Back in 1985 when I was learning the business while working for a friend in Grand Prarie, Hunter Douglas came out with Duettes as a honeycomb shade.   Hunter Douglas began developing products that, when named, included "ette" as part of their name. Silhouette, Luminette, Pirouette, Vignette, and more! Each of these 'Ette products did different tricks in how they dealt with light and view. Every window product has pluses and minuses. Some lower from the top. Some do not. Some have to be fully lowered to operate.  Some do not. Some look like Roman Shades. Others offer sheers in vertical and in horizontal fashion with the opportunity to close the sheer as well.

 

Wood blinds have been around for a very long time.  I have seen wood blinds from the 1920's that still operated in a form and fashion that are similar to new wood blinds.  Wood blinds do many tricks, from mostly darkening a room, giving a moderated view, and raising to expose windows in their fullness.  Below are photos from jobs that I have done.