Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

We live in the southeast and our house has four sliding doors with a southwesterly exposure. The sun is intolerable during the summer. I tried bamboo shades but they offered little privacy and even less protection from the heat and sun. I bought these curtains in navy(matched our decor)which did shield the sun and some of the heat but at the hottest part of the day it seemed that the curtains were attracting the heat due to the dark color. The heat would build up between the glass and the curtains and then begin to seep into the room through osmosis. I really liked the look, feel and hang of the curtains so I purchased more in beige to hang behind the navy. I just threaded the beige through the same rod as the navy and rehung them. The large grommets make them so easy to hang. The light beige (almost cream) acts as a liner and also reflects the sun. The double panels have reduced the heat coming through the sliders by at least 70% and completely blocks the light. My central AC is now actually cycling on and off normally even during afternoon temperatures of 100 degrees. My energy savings have been about 30%. The fabric looks and feels like silk but is not shiny like real silk. It is surprisingly lightweight yet substantial. I have a lot of cats and a dog so I was nervous that the fabric would collect hair like a magnet but to my delight it does not. I purchased these about two months ago and they look as clean and fresh as the day I hung them. I haven't washed them yet but will update this review if I find a problem after laundering. For someone with other than a southwesterly exposure, one pair would be more than adequate to block the light and heat. However, even with the cost of two curtains at each window I am very satisfied with the result. They solved my problem beautifully.