Beautiful Light and Privacy: Top Down/Bottom Up Shades in Fairhaven

If your Fairhaven windows face a sidewalk or a nearby home, you may want privacy without closing off the daylight. Shades that lower from the top can be a good solution. You can leave the upper part of the window open while keeping the lower portion covered.

Top Down/Bottom Up shades give you more flexibility than a shade that only raises from the bottom. Here is what to consider when choosing them for your home.

How Top Down/Bottom Up Shades Work

A traditional shade raises from the bottom. A Top Down/Bottom Up shade can also lower from the top. That means you can open the upper part of the window to bring in daylight and a view of the sky and treetops, while the lower part stays covered for privacy. You can also raise it from the bottom like a regular shade, or open it fully to enjoy the whole window.

Made for Fairhaven’s Historic Homes

For an older home with original trim, we first check whether an inside mount will fit. It can keep the woodwork visible while giving you light control. In a living room or bedroom facing the street, lowering the top of the shade lets you bring in daylight without uncovering the whole window. Bathrooms need suitable materials as well as privacy, so we consider both.

The same approach can work in Edgemoor and South Hill homes. How much of the view you see depends on the window height, where you sit and how far you lower the shade.

Our Favorite Top Down/Bottom Up Styles

Several Hunter Douglas shades offer Top Down/Bottom Up operation, so you can choose the look that suits your home. Duette® Honeycomb Shades are a popular choice. Their cellular design adds a cozy, insulating layer at the window, which is lovely through Bellingham’s cooler months. Applause® Honeycomb Shades offer the same design at a more budget friendly price point. Vignette® Modern Roman Shades bring soft, tailored folds that pair beautifully with Fairhaven’s classic Victorian architecture.

Provenance® Woven Wood Shades add natural texture from real woods and grasses for a warm, relaxed Northwest feel.

Fabrics, Linings and Styles

Light Filtering Fabrics Keep Rooms Bright

For most rooms, a light filtering fabric is the best match. It gives privacy on the lower half of the window while the room glows with soft daylight. In bedrooms, a room darkening fabric creates a restful space, and the top down feature lets you bring in morning light whenever you like.

Simple to Use

Cordless Top Down/Bottom Up shades keep windows clean and uncluttered. You simply guide the top or bottom rail to the height you want. For tall windows, we can check which motorized options are available for the shade and operating style you choose.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are Top Down/Bottom Up shades?

They’re shades that open from the top, the bottom or both. You can bring in daylight across the top of the window while the lower portion stays covered for privacy.

Why do they work so well in Fairhaven?

Fairhaven is a walkable neighborhood where many homes sit close to the sidewalk. Top Down/Bottom Up shades give these homes privacy and plenty of natural light at the same time.

Which Hunter Douglas shades come in Top Down/Bottom Up?

We can show you suitable options in honeycomb, Roman and woven wood styles and confirm which operating systems are available for your windows.

Do Top Down/Bottom Up shades work in older homes?

Yes. They’re a wonderful fit for the tall, traditional windows found in Fairhaven’s historic homes, and inside mount options keep original trim on display.

You might also enjoy Shutters in Fairhaven and Screen Shades in Bellingham.

Bindi and Bird is a locally owned, sister-owned window covering company in Bellingham. Our team helps you choose custom blinds, shades, shutters and drapery that feel right for your home. Meet our team →