Hartmann & Forbes living room roller shades

How We Solved a 16-Foot Slider Privacy Problem in Brandon, FL (Without Losing the Light)

Olá, friends. 👋

Today’s story comes from a beautiful home in Brandon, FL — and it’s the kind of project I love, because it had two completely different challenges happening under the same roof.

The Gross family reached out because they wanted to finish what they started. They already had plantation shutters in part of the house and wanted to extend that look into the office, bathrooms, bedrooms, and dining room. Easy enough on paper — but there was a twist.

The living room had a 16-foot slider. And every night, it felt like the whole neighborhood had a front-row seat to family movie night. 🍿

So they had two problems, not one:

Match the existing shutters across five new rooms so the house felt cohesive
Find a privacy solution for that big slider that didn’t kill the view during the day

🎓 Shade School Drop-In: Why You Don’t Always Use the Same Product

Here’s a thing most people don’t realize — and it’s exactly why a one-product-fits-all approach falls flat:

Plantation shutters are gorgeous for windows. They’re not always the right move for a 16-foot slider.

Why? Because sliders need to slide. You need the door to actually function. And when you cover a slider in shutters, you’re either blocking part of the door, building a complicated bypass system, or compromising on how the whole thing looks.

For the Gross family, the answer was a Norman Smart Drape on the slider — a clean, modern drapery solution that:

Gives full privacy when closed (goodbye, neighborhood audience)
Filters light beautifully when sheer (hello, soft afternoon glow)
Stacks completely out of the way when fully open (so you can actually use the door)

Meanwhile, the rest of the house got Norman composite plantation shutters in white and off-white — perfectly matched to what was already there, so the whole home reads as one continuous design.

Two different products. One unified look. That’s the move.

🚩 Roger’s Red Flag Radar

If anyone ever tells you “just put plantation shutters on everything, including the big slider” — pump the brakes. 🛑

A good window treatment pro doesn’t sell you the same hammer for every nail. They look at your space, your lifestyle, your sun exposure, and your daily routine — and they recommend the right tool for each spot. Sometimes that means mixing products. And that’s a good thing.

If a salesperson can’t explain why they’re recommending a specific product for a specific window? That’s your sign to keep shopping.

Here’s What J. Gross Had to Say:

“We are loving the new and updated look of our window treatments. From start to finish we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. The owner, Roger was able to quickly identify a great solution for our 16 feet of sliders, that really enhances the look of the room and gives us the night-time privacy we were lacking. The plantation shutters throughout the rest of the house really make a huge difference as well. Thanks to Roger and his crew at Shades In Place for their professionalism and attention to detail. We highly recommend Shades In Place for your shutters and blinds needs in the greater Tampa area!”

– J. Gross

Your Turn

If you’ve got a big slider that’s making you feel like you live inside a fishbowl — or you’re trying to extend a window treatment look you already love into more rooms — let’s talk. No pressure, no pitch, just a real conversation about what would actually work in your home.

Because the right window treatment isn’t about the most expensive option, or the trendiest one. It’s about the one that fits the way you actually live.

Até logo, 🌴

Roger

Tampa Bay’s Resident Naked-Window Whisperer