass work that I didn't want to cover, Btu I have a beautiful front garden that I want to be able to see.

I looked at several solutions including shutters and had quotes etc,

For the bedroom I decided on roller blinds, sheers and also a beautiful silk curtain. Sheers for privacy and to control the sun, roller blinds for darkness add a bump lined curtain for added insulation and sound proofing, The Lounge: I used sheers and a full length curtain with bump lining. I also have placed my curtain tracks quite high up to complement the high ceilings.

I decided on this as sheers give you privacy, control the sun; curtains give you insulation and also soften a room; both options can be pulled back off the window so that you can appreciate and see the window; they also complement the style of these older homes,

If I was to do this again there are amazing thermocell blinds that can be attached at the bottom meaning that you have the option of pulling then from the bottom up. If you pulled them halfway up, his gives you privacy but still lets the light in.The have amazing insulation properties and they give you a cleaner look if that is what you are after. If I was dressing the windows again I would definitely look at this option as an alternative,

I really encourage you to not install shutters or wooden venetians. I think they can darken a room and be heavy looking. I know lots of people install them in villas but I personally don't think they are the best or only option.

PS just re-looked at your photo: I would recommend a sheer and curtain on a double track, Place the track higher; make sure the track is wider enough that the curtain can stack off the window; consider a wide heading tape (eg 160 mm is what I used to suit the proportions of the room and curtains).

.

I have wooden venetians , so some comments from a user about privacy and light -- when the blinds are open 'flat' , there is very little difference in light between having the blinds there , or pulling them right up . In summer , I tend to angle them slightly up during the day , it cuts out most of the direct sun , but anyone looking in only sees the ceiling -- good privacy unless you get changed less than 1 metre away from the window . Winter , slightly down , it lets any light in but ensures pretty good privacy -- a simple flick 'up' and instant privacy .

When I'm asleep , I have the slats closed 'upwards' -- it actually cuts out a lot more outside light than having them closed 'down' ! And when I get up ( admittedly , generally before sunrise ) I open the blinds slightly to about 45 degrees upwards , and turn on the low powered wall uplights -- the combination gives a good level of light without losing much privacy ; as the sun comes up I open them more .

It literally only takes a couple of days to work out the light and privacy issues -- most other options you either have them closed or open -- venetians are almost completely variable !

Have you considered exterior shutters ?

Plantation shutters are not period appropriate for this spot in your home but perhaps if you have a more modern area they could be good. They do not provide 100% block out either if you like a dark bedroom. I hate them as I feel they are dust collectors but to each his own. They can also be quite expensive. But if you did want to do them in the spot maybe centre opening bifold ones so you could push them to the side during the day. The good thing about anything with blades is that you can achieve everything from completely open through privacy to block out in the one layer. Any layer is going to block light to some extent. We had painted timber Venetian in a similar looking Californian bungalow leadlight window which were satisfactory, You seem to have a recess where the window is so you could have one treatment in the recess and one on the main wall. I would recommend painted timber venetians in the recess which will provide privacy and block out in the one layer without overly obscuring the windows. If you want to soften the room still I’d add a sheer curtain on the wall but definitely to the floor. Good luck!

Couldn’t have assessed it any better Lisa S. Thumbs up.

Don’t forget cleaning horizontal slats that collect dust, sorrowful job...

Valerie Tung, definitely a blind. Rolled up out of sight during the day to show the beautiful stained glass window and garden beyond, and pulled down for privacy at night. Depending on your interior design maybe a Roman blind for a period style, or plain blind for contemporary interior. The window itself is lovely and I understand why you are reluctant to cover it. Best of luck!!

Plantation shutters are a romantic notion … but these glorious windows need enhancing not cluttering up with what can only be inferior design (compared to the windows). You could try moving curtain rails right up to the ceiling. With large width either side of the window "cabinet" so the curtains can be pulled well clear of them. Use fine black cast iron rods to tie in with the windows with fine curtain rings. Look at the stained glass window design. It is very fine. So Curtains thermal/black out weighty plain linen look soft enough to pool and inside those on a different track very fine plain linen voile, perhaps with one or two plain line patterns that echo the windows. You could apply those if you have a sewing machine. The effect would be covering all the bases without losing the windows. I would stay away from dark colours in the drapes except in detailing otherwise you run the risk of making the windows look smaller.