You can put a mirrored film on the outside which reflects the sun's heat AND you can't see in from the outside but you can see out from inside. I've got it on windows the sun glares through and heats up rooms.

3M and Gila make them. I've got Gila on my windows. Easy to put on, and it stays on despite weather, etc. However, the mirrored film is the most difficult to deal with.
You don't want to do it on a breezy day.

Here is a link that might be useful: Gila film

This post was edited by Tibbrix on Tue, Mar 25, 14 at 21:22

The mirrored film will reflect toward the brighter light and allow a view in from the darker side (or reflect the sun in the daytime)...but at night people will be able to see in--no nighttime privacy.

If you did sinuous fold or ripple fold drapery, they would stack pretty tightly at the ends. Sinuous fold drapery are flat when they are not hung on the track.

I was so excited when I saw this thread. I'm very interested in the ripple fold draperies. Never heard of it before, so just googled it. At first glance looks like it might be pricey, do you know?

It's pretty easy to do yourself if you can get the hardware and the tape. It's just a tape header with sort of grommets that snap into the holders on the rods. Here's a tutorial from Kirsch.

Here is a link that might be useful: kirsch ripplefold tutorial

Ditto from Macyb's post, I have seen ripple fold and I am currently researching sources so that we can use these on our wood doors. Anybody have on-line sources other than The Blind Store? I've priced out ONE set at over 1K!

You can buy the tape for $4 and the track for $40 and up. There must a seamstress in your town who can sew the tape on for you.

Here is a link that might be useful: one place to buy the tape and hardware

I should be able to sew the tape on myself, the problem is the drapery fabric and liner, finding a nice one that lies smoothly. Not too many fabric stores in this town.

No, not here either, although we do have a Curtain Exchange. But I would think you could make it work on any premade curtain that didn't have sewn-in pleats, or grommets. If you're ordering custom curtains, I don't see why the ripplefold should cost more--it's no more difficult to fabricate.

Judiegal, you could also look into long shades that drop down from the top of the wall or between the header windows and the doors - just for use at night, motorized or not. Then it could be left open in the day.