Living in one of Boulder’s historic neighborhoods just north of Pearl Street comes with a specific set of trade-offs. The homes are distinctive, the streets are walkable, and the neighborhood has genuine character that newer Boulder developments don’t replicate. It also comes with foot traffic \u2014 consistent, close, pedestrian activity on the sidewalks immediately outside your windows \u2014 and the privacy challenge that goes with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This installation addressed exactly that challenge in a corner home a few blocks north of Pearl Street. Corner lots amplify the exposure \u2014 two street-facing sides rather than one, with passersby at different angles throughout the day. The client needed privacy in her dining and living rooms without making the spaces feel closed off or dim, and without installing window treatments that would visually overwhelm the character of a historic interior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The dining room and living room of this home face the street at ground level, with windows that sit at or near pedestrian eye height. In a high foot traffic neighborhood, that means consistent visibility into the home’s primary living spaces throughout the day \u2014 during meals, while working from home, while simply relaxing in the living room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The instinct for many homeowners in this situation is to go straight to blackout or heavy privacy treatments. The problem with that approach in a space like this is that blocking the street view also blocks the light \u2014 and these rooms depend on natural light for their warmth and character. A historic Boulder home with its windows blacked out during the day loses what makes it worth living in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The solution had to preserve natural light while managing the view from the street. And it had to do so in a way that respected the scale and character of the historic interior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n