Window Field Guide · Bay Area Urban Apartments

Bay Area urban apartments: bay windows, Edwardian flats, and what PMs reorder

Bay Area rental stock is not LA dingbats and not NYC pre-war — it is Victorian and Edwardian flats with bay windows, 1920s stucco walk-ups, post-war courtyard blocks, and newer mid-rise infill with aluminum sliders. Landlords from the Mission to Temescal to downtown San Jose standardize on custom-width faux wood in living rooms when depth allows and vinyl mini in bedrooms — with outside mount common on bay-window returns.

Common in: San Francisco · Oakland · San Jose · Berkeley · Alameda

Quick answer

What Bay Area owners and PMs standardize on:

  • 2" faux wood in living rooms and bay windows when depth allows — white or neutral
  • 1" vinyl mini in bedrooms and baths — shallow jamb workaround via outside mount
  • Bay windows: one blind per plane or outside mount on the flat trim face
  • Patio sliders — vertical track or roller shade; confirm stack clearance
  • Ship nationwide — hire local install for bay windows and third-floor turns
  • Ships nationwide from Texas
  • Custom cut to measured size
  • Mini, vertical & faux wood lines
  • Mount notes by material

Bay Area apartment archetypes behind the measurements

Dense urban Bay Area markets mix century-old wood-frame flats with post-war stucco walk-ups and newer podium apartments — each with different jamb depth and HOA or rent-board constraints.

  • Victorian / Edwardian flat (pre-1920): bay windows, tall ceilings, uneven plaster — outside mount frequent
  • 1920s–1940s stucco walk-up: Mission and East Bay fourplex stock — double-hungs, rear deck sliders
  • Post-war courtyard block: low-rise stucco, interior court parking — slider modules repeat per wing
  • Podium / mid-rise infill (2000s+): aluminum sliders, adequate depth on newer vinyl replacements
  • Rent-controlled turnover stock: durable cordless lines landlords can replace window-for-window
  • Mild climate — moisture less extreme than PNW; faux wood viable in living rooms when depth allows

Products Bay Area apartments reorder most

Faux wood leads living-room and bay volume. Vinyl mini covers bedrooms. Vertical on deck sliders.

Typical opening → blind size

Typical reorder bands — bay windows need per-plane measurements:

Opening (approx.)Order sizeRoom
24"–30" bay plane23.5"–29.5"Bay window side plane
32"–36"31.5"–35.5"Bedroom
48"–60"47.5"–59.5"Living / front bay
72" × 80" slider72" × 80" verticalDeck / patio slider

Mounting by material & situation

Bay windows and shallow Edwardian returns drive mount type — measure each plane separately before ordering a whole-unit spec.

2" faux wood blinds

View product line →

Bay Area living rooms and street-facing bays often spec faux wood for a cleaner line — when jamb depth supports inside mount or trim allows outside mount.

  • Bay window — per-plane inside mount

    Pro often used

    Measure each bay plane separately (left, center, right). Use narrowest width per plane. Confirm depth on the angled returns — shallow bays may need outside mount on the flat trim face.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1½"–2½" per plane

  • Outside mount on decorative trim

    Pro often used

    When Edwardian moldings leave almost no jamb depth, outside mount on the flat trim with 1½" overlap per side. Account for protruding sill.

1" vinyl mini blinds

View product line →

Bedroom and bath default on turnover — lighter headrail for shallow jambs.

  • Inside mount — adequate depth

    Measure width at three heights; use narrowest. Report exact opening — factory deducts clearance for inside mount.

    Min depth:
    ≈ 1" clear

  • Outside mount on shallow returns

    Pro often used

    Common on rear bedrooms in older flats. Mount on trim face or wall above opening.

3.5" vertical blinds

View product line →

Rear deck and patio sliders on walk-ups and podium units.

  • Face-mount track above aluminum slider

    Pro often used

    Face-mount when header depth is shallow. Keep stack clear of deck door handle.

When to hire a pro in Bay Area flats

Bay windows, third-floor walk-ups without elevators, and tight San Francisco lot lines make professional install common even when landlords ship product from out of state. We custom-cut and ship nationwide; on-site installation is DFW-only. Provide your installer per-plane measurements and SKU lists.

Frequently asked questions

How do I measure a bay window for blinds?

Treat each plane as a separate opening — measure width and height independently. Do not order one wide blind across an angled bay unless you are using an outside-mount specialty solution. Our faux wood line is custom cut per plane.

Is Bay Area stock the same as LA dingbats?

No. LA dingbats are post-war stucco walk-ups with tuck-under parking. Bay Area stock is heavier Victorian/Edwardian flat inventory with bay windows and older wood-frame construction. Use this guide for SF, Oakland, and San Jose urban rentals.

Do you ship to San Francisco apartments?

Yes — we ship custom-cut blinds nationwide from Texas. Provide gate codes and delivery instructions for walk-up buildings without elevators.

Metro guides

This housing archetype appears in these markets — browse local building stock and related field guides.

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