How do I hack the complex world of window treatments?
December 18, 2020 10:44 PM Subscribe
Mr. Wasp and I are repainting our family room. During this process, we've also realized that we really dislike our patio and window blinds.
We've both spend time doing the usual internet research and have come up short. This is a world that I know absolutely nothing about and it's literally giving me a headache.
Our patio door is 84" tall and 74" wide. We'd like there to only be one curtain since that's the door we let our dogs in and out of. Ideally, the curtain is grayish with a light pattern (arabesque/filagree) and looks classyish. I'd love something that could be draped back into a hook on the wall. Plot twist: there is a window in the room as well that will need matching curtains.
I've started in my usual places online and have only found cheap looking curtains. Also, I don't really know what else we need. There are currently blinds hanging, so I think we'll need to install a bar/rod instead - how do I make sure that this looks good?
We don't know what our budget is - everything thing we've looked at is much less expensive than what we expected to spend (e.g. an $65 curtain makes me nervous that the quality will match). In an ideal world, we'd like to do this by ourselves (rather than paying a window treatment consultant/vendor). Is this possible? Thank you for any guidance or advice!
We've both spend time doing the usual internet research and have come up short. This is a world that I know absolutely nothing about and it's literally giving me a headache.
Our patio door is 84" tall and 74" wide. We'd like there to only be one curtain since that's the door we let our dogs in and out of. Ideally, the curtain is grayish with a light pattern (arabesque/filagree) and looks classyish. I'd love something that could be draped back into a hook on the wall. Plot twist: there is a window in the room as well that will need matching curtains.
I've started in my usual places online and have only found cheap looking curtains. Also, I don't really know what else we need. There are currently blinds hanging, so I think we'll need to install a bar/rod instead - how do I make sure that this looks good?
We don't know what our budget is - everything thing we've looked at is much less expensive than what we expected to spend (e.g. an $65 curtain makes me nervous that the quality will match). In an ideal world, we'd like to do this by ourselves (rather than paying a window treatment consultant/vendor). Is this possible? Thank you for any guidance or advice!
Best answer: In my town, the local old-timey paint store has a design shop with a woman who Knows These Things. She has been there forever, offers good advice, helps you find what you like, and orders it for you. You can DIY as much of it as you want. When I've compared her prices to what I could find scouring the web, they are very comparable and often cheaper. Plus you get all that wonderful help! Surely my town isn't the only place that has such a treasure.
posted by DrGail at 10:17 AM on December 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
posted by DrGail at 10:17 AM on December 19, 2020 [2 favorites]
Well there are the modern "pocket curtains" that you drag back and forth by hand across a bar. These have loops on the back, or big ol' holes where the bar fits through, or just a kind of hem. These use various styles of plain and not so plain ol' rods down to and including closet hanger rods.
The other kind is the pinch-pleat capital-d Drapes, with the loop of pull-cord that used to be so common. These operate via something called a traverse rod, which is available in two forms, for center-out two-panel style and the long, one-sided drapes that it sounds like you want.
Materialwise, you could find a sewer to make them out of anything you can find, but for brocade-y readymades, I think Sears is the place. Or used to be, since I can't find the curtains that I remember from just a few years back. JCPenney, too, and if there are any other 100 year old chains, I'd assume they'd have them, too. Bed Bath and Beyond might have one or two pinch-pleat options.
posted by rhizome at 10:53 AM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
The other kind is the pinch-pleat capital-d Drapes, with the loop of pull-cord that used to be so common. These operate via something called a traverse rod, which is available in two forms, for center-out two-panel style and the long, one-sided drapes that it sounds like you want.
Materialwise, you could find a sewer to make them out of anything you can find, but for brocade-y readymades, I think Sears is the place. Or used to be, since I can't find the curtains that I remember from just a few years back. JCPenney, too, and if there are any other 100 year old chains, I'd assume they'd have them, too. Bed Bath and Beyond might have one or two pinch-pleat options.
posted by rhizome at 10:53 AM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
Etsy has a lot of drapery workrooms that create custom curtains- lots of super talented people, and lots of price points. You could even search by location and see if anyone is local to you, and then you can make a plan to meet them (with the Covid caveats.) You can even search that term on google and see what comes up and bypass Etsy.
