One of the most incredible articles I have read recently (on so many levels) was from the Wall Street Journal recently - People who live in glass houses by Sara Lin:
Seeking views, Sara Antani bought a 17th-floor condo last August in a new Manhattan high-rise with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Hudson River.
She got her vistas. But she got other things she didn't bargain for. The strong and relentless western light forced her to don sunglasses while reading. It made watching television and using her laptop computer almost impossible. The air conditioning could barely keep the temperature tolerable as sun baked the $1.5 million apartment on summer afternoons. And the sun bleached her pair of brightly colored European sectional sofas, which cost $20,000.
In June, Ms. Antani gave in, spending $12,000 on motorized shades that she keeps lowered during the day. "I love being able to see everything," says Ms. Antani, a 23-year-old graduate student. But "the sun's just in your eyes; you can't focus. Everything is so bright."
So - You're a 23 year old grad student living on the 17th floor of a manhattan high rise worth $1.5M and your biggest concern is the $20,000 sofa fading from all the winows! Tough life. Really tough. Incredibly tough. Ok, fine....I admit, it was a really nice sofa. I am sure would have looked wonderful in 300 sq ft studio apartment in Kenmore Sq when I was a grad student!
Back to the article:
Wall-to-wall windows have become a signature of chic urban living, from Minneapolis to Miami. Home magazines and real-estate ads depict fashionable people in glass-walled towers lounging in front of endless views. But some residents say the reality can be less glamorous. Their windows often are streaked or spotty, even when washed regularly. The sun fades not just furniture but also kitchen cabinets, wood floors, artwork and even books. While urbanites are used to nearby neighbors, a glass-walled apartment without shades can be akin to being on display in a terrarium, especially at night. And temperatures near the glass can be chilly in the winter and roasting in the summer.
"I'm not sure people really anticipate what they're getting themselves into when they're buying these," Mr. Talentino says.
Yeah....i'll say. I don't know about you, but if I were to buy a luxury condo for $2M full of glass windows, I may just have enough sense to buy shades in the first place!