7 votes

Why rich people don’t cover their windows – An unexpected status symbol has become a fixture of high-end homes

Posted by ignorabimus
Tags: housing, usa, real estate, wealth, windows, privacy, light.natural, health.mental, history, curtains, cities, suburbs, author.michael waters, source.the atlantic, paywall
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/01/uncovered-windows-curtains-wealthy-neighborhoods/677204/

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Title
Why Rich People Don't Cover Their Windows
Authors
Michael Waters
Published
Jan 22 2024
Word count
1092 words

6 comments

  1. [2]
    CptBluebear
    Link
    ... Perhaps I should sell those privacy stickers in the US we Dutch are so fond of. See, we're not opening our blinds because we want you to look in - and in case you're ever here, you shouldn't,...

    ... Perhaps I should sell those privacy stickers in the US we Dutch are so fond of.

    See, we're not opening our blinds because we want you to look in - and in case you're ever here, you shouldn't, at least not too much -, we open our curtains because we want to look out and see the daylight. There is a very small but very important distinction there that matters. Being so Northern and gloomy, any ray of sunshine is met with open arms and natural light is in high demand by default. In stark contrast to more Southern and warmer countries such as Spain, where the curtains are drawn to keep light and heat out.

    Hence, privacy stickers (anti inkijk folie, or literally anti-looking in foil).

    Reading this article it's clear the insinuation is that well-off Americans are doing this to show off their wealth, but pulling in the Dutch is misunderstanding why we do it. Trust is not the point. Nor is showing off. Flaunting wealth in the Netherlands is generally considered gaudy in the first place, and while I'm sure there are folks that will most definitely show off, most regular folks have their curtains and blinds open during the day too.

    Really we just want that little bit of natural light that dares enter our homes and capture it.

    24 votes
    1. lou
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      It's always amazing to realize how context matters on these cases. We northeast Brazilians are in war against the Sun since 1500. Two years ago I visited Curitiba and for the first time I realized...

      It's always amazing to realize how context matters on these cases. We northeast Brazilians are in war against the Sun since 1500. Two years ago I visited Curitiba and for the first time I realized it was possible to "trap cold". Like if you went to store at noon it would be much colder inside than outside. For a while I thought everywhere had the AC on. Nope. Mindblown.

      5 votes
  2. [2]
    skybrian
    Link
    I've seen this in Pacific Grove (California) when walking by the ocean, where there are lots of houses with ocean views. I've heard a few theories about why people do that, but presumably they...

    I've seen this in Pacific Grove (California) when walking by the ocean, where there are lots of houses with ocean views. I've heard a few theories about why people do that, but presumably they bought the house for the view and they're going to make the most of it.

    12 votes
    1. soks_n_sandals
      Link Parent
      I’ll throw an unsolicited theory in. For a while now, I have mused that rich folks leave their blinds/curtains open because they have more than one room they can exist in. This is in contrast to...

      I’ll throw an unsolicited theory in. For a while now, I have mused that rich folks leave their blinds/curtains open because they have more than one room they can exist in. This is in contrast to the studio and small one bedrooms rented by my friends and peers in a very HCOL city. When you see a house here with multiple floors of rooms with windows, it feels blatant that at least one floor has the curtains open.

      But, it also makes for a great opportunity to sing a little jingle that goes, 🎵“I can see yo shiiIt”🎵 anytime we walk past a place with the blinds open.

      8 votes
  3. crdpa
    Link
    I work inspectioning constructions and there is a trend in rich houses inside gated communities to have the stair walls being pure glass. There is nothing about the view there since it's a gated...

    I work inspectioning constructions and there is a trend in rich houses inside gated communities to have the stair walls being pure glass.

    There is nothing about the view there since it's a gated neighborhood for rich people. I think it's just a trend like any other we brazilian import from the USA just because we are pumped full of US ideology.

    Don't know the reasons for this in the US, but here is just because they can.

    6 votes