Plonkee mentioned retailers that provide this service- one being Smith and Noble (here is a link to their 'casual drapes' which could give you ideas/and you might want to buy from them.) Another option is The Shade Store
Another option is Ikea- they have very good drapes at great prices, and you could buy the ones you like and then have them tailored by a local seamstress to fit your smaller window. They also have great track hardware that would be ideal for a patio door.
posted by momochan at 1:03 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
Plonkee mentioned retailers that provide this service- one being Smith and Noble (here is a link to their 'casual drapes' which could give you ideas/and you might want to buy from them.) Another option is The Shade Store
Another option is Ikea- they have very good drapes at great prices, and you could buy the ones you like and then have them tailored by a local seamstress to fit your smaller window. They also have great track hardware that would be ideal for a patio door.
posted by momochan at 1:03 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
If you are not totally shut in right now you might try going into JC Penney. They will make and quote you for curtains, but more to the point you will learn the language of window treatments as a side effect and you can look at what they have on show for inspiration. (UK: John Lewis is good for this.) Consider fabric, lining options if you want more warmth or less light coming through, and the rod or rail you want at the top (which will also determine if the curtain is pleated or not). Take pictures for future use in explaining your preferences.
You don't have to buy what they're selling and they might come up with a silly price. Remember you can also find a local sewing place, buy the fabric yourself and get them to make it up, or several other half measures.
I make curtains myself - they're flat, all straight seams and not that hard - but your fabric will cost good money before you start, so if you aren't practised at using a sewing machine you might consider that to be risking too much.
Remember with curtains that the total width of the curtain panels should add up to 1.5-2x the width of the window. Too little and it looks like you've hung a bedsheet. Blinds would be exactly the window width.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 3:12 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
You don't have to buy what they're selling and they might come up with a silly price. Remember you can also find a local sewing place, buy the fabric yourself and get them to make it up, or several other half measures.
I make curtains myself - they're flat, all straight seams and not that hard - but your fabric will cost good money before you start, so if you aren't practised at using a sewing machine you might consider that to be risking too much.
Remember with curtains that the total width of the curtain panels should add up to 1.5-2x the width of the window. Too little and it looks like you've hung a bedsheet. Blinds would be exactly the window width.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 3:12 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Perhaps you need to first study what you need your curtain to do, then how it looks (by looking in catalogs) then determine what sort of weight of fabric you need that is sun-resistant and keep its colors while light enough (or heavy enough) to suit your needs.
I'm sure a local upholstery shop would be able to help you and maybe consult an interior designer. Maybe you don't need curtains, but a window treatment (maybe some filter film / tint).
posted by kschang at 5:13 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
I'm sure a local upholstery shop would be able to help you and maybe consult an interior designer. Maybe you don't need curtains, but a window treatment (maybe some filter film / tint).
posted by kschang at 5:13 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
Websites that sell window treatments have visualization tools that you can play with to see what different options look like. The Shade Store is one such option--certainly there are many others as well, google is your friend. Another thing that's really nice about working with a window treatment design store is getting swatches to try in your room to make sure that the fabric you're thinking about actually works with your paint and your lighting.
The Shade Store's offerings are definitely not cheap, but I used them for some window treatments several years ago and have been incredibly happy with the quality. It looks like they have video design consultations, so you could talk about it with a design pro from home, even.
posted by Sublimity at 6:30 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
The Shade Store's offerings are definitely not cheap, but I used them for some window treatments several years ago and have been incredibly happy with the quality. It looks like they have video design consultations, so you could talk about it with a design pro from home, even.
posted by Sublimity at 6:30 PM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: For future readers: we ended up calling a local company. The owner came out, showed us samples at various price points, and then scheduled our installation. The end result is classy, yet cozy - I never, ever would have figured it out on my own. Professionals FTW!
posted by WaspEnterprises at 2:07 PM on November 23, 2021
posted by WaspEnterprises at 2:07 PM on November 23, 2021
« Older Help me better process this feedback about my most... | Late-to-detect vaccine side effects Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by plonkee at 3:34 AM on December 19, 2020 [1 favorite]